WALKING WITH DINOSAURS

Based on the award-winning BBC Television Series

San Diego Sports Arena for 9 performances only Jan. 1st to Jan. 4:

Jan. 1 7:00 p.m., Jan. 2 and Jan. 3 at 11:00, 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.,

January 4 at 1:00 and 5:00 p.m.

Tickets start at $29.50. Call 619-220 TIXS (8497), on-line at Ticketmaster.com

or in person at the San Diego Sports Arena Box Office. 

Dinosaurs once again roam the earth in a spectacular theatrical arena show, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular, based on the award-winning BBC Television Series. WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular is now on tour in North America and will perform 9 performances at San Diego Sports Arena. Over one and a half million Americans have already seen the production since it opened in July 2007.

The show originated in Australia, where after years of planning, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS came to life at Sydney’s Acer Arena in January 2007.   The show proved itself such a sensation, that this North American tour was fast-tracked.  It began a short three months after completing its sold out engagements in Australia.

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular is brought to North America by The Creature Production Company, headed by CEO Carmen Pavlovic.  Pavlovic said, “The BBC Series was a brilliant blend of special effects, escapism, excitement and information.  Our show brings together all of that, plus something extra - it’s live! In this production, fifteen roaring, snarling “live” dinosaurs mesmerize the audience – and are as awe-inspiring as when they first walked on earth.”

Pavlovic continued, “The dinosaurs are life-size, making the show so immense, it could only fit in arenas. It’s a $20 million arena spectacle of unprecedented size and quality, which captivates young and old alike. With Walking with Dinosaurs, we really believe we have created a new genre in entertainment and we hope to continue to bring new product to arenas for years to come ”

WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular has sold out performances and broken records in arenas all over the America – generating more than $50 million in ticket sales to date. It has been seen on "The Today Show," Good Morning America," "Live with Regis and Kelly," and has been written about in Newsweek, The New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor and the Wall Street Journal. It was the subject of a Discovery Channel Really Big Things episode and a video clue category on Jeopardy

Tim Haines, creator and producer of the original BBC series, which was seen by a worldwide audience of 700 million, serves as Project Consultant to WALKING WITH DINOSAURS – The Arena Spectacular.  The series won six Emmy and three BAFTA Awards.

Ten species are represented from the entire 200 million year reign of the dinosaurs.  The show includes the Tyrannosaurus Rex, the terror of the ancient terrain, as well as the Plateosaurus and Liliensternus from the Triassic period, the Stegosaurus and Allosaurus from the Jurassic period and Torosaurus and Utahraptor from the awesome Cretaceous.  The largest of them, the Brachiosaurus is 36 feet tall, and 56 feet from nose to tail.  It took a team of 50 – including engineers, fabricators, skin makers, artists and painters, and animatronic experts – a year to build the original production.

The show depicts the dinosaurs’ evolution, complete with the climatic and tectonic changes that took place, which led to the demise of many species.  With almost cinematic realism, WALKING WITH DINOSAURS has scenes of the interactions between dinosaurs, and the audience sees how carnivorous dinosaurs evolved to walk on two legs, and how the herbivores fended off their more agile predators.

The history of the world is played out with the splitting of the earth’s continents, and the transition from the arid desert of the Triassic period is given over to the lush green prairies and forces of the later Jurassic.  Oceans form, volcanoes erupt, a forest catches fire -- all leading to the impact of the massive comet, which struck the earth, and forced the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Variety said, “The dinosaurs are stunning, life-size and faultlessly nimble. In act one, the beasts parade into the arena gnashing and cavorting as a safari-suited paleontologist describes their attributes … in the second half, the action cranks up, culminating in a spectacular clash as a T-Rex mom defends her baby from predators. Sonny Tilders' triumphant creature design ensures ‘Walking With Dinosaurs’ is a truly spectacular spectacular. It is everything a dino-phile could want.”

The New York Times said that in this show dinosaurs make "a thundering comeback after 65 million years."

Gloria Goodale of the Christian Science Monitor said, “When the dinosaurs start pouring out onto the stage, if you don’t have to stifle the natural flight response of any living breathing being, then it’s your pulse that needs checking.”

Newsweek called the show, "that rare entertainment beast that parents and kids can enjoy together."

American Christmas at the Hotel Del Theater

Dec. 14 -28

The Del is pleased to present the annual production An American Christmas, performed by the award-winning Lamb’s Players Theatre. From December 14 – 28, the “Marshall family,” played by more than 30 versatile performers, throw open the doors to the Ballroom and invite their guests to join them for a heartwarming feast and celebration set exactly 100 years ago. Beginning with hors d’oeuvres, the Marshalls entertain their guests with stories, songs, dance and holiday cheer, all woven around a sumptuous four-course yuletide dinner prepared by The Del’s master chefs. San Diego Magazine calls An American Christmas “a perfect melding of food, ambience and showmanship.” For information and tickets, contact the Lamb’s Players Box Office at (619) 437-0600.

Broadway's Tony Award-Winning Musical Comedy

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Nov. 8-9

The Tony Award-winning musical comedy, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, is coming to the California Center for the Arts, Escondido on Saturday and Sunday, November 8 and 9 for a total of three performances. Tickets are on sale now by calling (800) 988-4253 or online at www.artcenter.org. 

Spelling Bee is directed by James Lapine, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner (Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods) who also directed the Broadway production.  The musical, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, with additional material written by Jay Reiss, features music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner William Finn (Falsettos, Elegies, A New Brain) and a Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin. Spelling Bee features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Jennifer Caprio, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier and choreography by Dan Knechtges.

In The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, six young people in the throes of puberty, overseen by grown-ups who barely managed to escape childhood themselves, learn that winning isn't everything and that losing doesn't necessarily make you a loser.  This tuneful, offbeat and at times heartwarming show offers audience members the opportunity (strictly voluntary) to become part of the action as on-stage spellers.

"Can you spell i-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e?  Spelling Bee is riotously funny and remarkably ingenious. Gold stars all around," says the New York Times.  In the Wall Street Journal, Spelling Bee was called,"perfect in every possible way - that rarity of rarities, a super-smart musical that is also a bona fide crowd-pleaser. An ingenious blend of simplicity and sophistication, it's not merely funny, it's wise."

For more information about The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee please visit www.spellingbeethemusical.com. For a full line-up of shows, on the California Center for the Arts, Escondido 2008-2009 performing arts season, please go to www.artcenter.org or contact the Ticket Office at (800) 988-4253.

Mira Costa College Holiday Dance, Theater and Film

DANCE

Shapes and Reflections 2008

Directed by Trisha Hanada-Rogers & Dave Massey

MiraCosta College Theatre

1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside

Friday, December 5 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 6 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, December 7 2 p.m.

General Admission, $12; Seniors/Staff, $10; Students, $8

Seating will be reserved.

MiraCosta’s Dance Program leaps into action to celebrate our rich dance heritage and diversity. This exciting performance of ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, ballroom and world dance forms features both classical and contemporary dance styles.

THEATRE

Heartland 

By Anita Simons and Lauren Simon

Directed by Eric Bishop

A World Premiere!  Based on true stories from World War II, Heartland is set on a small, family-run dairy farm in Wisconsin where, in March 1945, a German-born widow and her children are struggling to make ends meet after the family patriarch has died. When they receive notice from the War Manpower Commission offering two Prisoners of War to work their farm, it seems like an answer to the family’s prayers, but the arrival of these two strangers causes changes no one had anticipated.

MiraCosta College Theatre

1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside

November 14, 15, 20, 21, 22 7:30 p.m.

November 16, 23 2:00 p.m.

Preview performance, November 13 7:30 p.m.

General Admission, $12; Seniors/Staff, $10; Students, $8; Preview night: All seats, $8. Non-reserved seating. This play will be limited to a 100-seat “black box” style configuration.

FILM

INTERNATIONAL FILM SERIES

All films are presented in the original language with English subtitles.  Free admission.

There will be two showings of each film:

Fridays at 1 p.m., San Elijo Campus, Room 204

3333 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff

Fridays at 7 p.m., Oceanside Campus, Room 3601 (Little Theatre)

One Barnard Drive, Oceanside 

November 14

“Mostly Martha”

(Germany, 2001)

Martha, the domineering chef at a fancy restaurant, has her rigid routine broken when her sister dies in a car wreck leaving behind her eight-year-old daughter, Lina, for Martha to raise. The relationship between the two is portrayed with all its awkwardness and complications intact. Directed by Sandra Nettelbeck.  (Rated PG)

December 5

“Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress”

(China, 2002)

During China’s cultural revolution, two young university students are sent to a remote mountain village for Maoist re-education in order to purge them of their decadent Western education. Directed by Sijie Dai.  (Not Rated)

MiraCosta College 1 Barnard Dr., Oceanside, CA 92056

(760) 795-6612 visit www.miracosta.edu.

MOONLIGHT STAGE PRODUCTIONS AT THE AVO PRESENTS:

DRIVING MISS DAISY & PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES

Moonlight Stage Productions presents their 17th winter season at the Avo Playhouse in Downtown Vista. The first two shows of the season include “Driving Miss Daisy,” November 13 through 30, and the country music revue “Pump Boys and Dinettes,” January 29 through February 22.

“Driving Miss Daisy” by Alfred Uhry, takes place over the span of 25 years, as a carefully forged friendship between Miss Daisy, a proud, wealthy Atlanta matron, and her African-American driver, Hoke, results in an unexpected bond which changes their lives. Dana Case directs the esteemed local actors Sandra Ellis-Troy and Antonio “TJ” Johnson in this Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

 “Pump Boys and Dinettes” is about four filling station guys, selling high octane on Highway 57 in Grand Old Opry country, Join the “Dinettes,” the table-waiting Cupps sisters at the Double Cupp Diner, for an evening of singing and dancing that celebrates the joys of small-town life. The show will be directed and choreographed by David Brannen.

Performance times are Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. The Avo Playhouse is located at 303 Main Street, Vista. Single tickets are $26 for adults, with discounts for seniors, students, military personnel and groups of 20 or more.  Single tickets are available for purchase in person at VisTix Ticket Office.

Tickets can also be purchased by phone at (760) 724-2110, or online at www.vistixonline.com. The Vis Tix Ticket Office is located at Vista City Hall, at the corner of Escondido Avenue and Alta Vista Drive.

Movies in the Park

Sept. 13, Saturday, at dusk

The City of San Marcos invites you to a free viewing of Disney’s “Cars” at San Elijo Park San Elijo Park, 1105 Elfin Forest Rd.on Saturday, Sept. 13, beginning at dusk. “Cars” will be presented digitally on an enormous inflatable screen in high definition Blu-ray format. Bring beach chairs or blankets for lawn seating. For further information call (760) 744-9000 or go to www.san-marcos.net.

North Coast Repertory Presents: A Christmas Carol

December 3 – 27

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and adapted by Jacqueline Goldfinger is back by popular demand. A fresh and theatrically imaginative adaptation of A Christmas Carol brings new life to this much loved classic. North Coast Rep is proud to have Ron Choularton return to the stage in his tour-de-force performance as the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge. Filled with all the festive trimmings of the season, this production promises to enchant, entertain and delight. A crisp retelling of Dickens’ age old story laced with love, compassion, forgiveness, and the knowledge that there is always time to change one’s direction in life if one chooses. A holiday treat for the young and old and everyone in between. Tickets can be purchased at www.northcoastrep.org or by calling the box office at (858) 481-1055 or by visiting North Coast Repertory Theatre box office at 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive in Solana Beach 92075. Box office hours are 12 pm - 4 pm daily and from 12 pm - 6 pm on performance days.