Opening this weekend at The Museum at California Center for the Arts, Escondido is “The History and the Hair Story: 400 Years Without A Comb” exhibition running from Jan. 16 to March 6, 2016. Curated by Starla Lewis (Professor of Black History at San Diego Mesa College), “The History and the Hair Story: 400 Years Without A Comb” follows hair trends from Africa, into the…
Genuine encounters between people as they learn, grow, and challenge themselves are at the core of Circle Mirror Transformation. Running at Patio Playhouse through Jan. 31, this comic drama takes an intimate look at the attendees of a Vermont Drama Class as they interact with – and learn about – one another through theatrical exercises. Performances are at 8 p.m. with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees….
Either this was a great year for theater or I’m getting soft in my old age: I gave my highest rating to a full 25 of the 120 plays I saw this year. Could it be that theater is just that good? Ten of the best shows are musicals — and that’s not counting the musical solo and near-solo shows. Musicals Excellent productions of old…
Vista’s ArtBeat on Main Street isn’t Escondido, but it’s close. It’s an art gallery, boutique, wine lounge and creative space that has become an important player in downtown Vista’s re-emergence, a happening that many Escondido boosters have tried to emulate. Unfortunately, it’s also run into trouble of the financing kind. ArtBeat on Main Street is in the midst of a do-or-die fundraising campaign to keep…
Hidden Valley Community Concert Association (HVCCA) emerges from the shadows in two weeks with a special performance by Vida Guitar Quartet at at the intimate 404-seat Center Theater California Center for the Arts, Escondido. While it may be cliche to say something or someone is a best kept secret, facts on the musical grounds suggest Hidden Valley’s hidden community concert group, while venerable, also is…
“Maple Street Plaza was bustling with craft vendors and shoppers. Downtown Escondido was alive today with seasonal spirit.” — Matt Fox, realtor Saturday started early and continued often around downtown Escondido with “A Superhero Christmas” kicking off at 9:30 a.m. at Escondido High School. That would be, in other words, the staging point for the Escondido Jaycees 65th Annual Christmas Parade. Under cool, but sunny skies,…
Diorama creative catalyst drama coming to pocket park, California Center for the Arts “Information retrieval” is one way to view art, at least according to Escondido artist Matthew Hebert who unveils his temporary diorama art on Dec. 12 at Heritage Garden Park. The 2-year-old park, actually a pocket park, is not to be missed at the corner of Grand Avenue and Juniper Street. The project…
“Meet Me In St. Louis” is remembered mostly for Judy Garland’s star turn in the 1944 blockbuster MGM film. The show, (with a book by Hugh Wheeler and music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane) moved to the Broadway stage in 1989, where it was nominated for four Tonys. Welk Resorts Theatre presents “Meet Me In St. Louis” through Jan. 2016 at their Escondido location….
Seven, eight nine, but 10, count ’em, The Ten Tenors at the California Center for the Arts (CCAE) , 7:30 p.m., Dec. 3? Sure, why not. The more the merrier the holiday season. What’s a better way to celebrate the holiday season than with international singing sensation The TEN Tenors? “I’m excited about the TEN Tenors,” enthused CCAE executive director Jerry Van Leeuwen said when…
For its 2014-15 season, the California Center for the Arts, Escondido featured 26 shows with 10 sellouts and a total of 285,000 visits to Escondido’s cultural hub. Revenue was up about $35,000 as a result. “We re-established our performing arts season,” — California Center for the Arts, Escondido executive director Jerry Van Leeuwen Melissa Etheridge came to town on Nov. 6, playing the only North County…