Things to Do: November 2009 Archives

Inland Pacific Ballet's annual production of "The Nutcracker" will begin Saturday, Dec. 5 with nine performances through Sunday, Dec. 20 at the Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College in Claremont. The cast of more than 80 dancers will include Jonathan Sharp in the lead role of Cavalier and European mim Shawn Bryan as Drosselmeyer. Ashley Mohadjer will make her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The holiday show tells the story of a young girl named Clara who receives a magical nutcracker doll on Christmas Eve, and then sets out on a magical journey to the Land of the Snow and the Kingdom of Sweets. Look for toy soldiers, life-sized dancing dolls, a dream with battling mice, dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers and a Sugar Plum Fairy.

Show times and dates are:
Saturday, Dec. 5 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m.

Bridges Auditorium is located at 450 N. College Way in Claremont. Tickets cost $50 for premium seats, $32-$40 for adults, $26-$32 for seniors and $16-$20 for children. For more information call 909-607-1139 or visit www.thebestnutcracker.com.

Riverside teen Lauren Potter made her primetime debut on an episode of Fox TV's "Glee" on Nov. 11. Her character, Becky Jackson, will be back again on Wednesday, Dec. 2 in the episode "Once Upon a Mattress."

Charlotte Bray/ The Press-Enterprise

Lauren Potter, 19, from Riverside, will be appear again Fox's series "Glee" on Dec. 2.

Lauren has Down syndrome and is a member of The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, a nonprofit agency that offers programs, resources, education, counseling and more. The association has an in-house talent agency, Hearts and Hands, which contacted Lauren when the part came up.

In the "Wheels" episode, 16-year-old Becky Jackson tries out for the cheerleading squad and makes the team. Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester, played by Jane Lynch, has decided to add a cheerleader with a disability to the squad and chooses Jackson as the new member without hesitation.

In the last scene of the "Wheels" episode Sylvester pays a sweet visit to a surprise younger sister who has Down syndrome.

Lauren is a Poly High School graduate and currently attends Riverside School District's Project Team, a transition program for students with mental or physical disabilities that offers job training and self-sufficiency basics. She plans to keep working in TV and film.

"I really love performing and acting," Lauren said.

Watch for Lauren Potter as Becky Jackson Wednesday on Fox at 9 p.m.

See clips of the "Wheels" episode here.

See Lauren talk about her "Glee" filming experience here.

See Scrooge get a new lease on life when he learns the true meaning of Christmas in the Riverside Community Players production of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens.

Bitter and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who help him find the Christmas spirit in this traditional version of the show, which was adapted by Kathryn Gage.

Shows will take place Dec. 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 5 and 6 at 2 p.m. at the Riverside Community Players theater at 4026 14th St. in Riverside.

The box office opens Nov. 30 and will remain open Monday through Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. through the run of the show. General admission is $8. No children under age 5 will be admitted to the theater. For reservations and information call 951-686-4030.

California Baptist University professor John Pate has been an entertainer and television comedy writer for over thirty years. In that time, he worked for comedians like Red Skelton and Jay Leno.

More recently he has decided to turn his comedic sights on a younger crowd with the publication of a children's book entitled, "Harvel Goes to the Farm." On Saturday, Dec. 5 Pate will attend a book signing for his new release at the Borders Bookstore in the Riverside Plaza at 2 p.m.

The book is about Harvel, a little moose that goes to visit his aunt and uncle on their farm. There are a total of 30 pages, 15 with illustrations and 15 making up the storyline.

"The illustrations are like punch lines for every joke," Pate said.

The book is currently available for purchase at Amazon.com.

Heartland Players Theatre Co. in Yucaipa is holding open-call auditions for performers aged 10 to adult for an upcoming production of "Alice in Wonderland" on Tuesday, Dec. 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Auditions will take place at the Heartland Players Theater Lobby at 22994 Avenue E in Yucaipa. Rehearsals will begin in January.

There are both singing and non-singing parts in the production. If you plan to audition for a singing role, prepare 16 bars of Broadway or standard music. Bring your own accompaniment CD/Karaoke background track. A CD player will be provided.

Scripts will be provided for individuals auditioning for a non-singing role.

For more information call 909-838-4356 or visit www.heartlandplayers.org.

When film director James Cameron needed to build an alien botanical world for his film, "Avatar," he sought out UC Riverside botanist Jodie Holt for guidance.

The "Avatar" world is on the lush moon of Pandora, whose atmosphere is toxic to humans but supports vegetation.

For two years Holt, a professor of plant physiology, served as a consultant and expert on Pandora's vegetation and provided textual details for the game products that will follow the film launch.

She also gave pointers to actress Sigourney Weaver, who plays a botanist in the film.

Watch a video of Holt talking about her involvement in the film here.

Santa Claus is making a stop at the San Bernardino County Museum Friday, Dec. 11 and Sat., Dec. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. for a pajama party. Parents and grandparents are invited to bring children to the museum for an evening of activities like wreath making, special winter games, an unusual story about the 12 days of Christmas and visiting with Santa Claus.

Yuletide refreshments will be served as well.

Visitors are encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring a favorite blankie or teddy bear. Tickets cost $10 per person (under age 1 is free) and include all holiday crafts, activities and refreshments. The reservation deadline is at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Reservations can be made at www.sbcountymuseum.org.

For more information call 909-307-2669, ext. 256. The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands.

The Carolyn E. Wylie Center in Riverside sends teachers, therapists and counselors into the homes of clients and families year round. During these visits close relationships with the children of those homes form. Oftentimes, it's found that these families have unmet economic needs. For those families it can be difficult if not impossible to pull together the funds for Christmas presents.

So during the holidays, the Wylie Center looks for volunteers willing to sponsor a family in need. This year there are 16 families that include 43 children that have not yet been sponsored. They are from various neighborhoods in Riverside, Moreno Valley and Perris, and the children range in age from 0 to 17 years old. Most need clothing and toys.

If you would like to select a family to sponsor contact the center at 951-683-5193.

The AMC Tyler 16 movie theater at the Galleria at Tyler is adding an IMAX screen.

IMAX uses digital sound, theater geometry and super clear images to basically surround viewers in a movie.

The screen at the Riverside location is larger than one of the multiplex's regular screens and is slightly curved. It is also closer to the audience.

IMAX's digital projection system combines two digital projectors with an image enhancer and custom lenses to create an image with greater clarity, brightness and contrast.

The opening of the IMAX screen at AMC Tyler 16 is part of a joint-venture agreement by the theater chain and IMAX to install 100 IMAX digital projection systems at AMC locations across 33 major markets through 2010.

The first IMAX movie that will be offered at the venue is "Avatar: An IMAX 3D Experience," which opens on Dec. 18.

Other upcoming films that are scheduled to be released the IMAX format include "Alice in Wonderland," "How to Train Your Dragon," "Shrek Goes Fourth," "Inception"and "Tron Legacy."

Vanessa Franko
-vfranko@PE.com

Families are invited to celebrate the season at the 5th annual Winterfest Saturday, Nov. 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Arlington Park in Riverside. The yearly free family event usually draws thousands of visitors to check out the park after it's been transformed to a winter wonderland.

Festivities include activities for the kids, food, drink and craft vendors and a tree lighting ceremony at 6:15 p.m.

"We will have a petting zoo, pony rides, a train and jumpers," said Teresa Rosales, membership and business development specialist with the Arlington Business Partnership.

Kids can get their photo taken with Santa Clause, while passing on their wish list.
Riverside Fire Department will be there with a truck talking with families. And for the little ones, there will be a coloring corner where kids get a stuffed bear prize when they color a sheet.

"The biggest thing we'll have is a raffle drawing," Rosales said. "Families that bring in a canned good will get a free ticket. Some of the prizes include eight bicycles plus the grand prize, a large, flat screen TV."

WINTERFEST
Where: Arlington Park, 3860 Van Buren Blvd., Riverside
When: 3-8 p.m. Saturday
Cost: Free

If you'd like to do your black Friday shopping away from the crowds, San Bernardino County Regional Parks has an idea for you. Beginning Friday, Nov. 27 through Sunday, Nov. 29, the annual Holiday Craft Fair will take place at the San Moritz Lodge at Lake Gregory in Crestline.

Located in the San Bernardino Mountains, the lodge will be decorated for the season, with a community Christmas tree lighting ceremony taking place at the North Beach entrance of the lake Saturday evening. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and a Christmas-themed story and carols will precede the lighting. Local churches will provide refreshments.

The craft fair will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Craft pieces will include knitted and embroidered items, jewelry, stained glass, ornaments, woodcarvings and handmade purses. Food vendors will have baked goods, jellies and other items.

Santa will be available for photos with pets and kids Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m.

The lodge is located at 24640 San Moritz Dr. in Crestline. For more information call 909-338-2233.

Inland Pacific Ballet's "The Nutcracker" will take to the stage at Bridges Auditorium in Claremont Dec. 5 through 20. More than 80 dances participate in the yearly production.

Tickets are on sale now for $32, $40 or $50 for adults, $26, $32 or $50 for seniors and $16, $20 or $50 for children. For tickets, call the box office at 909-607-1139.

Bridges Auditorium is located at 450 N. College Way in Claremont.

Moms and Dads can take the kids and get crafty this weekend at the San Bernardino County Museum. In celebration of the 27th annual Wildlife Art Festival, the museum's education division and youth club will have a variety of hands-on art experiences for children and families Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Press-Enterprise

"American Wigeon: by Robert Bealle, the winning entry from this years Federal Duck Stamp competition will be at the The San Bernardino County Museum's 27th annual Wildlife Art Festival.

Activities will include creating a critter from natural materials, carving a bear with the help of the Ramona-Country Carvers and painting a duck.

Artist Trudy Wood will also teach drawing and pastel classes for children ages 9 to 15. On Saturday, "Drawing for Kids" art class will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and "Introduction to Pastels" will be from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On Sunday "Drawing for kids will be at 9:45 a.m and 2:45 p.m. and "Introduction to Pastels" will be at 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. The classes are free, but space is limited. Tickets will be available at the front desk starting at 9 a.m.

Organized by the San Bernardino County Museum Association, the annual Wildlife Art Festival features 24 artists who exhibit paintings, sculptures, carvings, aritsan jewelry, photographs and prints in the museum galleries. This year's festival also includes top entries from the Federal Duck Stamp competition and children's art from classroom projects for the Tom Bennett Children's Art and Environmental Science Competition. The competition's award ceremony will take place Saturday at 3 p.m.

The museum is located at 2024 Orange Tree Lane in Redlands. For more information call 909-307-2669 or visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

Olive Crest, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping abused, neglected and at-risk children, is hoping to give some deserving kids a happy holiday this season. For people interested in giving a charitable gift to help out with this mission, Olive Crest has these options:

Buy a specific gift for a specific child: Olive crest can provide a wish list, so the donation is something that the child is asking for. The agency offers wish slips with the child's first name, age and wish.

Host a gift drive: Small and large businesses can work with Olive Crest to set up onsite gift drives.

Donate: Cash donations help Olive Crest work toward providing safe homes, counseling and education for both its youth and parents. The agency offers a variety of holiday-themed tribute cards that can be ordered online at www.olivecrest.org. For a contribution of $20 or more, Olive Crest will send the card by mail to anywhere in the U.S.

Find your local Olive Crest office at www.olivecrest.org.

"Star of Wonder: The Civil War Christmas Play" will play out on stage for the second year at the Corona Civic Theater Dec. 10-13.

Written by Cyndi Monroe, artistic director for Christian Arts Theater in Corona, the holiday production was adapted from a short story by Owen Parry in his book, "Our Simple Gifts."

The storyline is set on Christmas Eve in 1862. An injured soldier and war widow's cross paths and their lives are changed forever.

Call the CAT Corona box office at 951-279-2298 for tickets or visit www.catcorona.org.

'Star of Wonder'
Where: Corona Civic Theater, 815 6th St., Corona
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12; 2 p.m. Dec. 13
Cost: $13, adult; $11 child, senior, student; $50 family of five; $10/seat for groups of 15 or more; there is an additional $2 charge when tickets are purchased at the door

Riverside Youth Theatre is looking for its next big star. Auditions for the Inland Empire Youth Theatre Competition will take place Dec. 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. and on Dec. 7-9 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Fellowship Baptist Church at 3624 Arlington Ave. in Riverside.

Performers must be residents of Riverside or San Bernardino County. Any student interested in theatre arts may audition. The age divisions include the categories of Emerging (6 to 9 years old), Junior (10-13 years old) and Senior (14 to 18 years old).

The audition registration fee is $20.

Auditions can be no longer than four minutes in length and music selections must be family-appropriate in content. Performers should bring their own CD for voice and dance auditions. Auditions can include a vocal solo, dance solo or acting solo.

Semi-finals will take place January 9 at 1 or 4 p.m. and the final competition will follow on January 15. Performers will be judged on stage presence, presentation, talent and overall artistic impression.

Winners in each age category will be awarded cash prizes and the top winner in each age group will receive a trophy. For more information or to register for the competition call 951-756-4240 or visit http://riversideyouththeatre.org.

"There's Something about Seahorses," at Birch Aquarium at Scripps, will feature more than a dozen species of the mysterious creatures.

The 2,000-square-foot exhibit opens Saturday.

It includes a "dating and mating station," and since male seahorses give birth, this could lead to some intriguing questons from young humans.

The aquarium is at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla. Admission is $12, $8.50 for youths 3-17. It is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.

Information: 858-534-FISH, http://aquarium.ucsd.edu

—Fielding Buck
fbuck@PE.com

Playoutdoors.com had some cute ideas for Thanksgiving Day family activities that get people up, outside and spending quality time. Here's the list:

Walk - Take a family walk after the meal.

Treasure hunt - Create a backyard treasure hunt for the kids. Hide Thanksgiving-themed items like mini pumpkins and paper leaves, turkies, pumpkin pie, pilgrims, etc. Make the items with construction paper or purchase them at a party store.

Game - Play the turkey trot. Players pair and link elbows. Each team has a turkey mascot (a football with a turkey face taped on it, or a stuffed animal turkey or a brown bag stuffed with newspaper and decorated like a turkey). The first team to make it across the finish line without dropping the turkey or unlinking their arms wins.

Crafts - Set up a craft table in the backyard where kids can create their own turkey hats, hand turkeys, glue leaves and sticks on paper, turkey napkin holders, etc.

Bowling - Before recycling Thanksgiving meal bottles and cans, create an outdoor bowling game where guests roll a pumpkin into plastic soda bottles or tin cans.
Source: www.playoutdoors.com

Remember when little orphan Annie is finally united with her new father, Daddy Warbucks, at the end of "Annie?" Ever wonder what happened next?

Find out at the Christian Arts and Theatre production of the "Annie" sequel, "Annie Warbucks," at the Corona Civic Theater Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Nov. 13, 14 and 15.

Special to The Press-Enterprise

Annie, played by 11-year-old Mackenzie Estep, sings with her orphan friends in the CAT Corona production, "Annie Warbucks."

"It's really fun and different," said Cyndi Monroe, artistic director. "The story is a little more fun and filled out."

Annie, played by 11-year-old Mackenzie Estep, is celebrating Christmas with Daddy Warbucks and all her friends from the orphanage. Child Welfare Commissioner Harriet Doyle, played by 15-year-old Gabrielle Green, steps in to inform Daddy Warbucks that he must marry within 60 days or Annie will be forced to return to the orphanage.

Warbucks, played by 16-year-old Tucker Boyles, immediately initiates a plan to find the perfect wife. Annie and her friends must come together to uncover a dastardly plot that threatens the happy family life Annie and Daddy Warbucks had been building.

"Bring the whole family," Monroe said. "This is a great opportunity to share a happy, light-hearted live theater production together."

'ANNIE WARBUCKS'
Where: Corona Civic Theater, 815 W. 6th St., Corona
When: 7 p.m. Nov. 6, 13; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 7, 14; 2 p.m. Nov. 8, 15
Cost: $13, adults; $11, child/senior/student; $50, family of five; $10/seat for groups of 15 or more; Tickets cost an additional $2 if purchased at the door
Tickets: 951-279-2298, www.catcorona.org

If you've been following Fox TV's new series, "Glee," you're in for a treat.

Charlotte Bray/ The Press-Enterprise

Lauren Potter, 19, of Riverside, holds up her script from the Fox's series, "Glee."

Riverside teen Lauren Potter will co-star in her prime-time acting debut in the episode, "Wheels" on Nov. 11 at 9 p.m. She'll also appear in a second episode, "Once Upon a Mattress" on Dec. 2.

See a video of Lauren talking about her "Glee" filming experience here.

Lauren has Down syndrome and is a member of The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, a nonprofit agency that offers programs, resources, education, counseling and more.