Nightclub acts booked for La Jolla Playhouse cabaret series

From Playhouse Reports

As part of its 2013 cabaret series, La Jolla Playhouse will bring three special acts to its Potiker stage on the UCSD campus.

The Second City’s “Laughing Matters”

sketch comedy tour comes back to town, March 20–23, with showtimes at 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday; 5:30 and 8 p.m. Friday; and 2, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Playhouse will also present

“Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen,

” 8 p.m. Friday, March 29; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 30; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 31. The show highlights Vereen’s unique artistry, combining a tribute to Broadway, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.

* Tickets for these two shows are $30-$65 at (858) 550-1010 or LaJollaPlayhouse.org

Local band Steam Powered Giraffe

will entertain at 2 and 8 p.m. Sunday, March 24. The artists behind Steam Powered Giraffe started street busking as their signature robot-like characters in January 2008 in Balboa Park and instantly drew the attention of Southern California. Since then, they’ve performed at The San Diego Fair, The San Diego Zoo, Legoland and numerous Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Steampunk Conventions.

Their act combines the visual of robot pantomime with sketches, pop culture references, improvised comedic dialogue and original music. Trained in pantomime by Seaport Village mime Jerry Hager, with collective backgrounds in clown, theatre, music, and visual design, Sam Luke and Bennett twins Christopher and David, have sculpted a striking homegrown performance.

* Tickets are $20 at (858) 550-1010 or LaJollaPlayhouse.org