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The Firehouse Arts Center is getting ready for spring with a mix of concerts as the seasons transition during the next several weeks.
The schedule includes the folk stylings of the T Sisters, the Irish vibes of CaliCeltic, the emotional jazz harmonies of the Mimi Fox B-3 Trio and starting it all off with two shows this weekend, the groovy hits Swedish icons courtesy of tribute act ABBAFAB.
No word on if “Thank You for the Music” will be among the fan favorites on the ABBA cover band’s setlist, but it would be an apt choice for the venue right now.
The Firehouse recently said goodbye to Mark Duncanson, the city of Pleasanton’s recreation supervisor in civic arts, whose duties included leading the effort to book acts for the theater in the heart of downtown.
A mainstay in the city’s recreation department since 2004 (other than a seven-month stint in another job in 2021), including during the time the Firehouse opened in 2010, Duncanson retired from the city on Feb. 22. A permanent successor has not yet been named.
“Personally it was the right time. There’s been a lot happening personally and professionally, and it’s the right time to prioritize family,” Duncanson told the Weekly on Monday. “With my promotion to recreation supervisor just over two years ago at the city, I’ve been able to really take stock in what I love in recreation and the arts and focus on what that means for my career in the future.”
“It’s also the right time for me to retire because I’ve come to the tough realization that as needs change within the city, I understand that my passions and artistic visions aren’t as needed in the supervisor position,” he added.
At the center of so many performances, programs and initiatives at the Firehouse, Duncanson pointed to creating the Creatures of Impulse youth improv troupe in 2007 as his proudest accomplishment with the city. The longstanding and award-winning group just produced their familiar “Face-Off” shows last weekend.
“That one program paved the way for opportunities for students, staff, me and the city,” he said. “COI and Improv also led to many partnerships with Pleasanton Unified School District. COI was the gateway for the current structure of Pleasanton Youth Theater Company, the High School Music Collaborative, and so much more.”
“I love building community through recreation programs and the arts. I also like moving the line on what community means … where one lives, works, vacations, visits, genres of music, types of visual arts, interests, etc.,” Duncanson added.
Eclectic performance lineups were a hallmark of the Firehouse during Duncanson’s tenure at the helm — which helps explain the March-to-April concert schedule the city highlighted in a recent press release.
The run starts this weekend with two shows from ABBAFAB, who pay tribute to the Swedish pop quartet who rose to fame in the 1970s with hits like “Dancing Queen”, “Mamma Mia” and “Fernando”.
“With vocals and musicianship that are second to none, the ABBAFAB vibe is infectious,” Firehouse reps said. There will be an evening concert at 8 p.m. Saturday (March 2) and an afternoon matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday (March 3).
Then next Friday (March 8), the folk talents of sisters Erika, Rachel and Chloe Tietjen will be on the Firehouse stage. The T Sisters “flow seamlessly between styles and moods, from roots to pop and sassy to sincere, captivating listeners with their lush sound and soaring harmonies,” Firehouse reps said.
To help celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the venue will welcome CaliCeltic for an Irish fusion concert on March 15. “I have to shout out CaliCeltic,” Duncanson said. “I’m great friends with Sean Lightholder that leads the band and in addition to being a fantastic group of musicians, they have a massive love for Celtic music and Irish culture.”
After the calendar formally turns to spring, the Firehouse will host the Mimi Fox B-3 Trio, headed by jazz guitarist Fox accompanied by Brian Ho and Larca Hart for a concert “that runs the gamut from greasy blues and funk to luscious ballads and blazing bebop,” officials said. The show is set for April 20 at 8 p.m.
All of the upcoming concerts will see traditional seating inside the theater, which experimented with a cafe-style arrangement for performances in January and February.
“The cafe-style seating at the Firehouse was an all-around success,” Firehouse spokesperson Nick Binzoni told the Weekly.
“Based on the feedback we received from audiences, it seems the community had as much fun attending the shows as we had hosting them,” he added. “We look forward to offering cafe-style seating again in the future, but we’re just as excited to continue delivering exceptional performances as we return to our traditional seating arrangement.”
For tickets and more information, go to firehousearts.org or call 925-931-4848.
