5 things to do this week in Marin, from Bill Maher to muscle cars – Marin Independent Journal

Let the good times roll in Marin this week. From an Oktoberfest celebration to a Bill Maher comedy show to a car and motorcycle show, here are some of the not-to-miss events happening in our county.

Political humor

Whether he’s performing comedy on stage or on his longtime talk show, “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Bill Maher’s political humor looks at today’s world. And boy, does he have a lot to talk about these days. Have a much-needed laugh with the Los Angeles comedian at his new stand-up comedy show at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium at 10 Avenue of the Flags in San Rafael. Tickets are $61.75 to $321.75. Proof of vaccination and masks required. For more information and to get tickets, go to tickets.marincenter.org.

Inside ‘The Box’

While sitting in a cramped 4-foot-by-6-foot symbolic prison cell, get a glimpse into the psychological horrors of solitary confinement that people are routinely subjected to in American prisons in Marin Shakespeare Company’s “The Box.” The poignant play by Sarah Shourd, the result of a three-year investigation Shourd conducted on solitary confinement in American prisons as well as her own experience being held by Iran in solitary confinement for 410 days, has had its run extended. It continues Friday through Sunday outdoors at Dominican University’s Forest Meadows Amphitheatre in San Rafael.

“After my own imprisonment, when I came back to the U.S., I was really shocked to find that solitary confinement is used so routinely and on such a massive scale in our prisons,” Shourd told the IJ earlier this month. “And that it’s in many ways the control mechanism making that mass incarceration possible — that we couldn’t warehouse so many people without torturing them.”

Proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test required. Masks are also required to be worn by attendees. Tickets are $40 for each 7:30 p.m. show. Get tickets and more information at marinshakespeare.org.

Prost!

Get out your dirndl, beer steins and lederhosen and celebrate at Tamalpais Community Services District’s Oktoberfest from 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Tam Valley Community Center parking lot. The event will feature traditional music, dancing, food, imported beer, games and a cornhole tournament. Masks recommended. Tickets are $10 to $20. Get them in advance at 415-388-6393 or at the door. For more information, go to tamcsd.org.

Dance it out

When Marin resident Casey Lee Thorne founded Inside Out Contemporary Ballet in 2012, she wanted it to re-image ballet, rooting their work in interdisciplinary collaboration, dance advocacy and community building. And over the years, the graduate of the Alonzo King LINES Ballet program at Dominican University of California has done just that.

“A lot of what you’ll find in the classical ballet world is a monkey-see, monkey-do mentality, where the choreographer tells you what to do and you just repeat what they tell you and you get approvals. The focus isn’t typically, who are you?” Thorne told the IJ in 2013. “The way we’re trying to work is to let go of that. I’m interested in what each one in my company has to offer. My work as director is creating a safe place for them to explore their inner world and emote from the inside out.”

See the dance company’s latest work, a dance film, “100 Days of Dance,” at 1 p.m. Saturday on Zoom. After the film’s debut, there will be a Q&A with the creators at 3 p.m. No RSVP necessary for the free event. The Zoom link can be found at insideoutballet.org/news.

Classic rides

From muscle cars to hot rods to classic coupes, check out more than 100 vintage cars and motorcycles at Bon Air’s first vintage car and motorcycle showcase from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the west end of Bon Air’s parking lot in Greenbrae. This event will let people meet vehicle owners and swap stories, listen to live music and check out sidewalk specials. Free entry. For more information, go to bonair.com.