Munching popcorn while glued to the big screen makes for a fun
date or family excursion, but every now and then, the night calls
for an outing more refined.
Theater in the South Valley is heating up right along with the
temperature, and patrons can take in performances narrating
everything from a street urchin’s comical adventures to a dramatic
twist of love.
Munching popcorn while glued to the big screen makes for a fun date or family excursion, but every now and then, the night calls for an outing more refined.
Theater in the South Valley is heating up right along with the temperature, and patrons can take in performances narrating everything from a street urchin’s comical adventures to a dramatic twist of love.
Additionally, there are several opportunities for children to learn more about acting, dancing and singing under the lights.
The San Benito Stage Co. will present “South Pacific” July 15 to 17 and July 22 to 24 at San Benito High School, 1220 Monterey St. in Hollister. Featuring a cast of roughly 50 local actors, the musical is being directed by Heidi Henderson and choreographed by Kim Lavagnino.
“South Pacific,” originally composed by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, ran for five years on Broadway and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama. The musical is adapted from two short stories by James Michener and chronicles two love affairs: the first between an army lieutenant and a young Polynesian girl, and the second involving a Navy nurse and a French planter. The couples cross paths and eventually embark on a dangerous mission behind Japanese lines.
Tickets – $15 for adults and $12 for children younger than 12 and seniors – are available at Dorothy McNett’s place at 800 San Benito St. in Hollister, from any cast member or online at www.presaleticketing.com. Call (831) 636-4685.
On a less serious note, South Valley Civic Theatre will present “Aladdin” on weekends throughout June at the Morgan Hill Playhouse, adjacent to the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center at 17000 Monterey Road.
The musical tells the story of Aladdin, a street peasant who discovers a magical lamp and, with the help of a genie, wins the heart of a beautiful princess.
The tale turns when an evil magician gets his hands on the lamp and instructs the genie to bring the princess to his palace. Desperate to be reunited with his one true love, Aladdin must try to rescue the princess.
Tickets – $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students – can be purchased at BookSmart, 17415 Monterey Road, the Gilroy Visitors Bureau at 7780 Monterey Road or online at www.presaleticketing.com. Call (408) 842-7469.
In Gilroy, the city’s community services department is teaming up with the Hollister Rainbow Childrens’ Theater to present “Annie, Jr.,” produced and directed by Ron and Jeannette Miller.
More than 60 young actors will participate in the musical, which takes place July 7 to 10 and July 14 to 17 at South Valley Middle School, 385 IOOF Ave. in Gilroy.
The play follows an orphan named Annie who, as an infant, was abandoned on the stoop of a New York City orphanage. Her parents left her with an old broken locket and a letter promising that one day they will return for her.
The orphanage’s menacing headmaster, Miss Hannigan, makes life miserable for Annie and the other orphans, leading Annie to make a daring escape.
She finds a canine friend and the two become close, but a policeman soon finds Annie and brings her back to the orphanage where she once again must face Miss Hannigan. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or by calling (408) 846-8836.
Morgan Hill Dance Center’s South Valley Ballet will present “La Fille Mal Gardee” June 3 and 4 at the Gavilan College Theater, 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. in Gilroy. The production is an 18th-century comic ballet and features a cast of local dancers.
Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in Morgan Hill at BookSmart, 17415 Monterey Road, and Morgan Hill Dance Center, 17400 Monterey Road, and in Gilroy at Porcella’s Music, 7357 Monterey St. Call (408) 776-1661.
The bright lights, sparkling costumes and entrancing sensations of the theater are enough to draw in almost any kid. If the acting bug bites while taking in the shows, children in the South Valley have a variety of opportunities.
New this year is the San Jose Children’s Musical Theater launching its Conservatory of Performing Arts in Morgan Hill.
The performing arts camp teaches voice, dance, acting and other performance and production skills for students ages 4 to 20, with beginning, intermediate and advanced skill levels.
The camp has operated year-round in San Jose for 26 years, with classes on weekends and in the afternoons in addition to the summer intensives. The company is anticipating its first run in Morgan Hill will lay the foundation for similar success.
“We’re really excited about being in this area,” said Dana Zell, the theater’s director of marketing. “We were getting a fair amount of kids (in San Jose) from the Morgan Hill area, so we’re trying do more outreach to south (Santa Clara) County.”
The conservatory in Morgan Hill will be housed at Oakwood Country School, 105 John Wilson Way, from July 11 to 28. Kids are grouped into three age divisions: Tiny Tots for 4- and 5-year-olds, Junior Talents for 6- to -8-year-olds and Rising Stars for 9- to 12-year-olds. Prices range from $350 to $480 for the three-week session. Call (408) 288-5437, ext. 320, e-mail sa***@***sj.org or visit www.cmtsj.org.
Also new this summer is Gavilan College’s Summer Theatre Arts Repertory debuting in San Juan Bautista. The performing arts day camp has been housed in Gilroy and Morgan Hill for several years and will take place this year in June, July and August in all three cities.
For the program’s final productions, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will be presented in Gilroy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in San Juan Bautista and “The Jungle Book” in Morgan Hill. Prices range between $95 and $520 per session. Call (408) 847-2514 or visit www.gavilan.edu/star.
STAR also puts on a video arts program in Gilroy that teaches kids ages 13 to 17 the techniques of capturing light and sound on tape. The program runs from June 20 to July 8 and is $395.
The cities of Gilroy and Morgan Hill also have children’s summer theater programs that cover everything from hip-hop dance to camera acting. Call (408) 846-0460 for the city of Gilroy and (408) 782-0008 for the city of Morgan Hill.
In Hollister, the San Benito Stage Co. will host a theater camp July 25 to 29 at the Sacred Heart Parish School, 670 College St., for children ages 6 to 12. A final performance will take place July 30. Workshops include improvisation, vocals and dance and movement. Call (831) 628-3321.
