The Play’s The Thing

How is it the holidays already? Wasn’t it just summer? Isn’t it still summer? It sure feels like it.

And aren’t things supposed to slow down in the winter? Not here and not for families.

Thumbing through this issue there are a host of plays, musical performances and winter camps. It’s really amazing.

It starts on our cover with Santa Cruz Shakespeare moving from summer to the holidays with one of the greatest family plays ever, A Christmas Carol. Sure, everyone’s seen the movie, but there is nothing like seeing the most skilled actors in the world perform it up close and personal. It’s something that will change a kid’s life forever.

Then, of course, the Nutcracker is coming up in December. But November is jumping the gun with excellent theater. Miracle on 34th Street starts Nov. 22 at the Mountain Community Theater, which is a great mix of entertainment for kids and adults.

And for more fun, what about SpongleBob SquarePants the Musical at Cabrillo Theater showing Nov. 8-24? That is guaranteed to be a great time for everyone.

And we didn’t mention that all of these performances are reasonably priced, especially compared to Broadway or a football game. They make perfect gifts for those who want to step away from material things or share something as a family.

All About Theatre, a beloved local troupe, has found a new home at the Colligan Theater, which has been renovated and prepared for its opening show, The Little Mermaid, debuting on Nov. 8. And they have two big productions following: Alice in Wonderland, Dec. 6-14 and Footloose Jan.17-25.

Think for a minute about how lucky and blessed we are to have this kind of quality in our small community. Many cities 10 times bigger have far less.

One of our yearly favorites is a fast and frenetic performance of The Nightmare Before Christmas every Friday and Saturday night through New Year’s at Kianti’s Restaurant downtown. It’s a spectacle every time we see it and if you haven’t seen it yet, you will be hooked. It’s the perfect excuse to catch a great meal and a fun show before you see some of the other performances around town.

Thumb through this issue and catch up with these events and get your tickets before they sell out. Drop us a line with your reviews and suggestions for what you liked best and what you recommend for others to catch.

Thanks for reading

Brad Kava,
Editor and Publisher