DR | 9.6.2026
on the town ARTY NOMS FOR LIVE THEATER plus
ANNOUNCED
BEHIND THE SCENES: MEET ARMIJO’S MRS. B
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on the town
Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC 6 p.m. Saturday The Pub Kats
This
week
Suisun Valley Filling Station, 2529 Mankas Corner Road. https://suisunvalleyfilling stationevents.com.
7:30 p.m. Saturday ‘Sweeney Todd’ Downtown Theatre, 1035 Texas St. www. downtowntheatre.com.
THINGS TO DO
I Fairfield Noon Sunday The Rhythm Method Trio Suisun Valley Filling Station, 2529 Mankas Corner Road. https://suisunvalleyfilling stationevents.com.
1 p.m. Sunday The Real Imposters Bally Keal, 4286 Suisun Valley Road. www.ballykeal. com/events/index.
5 p.m. Wednesday The Filling Station Four
I Suisun City 8:15 p.m. Friday ‘Angels in the Outfield’ movie
Suisun Valley Filling Station, 2529 Mankas Corner Road. https://suisunvalleyfilling stationevents.com.
Heritage Park, 611 Village Drive. www.suisun.com/ events-directory/dinnerand-movies-in-the-park.
5 p.m. Friday Papa Joe & The New Deal
6 p.m. Saturday School of Rock house bands
Bally Keal, 4286 Suisun Valley Road. www.ballykeal. com/events/index.
True Symmetry, 315 Marina Circle. https://true symmetry.beer/events.
6 p.m. Saturday Ke’Marie
6:30 p.m. Saturday Groove Foundation
Suisun Valley Filling Station, 2529 Mankas Corner Road. https://suisunvalleyfilling stationevents.com.
Harbor Plaza Stage. www.suisun.com/
events-directory.
Comedy Special Filming
Smokin’ J & Tokin’ Tom
I Vacaville
Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, 1010 Ulatis Drive. www.vpat.net.
The Rellik, 726 First St. https://therelliktavern.com.
5 p.m. Thursday Town Square Thursdays: Last Call Band Town Square. www. facebook.com/ downtownvacavillebid.
12:15 p.m. Saturday Documentary viewing: ‘Ruben Blades Is Not My Name’ Cultural Center Library, 1010 Ulatis Drive. https:// solanolibrary.libnet.info/ event/17331399.
4 p.m. Saturday Four Barrell Dwain’s, 110 Peabody Road. www.facebook.com/profile. php?id=61566929950504#.
7 p.m. Saturday Alan Brownlee Merchant & Main, 349 Merchant St. https:// merchantandmaingrill.com.
7 p.m. Saturday The Too Tired Parent
I Benicia 2:30 p.m. Sunday Roger Smith & Friends Lucca, 439 First St. www.luccabar.com.
4 p.m. Sunday Doug Houser The Rellik, 726 First St. https://therelliktavern.com.
6:30 p.m. Friday BeaufunK Lucca, 439 First St. www.luccabar.com.
8:30 p.m. Friday Heartless Benatar The Rellik, 726 First St. https://therelliktavern.com.
1 p.m. Saturday The Beautiful Hang Gang Lucca, 439 First St. www.luccabar.com.
4:30 p.m. Saturday
6:30 p.m. Saturday SunHunter
330 Virginia St. www. empresstheatre.org.
6 p.m. Friday Don Bassey & Friends
Lucca, 439 First St. www.luccabar.com.
Vallejo Brewing Company, 430 Virginia St. www. vallejobrewing.net/events.
8:30 p.m. Saturday Rusty Giraffe
7 p.m. Friday Max Cortes Latin Band
The Rellik, 726 First St. https://therelliktavern.com.
I Vallejo 1 p.m. Sunday 3Day Weekend Vino Godfather, 1105 Walnut Ave. www. vinogodfather.com.
5:30 p.m Wednesday Meet the Author: John Perkins JFK Library, 505 Santa Clara St. https://solanolibrary. libnet.info/event/16935048.
6:30 p.m. Wednesday Kid Andersen, Greaseland All Stars with John ‘Blues’ Boyd Empress Theatre,
4th Corner Speakeasy, 431 Georgia St. https:// 4thcornerspeakeasy.com/ max-cortes.
8 p.m. Friday Indie After Dark: Westerly, Temper of Sound and The Beast 4th Corner Speakeasy, 431 Georgia St. https:// indieafterdark.com.
7 p.m. Saturday Verismo Opera: ‘Tosca’ Bay Terrace Theatre, 51 Daniels Ave. www. verismoopera.org.
8 p.m. Saturday A Totally Elvis Concert Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St. www. empresstheatre.org.
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DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
BEHIND THE SCENES
on the town
3
Spotlighting Armijo High’s Mrs. B S
I came as Christine Mani heena Beeson, affectionhad been there for four or ately called Ms. B. by her students and five years. As a senior alumni, is in her 13th I directed a studentyear as the theater run production of teacher for Armijo “Rumors” by Neil Simon. High School’s multiple I graduated in 2006 and award-winning Armijo after college I moved Theatre Producback here and Christions company. tine and I co-directed Q: What’s your “The Elephant Man.” Tony Wade background? She has always been Were your folks a mentor to me. involved in theater? Q: You still perform too. A: I would say both of my I have seen you in some parents are theatrical by nature, of Mani’s shows at Solano but didn’t necessarily grow up College Theatre (SCT)? doing theater. My mom was A: Yes, in a perfect world in choir and my dad is just an they would only happen in the oddball, but he loves to dance. summer when I have more When I was in youth perfortime, but SCT keeps putting on mance and they needed a shows that I can’t say no to like male stand-in, he’d step up. “My Fair Lady,” “Almost AnyMy parents put me in thing Goes” and “42nd Street.” ballet when I was 3, and I had Q: What was it like when little kid parts in plays startyou started at Armijo in 2014? ing around age 7. In Benicia A: One of my favorite compliwe had Young People’s Perments we get at Armijo is, “That forming Arts through the was actually pretty good.” Kind community center and all of a backhanded compliment, through my middle school years but I appreciate the fact that I every eight weeks we put on exceeded their expectations. a musical. I was in “Guys and When I first got the job, only Dolls,” “Hello Dolly,” and I was 20 students out of 2,400 had Maria in “West Side Story.” requested it as an elective. The The first pro production I administration offered me one saw was “The Lion King” when period of theater and three I was 14 and I was like “Holy periods of English, but said if sh**! This is amazing!” I’d been I promoted it, they would give in shows and loved theater, me as many theater classes as but had not seen it done at people signed up for the followthat level. It was a revelation. ing year. My second year I had a Q: You went to Benicia full schedule of theater classes, High and had Christine no more English. But they Mani as your instructor still count me as an honorary there, correct? member of the English departA: Yes, the theater program ment so I can go to their parties. was well-established by the time Armijo had a tradition where
ON THE COVER Cast members of Solano College Theatre’s production of “42nd Street.”
on the town A SUPPLEMENT TO THE DAILY REPUBLIC
A collage of photos of Sheena Beeson, theater teacher at Armijo High School. COURTESY PHOTOS
students would write skits and perform them in a Halloween show so I agreed to do that. Then the principal said, “Please tell me you’re not doing a Halloween show.” He said it always ends up being two hours of poorly improvised ‘stories by the campfire.’ I promised it would not be that. But then no one submitted skits. So I had to stay up late and write a 45-minute-long haunted house script and we did a second half that was like Halloween-themed “Whose Line Is it Anyway?” type improv games. I remember the principal saying … wait for it …, “That was actually pretty good.” Q: What are some of your dream shows? A: Any musical that has tap dancing, “The Play That Goes Wrong” and “Noises Off!” The students love the idea of putting on “Shrek,” but I don’t think we have the space or the budget.
Q: Well, but you will be getting an actual theater soon, correct? A: Yes! The potential opening is fall 2027, but more than likely it’ll be spring 2028 when we put on our first production. It will have 340 seats and there will be a lobby so people don’t have to wait out in the cold and rain. In the cafetorium I have to load in and load out sound and lights for every performance because it is still used as a cafeteria, but those will be built-in in the new space. Q: What’s the best part of your job? A: Seeing my students grow as people. I try to drive home that the skills you gain by being part of a collaborative company are ones you can take anywhere. Not only are they learning how to work well with others, they’re learning how to be confident as themselves. Some kids might not even
Publishers: Foy S. McNaughton, T. Burt McNaughton Editor: Todd R. Hansen Contributing Writers: Amy Maginnis-Honey, Todd R. Hansen Project Manager: Nancy Meadows
raise their hand when they have a question in other classes. But I choreograph them and push them to project and suddenly they’re on stage in front of 100 people pretending to be a Who in Whoville screaming to Horton and after doing that, they figure they can raise their hand with a question. Theater builds personal confidence, enhances creativity and helps them to problem solve. Seeing the growth of those important life skills in my students is the greatest part. Sometimes Armijo can be rough and people ask me why I stay and I always have the same answer: The students and the staff at Armijo are the best people. Fairfield freelance accidental local historian Tony Wade is the author of eight books. Reach Wade at toekneeweighed@gmail.com.
If you have an event on the calendar, send details to amy.maginnis@mcnaughton.media To be featured on the Out on the Town pages, email nancy.meadows@mcnaughton.media For advertising, call Nancy at 707-427-6927
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on the town
Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC
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DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
GO
on the town
READ Solano’s favorite books
DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
What were the most popular books at the library in August?
Adults 1. “The Calamity Club,” Kathryn Stockett 2. “Yesteryear,” Caro Claire Burke 3. “The Divorce,” Freida McFadden 4. “Theo of Golden,” Allen Levi 5. “The Correspondent,” Virginia Evans 6. “Dungeon Crawler Carl,” Matt Dinniman 7. “My Husband’s Wife,” Alice Feeney 8. “Atmosphere,” Taylor Jenkins Reid 9. “Great Big Beautiful Life,” Emily Henry 10. “Say You’ll Remember Me,” Abby Jiminez
3. “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” J.K. Rowling 4. “Dawn on the Coast,” Arley Nopra 5. “The Titan’s Curse,” Rick Riordan 6. “I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944,” Lauren Tarshis 7. “The Wild Robot,” Peter Brown 8.” Partypooper,” Jeff Kinney 9. “The Sea of Monsters,” Rick Riordan 10. “The Humble Pie,” Jory John and Pete Oswald Provided by the Solano County Library.
Meet an author Kraus
Teens 1. “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Suzanne Collins 2. “A Court of Thorns and Roses,” Sarah J. Maas 3. “The Hunger Games,” Suzanne Collins 4. “Throne of Glass,” Sarah J. Maas 5. “Crown of Midnight,” Sarah J Maas 6. “Heir of Fire,” Sarah J. Maas 7. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Suzanne Collins 8. “The Assassin’s Blade,” Sarah J. Maas 9. “Kingdom of Ash,” Sarah J. Maas 10. “Mockingjay,” Suzanne Collins
Perkins
Cheyenne
Kids 1. “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” J.K. Rowling 2. “Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories 2,” Jeff Kinney
Roth
Tuesday (Sept. 8): “Writing the Nightmare: A Ship Called Sickness and One Unforgettable Space Crew,” with Daniel Kraus, 4 p.m. (virtual). https://libraryc. org/benicialibrary/194094. Wednesday (Sept. 9): “The Art of the Steal: Trump and the Economic Hit Man Presidency,” with John Perkins, 5:30 p.m., JFK Library, 505 Santa Clara St., Vallejo. https://solanolibrary. libnet.info/event/16935048. Sept. 16: “The Comeback Conversation: Shifting from Surviving to Thriving,” with Yasmine Cheyenne, 11 a.m. (virtual). https://libraryc.org/ benicialibrary/196137. Sept. 24: “Where the Paletero Man Goes: A Journey of Neighborhood, Music, and Art,” with Lucky Diaz, virtual, 4 p.m. in English, 5 p.m. in Spanish. https://libraryc. org/benicialibrary/197499. Oct. 1: “Courage, Choice, and What Comes Next with Dystopian Icon,” with Veronica Roth, 4 p.m. virtual. https://libraryc. org/benicialibrary/212167.
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HEAR Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC
GO
Three days of jazz on tap in Vacaville
Brette Alana DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
I
t’s September and with the month comes the annual Vacaville Jazz Society’s Vaca Jazz Festival. It marks its 26th year this year. And, its second without Keith Stout, who launched the event. He died in April 2025. The two-day event, Sept. 18-20, is one of the last remaining free jazz workshop and concert festivals in the state. Performances and workshops are planned at multiple venues across Vacaville, opening at Makse Restaurant in downtown, the Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre, and the Nut Tree Plaza and Village. The nonprofit is powered entirely by a large, dedicated contingent of volunteers. These individuals work diligently throughout the year to preserve the music arts culture in Vacaville and throughout Solano County communities. The music begins Sept. 18 at Makse Restaurant & Speakeasy, 555 Main St. Performers include Anthologie; Jimmy Malone and Brette Alana; Live Music Center’s Student Jazz Combo. The Steve Krohn Band will back
with alternative pop artist Alana as she debuts her single, “I Don’t Wanna Talk About It.” It is available now on all streaming platforms. Her family founded the Live Music Center in Vacaville where she learned to play the trumpet and guitar. For the past 14 years, she has performed at the Vacaville Jazz, Wine and Food Festival. She will share sneak peeks of new songs. The evening wraps up with an Open Jazz Jam. All musicians are invited to bring their instruments and join. To save a seat at Makse, visit www. makserestaurant.com. Jazz fans on Saturday will find a bevy of fun at multiple locations. The Vacaville Performing Arts Theatre will host music from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Music is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Nut Tree Plaza. By the Nut Tree Village train there will be arts and crafts vendors with music from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event returns to VPAT on Sept. 20 with music from noon to 5 p.m. Jazz, Wine and Food Day tickets are $32 and can be purchased at https:// vpat.net/event/jazz-wine-food-festival. A diverse musical lineup features the young, rising talents of Alina’s Music Studio, followed by “Unforgettable - The Tribute To Natalie Cole” show with Sabrina The Songstress. The grand finale includes the Alive Music Orchestra Big Band, featuring Frank Salamone and the Singers of Harmony, with honored guests from the VJS All-Star Jazz student program.
More music Piano Men Generations: The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John, 7 p.m. Sept. 13; Vacaville Performing
Sabrina The Songstress Arts Theatre. Kid Andersen, Greaseland All Stars with John “Blues” Boyd, 6:30 Wednesday; A Totally Elvis Concert, 8 p.m. Saturday; The Greg Rahn Trio with Jinx Jones, 11 a.m. Sept. 13; Empress Theatre, 330 Virginia St., Vallejo. “Love Loud” – a free benefit concert for Minister Roshun Wynne, 7 p.m. Sept. 25. “The evening will include live gospel music, worship, community and a collective opportunity to put love into action,” organizers said. Participating artists and guests include Chosen Generation, Nathan Justin, James Williams, Olevia Williams, the Revival Center Worship Team, Tia Madison, the cast of “No Room,” and special guests. The concert is at the Revival Center, 910 Tennessee St., in Vallejo. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, go to https:// iloveloud.org.
Jinx Jones
DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
COVER STORY
on the town
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‘Misery’ has company on list of Arty nominations TECHNICAL THEATRE AWARDS – LIGHTS AND COSTUMES
DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
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ive theater will be honored at the 2026 Arty Awards on Sept. 27 at Solano Community College, 4000 Suisun Valley Road. Doors open at 6 p.m. and awards commence at 6:30 p.m. Find tickets at https://onstage vacaville.org/events. And, the nominees are:
LIGHTING DESIGN IN A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Emanuel Bairan de Luna and Venese Johnson, “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • Jerald Bolden, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Sheena Beeson and Seth Ponce, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Kayla Sproule, “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts
TECHNICAL THEATRE AWARDS – SOUND AND SET SET DESIGN IN A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Jillian Egargin, Stella Ladringan and Kerry Cloud, “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • Jerald Bolden, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Tom Newman, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Nikki Clark and Tilly Tillotson, “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts SET DESIGN IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Jeff Sharp, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Isabella Mosing and Paulene Managbanag, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Tom Newman and Sheena Beeson, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Nikki Clark and Tilly Tillotson, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Joe Brummer, Brenna Perry and Courtney Hughes-Plocher, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy SET DESIGN IN AN ADULT COMEDY/DRAMA • Jeff Lowe, “Bus Stop,” Bay Area Stage
COURTESY PHOTO
Craig Rekdahl, left, as Paul Sheldon and Jenny Rastegar as Annie Wilkes in “Misery” by Bay Area Stage. • Richard Pallaziol, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” Valley Players • Craig Scharfen, “Everybody,” Solano College Theatre • Clinton Vidal, Flavia Smith and Karyn DeSouza, “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • Jeff Lowe and Linda Baehr, “Misery,” Bay Area Stage SET DESIGN IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Clinton Vidal, Beate Brühl, Cynthia and Flavia Smith, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Brian Watson, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College
• Carrie Mullen, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Lydia Smith, Kelly Pidgeon James and Tony James, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre SOUND DESIGN IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Michael Crowe, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Venese Johnson and Elijah Vergara, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Jacob Padilla, “Seussical,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Malik Rahim, “Guys And Dolls,”
Benicia High School Theatre • Andrea Hallahan, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy SOUND DESIGN IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Tom Kvech, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Matthew Cowell, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Alex Via, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Jordan Ledbetter, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre and “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company
LIGHTING DESIGN IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Tony Ginesi and Larry Ginesi, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Emanuel Bairan de Luna and Stella Ladringan, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Jerald Bolden, “Seussical,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Kayla Sproule, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Annie Morris, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy LIGHTING DESIGN IN AN ADULT COMEDY/DRAMA • Jeff Lowe, “Wait Until Dark and “Misery,” Bay Area Stage • Gabe Maxson, “Everybody,” Solano College Theatre • June Alane Reif, “The Savannah Sipping Society,” Valley Players • Jadyn McCombs, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre LIGHTING DESIGN IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Tom Kvech, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group
See Artys, Page 8
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on the town
Artys From Page 7
• Theo Bridant, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • William Schmidt, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • William Schmidt, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Daymon Clark, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company COSTUME DESIGN IN A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Keara Soriano and Iris Mayhew, “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • Rhonda Yung, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Ruby White and Spencer Rangel, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Beckie Pelkey, “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts COSTUME DESIGN IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Sylvia Gregory, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Justin Padrones and Gage Della, ”Matilda the Musical, “American Canyon High School • Sheena Beeson and Spencer Rangel, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Beckie Pelkey, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Ashlynn Foster, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy COSTUME DESIGN IN AN ADULT COMEDY/DRAMA • Stacey Loew, “Bus Stop,” and “Barefoot in the Park,” Bay Area Stage • Jeff Hamby, “Everybody,” Solano College Theatre • Donna Telepak, “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • Jude Moss-Tostado, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre COSTUME DESIGN IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Donna Telepak, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Bethany Deal, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Jeff Hamby, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Lydia Smith, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Tana Colburn, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company
Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Kerry Cloud, “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • Braxton Yung, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Sheila Brown, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Addyson Kearns, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Jeremy Ross, “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Karlos Garduce, “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • Amani Hodgman, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Samara Omodare, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Savannah Mena, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Leilani Douglas, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Matthew Makiva, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • David Vivas, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Carlos Gray, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Damien Geist, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Brady Mann, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Neela Bose, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Madison Gaskins, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Lorraine Galvan, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Emma Hewitt, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Bailey Merritt, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy SUPPORTING YOUTH IN AN ADULT COMEDY/DRAMA • Ellie DeClaire, “Wait Until Dark, Bay Area Stage • Zack Bender, “Wait Until Dark,” and “Misery,” Bay Area Stage • Bryan Pro, “Wait Until Dark,” Bay Area Stage • Jonathan Sanchez, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre
MUSICAL DIRECTION IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Vivian McLaughlin, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Brian Sennello and Mattea Williams, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Kurt Gellersted, “Seussical,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Candice Crismond-Hanna, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Andrea Hallahan, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy
HERMAN BUSTAMANTE JR./COURTESY PHOTO
Susanne Taussig, center stage, as Cherie in a scene from Bay Area Stage’s production of “Bus Stop.” Behind her, from left, are Jeff Lowe as Dr. Gerald Lyman, Rebecca Grintsaig as Elma Duckworth, Hector Barocio as Virgil, Scott Slagle as Carl the Bus Driver, Jennifer Rubio as Grace the Diner owner, Charlie Hodes as Bo and Demian Barrett as the Sheriff. SUPPORTING ACTOR IN AN ADULT COMEDY • Jeff Lowe, “Bus Stop,” Bay Area Stage • Scott Slagle, “Bus Stop,” Bay Area Stage • Luis Carbajal, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” Valley Players • Paul Cotten, “Barefoot in the Park,” Bay Area Stage SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN AN ADULT DRAMA • Tianna Jimmerson, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre • J’mai Kirtdoll, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN AN ADULT COMEDY • Jennifer Greene Rubio, “Bus Stop,” Bay Area Stage • Linda Howard, “Barefoot in the Park,” Bay Area Stage • Mellene Miller, “The Savannah Sipping Society,” Valley Players • Randi Storm, “The Savannah Sipping Society,” Valley Players • Brittany Kamerschen, “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group SUPPORTING ACTOR IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Mark Shepard, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Parker Soughers, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Leonardo Fitzpatrick, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Barrett Shepherd, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre
• Isaias Aguilera, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Ashley Jaye, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Sophia Passaris, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Sheena Beeson, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Rachel Davidson, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Sierra Sheehan, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company
CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSICAL DIRECTION AWARD CHOREOGRAPHY IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Lisa Clark Schmeling, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Alex Corey, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Jerald Bolden, “Seussical,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Barbara Whatcott, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Bailey Merritt, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy • Adria Swan, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Liz Andrews, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Jenny Plasse, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Pamela Lourentzos, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company
MUSICAL DIRECTION IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Marianna Wolff, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Christina Howell and Duncan Cooper, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Michael Reilly, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Amanda Bistolfo, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Jia-Min Rosendale, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company
LEAD ACTOR AND ACTRESS AWARDS LEAD ACTOR IN A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Elijah Vergara, “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • Landon Moore, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Kyle Krueger, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Nico Patlan, “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts • Isaiah Figueroa, “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts LEAD ACTRESS IN A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Isabella Marsden, “The Alibis,” American Canyon High School • Nya Ellison, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Jocelyn Barber, “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Inara McNair, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Sierra Isaacs, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions LEAD ACTOR IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Dugan Perotti-Kline, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School
See Artys, Page 12
DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
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on the town
Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC
OUT! on the town
Fairfield Host Lion 19th Annual Prime
A BENEFIT FOR FAIRFIELD P McNaughton Park | 8.26.26
ns’ e Rib in the Park
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DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
on the town
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on the town
Artys From Page 8
• Judah Geronimo, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Landon Moore, “Seussical,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Marc De Guzzman, “Seussical,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Morris Hirakawa, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre LEAD ACTRESS IN A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • Charlotte Bevan, “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • Gage Della, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Ceceli Villatoro, “Seussical,” Vanden Theatre Arts • Katerina Rodionov, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Ashlynn Foster, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy LEAD ACTOR IN AN ADULT COMEDY • Luis Carbajal, “Barefoot in the Park,” Bay Area Stage • Kyle Nash, “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • Joshua Roberts, “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • Charlie Hodes, “Bus Stop,” Bay Area Stage LEAD ACTOR IN AN ADULT DRAMA • Craig Rekdahl, “Wait Until Dark” and “Misery,” Bay Area Stage • Kieran Cross, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre LEAD ACTRESS IN AN ADULT COMEDY • June Alane Reif, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” Valley Players
Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC • Rhonda Bowen, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” Valley Players • Virgie Poole, ‘’Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • Jennifer Rubio, “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • Sophia Amador, “Barefoot in the Park,” Bay Area Stage LEAD ACTRESS IN AN ADULT DRAMA • Maria Chinchilla, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre • Jenny Rastegar, “Misery,” Bay Area Stage • Sydnee Ortiz, “Wait Until Dark,” Bay Area Stage LEAD ACTOR IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Ezra Hernandez, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Ted Bigornia, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Gabriel Logan Reyes, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Alex Chaseford, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Orlando Wilkerson, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company LEAD ACTRESS IN AN ADULT MUSICAL • Lindsay Stark, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Lila Howell, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Alexis Bueno, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Taylor Quist, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Alexandria Wilson, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company
DIRECTOR AWARDS DIRECTOR OF A HIGH SCHOOL COMEDY/DRAMA • Summer Heartt, “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • Jerald Bolden, “Clue: High School Edition,” (Vanden Theatre Arts
• Sheena Beeson, “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • Nikki Clark, “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts DIRECTOR OF A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL • James Thomas Bailey, “Big Fish.” Justin Siena High School • Summer Heartt, “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • Sheena Beeson, “Once Upon a Mattress,” Armijo Theatre Production • Nikki Clark, “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre • Jeremy Kreamer, “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy DIRECTOR OF AN ADULT MUSICAL • Adria Swan, “The Fantasticks,” Benicia Theatre Group • Tia Madison, “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • Christine Mani, “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • Lydia Smith, “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • Shane Robert, “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company DIRECTOR OF AN ADULT COMEDY • Richard Pallaziol, “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” Valley Players • Stacey Loew, “Barefoot in the Park,” Bay Area Stage • Clinton Vidal, “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • Debbie Baumann, “The Savannah Sipping Society,” Valley Players • JanLee Marshall, “Everybody,” Solano College Theatre • Jeff Lowe, “Wait Until Dark” and “Misery,” Bay Area Stage • Jae Tolbert, “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre
COURTESY PHOTO
From left, Patte Quinn, Linda Howard and Robyn Myers in the Valley Players’ production of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.”
OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION AWARDS OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF A COMEDY/DRAMA • “The Alibis!,” American Canyon High School • “Clue: High School Edition,” Vanden Theatre Arts • “Arsenic and Old Lace,” Armijo Theatre Productions • “Puffs or Seven Years At An Increasingly Eventful School of Magic & Magic,” Benicia High School Theatre Arts OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL • “Big Fish,” Justin Siena High School • “Matilda the Musical,” American Canyon High School • “Guys And Dolls,” Benicia High School Theatre
• “Freaky Friday,” Buckingham Collegiate Charter Academy OUTSTANDING COMEDY • “Bus Stop,” Bay Area Stage • “Rumors,” Benicia Theatre Group • ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,” Valley Players • “Barefoot in the Park,” Bay Area Stage OUTSTANDING DRAMA • “Rabbit Hole,” Solano College Theatre • “Wait Until Dark” and “Misery,” Bay Area Stage OUTSTANDING MUSICAL • “Into the Woods,” Napa Valley College • “42nd Street,” Solano College Theatre • “Cinderella,” Dixon Community Theatre • “A Chorus Line,” Winters Theatre Company
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DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
on the town
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GO
Art exhibits feature a variety of topics, including UFOs Fairfield Arts
DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
Art abounds as the fall season begins.
Solano Town Center Gallery The Members Open Show runs through Sept. 27 and features the jewelry artwork of Spotlight Artist, Mary Vinluan, and featured artists, The Art Divas. The Art Divas have a collection of mixed media art pieces. The Art Divas – Ann, Annie, Anna, Jo and Bridgitte – have been working together for more than 22 years. The Gallery is in the Solano Town Center on the second floor outside of Macy’s next to the AT&T Store, 1350 Travis Blvd. At the Gallery, try the Scavenger Hunt and enter for a chance to win a FSVAA Gift Certificate. Visitors can also vote for their favorite piece in the show. The piece with the most votes at the end of the show will win the “People’s Choice Award” and will stay for the next show.
A reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 17 to celebrate the introduction of Doniya Ahabchane, one of Fairfield Arts’ newest artists and the Spotlight Artist of the new show. The gallery is at 710 Jackson St. The fifth annual Crush-Open Studio Tours is Monday (Sept. 7) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at www.fvaa-arts. org/the-crush. The monthly Artist PopUp is at the Filling Station from noon to 7 pm. Sept. 26 at 2529 Mankas Corners Road.
Arts Benicia Gallery “We, the Makers” is on display through Sept. 27. The exhibit is at 1 Commandant’s Lane. For more information, visit https:// artsbenicia.org/we-the-makers-exhibition.
Benicia Plein Air Gallery The September show focuses on Mary Lou Correia. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 307 First St. www. beniciapleinair.com.
Gallery 621 Featured artists for September are Kathleen Gadway and James Storey. Reception is 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. The gallery is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, 309 First St., Benicia. www.gallery621.com.
Mare Island Art Studios
COURTESY PHOTO
“As Hard as She Tried Lynn Could Not Get That Song Out of her Head” by Lynn Cohen is on display as part of the Juried Art Show at the Vacaville Art Gallery.
“Nothing To See Here” by Jason Perry is on display through Sept. 27. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Sundays at 110 Pintado St., Vallejo. https://mareislandartstudios.com.
Marilyn Citron O’Rourke Gallery “Plein Janes in the Light” is an exhibi-
COURTESY PHOTO
tion of five plein air painters at the Benicia Public Library through Oct 5. The reception is 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, 150 E. L St., Benicia. www.benicialibrary.org.
Solano Community College Dorothy Herger Gallery “Embody” is on display through Nov. 7. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday by appointment, 4000 Suisun Valley Road, Building 1300, Fairfield. www.solano.edu.
Vacaville Art Gallery Juried Art Show is on display through Sept. 26. Hours are noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 718 E. Monte Vista Ave. 707-448-8712, www.vacavilleartgallery.org.
“Jazz Man” by Brandon Dole is on display as part of the Juried Art Show at the Vacaville Art Gallery.
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Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC
G O SEE A MOV I E:
Fall movies a mix of re-releases, new DAILY REPUBLIC STAFF DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET
T
he September box office brings some new flicks and ret u r n i ng ones to the big screen.
Sept. 11 Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman star in “Practical Magic 2.” The flick returns to a world steeped in moonlit mischief and powerful ancestral magic, as the Owens sisters must confront the dark curse that threatens to unravel their family once and for all. The film is rated PG-13. “Runner” centers on a former soldier thrown into a brutal race against time when a critical medical delivery makes him and his unlikely partner (Owen Wilson) the targets of a ruthless cartel. As the mission spirals into a deadly manhunt, they must survive the chase and deliver their cargo to save the life of a little girl. The film is rated PG-13. “The Uprising” features Andrew Garfield, Jamie Bell and Tom Hollander in the story of the English Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. A farmer rises to lead an uprising against royal forces under the rule of the young King Richard II. The film is rated R. “Don’t Look Back In Anger” charts Liam and Noel Gallagher’s reunion tour, Oasis Live ‘25, one of the most anticipated rock ‘n’ roll comebacks of our time. The film is rated R. Opening in limited release are: “The Fix,” R, which follows Larry (Liam Neeson), Tucker (Zachary Lévi) and a group of former CIA operators who hope to pull off a daring rescue in the Iranian capital to redeem themselves after a failed Afghanistan mission. The film is rated R. “Mighty Mary,” which chronicles the first all-women’s sailing
SCOTT GARFIELD
James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and Odin in “Heart of the Beast” from Paramount Pictures. team to contend for the America’s Cup. The film is not rated.
Sept. 18 “Resident Evil” is an all-new story that follows a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in a nonstop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night collapses around him in chaos. The film is rated R. “The Weight” stars Ethan Hawke, who is sent to a brutal prison where the warden, Russell Crowe, offers a high-stakes proposition: smuggle gold out of a remote mine with a dangerous crew of prisoners and he’ll win his freedom. The film is rated R. “The Musical” follows a disgruntled playwright-turnedmiddle school theater teacher
longing for New York. When his ex-girlfriend begins dating his nemesis, the school’s principal, his ambitions morph into a diabolical scheme. The film is not rated. “If I Go Will They Miss Me” is set in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, where Lil Ant, 12, sees the world and his father the way all children should – full of myth, wonder and unwavering belief. The film is not rated. Opening in limited release are: “The History of Concrete,” which follows the HBO series “How To with John Wilson.” Wilson looks to the bedrock of his beloved New York City for inspiration and structure. The film is not rated. “Tiny Fugitives,” which follows a reckless, fiercely determined group of 12-year-olds who hatch a chaotic plot to escape
reality and spend the rest of their lives at sleepaway camp. Standing between them and permanent freedom is the camp’s deranged, relentless, 50-year-old lifer counselor. The film is rated R. “April X,” which stars Lily Krug as a twin who goes missing. Her twin brother searches every corner of their futuristic, post-Soviet cityscape to find her, ultimately descending into madness. The film is not rated. “The Master and Margarita,” which is based on the seminal Soviet novel from Kyiv-born author Mikhail Bulgakov. It tells the story of a writer in 1930s Moscow who, after being censored by the state, instead writes a new novel where the devil arrives to wreak havoc onto the corrupt bureaucrats who have done him wrong. The film
is not rated. “Without Blood,” which is set in a frontier landscape at the beginning of the 20th century, where gunmen descend on a remote farmhouse, determined to exact revenge. Their target, a doctor – alone with his son and daughter – tries desperately to protect his children. Inevitably, bullets fly. The film is not rated. “Ghost in the Shell 30th Anniversary,” a re-release about a female cybernetic government agent and the Internal Bureau of Investigations on the trail of “The Puppet Master,” a mysterious and threatening computer virus capable of infiltrating human hosts. The film is not rated. See Movie, Page 15
DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
Movie From Page 14
Sept. 25 “Avengers Endgame: Encore” returns for an encore. The Avengers have triumphed over Loki, and they’ll face Ultron … but nothing could prepare them for the menace of Thanos. The film is rated PG-13. “Heart of the Beast” follows Special Forces officer James Belmont (Brad Pitt) and his combat dog, Odin, who find themselves stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness after a harrowing plane crash. The film is “Forgotten Island” is an animated adventure about Jo and Raissa who, while celebrating their last night together, stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. The film is rated PG. “Charlie Harper” is a love story about two young adults who fall in love while navigating their early 20s, discovering themselves both as individuals and as a couple. The film is rated R. Opening in limited release are: “Primetime,” which follows the production of the reality RV series “To Catch a Predator.” Host Chris Hanson (Robert Pattinson)
sets out to make television history with his segment on Dateline NBC. A crime investigating a TV journalist changes the face of television with his examination into the underworld of sexual predators going after minors. The film is not rated. “The Incomer,” a Sundance Award-winning comedy about a modern folk fairy tale set on a remote Scottish island, where two siblings survive by hunting seabirds, retelling the stories of their ancestors, and defending the isle from dreaded incomers. Their world is upended with the arrival of an awkward council worker who has come to uproot them from their homeland on behalf of the government. The film is rated R. “Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother,” which stars Mahershala Ali as Latif, a deeply religious hitman trying to maintain a balance between his work, his faith and fatherhood. That life suddenly becomes much more difficult and morally ambiguous when his wife dies. The film is rated R. “Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers,” which offers an inspiring journey through the springs, creeks, rivers and bays that define the Lone Star State. Narrated by Academy Award-nominated Native Texan Ethan Hawke, the film showcases the abundant diversity of wildlife that calls Texas home while confronting the critical water challenges facing a rapidly growing population. The film is rated G.
ALISHA WETHERILL/ © 2026 AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Anne Hathaway, left, stars as Verity Crawford and Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford in director Michael Showalter’s “Verity.”
on the town
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BETINA LA PLANTE/FOCUS FEATURES. © 2026 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
From left, Tom Hollander as Treasurer Hales, Woody Norman as King RIchard II and Katherine Waterston as The Countess in director Paul Greengrass’s “The Uprising,” a Focus Features release. “The Deputy,” which features William H. Macy as a sheriff who assigns a part-time deputy to guard a dead body until the coroner arrives. An hour later, the corpse mysteriously vanishes. The film is rated R. “Never After Dark,” in which a wandering medium spends her life guiding restless spirits out of the world of the living. Summoned to an isolated country house, she comes face to face with a grotesque apparition with powers that defy her experience. The film is not rated. “The Stunt Driver,” which recounts the true underdog story of Canada’s Ken Carter, the world champion stunt driver who battles his personal demons and public doubt to attempt what everyone considers impossible – a mile-long jump across the St. Lawrence River in a rocket car. The film is rated R. “Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!,” the story of two people who love competing in Tokyo’s ballroom dance scene. After tragedy strikes, one withdraws into isolation. When friends coax her back to the studio, she develops an infatuation with the new instructor. The film is rated R. “No Limbs No Limits: The NickV Story,” which chronicles the journey of one of the world’s
most inspiring speakers, “NickV” – an Aussie-American born with no arms or legs who has redefined what it means to live an extraordinary life. The film is not rated.
Oct. 2 “Verity” is a psychological thriller starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett and Michael Showalter in the tale of a struggling writer hired under mysterious circumstances as a ghostwriter for renowned author Verity Crawford. Her assignment takes a dark turn after discovering chilling autobiographical notes. The film is rated R. “Digger” stars Tom Cruise as the most powerful man in the world who embarks on a frantic mission to prove that he is humanity’s savior before the disaster he’s unleashed destroys everything. The film is not rated. Opening in limited release are: “Nickels,” the story of a successful entrepreneur and devoted family man who has never recovered from the tragic motorcycle accident that claimed his older brother’s life when he was a teenager. Thirty years later, after his neighbor’s son is involved in a devastating motorcycle crash, he begins to believe his brother’s
spirit may have returned. The film is not rated. “Beware Boiúna,” which is set deep in the Amazon where a medical mission spirals into a fight for survival when Boiúna, a colossal ancient predator, awakens to reclaim her domain. The film is rated R. “Ghost In The Cell,” the tale of a high-security prison ruled by feuding gangs and a tyrannical warden. The arrival of a new inmate kicks off a series of mysterious gruesome murders that leave its victims on morbid display. The film is not rated. “Rolling Loud: The Movie,” which features Owen Wilson as an underappreciated dad trying way too hard to connect with his son. Despite his wife saying “no,” he sneaks his 13-year-old son into Rolling Loud, headlined by Travis Scott. What starts as a bonding weekend instantly spirals out of control when he loses his son in a sea of thousands. The film is not rated. “Appofeniacs,” which blends psychological horror, dark satire and real-world tech paranoia to explore the weaponization of deepfake technology and the disintegration of truth in a digital-first culture. The film is rated R.
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Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC
Recipe
OF THE MONTH
Rita’s Oatmeal Cookies By Chef Stephanie Seaberg
Not gonna lie… I don’t like oatmeal cookies. But I LOVE these oatmeal cookies. Oatmeal cookies are often the last cookie left on the platter at any party. They truly don’t get enough love. I was offered one of these delicious delights at a social function and I must’ve spent nearly 10 minutes eating this one cookie. Just chewing it so slowly and enjoying every single morsel. Rita Nordquist of the Dublin Senior Center Melody Minstrels was kind enough to pass on the recipe for me to share. Does it have a lot of butter and sugar? Yes. Am I pretending it’s healthy because it has oatmeal in it? Yes. Did I eat three of these while I was writing this article?… Also, yes. Will you make this for your next Labor Day party? You betcha! You will need 3 eggs, well beaten 1 cup raisins 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 cup of butter, soft 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 cups oatmeal 3/4 cup chopped pecan
Putting it together In a small bowl, combine the raisins, eggs and vanilla. Cover and set aside for one hour. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a medium size bowl, cream the butter and sugars together. Then in a second bowl, blend the flour, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda. Gradually stir the dry mixture into the sugar mixture until well incorporated. Add the oatmeal, nuts and soaked raisins. The mixture will be a little stiff. Drop rounded teaspoons of cookie dough onto a baking sheet, but be careful not to go bigger, or it won’t bake evenly. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
Steinem’s message for the next generation:
‘Please tell your own story’ TRACY BROWN LOS ANGELES TIMES
A
t the top of Gloria Steinem’s “Famous Last Words” interview on Netflix, Brad Falchuk describes the writer and activist as “the face of the feminist movement” for the last 50-plus years – and Steinem says she hopes that isn’t true. “I hope I wasn’t the face of the feminist movement,” Steinem says during the intimate conversation released Thursday on the streamer after her death at age 92. “Because it’s not right. ... It’s a diverse movement, and, actually, on the issues, in public opinion polls, women of color are more likely to support the issues than white women.” According to a Netflix news release, Steinem sat down with Falchuk in February 2025 for the interview she knew would not be released until after her death. In “Famous Last Words: Gloria Steinem,” the celebrated feminist reflects on her life and legacy in terms of her political activism, as well as her family and upbringing, relationships with other feminist figures and her hopes for the future. Steinem maintained her hopes, even in a post-Roe v. Wade world. When the landmark decision was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022, it meant states could again outlaw abortion. “I get angry or disappointed and so on [thinking about it], but I don’t lose all hope in the future,” Steinem said, before sharing — Gloria Steinem observations about previously living near an abortion clinic. Women are “still struggling,” she said. “There’s still religious restrictions that many people feel. There’s, I’m sorry to say, race and class restrictions. “We have, right as we speak, Trump in the White House. So we have no shortage of things we need to do in order to be compassionate toward each other.” One of the most recognizable feminist figures of our times, Steinem was known for her role in launching Ms. Magazine as well as organizations such as the National Women’s Political Caucus and the Women’s Action Alliance. When asked by Falchuk to reflect on her “feminist awakening,” she mentions
‘I just hope that I have, however accidentally, left behind some words or actions or stories or something that is useful to the people – and pleasurable, hopefully – to the people who are going to continue long after you and me.’
See Steinem, Page 17
DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
on the town
Eleventh Annual
Lobster Boil SATURDAY
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Executive producer Gloria Steinem takes part in a Q&A following the HBO documentary “Private Violence” at Walter Reade Theater in New York, June 13, 2014. that her time in India studying Gandhi was when she “realized that patriarchy was made up. Racism was made up.” But the interview has its lighter moments. For instance, Steinem reveals she finds joy in reality TV, including “Dance Moms.” “It’s shows in which you see real people being who they are and disclosing their own stories,” Steinem said. “Those are more fun.” And although she seems hesitant about contemplating her own “nonexistence,” she does share how she wants to be remembered: As “this person who tried to make the world a little more equal, compassionate, joyful, funny than it was when I showed up.” “I just hope that I have, however accidentally, left behind some words or actions or stories or something that is useful to the people – and pleasurable, hopefully – to the people who are going to continue long after you and me,” she said. Falchuk, also an executive producer of the “Famous Last Words” series, described Steinem in a news release as “the steady heartbeat of a revolution, but in this room, she was a woman reflecting on the simple, profound beauty of human connection.”
“She spoke about the intersection of race, gender, and peace with a wisdom that only comes from a lifetime on the front lines. Even in her final moments, she was organizing us, challenging us to keep moving forward. It is an extraordinary privilege to share her final thoughts with the world.” After her conversation with Falchuk, Steinem was given the opportunity to share her final words alone, directly addressing the audience through the camera. Read her full message below. “Hello, all you unique individuals out there. I’m so glad to be meeting you through the magic of the media. I wish I could meet each one of you in person. But in a way, this is what allows us now to see each other’s lives, to influence each other’s lives, to respect each other, and to, therefore, perpetuate what we hope is a global democracy. “Please feel free to respond in any way you can. And please tell your own story. This is the most important thing we can do for each other – to know each other through stories. And I hope so much that whoever you are, listening right now, you are able to do what you love [and] to be ... the unique person you are.”
McNaughton Park 729 Great Jones Street, Fairfield
Lobster Dinner & Beverages Tickets $150 per person
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Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC
‘The Sun Never Sets’ navigates a well-balanced love triangle
KATIE WALSH
MOVIE
F
Review
TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
ilmmaker Joe Swanberg might be known as one of the pioneers of the 2000s low-budget indie film movement known as “mumblecore,” but he’s established a signature, deeply humanist style all his own in the two decades since his directorial debut, “Kissing on the Mouth,” premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival. But Swanberg remains fascinated by people, relationships, sex and love, and his latest film, “The Sun Never Sets,” explores the same themes that inspired him to pick up a digital camera back in 2004. Both “The Sun Never Sets” and “Kissing on the Mouth” feature triads of two men and one woman, ex-boyfriends and themes of jealousy, but in vastly different stages of life. The more things change, the more they stay the same, as the saying goes, and that proves to be true in Swanberg’s filmic output. A rom-dramedy set in Anchorage, Alaska, two of the love triangle participants are Wendy (Dakota Fanning) and Jack (Jake Johnson, Swanberg’s current muse; this is their fourth feature together). Jack is an older divorced dad; Wendy is in her early 30s, seemingly content to play stepmom to Jack’s two kids, though the relationship means sacrificing some of her dreams, like marriage and kids of her own. When Wendy brings up complicated feelings about a friend’s pregnancy announcement, and the desire to buy a sailboat, something clarifies for Jack. He insists they take a break for the summer – Wendy should date around, find someone more
‘The Sun Never Sets’ Rated R 102 minutes
HHH (OUT OF FOUR)
INDEPENDENT FILM COMPANY/TNS
Dakota Fanning in Joe Swanberg’s “The Sun Never Sets.” suited to her. She protests, but acquiesces. What neither Wendy or Jack expect is for her past to walk into a bar one night. It’s emotionally seismic, captured in a slow zoom in on Wendy’s shocked face. Fanning’s acting here is incredibly subtle but gut-wrenching, and it’s one of the most suspenseful moments in cinema this year. And somehow, Swanberg was able to cast an actor whose appeal manages to rival that of the affable Johnson, whose Jack is a one-man charm offensive. As Wendy’s ex Chuck, Cory Michael Smith lands like a nuclear bomb as the third corner of the triangle, a spoiler that Jack never saw coming when he made this bet. Chuck
offers Wendy what Jack can’t, or won’t – he’s outdoorsy, adventurous and finally ready to commit. But Jack, who is witty, kind and sociable, fills the gaps where Chuck is lacking. Chuck is enthusiastic but unreliable; he has bad credit. Jack is stable but needy. Wendy pingpongs between the two until we’re ready to beg Swanberg to release her from this cycle. “The Sun Never Sets” is a study in jealousy, but it’s also a study in radical honesty. Perhaps that’s inspired by his own life, or perhaps the film is a chance for Swanberg (who wrote, directed, edited, produced and has a small part in the film) to see how these sticky situations might play out when people just say what’s on
their mind. Wendy and Jack don’t mind confessing their love to each other, or confessing that they’ve slept with other people. They act out of petulant insecurity, as well as deep care for each other. Their forthrightness is often problematic but always refreshing. Usually the problem in a relationship film is due to lying – these two don’t lie, but the problems persist nevertheless. Swanberg fills the world with believable characters, including Debby Ryan as Wendy’s long-suffering but loyal friend, and Karley Sciortino as a perfectly nice woman for Jack to date. There is a grounded authenticity to the connections between each character, even if certain elements of the
world he builds strain credulity. Fanning and Smith are moviestar gorgeous playing blue-collar Alaskans; they wear the Carhartt well, but Wendy’s job as a backhoe operator feels entirely implausible (we can buy Chuck as a seaplane pilot though). And no offense to Anchorage, but Swanberg has imagined a remarkably tiny world of sexy singles in the dating scene of this Pacific Northwest city. The film is signature Swanberg, but it’s also operating at another level of nuance and sophistication. The location shooting in Alaska offers a sense of grandeur and unreality (the sun truly never sets), and the soundtrack is excellent. It’s all in support of this trio of strong performances. Fanning is utterly relatable as Wendy, neither victim nor saint, as flawed and fumbling as everyone. If the characters happen to fall into stereotype or cliché, it feels like when real people do. Somehow, Swanberg winds his way through the relationship upsets and outbursts to find the perfect ending for “The Sun Never Sets,” a rare thing for the love triangle movie – it always feels like a binary choice, when there could be some secret third option. Perhaps it’s because he lets his characters embrace their honesty that they do, eventually, find their way home.
DAILY REPUBLIC — Sunday, September 6, 2026
on the town
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on the town
Sunday, September 6, 2026 — DAILY REPUBLIC