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JANET ZIMMERMAN
Dorothy, Toto and the rest of the gang will take the stage this weekend and next in a production of "The Wizard of Oz" by Riverside Children's Theatre.

The musical will feature more than 110 cast members portraying the Tinman, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and other classic favorites.

Shows will be held in the theater at Ramona High School, 7675 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, on March 2-3 and 9-10. Evening performances are at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and matinees are staged at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The production includes live orchestra accompaniment, elaborate sets and creative costumes.

Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $12 at the door. They are available in advance at Alin Party Supply, Ponies and Pigtails, the Riverside Plaza Kiosk and Capezio at Tyler, all in Riverside. For more information or to purchase tickets online using PayPal, visit the group's Web site at www.riversidechildrenstheatre.org.

The non-profit Riverside Children's Theatre is in its 57th year and includes a performing arts school for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Christian Arts and Theatre (CAT) will soon present "Honk! The True Story of Ugly the Duckling," opening March 2 and running for two weeks as its annual spring production.

Directed by Inland Theater League award winners Lori Henebelle, Brianna Lopez and Hollee Hennebelle, "Honk!" will take its audience back to Victorian England for a proper, yet rollicking good time.

"Honk!" is the story of Ugly, whose odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from both family and neighbors. Lost and pursued by a hungry cat, Ugly must find his way home, back to the farm. But during his harrowing journey back, he not only discovers the meaning of true beauty, but also finds love and acceptance in all of its many forms.

The show, winner of the 2000 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, was written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The show provides a charming message of tolerance and is perfect for family audiences or anyone else who enjoys a good story.

Show times are 7 p.m. March 2 and 9; 2 and 7 p.m. March 3 and 10; and 2 p.m. March 4 and 11.

Tickets cost $12 to $16 and can be bought online at www.catcorona.org or by calling the box office at 951-279-2298.

This weekend, the Theatre Arts Department at the University of Redlands will present a series of one-act plays written by university students call the New Works Festival. The plays, directed by Jennifer Stoessner, are all original works.

Showtimes at The Frederick Loewe Theatre are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. General admission costs $12; admission for students, faculty, staff and seniors is $8.

The plays include:
"The Knowing" by Ron Blakely
"The Unexpected Visitor" by Brianne Lopez
"Talthybius" by Aaron Stevenson
"Naptime" by Kelly Odor
"Studies in the Skies" by Kalehua Shamel
"Into the Rabbit Hole" by Sarah Perez
"Hatching Cocoon" by Olivia Spirz
"Mary" by Ryan Stewart

"My play, 'Studies in the Skies,' is about two strangers who are dissatisfied with their lives and the relationships they've formed," said Kalehua Shamel. "Their meeting is by pure chance and through a conversation they are each able to come to terms with the aspects of their lives that they're unhappy with."

Shamel hopes people who see her play will leave thinking about how day-to-day interactions with strangers can impact lives.

Sarah Perez hopes her play "Into the Rabbit Hole" will trigger discussions on mental disorders.

And Aaron Stevenson focused on the topic of war and its impact in his play, "Talthybius."

"This play is about humanity in war, its presence and its absence," Stevenson said. "An image I saw of a soldier carrying a civilian child in Afghanistan inspired me to try to create a piece that would bring the message Euripides sent the Greeks during the Peloponessian War back to the state in this time of war that is so familiar to history.

"It has been fantastic to have the opportunity to see my play in the process of production and I can't wait to see it on stage."

For more information on the productions, call 909-748-8728 or visit www.redlands.edu.

The Banning Cultural Alliance will present the 4th annual Black Heritage Celebration at the Banning Center for the Arts on Feb. 25. The event will honor three outstanding participants in the community.

Live entertainment will be provided by singer Zelyne Rudolph, Didi Jackson on the keyboard and a solo performance by Alliance youth, Kaylee Daugherty.

Tickets to the event, which cost $10, include a soul food dinner from Brandiva and Sir Jerks Catering.

The Banning Center for the Arts is located at 130 N. San Gorgonio in Banning. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 951-922-4911 or visit www.BanningCulturalAlliance.org.

The Lake Elsinore Outlets Kids Outlet has a variety of activities lined up for the month of February. All activities, which are free and open to the public, take place in Suite 106 from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Fridays.

Each Wednesday throughout the month, Lake Elsinore Library will host a story time with interactive stories, familiar nursery rhymes and a craft.

Today, the Lizard Wizard will visit. Children can touch a python, an iguana and the shell of a giant tortoise. There will also be insects and other animals. Visit www.lizardwizardandfriends.com for more information about the Lizard Wizard.

On Feb. 10, children can visit the Kids Outlet to create a Valentine's Day Puppet or Card Bag.

On Feb. 17, young sports fans can scratch the name and logo of a favorite sports team onto a Magic Color Pennant and design a giant paper finger.

Lastly, on Feb. 24 children can participate in a panda jar craft to hold favorite cookies or other treats.

For more information call the outlet at 951-245-0087 or visit www.lakeelsinoreoutlet.com.

My Learning Studio in Woodcrest is bringing back its Workshops and Classes for kids starting in February. The weekly classes combine creative fun with educational topics using art and science experimentation. Here's the lineup for what's coming.

On Feb. 6, the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Workshop "States of Matter" will begin, with classes every Monday afternoon. This advanced science workshop is for youth ages 11 and older will focus on the connections between classroom subject content and the real world.

The "Silly Science Workshops" begins Feb. 7 and will continue every Tuesday afternoon. Students will explore and create science projects every week.

On Wednesday afternoons beginning Feb. 8, "Simply Creative Art Class" will include projects such as making butterflies out of coffee filters and creative mosaics from craft paper.

And lastly, on Thursday afternoons starting Feb. 9, the "Creative Arts Workshop" will include glass painting, character drawing and working with clay.

The classes cost $49.99 for five weeks. For further details visit www.mylearningstudio.com or call 951-789-5402.

Riverside Art Museum has some sweet stuff going in on February for children with Youth Art Classes "Valentine's Day Crafts" and "Imagine Edible Art."

"Valentine's Day Crafts," geared toward children ages 6 to 12, will take place Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 4 p.m. Children will create memorable treasure boxes, as well as special cards. Class costs $30. ($27 for museum members)

"Imagine Edible Art" will take place Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the class, children will make a color wheel out of frosting, mix the colors to make new colors, and then paint color wheels made out of cookies.

Students will also "paint" with spaghetti. After the spaghetti dries it becomes a work of art.

Class costs $30 or $27 for museum members.

The museum is located at 3425 Mission Inn Ave. in Riverside. For more information call 951-684-7111.

International chorus champions, The Masters of Harmony, will hold the 12th Annual Young Men's Harmony Festival on Feb. 18 at the Robert B. Moore Theater at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. The event, an all-day clinic and rehearsal for over 230 young men from high schools from all over Southern Calif., will culminate in a joint performance with the Masters that is open to the public.

Guest clinicians Dave Tautkus, Ken Potter, Jason Remley and Mark Freedkin with members of the quartet, OC Times will serve as leaders for the participating students. Award-winning quartet, The Crush and OC Times will perform on the evening show.

The purpose of the event, co-sponsored by the Southern California Vocal Association, is to expose young men and their choral music teachers to the barbershop style. All proceeds from the performance will go toward supporting choral music education throughout Southern California.

Interested singers who wish to participate in the festival can download the registration form from the SCVA website at www.scvachoral.org.

The theater is located at 2701 Fairview St. in Costa Mesa. Tickets for the evening performance at 7:30 p.m. cost $5. There is no reserved seating. Parking is free.

For tickets and information, call 949-559-9621.

First Sundays in downtown Riverside is back after a missed month in January (for New Years Day). On Feb. 5, six downtown organizations will host free family programs from 1-4 p.m.

The seasonal family program, sponsored by the Riverside Arts Council, will continue on the first Sunday of every month through May. Participating organizations include Riverside Metropolitan Museum, Mission Inn Museum, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Public Library, UCR ArtsBlock, and Riverside Fox Theater Foundation.

Here is the list of upcoming activities:

"Chinese New Year," Riverside Public Library
Celebrate the year of the Dragon at the Library by creating a Chinese New Year picture frame craft from 1 to 2 p.m., listening to Chinese New Year stories performed by Karen Rae Kraut from 2 to 3 p.m., and then continuing to make Chinese New Year picture frames from 3 to 4 p.m.

"Wood, Rocks!" UCR ArtsBlock (Culver Center, Sweeney Art Gallery, and California Museum of Photography)
The ARTSblock First Sunday DIY team will be assisting participants in taking natural substances and turning them into artistic sculptures. Workshop participants can choose from various wood and rock samples to construct sculptures that honor both the great mysteries of the natural world as well as human creativity. "Wood, Rocks! will be lead by Maxwell H. Gluck Fellows Zachary Leener Ashley Ferriera,and Kimberly Zarate.

"For the Love of the Stage," Riverside Fox Theater Foundation at Fox Theater
The Fox Foundation will host a craft that includes Shakespearian crowns of Romeo & Juliet. and participants can also learn to recite some of their famous lines. Families are also invited to place their family's name on the Fox Theater's "Walk of Fame."

"Tiffany Stained Glass Windows with guest Artist Samantha Hart," Mission Inn Museum
Among the many treasures at the Mission Inn are eight stained glass windows by the famed glass artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany. This month, the Mission Inn Museum invites families to learn about these amazing windows and make their own "stained glass" artworks inspired by the Tiffany windows.

"Create Your Own Valentine Craft," Riverside Art Museum
The Riverside Art Museum will welcome back face painter Miss Pamela. Visitors can tour the museum's galleries and create a Valentine craft.

"Papermaking & Music," Riverside Metropolitan Museum
Families will create Valentine's Day cards from scratch and this crafting event. Learn how to turn junk mail into beautiful paper. Use pressed flowers to create a unique gift for special someone. Visitors can also enjoy music (including love songs) from local band, Lucky Cricket.

Got a little artist in training? Jo Thompson Art his hosting Kids Art Adventure Saturdays at the Life Arts Building in downtown Riverside on Saturdays through March 31. Classes began Jan. 14. The workshops are from 11 a.m. to noon every Saturday.

The classes are open to children ages 5 to 13 of any skill level or experience. Participants will use paint, mixed-media, clay and more while learning about color, shape, line and pattern to create 2-D and 3-D art works. All materials are provided.

Classes are small, relaxed and focused on individualized instruction.

Tickets cost $10 per class or $30 per student for the 5 class pass. The Life Arts Building is located at 3485 University Ave. in Riverside. For more information, call 951-660-4925.

Families can celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the Museum of History and Art, Ontario. The Chinese New Year Family Discovery Day will take place Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

The museum will host Chinese New Year-themed activities including an artist-led calligraphy workshop with Calligrapher Cheng Chao Hung, storytelling with Storyteller Karen Rae Kraut and the Ontario City Library, and more.

The event is co-sponsored by the Pomona Valley Chinese Association. Admission is free.

The museum is located at 225 South Euclid in Ontario. For more information call 909-395-2510.

The inaugural XOS Battle of the Sexes Winterfest is coming to Big Bear. The two day event will take place Feb. 3 and 4 at The Big Bear Village at the Big Bear Visitor Center. The event will showcase the talents of men and women in three categories that include a snowboard rail jam, fashion shows, and DJ battles.

The purpose of the event is to educate and uplift women through fun, non-competitive events and to raise awareness of breast cancer and the value of living an active lifestyle.

"We want to give women a comfortable forum where they can showcase their talents without any pressures," said Marisa Lupo, XOS Productions event producer. "Winterfest is designed to give them a chance to playfully participate against the guys in a fun atmosphere.

"The other key piece of Winterfest is to communicate the message about breast cancer, the importance of self examination and early detection, and to provide knowledge to fight the deadly disease."

The event kicks off Friday with a night-time DJ concert, featuring DJs, and a fashion show inside a large structured tent. The following day, the Big Bear Visitor Center parking lot will transform into a winter-themed festival with a kid's snow play area, snowshoe demos, live entertainment, carnival-type games, food vendors, art displays, winter apparel and booths providing information about breast cancer awareness.

The main attraction Saturday is the XOS Rail Jam that features top female snowboarders that rival top male snowboarders on professionally-built rails and jibs for an exciting snowboarding competition.

Once the sun goes down, the music will return to the tented arena for a second DJ concert and fashion show. Headlining acts for both Friday and Saturday evenings include internationally-renowned DJs Revolvr, Tatiana Fontes and Kristina Sky. Other performers include 2Deadbeatz, Duality, Shibby, MC2 and Ayla Simone. The tented events provide entertaining male vs. female DJ battles, dance-offs and catwalk fashion struts.

Both of the evening tented DJ concerts are from 5 p.m. to midnight for visitors ages 18 and older. Admission costs $25 each night. (A portion of ticket sales go to Boarding for Breast Cancer, a nonprofit, youth-focused education, awareness and fundraising foundation for breast cancer.)

Saturday's daytime festivities are from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission for all daytime activities, which include the XOS Rail Jam is free and open to all ages.

The Big Bear Visitor Center is located at 630 Bartlett Road in Big Bear Lake. For more event information visit www.xosproductions.com. To purchase discounted concert tickets and lodging packages log onto www.bigbear.com or call 800-424-4232.

Pennypickle's Workshop at the Temecula Children's Museum is hosting a science themed activity for the little ones. "Pint Size Science: Dinosaurs" will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13.

Little ones love dinosaurs as much as their big brothers and sisters do, so during the event it'll be their turn to discover all sort of fun facts about dinosaurs big and small. The activities will be geared toward children ages 3 to 5, but children of all ages are welcome to join the fun.

Tickets cost $5 and can be purchased online and picked up at the door.

The museum is located at 42081 Main Street in Old Town Temecula. For more information on this event and others, visit www.pennypickles.org or call 951-308-6376.

Throughout the year the San Bernardino County Musuem hosts a series of inexpensive family programs that include craft-type activities and earth science topics. The first program day of 2012 will take place Feb. 4 with "Family Program: Fossil Painting sessions" from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Family Program activities are free with museum admission. Children can paint cast fossils in any chosen color while visiting the museums exhibits and collections. Stations will be set up for the fossil painting.

Then, the museum will host another Family Program the following weekend, Feb. 11: "1880s at Work and Play at the Victor Valley Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The San Bernardino County Museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. Admission to the museum costs $8 for adults; $6 for seniors 60 and older; $5 for students with I.D.; $4 for children ages 5 to 12; and free for children under age 5. For more information on the Family Program visit www.sbcountymuseum.org or call 909-307-2669.

Ever thought about whether "Star Wars" could become reality some day? The Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana is exploring that question and more with the traveling exhibit, "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination."

The exhibit is presented by Bose Corporation. Visitors can build and test their own speeders and robots; ride a hovercraft and try steering; see real artifacts, costumes and props from all six "Star Wars" films; explore the technology of droids and landspeeders; and more.

The exhibit is open now through April 15. Admission costs $14.95 for adults; $12.95 for children ages 3 to 14 and seniors 60 and older. General admission is required to purchase the exhibit admission, which is $10 at the door or $8 online.

The science center has several "Star Wars" fan days scheduled. Children ages 3 to 14 wearing a "Star Wars" costume get in free. There's a limit of one free admission per paid adult general admission. The next fan day is January 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., titled "Clone Wars Takeover Day." The exhibit will feature games and activities based on Cartoon Network's popular series, "Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

The science center is located at 2500 North Main Street in Santa Ana. For more information on the exhibit, including a full list of fan days dates and themes, visit www.discoverycube.org or call 714-542-2823.

Are you resolved to get in shape for the new year? The 100 Mile Club is too and will host the Chick-fil-A 5K Fun Run at The Shops at Dos Lagos in Corona on Jan 21. The run begins at 8 a.m. at the Dos Lagos Amphitheater Plaza. Register at www.CFAcrossings5k.com. Funds raised at the event will benefit The 100 Mile Club.

The 100 Mile Club is a physical fitness and life skills club based on the goal of running (or walking) 100 miles at school or work during a single school year. Students use and experience lifeskills based on The Pyramid of Success, designed by the legendary basketball coach, teacher, and mentor, Coach John Wooden.

The 100 Mile Club costs $10 per person, per year. Participating schools receive full incentive packages for each registered participant, a weekly newsletter, head coach meetings, trainings, and guidance, local events and activities and more.

Registration for the Chick-fil-A Fun Run cost $15, which includes the official event T-Shirt, and Race Bib, and an after run special gift from the Cow. Miles run at the event count toward The 100 Mile Club year goal for participants. Online registration ends Jan. 14.

Winter is one of the best times of the year to visit The Living Desert in Palm Desert, and now you can enjoy some swingin' tunes at the same time. The Jazzoo Concert Series is going on now through March at The Living Desert.

From boogie to ballads to bebop and blues, the sounds of the zoo's 28th season celebrates America's original art form in the wildest of ways.

The concert series will take place over five Sunday afternoons. Concert goers are welcome to bring their own refreshments. All proceeds support The Living Desert's mission... desert conservation of animals and plants through preservation, education and appreciation.

Each show features two performances; an early concert at 4 p.m. and a late concert at 6:15 p.m.

Here are the dates:
Jan. 15
Jan. 29
Feb. 19
March 11
March 25

Tickets cost $45 for a single show, or $210 for the season.

Concerts sell out early, so for tickets call 760-346-5694 ext 2102 or email jazzoo@livingdesert.org. Tickets are not sold at the door, but may be purchased any day prior to the event. For more information on zoo events, visit www.livingdesert.org.

The Lake Elsinore Outlets has some fun kids activities planned for the month of January. The Kids Outlet events take place from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Fridays. Admission and all activities are free.

Lake Elsinore Library will host a story time activity with interactive stories, familiar nursery rhymes, and a craft project on Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25..

On Jan. 6 and 13, children can celebrate the winter season with a stick snowman banner craft and a winter wonderland sand art craft. Then, on Jan. 20, children can create their own critter pillow craft to sleep and travel with.

Lastly, Anthony the Magic will visit and perform his interactive magic show.

All Kids Outlet activities take place in Suite 106. For more information on the Kids Outlet Activities, visit www.lakeelsinoreoutlet.com or call 951-245-0087.

For more information on Anthony the Magic, visit www.anthonythemagic.com.

Like comics? Teens in grades 6 to 12 interested in the evolution of comics can learn more in an interactive program taught by Ryan Haggerty, owner of Ryan's Comics in Murrieta. The program, "Comic Books 101, will be held at the Murrieta Public Library at 2 p.m. Jan. 5.

All activities will take place in the Library"s Community Room.

Graphic novels, the new term for comics, have become an essential component of library collections for both children and teenagers.

"We even have some classic titles in our graphic novel collections at the Murrieta Public Library, such as King Lear, The Odyssey, and The Invisible Man, along with our popular Superman, Wolverine, and Dragon Ball Z titles," said Joyce Lea Brown, teen librarian. "Sincce the popularity of graphic novels just keeps on growing, the Murrieta Public Library has scheduled a program that is relevant to today's teenagers."

The event is free and open to the public. The Murrieta Public Library is located at Eight Town Square (Adams Avenue and Kalmia Street). For more information about the program call (951) 304-2665 or visit the library's web site at www.murrietalibrary.info.

Say goodbye to the Year of the Rabbit and hello Year of the Dragon. Families are invited to celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the 2012 Chinese New Year Family Discovery Day on Jan. 21. Always a popular event, the museum will celebrate the New Year with hands-on activities, including an artist-led calligraphy workshop with Calligrapher Cheng Chao Hung, storytelling with Master Storyteller Karen Rae Kraut, the Ontario City Library and much more.

This event is co-sponsored by the Pomona Valley Chinese Association and will take place from noon to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. The museum is located at 225 South Euclid Ave. in Ontario. For more information, call 909-395-2510.