2003: A top Vatican official, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, acknowledged what many observers had long suspected — that Pope John Paul II was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. More than 260 people died in Sri Lanka’s worst flooding in five decades. Funny Cide ran away from the field in the Preakness, two weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby. (However, Funny Cide came up short at the Belmont Stakes, finishing third.). 2008: Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., was flown to a Boston hospital after suffering a seizure at his Cape Cod home (he was later diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor). Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown ran away with the Preakness (however, the horse’s Triple Crown quest ended three weeks later when it finished last in the Belmont Stakes).

Now Oakland’s Ubuntu Theater Project is producing the West Coast premiere of one of Gardley’s very early works, “Dance of the Holy Ghosts,” which premiered at Yale Rep in 2006, The twist is, Ubuntu has actually produced the play twice before, in 2014 and 2015, but it was such a small newbie company at the time that those were treated as workshop productions, A semiautobiographical memory play set in Oakland, “Dance us size 7.5 ballet shoes black 80s textile upper embroidery ballerinas leather sole flat shoes slip on vintage leather lined eur of the Holy Ghosts” centers around the relationship between young boy Marcus G, (charmingly animated Michael Curry) and the roguish and unreliable grandfather he idolizes (smoothly charismatic and irascible Berwick Haynes)..

Liz Martin, who did the costumes for “Tarzan,” once again comes through with lots of colorful creations, including whimsical hairpieces for the Emperor’s court. Kahng’s varied music (from pop to rock to ballads and even a bit of Disco) is in good hands with his six-piece band including Keith Leung, who uses flute, clarinet and oboe to create the voice of the nightingale. Although the production would benefit from some judicious cutting — especially during Act I — it is a very entertaining piece of theater that imparts its positive message in a charming and compelling way. “Song of the Nightingale continues through Nov. 17 at the Alameda Playhouse, 1409 High St. in Alameda. Call 510-523-1553 or go to www.altarena.org.

Enthusiastic attendees at the “House Party!” included us size 7.5 ballet shoes black 80s textile upper embroidery ballerinas leather sole flat shoes slip on vintage leather lined eur Janice Roberts, chair of the board of directors; Laurie Kraus Lacob; John and Susan Sobrato; Duncan and Shirley Matteson; Richard and Susan Seiler; and Suzi Tinsley of the Sugar Shack, Smuin Artistic Director Celia Fushille said, “It’s a night for celebrating, Last year we looked backward to our beginnings; this year we’re looking forward to the future.”, She announced that Smuin’s board of trustees just signed the papers to purchase a building that will house the company’s offices and studios, It will be the company’s first permanent home..

Community groups that were interested in the building were vetted by members of the Los Gatos Youth Commission, who recommended KCAT. “The commission further suggests that the draft lease with KCAT include terms that require a front meeting room closed off from KCAT’s equipment that can be used by other youth friendly organizations for meetings, with special consideration given to the youth theatre and Boy Scouts of America,” youth commissioner Shomil Jain said. KCAT station manager Melissa Toren wants to have a separate entrance for community groups to use for meetings. So it’s likely the Los Gatos Youth Theatre will use the facility for rehearsals, as well as acting and dance classes.