Scary Halloween Story Night 2013

Once upon a time, there was an axe-murderer who wreaked havoc on the town and was never seen again (cue screams from the audience). Remember when Halloween was about the terror, haunted houses had dry-ice-laden punch that bubbled over plastic cauldrons and that creepy neighbor who handed out apples in lieu of candy? Something other than rallying cohorts of drunken mini-skirt-clad girls and shirtless “lifeguard” men?

Cue Bazaar Cafe’s annual Scary Halloween Story Night this Saturday. Featuring five- to 10-minute performances, the event sort of inaugurates the week to follow.

Jerry Kuderna at the Berkeley Arts Festival

Everybody loves Jerry. Hailed by The New York Times as “thoughtful and sensitive,” pianist Jerry Kuderna is a teacher by nature, and this mindset permeates his music. His concerts are infamous for their escapist nature and meant to totally absorb. He plays to excite and transport the audience through sound. Catch him Friday at noon at the Berkeley Arts Festival.

“Cuba Mia: Portrait of an All-Woman Orchestra”

Music is one of the most awesome vehicles to highlight the undulations of life, and in film, it’s hard to steer it from a cumbersome presence. But sometimes the music works. “Cuba Mia” chronicles the lives of musicians in the all-woman Havana-based orchestra Camerata Romeu. In accord with the fast-paced tempo of Latin music, the film dances with the rise and falls of an artistic life. Enjoy a screening at International House on Tuesday.

“The Wizard of Oz” at the Orpheum Theatre

Fantasy comes to life in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz.” Harmonized with the notion of reclaiming childish fantasies (hello, Halloween), this show encapsulates the innate curiosity that has kept people captivated since its release in 1939. Attend later this week for the ultimate Flashback Friday at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco.

Contact Zoe Kleinfeld at [email protected].