The following is the March 12 edition of Cultural Capital, an arts and entertainment newsletter written by Abridged contributor Chris Macias. Want it sent directly to your inbox? Sign up here.

Spring has sprung and the region’s arts and entertainment offerings are definitely blooming this week. Read along for Cultural Capital’s picks including classical music with a rockin’ twist and Pulitzer Prize-winning theater, plus indie-rock and jazz. You’ll also find a family-friendly art outing and more to keep you inspired.

Let’s go! (Allergy medicine not included)

Hear an orchestra with a renegade twist

The Renegade Orchestra aims to make symphonic music relatable for modern listeners. (Frederic Aube)

The details:

Veterans Memorial Theatre, 277 E. 14th St., Davis

7 p.m., March 14 (Saturday)

$28.52

To paraphrase Chuck Berry: Roll over Beethoven, tell Grace Slick and Carlos Santana the news! The Renegade Orchestra gives the usual symphonic experience a kick in the tuxedo pants with a repertoire that truly rocks. On Saturday at Veterans Memorial Theatre in Davis, the Renegade Orchestra will pay homage to “The Sounds of San Francisco” with pieces from Jefferson Airplane, Metallica and the Dead Kennedys punk classic “Holiday in Cambodia” among others.

Cellist Rebecca Roudman says the ensemble’s goal is to make symphonic music as relatable and fun as possible. It’s also an opportunity for the musicians to let their hair down and simply rock out.

“For the audience, we know that classical symphonies often have a lot of barriers in the way of enjoying them,” Roudman wrote in an email. “There’s high ticket prices, a formal atmosphere and unfamiliar music. With the Renegade Orchestra, we toss that all aside so that the audience can have casual fun.”

The second half of the show features rock artists from beyond the Bay. In all, a night to throw horns while experiencing symphonic music in new ways.

Catch must-see theater before the official opening

The details:

Capital Stage, 2215 J St., Sacramento

7 p.m., March 18 (Wednesday, preview)

$36-$41

“Fat Ham” is one of the season’s most anticipated theater productions, with the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Drama coming right to Capital Stage. It’s a brilliant reimagining of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” in this case set in a Southern backyard barbecue that’s filled with tragi-comedy and complex family dramas. Be one of the first to catch “Fat Ham” with a preview show on March 18. Otherwise, the official run kicks off March 21 and continues through April 19.

Indie-rock ‘til you drop

The details:

Musiclandria, 808 O St., Sacramento

6:30-9 p.m., March 13 (Friday)

$15.38

For fans of ethereal alternative-rock, Musiclandria is the place to be Friday night for a fix of fuzzy, reverb-soaked sounds. Sacramento’s Ghostplay will perform as a duo for the first time, with a drum machine driving the band’s dreamy and jangly sound. Fellow 916 musician John Conley, best known from indie-rockers Desario, will perform a solo set and transatlantic band The Lizard Point rounds out the bill. If you’re a fan of Sonic Youth’s “Daydream Nation,” don’t sleep on this show.

Spark up your afternoon with art

The details:

Manetti Shrem Museum of Art, 254 Old Davis Road, Davis

1 p.m., March 14 (Saturday)

Free

If your Saturday afternoon isn’t booked with youth baseball and softball games, take the family to UC Davis’ Manetti Shrem Museum for its monthly “Art Spark” event. It’s a free program that’s open to all ages and artistic abilities, with all supplies included. The March edition is titled “Spinning Spiral Sculptures,” where participants create a work in the spirit of “Sahar Khoury: Weights & Measures,” the museum’s current solo exhibition. Take a walk afterward through the idyllic UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, then drop into downtown Davis for a bite and perfectly inspired afternoon.

Jazz it up with Thai food

The details:

Twin Lotus Thai, 8345 Folsom Blvd., Suite 119, Sacramento

5-7 p.m., March 14 (Saturday)

Free with dinner reservation; tipping musicians is encouraged

Full disclosure: Alison ApRoberts, keyboardist for The Templetons, was once my beloved newsroom neighbor at The Sacramento Bee. Still, I can objectively vouch for her musical skills and the jazzy fun of The Templetons. Look for a set on Saturday at Twin Lotus Thai that includes Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay,” Horace Silver’s “Song for My Father” and a swingin’ “Satin Doll.” Add a plate of pad Thai and spring rolls, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfect date night.

More events you won’t want to miss

Let’s keep it going with bonus picks for this week and beyond: 

Before I go,

Anyone looking to explore Woodland? Check my guide to a great day in “The Woo,” including food and drink options, activities and more in a city that teems with history, charm and so much good Mexican food.

Also, you’re invited to a reception from 5-7 p.m. tonight at the KVIE Gallery for “Tropical Fantasy” by Judy Knott. She won the still life award in the 2025 PBS KVIE Art Auction and her playful works will be on display through May 4. The PBS KVIE Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Stay in touch at christo916@gmail.com to recommend events and artists you’d like to see in Cultural Capital. See you next week, achoo!

Chris Macias is a regular contributor, writing Cultural Capital for Abridged.