The arts season has begun, and opportunities abound for seeing
high-quality productions.
Paying too much for theater tickets in the city? Want to feel
like you’re in Manhattan without leaving South County? Round up the
neighborhood and go see Odyssey Theater’s
”
Songs for a New World.
”
The arts season has begun, and opportunities abound for seeing high-quality productions.
Paying too much for theater tickets in the city? Want to feel like you’re in Manhattan without leaving South County? Round up the neighborhood and go see Odyssey Theater’s “Songs for a New World.”
Don’t worry that you’ve never heard the title before. Artistic director Dennis Beasley (a Gilroy High School graduate with a degree in theater from UCLA) has put together a show I cannot gush over enough.
I was quizzed by my family before the performance (“what’s the show about?”), and I had to say I didn’t know – but I also told them that because Sandra Marlowe was involved, it had to be good.
With a tight cast of four awesome performers, the show is musical story telling – sometimes funny, sometimes sad and sometimes thought provoking. Within the cast of four emerge numerous characters singing their stories of hope and resilience. Very powerful.
I must say this is one of the most talented casts playing in South County. It is everything theater should be, including the live music!
Seated in the audience was veteran actor and Morgan Hill School Board member Peter Mandel and his wife, Elizabeth. Attend the show just to see former Gilroy resident Ruth E. Mullins perform “Surabaya Santa” in an Edith Bunker/Old German hausfrau accent (the song is Mrs. Claus complaining of endless lonely Christmases.)
Local talent Hilary Little belts out the songs gospel-style and with Broadway confidence. San Jose import Andrew Ceglio projects a cool confidence, connecting with the males in the audience into as one of his characters laments the tears of a woman, and he raises a glass or two at the bar center stage. I raise my glass to the cast of “Songs for a New World.” Bravi!
Speaking of raising a glass or two, Jim Angelopoulos has done it again. It’s another apparent success story for the local restaurateur as Angelopoulos opened his second South County restaurant, Chips & Salsa, in the Old City Hall in downtown Gilroy. Scramblz Diner in Morgan Hill was Angelopoulos’ first South County restaurant, and the parking lot is never empty.
The wait for a table at Chips & Salsa on Friday night was two hours, but the patrons waited and the reward was excellent food created by chef Natalia Hernandez. My recommendation is to try the shrimp cocktail.
To avoid the wait, I found friends already dining and pulled up a chair to chat and nibble. My first victims were Efrain and Donna Guzman, owners of Woodmyst Equestrian Center. Donna reported the grand opening of Chips & Salsa last week was great, including the free food and festive atmosphere.
Don and Gayle Triolo, owners of Transvalley Transport, filled me in on old-time Gilroy and how Don spent his 21st birthday at the bar across the street. Don Triolo remembers a skinny Don Christopher wearing a big cowboy hat and mingling with the old farmers who were trying to learn trade secrets (he must have taken good notes). Triolo has lived in Gilroy since 1940.
A newer couple to the Gilroy scene surfaced in the bar just as I was cruising once again to take pictures of the brightly colored tropical paradise. Chris and Jennifer Yoder found a cozy spot and an attentive bartender in the lively holding area. Taking a break from the tennis courts, the Yoders, I’m sure, were planning a romantic dinner for two before I introduced Chris to top-shelf margaritas. I joined yet another table for a meal (at this point it was dessert for me).
Jim joined us and shared his vision of another restaurant dream of a large steak house with saddles as bar seats and a 300-seat capacity for dining. Jim thinks big. He also let out the secret to success in the restaurant business in South County: themed restaurants that look like they’re franchises.
There were lots of little people at the auditions for “Narnia” this past weekend. South Valley Civic Theater organizers had no idea that more than 100 budding actors would turn out for the open casting of the musical version of “Narnia” to be performed in March at the Community Playhouse in Morgan Hill.
The role of Lucy was on the minds of many young girls as they tried their best to stand out as the ultimate triple threat (being able to sing, dance and act).
Lisanne Villa, the show’s choreographer and soon-to-be daughter-in-law of actor Luis Valdez, ran the actors through warm-ups and a short audition piece. The audition panel joked with a hopeful Scott Upton, saying “welcome to ‘American Idol,’ Scott.” Becky Kaiser does a wonderful rendition of Simon Cowell, the TV show’s infamous British critic.
The room filled with the sounds of Christmas songs, Broadway tunes, Edelweiss and plenty of versions of “Tomorrow.” Director Carol Harris has her work cut out for her to choose from such a wonderful showing of young actors. They could also use a few generous sponsors to cover production costs. Any takers?
Ciao for now.
