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City Life News

Record breaking Smash Musical Chicago returns to LA for two week run, exclusively at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, May 15-27

Hollywood, Calif. - CHICAGO, the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival will return to Los Angeles at the Pantages Theatre for a strictly limited two-week engagement May 15 – 27, 2012. After her critically-acclaimed debut as “Roxie Hart” on Broadway and in London’s West End, Christie Brinkley, one of the world’s most successful supermodels, will make her highly-anticipated Los Angeles debut this spring as she reprises her killer role in this six-time Tony Award-winning musical smash hit when it plays the Pantages Theatre.




CHICAGO Producer Barry Weissler said: "We are thrilled to welcome Christie and her incredible dedication, focus and determination that she exhibits… I'm excited to share with audiences the stellar performance that she delivers.”

Throughout her phenomenal career as one of the country's most successful and recognizable supermodels, Christie Brinkley has appeared on more than 500 magazine covers worldwide. But more than that, she also excels as an artist, writer, photographer, designer, actress, philanthropist, environmentalist and political activist. Christie Brinkley recently launched a line of natural skin care products as part of her new company, Christie Brinkley Beauty. Combining her modeling experience with her artistic talents and diverse interests, Christie's career over the years has been interesting and dynamic.

A Ford model for over thirty years, Christie was discovered by a photographer in Paris at the age of eighteen. Since then, she has become the first model to ever appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated for three consecutive years, and appeared in the publication's annual swimsuit issues and television specials for years to follow.

In 1976, CoverGirl gave Christie her first "big break" in modeling with a contract, which launched the start of a 20-year partnership that marks the longest-running cosmetics contract of any model in history.

Christie is known for her commitment to health and fitness. Christie wrote and illustrated a health and beauty book, Christie Brinkley's Outdoor Beauty and Fitness Guide which topped The New York Times bestseller list.

On the big screen, she made her acting debut in 1983 opposite Chevy Chase in the hit feature film National Lampoon's Vacation and its 1997 sequel, Vegas Vacation. She has also famously appeared in Billy Joel's classic music videos "Uptown Girl," "Keeping the Faith" and "All About Soul," as well as Mick Jones' music video "Just Wanna Hold."

On television, Christie has appeared on NBC's "Mad About You" and hosted Lifetime Television's "InStyle Celebrity Weddings," which became the highest rated special in Lifetime's history. She has also been featured in Vh1's "Pop Culture Icons" series. Christie has been the subject of many documentaries including the HBO program "Beautiful Baby, Beautiful," Lifetime's "Intimate Portrait" and "Barbara Walters' Oscar Night Special." Christie is an active member and dedicated supporter/activist for many organizations including UNICEF's Art and Entertainment Support Committee, Handgun Control, Ovarian Cancer, Susan G. Komen Foundation, the Cousteau Society, Southern Poverty Law, The Wilderness Society and stopglobalwarming.org. She currently lives in New York with two of her three children, Sailor Lee and Jack Paris. Her daughter, actress/singer Alexa Ray Joel, lives in New York City.

Tickets for CHICAGO may be purchased online at www.BroadwayLA.org or by phone at 1-800-982-2787. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Pantages Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, just east of Vine Street, and the box office opens daily at 10am.

Now in its 16th year on Broadway, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is now the fourth longest-running production in Broadway history. With a legendary book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb, CHICAGO is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago's slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today's tabloids.

Directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking, CHICAGO features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winner Ken Billington and sound design by Scott Lehrer. CHICAGO is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler. For more information on CHICAGO, please visit www.ChicagoTheMusical.com.

The performance schedule for CHICAGO is Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm. CHICAGO has a running time of 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission and is recommended for ages 13 and up. (Please note that in consideration of audiences, no one under 5 will be admitted to the theatre.)

Orchestra level tickets for CHICAGO start at just $25. Prices are subject to change without notice.

For tickets or more information about CHICAGO’s Los Angeles engagement, please visit the Pantages Theatre’s official website, www.BroadwayLA.org.




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City Life News

Hollywood, Calif. – Monty Python’s Spamalot is returning to the Pantages Theater for a one week engagement from Feb. 28 to March 4. Tickets to he Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2005.

Leading the cast of Monty Python’s Spamalot are Arthur Rowan as King Arthur and Brittany Woodrow as The Lady of the Lake with Michael J. Berry (Patsy), Adam Grabau (Sir Lancelot, The French Taunter, King Ni, Tim the Enchanter), Jacob L. Smith (Sir Galahad, Black Knight, Father), Kasidy Devlin (Sir Robin), Thomas DeMarcus (Mayor, Dennis’ Mother, Sir Bedevere, Concorde), James David Larson (Not Dead Fred, Prince Herbert) and Joe Beuerlein (Historian, Minstrel, Brother Maynard, French Guard).



Rounding out the company are Kimber Benedict, Jason Elliott Brown, Ryan Cowles, Carl DeForrest Hendin, Amanda Johns, Andrew Leggieri, Melissa Denise Lopez, McKayla Marso, Jesse Palmer, Tiffani Robbins, Jared Titus and Bradley Allan Zarr.
Lovingly “ripped-off” from the internationally famous comedy team’s most popular motion picture, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the hilarious spoof is the winner of three 2005 Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Director (Mike Nichols), as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best Musical. The original cast recording of Monty Python’s Spamalot won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
Telling the legendary tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and their quest for the Holy Grail, Monty Python’s Spamalot features a chorus line of dancing divas and knights, flatulent Frenchmen, killer rabbits and one legless knight.
Based on the Tony Award winning direction of Mike Nichols and the riotous choreography of Casey Nicholaw, Monty Python’s Spamalot features a book by Eric Idle, based on the screenplay of Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Monty Python creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, with music and lyrics by the Grammy Award-winning team of Mr. Idle and John Du Prez.
Monty Python’s Spamalot is produced by Stephen B. Kane, Michael McFadden and Phoenix Entertainment.

Tickets to see Spamalot may be purchased online at www.BroadwayLA.org or by phone at 1-800-982-2787. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Pantages Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. The Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, just east of Vine Street, and the box office opens daily at 10am.The performance schedule for Monty Python’s Spamalot is Tuesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm. Monty Python’s Spamalot has a running time of 2 hours including intermission and is recommended for ages 12 and up. (Please note that in consideration of audiences, no one under 5 will be admitted to the theatre.)Orchestra level tickets for Monty Python’s Spamalot start at just $25. Prices are subject to change without notice.For more information on Monty Python’s Spamalot, please visit www.MontyPythonsSpamalot.com.For tickets or more information about Monty Python’s SPAMALOT’s Los Angeles engagement, please visit the Pantages Theatre’s official website, www.BroadwayLA.org.

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By Margie Anne Clark

Hollywood, Calif. – Michael Jackson’s star power shined bright as luminaries, fans and family members alike gathered on Thursday to honor the memory of the King of Pop in front of the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, ushering in a new era of Jackson’s legacy and his extraordinary contributions to the world of music and dance.



“For me, and I think I speak for him as well, this right here is his lifetime achievement award,” said Jackson’s oldest son Prince, standing tall and proud in front of throngs of fans and media beneath Southern California’s sunny blue sky as fans cheered from the grandstands of closed-off Hollywood Boulevard. His voice strong, firm and steady, Prince added, “This is what he strived to get, and this is what we are giving him now today.”

Prince, Blanket and Paris Jackson carried the torch of their superstar dad, literally in his footsteps, immortalizing him with their their father’s signature sparkling glove and dancing shoes imprinted in cement not far from Michael Jackson’s star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

The star-studded event marked the kick-off of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour opening tonight at the Staples Center (January 27-29) in Los Angeles. Joining the ranks of stars paying homage to the late icon were Justin Beiber, Smokey Robinson, Quincy Jones, comedian Chris Tucker, along with Glee cast members and Access Hollywood’s Billy Bush who emceed the festivities.

Amid cheers, Bieber, introduced by Paris, took to the stage, reflecting his late great predecessor, aptly singing his own a cappella rendition of Jackson’s youthful hit song of the 1970′s Rockin’ Robin.

“He was more than an entertainer, he was an inspiration,” said an exuberant Bieber, who said he wished he could have met his pop star idol in person.

Michael Jackson’s children were accompanied by their grandmother, Katherine Jackson and uncles Tito Jackson and Jackie Jackson, former members of the famed Jackson 5, enjoying the festivities as much as the fans.

Along with Bieber’s performance and other celebrity appearances, the event featured a colorful preview of Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson The Immortal troupe, showcasing an electrifying medley of Jackson’s unforgettable hits.

Ticket Information for Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour can be found by visiting the Cirque du Soleil website at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/michael-jackson-tour/tickets.aspx

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Hollywood, Calif. - There's still time to see WICKED at the
Pantages Theatre in Hollywood, now through Jan 29, 2012. Call 800-982-ARTS (2787) for tickets now.
http://www.broadwayla.org/production/show.info.asp?ID=1
The company of WICKED will also include native Los Angeles residents Lauren Boyd, Napoleon W. Gladney, Brenda Hamilton, Alli McGinnis and Kevin McMahon.



Rounding out the company are Megan Campanile, Antonette Cohen, Rick Desloge, Melanie Field, Luis Augusto Figueroa, Timothy A. Fitz-Gerald, Renee Lawless-Orsini, Philip Dean Lightstone, Marissa Lupp, Michael Mahany, Sterling Masters, Christopher Russo, Adea Michelle Sessoms, Carla Stickler, Brandon Tyler, Shanna VanDerwerker, Nicky Venditti and Mikey Winslow.

Back by “Popular” demand. Los Angeles’ most “popular” musical flies back to the Pantages Theatre for the holiday season after a record-breaking two-year run. Called “a phenomenon that keeps growing” by The Los Angeles Times and “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times, WICKED tells the story of two girls who meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good makes for “America’s must-see musical”. (Orange County Register )

Running Time: 2 hrs 45 mins (including intermission)
Parent Advisory: Recommended for 8 & up; no one under 5 admitted to the theatre.

City Life Communications News

Anaheim, Calif. and Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - Disney Parks guests can get the most out of February 29 when Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California celebrate Leap Year by keeping a theme park on each coast open for 24 hours of nonstop memory-making fun.

For the first time ever, both the Magic Kingdom Park and Disneyland Park will stay open for 24 hours straight as part of a bi-coastal salute called “One More Disney Day.” From 6 a.m., February 29 to 6 a.m., March 1, 2012, local time, guests can fill the extra day of leap year with a marathon of Disney magic and fun.*

And for 60 days straight – from Jan. 1, 2012 to Feb. 29, 2012 – a daily winner will be chosen in the “Disney Parks One More Disney Day Sweepstakes” to receive a Disney Parks vacation. One entrant each day will win a vacation for four to make memories at either Disneyland Resort in California or Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.**

For the past year, Disney Parks has invited guests to “let the memories begin,” noted Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

“We’re honored that so many guests have shared their Disney memories with us as part of ‘Let the Memories Begin’, and I’m pleased to announce that the campaign will continue throughout 2012,” Staggs said. “To celebrate, for the first time ever, the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland Parks will remain open for 24 hours on Leap Day, so that our guests can take advantage of every minute of their extra day to make memories with friends and family.”

In addition to the extra time, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Disneyland Resort in California will feature a special offer:

* Guests get one more day and night of memory making, free when they buy a 3-night/3-day non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. room and ticket package at select Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort hotels. The package offer is good for arrivals most nights Feb. 26 – March 10, 2012 and must be booked by Jan. 31, 2012. ***

In 2011, Disney Parks has encouraged families to “Let the Memories Begin,” with guests celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their vacation stories, photos and videos online at DisneyParks.com/memories.

Guests can find out more information about other Disneyland Resort offers and tickets at www.disneyland.com and other Walt Disney World Resort hotel and ticket offers at www.disneyworld.com. Guests can find out more information about “One More Disney Day” and get official rules for the “Disney Parks One More Disney Day Sweepstakes” at www.OneMoreDisneyDay.com.



*Select attractions, entertainment and services will be available for 24 hours. Subject to capacity restrictions. Valid theme park admission required.

** NO PURCHASE/ TEXT MESSAGE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to persons who are, as of Entry, legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 U.S., D.C. or Canada (excluding Quebec) and who are not Minors. Sweepstakes starts 12:01 AM (EST) on 1/1/12 and ends 11:59:59 PM (EST) on 2/29/12. To enter, send on your cell phone the key word “DISNEYDAY” as an SMS text message to the SMS shortcode 347639 (Disney). Msg. & data rates may apply. Or to enter for free and for Official Rules, visit Disney.com/memoriessweeps. If entering via SMS you will receive a confirmation text in response to your entry. LIMIT: ONE ENTRY ALLOWED PER PERSON/Cell/Address for each day. Sponsor: Disney Online 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, CA 91521.

*** Number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Room charge based on average per night rate of applicable room during stay. Offer is valid for bookings from 1/1/12 through 1/31/12 for arrivals from 2/26/12 through 3/10/12. One (1) consecutive night will be added to the hotel stay and one (1) day added to the tickets. Offer applied once per package/reservation and excludes suites. Disneyland® Resort multi-day tickets expire 13 days after first use or 3/23/12, whichever occurs first, Walt Disney World® tickets are for one theme park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use. Each day of use of a ticket constitutes one full day of use. Advanced reservations required. No group rates or other discounts apply. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Check for packages of other lengths of stay. Walt Disney Travel Company CST: 1022229-50. ©Disne

City Life Communications News

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2012) – An exciting ticket offer at Disneyland Resort invites Southern California residents to enjoy two days of fun and adventure at two parks for just $99. To explore all there is to do at Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure park, guests may purchase a 2-day ticket for just $99, with their choice of one park per day. With the 2-day ticket, guests get the flexibility to make memories with family and friends any two days from Jan. 4 to June 9, 2012.*


From the nighttime brilliance of “World of Color” to parades and high-energy street shows, guests will be immersed in the excitement of high-quality entertainment and some of their favorite attractions for two full days. They will be able to choose two days at Disney California Adventure, or two days at Disneyland, or one day to go wild at each park. Plus, for the first time, SoCal residents may choose to add a third day to this ticket for just $30** and visit one park per day. For blockout dates and restrictions, visit www.Disneyland.com/2days.

Along with the great value of the 2-day ticket, guests will enjoy a fun challenge when they visit the parks: What to do next? Visit a pirate, a princess, a Jedi or a genie? Sing along with a mermaid or soar over California? Embark on a jungle cruise or journey to galaxies far, far away? Dine at a seaside boardwalk or dance the night away at ElecTRONica?

With so much to do at both parks, guests may choose from a variety of sensational shows, attractions and dining locations. At Disneyland, favorite experiences include the new destinations of Star Tours with more than 50 different story combinations, the exciting drumbeat of Mickey’s Soundsational Parade and the thrills of racing through Space Mountain. At Disney California Adventure, the fun ranges from a musical voyage on The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure to a 4D ride on Toy Story Mania, and more at night with the “World of Color” spectacular on enormous mist screens.

Classic attractions and entertaining shows offer even more options for guests, including a cruise through Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland, and a magical carpet ride with “Aladdin, a Musical Spectacular” at Disney California Adventure. Guests also may enjoy meeting characters and princesses at the parks, plus themed dining locations such as the new pavilion at Paradise Pier, with Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill restaurants.

The 2-day ticket is the perfect way to catch all the fun, and it won’t last long. SoCal residents must purchase the 2-day ticket by June 1, 2012. First use must occur on or before June 8, 2012, and the tickets expire on June 9, 2012. The 2-day ticket can be purchased at Disneyland.com/2days, The Disney Stores, Albertsons and other retail locations, as well as any Disneyland Resort ticket booth. Guests who purchase online can print their tickets at home.

Additional offers are available for guests who want to turn their Disneyland Resort visit into a getaway, including a hotel stay at any of the three Disneyland Resort deluxe hotels and FASTPASS tickets. The four-diamond Disneyland Hotel has been fully renovated with beautiful décor, a new pool and water play area, and a new restaurant and bar. For details, see www.disneyland.com/offers.

* Hotel savings: Guests can save up to 35 percent* on hotel stays for most Sunday through Thursday nights at a Disneyland Resort hotel for travel from January 2 through February 29, 2012, when the reservation is booked before February 29. Hotel guests may also enjoy Magic Morning admission to a Disneyland Resort theme park on applicable days.
* FASTPASS Tickets: Guests who stay at any Disneyland Resort hotel from January 4 to February 29 will receive 2 Disney’s FASTPASS tickets for each registered guest in their party (ages 3 and older). Valid theme park tickets are required, of course.#
* Vacation package: Guests get one more Disney day and night free! As part of the One More Disney Day campaign, when guests purchase a non-discounted Walt Disney Travel Co. 3-night, 3-day Room and Ticket Package before January 31, 2012 for arrivals most nights between February 26 and March 10, 2012, they will receive a ticket for an additional theme park admission and a hotel night for free.##

###

About Disneyland Resort: Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, comprised of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The resort’s hotels are the 481-room Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel with its “day-at-the-beach” fun and two Four Diamond properties – the luxurious, 948-room Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, and the magical, newly renovated, 969-room Disneyland Hotel. For information on attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 43-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

Star Tours ©Disney/Lucasfilm Ltd.
Indiana Jones Adventure ©Disney/Lucasfilm Ltd. & ™

So Cal Resident 2-Day, 1-Park per Day and 2-Day Park Hopper Ticket Disclaimer

* Tickets valid only for Southern California residents within ZIP codes 90000-93599 and Northern Baja California residents within ZIP codes 21000-22999 and proof of residency is required for purchase and admission. Each day of use constitutes one full day of use. Tickets expire June 9, 2012. Blockout days of 3/30/12-4/15/12 and 6/4/12-6/5/12 apply. May purchase up to 5 tickets per person per day with valid ID. Tickets may not be sold or transferred for commercial use. Offer may not be combined with other discounts or promotions. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

** Resort Hotel Offer Disclaimer

35% savings on Sunday through Thursday night stays based on the non-discounted price for the same room at Disney’s Paradise Pier® Hotel. Check for offers at other hotels. Travel must be completed by March 1, 2012. Applies only to standard and concierge level rooms and not valid with previously booked rooms. Excludes applicable taxes and fees. Advance reservations required. Subject to availability as the number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Limit two (2) rooms per reservation and five (5) people maximum per room. Not valid in combination with any other hotel discounts or offers. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

#Disney’s FASTPASS Disclaimer

Each Disney’s FASTPASS® ticket will allow a guest one (1) entrance to the FASTPASS® return line of any Disney’s FastPass® attraction at the Disneyland® Resort Theme Parks (except World of Color). Tickets expire seven (7) days from check-in or March 7, 2012, whichever occurs first. Disney’s FASTPASS® attractions and return lines may not operate daily and Disney’s FASTPASS® tickets are subject to attraction changes, closures and capacity. No cash value; no substitutions. Tickets may not be sold, copied or transferred for commercial purposes and will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Subject to restrictions and change without notice.

## Free Day and Night Disclaimer

*Number of rooms allocated for this offer is limited. Room charge based on average per night rate of applicable room during stay. One (1) consecutive night will be added to the hotel stay and one (1) day added to the tickets. Offer applied once per package/reservation and excludes suites. The Disneyland® Resort multi-day tickets expire 13 days after first use or 3/23/12, whichever occurs first, and each day of use of a ticket constitutes one full day of use. Advanced reservations required. No group rates or other discounts apply. Subject to restrictions and change without notice. Check for packages of other lengths of stay. Walt Disney Travel Company CST: 1022229-50.

City Life Communications News

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2012) - The holiday season at Disneyland Resort is still going on daily through Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012.
* For the first time, the Holiday season at Disneyland Resort will be extended to celebrate Three Kings Day, known as Día de Reyes. From Jan. 6-8, 2012, look for special décor and entertainment in Frontierland that showcases western and Mexican heritage, along with food themed to this holiday and children’s activities.


* The first Disneyland holiday celebration was in 1955, when Walt Disney placed a Christmas tree in the Hub at the north end of Main Street, U.S.A., near Sleeping Beauty Castle. For many years now, the tree has been located in Town Square near the Main Street Disneyland Railroad Station.
* Beginning Friday, Nov. 18, “The Magic, The Memories, and You!” show gets a new, Yuletide glow. The show features photos and video of guests creating memories at Disneyland park, with favorite holiday melodies underscoring images of guests enjoying their holidays at Disneyland.
* The lively street show “Phineas and Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” gets a merry twist at Disney California Adventure park, with holiday décor and songs. The show is performed several times a day in Paradise Pier.
* Lanny and Wayne, the techno-savvy elves from the “Prep & Landing” holiday TV specials, make guest appearances in a new holiday prelude sequence in the nighttime “World of Color” show in Disney California Adventure.
* Decorating experts at the Disneyland Resort have to get started early. They trim nearly 700 trees for the season, on display in Disneyland, Disney California Adventure, the resort’s three hotels and the Downtown Disney District. The smallest tree is at Storybook Land and the largest is at Town Square – both in Disneyland.
* The Disneyland Christmas tree in Town Square has become a favorite spot for snapping holiday photos. The artificial tree stands 60 feet tall and has 280,000 pine-tip branches molded from actual tree branches. It is decorated with more than 2,000 ornaments, including the three-foot star on top, and nearly 4,800 energy-efficient LED lights. When the Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle show reaches its finale crescendo, more than 60,000 LED lights and 1,200 strobe lights are added to the effect.
* Mickey’s Toontown is decorated with its own distinctive “toon” trees this 2011 holiday season. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse each have personal Christmas trees in the front yards of their Toontown homes, and a cartoon-themed tree beckons guests for photos in front of Toontown City Hall.


* Since the introduction of the artificial Christmas tree and LED lighting technology in 2008, the Disneyland park Christmas tree has used 50 percent less electricity than it did previously.
* Carolers in traditional Victorian holiday garb make regular appearances throughout the season at each of the three Disneyland Resort hotels: Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel, the Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
* The Dapper Dans, the popular Main Street, U.S.A., quartet, add holiday songs to their repertoire, with holiday chimes as accompaniment. Favorites range from the traditional “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to “Frosty the Snowman,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Christmas in Killarney.
* The nighttime Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle light show is divided into three “acts” over the course of the evening. Each one begins at the Castle and travels the length of Main Street, U.S.A., finishing at the Town Square Christmas tree. Each act features a magical snowfall, and the final act concludes with “Believe…in Holiday Magic” fireworks.
* The nighttime light show employs more than 200,000 points of light, 2,600 individual circuits and more than 85,000 individual wiring connections.
* If all the cables and conductors for the show were laid end to end, they would stretch 48 miles from Disneyland Resort – enough to pass the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank.
* The entrance to Disney California Adventure and locations throughout the park are festooned with holiday decoration. New this year are the decorations around the newly renovated Paradise Pier area, with The Little Mermaid ~Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and the nearby dining locations.
* The largest ornaments used at Disneyland Resort may be found in the “bugs-eye-view” world of Flik’s Fun Fair at Disney California Adventure.
* The smallest ornaments used at the Resort may be found in the Storybook Land attraction at Disneyland.

“A Christmas Fantasy” parade

* Each performance of “A Christmas Fantasy” features 105 performers, 18 float drivers and 12 musicians costumed as toy soldiers from the Disney movie “Babes in Toyland.” With daily parade performances, it takes approximately 200 performers to stage the parade during the holiday season.
* The parade features six major “units,” each consisting of multiple floats. The units are: ”A Christmas Fantasy Opening” featuring Mrs. Claus sorting letters in Santa’s Mailroom; “Winter Wonderland” with Mickey and Minnie enjoying a romantic skate atop the frozen pond; “The Candy Shop” with Goofy leading the bakers from the Gingerbread House; “Candlelight Christmas Ball” featuring everyone’s favorite Disney Royal Couples; “Toy Factory,” the perfect spot for Buzz and Woody; and the “Finale,” where Santa himself waves from his sleigh.

it’s a small world” Holiday

* A new, 14-foot snowman made of crystal snowflakes is lit with thousands of lights in the finale of “it’s a small world” Holiday. This is the first addition to this holiday celebration since the attraction debuted in 1997. The snowman stands atop a 10-food-wide snowflake and holds a beautiful “icicle” sign that that spells out “Happy Holidays” in colors that change as guests float by.
* Decorators use 50,000 Christmas lights on the façade of “it’s a small world” Holiday, and an additional 200,000 mini-lights in the trees, hedges and topiaries surrounding the attraction.
* Among the holiday special effects inside the attraction: pine tree and peppermint scents in the European scenes; 75 gallons of bubble juice to make bubbles throughout the season in the South Seas scene.

Haunted Mansion Holiday

* Jack Skellington has his own ideas about appropriate holiday decorations. The Haunted Mansion Holiday exterior is decorated with more than 100 jack-o’-lanterns and the eerie glow of more than 400 flickering candles.
* For the holidays, the graveyard in the Haunted Mansion finale is covered with 7,500 square feet of snow. Trees in the graveyard are decked out with 1,000 tiny orange lights.
* The gingerbread house in the Mansion’s Great Hall is made of real gingerbread and icing. Each year, the Disneyland Resort Foods and Entertainment divisions partner to create an original design for that year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house.
* This 2011 gingerbread house stands six feet tall, consisting of 500 pounds of gingerbread and miles of frosting. The house animates to become a gingerbread monster, revealing glowing eyes and sharp teeth. This year’s Haunted Mansion Holiday gingerbread house took months of planning and three weeks of creation in the Disneyland Resort Central Bakery.
* Guests may book guided Disneyland holiday tours which include visits to Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday attractions, reserved viewing of “A Christmas Fantasy” parade with a delicious holiday treat and warm beverage, plus a 2011 holiday pin and tour tag. (Information and reservations: 714-781-TOUR/714-781-8687.)

City Life News

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The spirit of Halloween Time has come to Disneyland Resort this fall with Disney villains, Mickey Mouse and his friends in Halloween costumes, along with the seasonal transformations of Haunted Mansion into Haunted Mansion Holiday and Space Mountain into Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort is now open and will continue through Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31.
(Disneyland Resort)

The after-hours Mickey’s Halloween Party, a separate-ticket event* which has become an annual highlight of Halloween Time for trick-or-treating families, will take place in Disneyland park on 10 special Monday, Tuesday and Friday nights: Sept. 30 and Oct. 3,7,11,14,18,21, 25, 28 and 31. Tickets are available at Disneyland.com/halloween.
(Disneyland Resort)

Mickey’s Halloween Party invites adults and children to dress up in costume and trick-or-treat at the resort. These party participants can also “mix in” with regular Disneyland guests for three hours prior to the start of Mickey’s private bash. Highlights of Mickey’s Halloween Party include:

* Newly themed dance party: Guests can mix, mingle and dance with some of their favorite Disney characters at the new “Piratepalooza” at Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante. The popular “Buzz Lightyear’s Intergalactic Space Jam” returns to the Tomorrowland Terrace for more dancing fun.
* New character photo locations: Guests will meet Stormtroopers at Tomorrowland, Phineas & Ferb at Plaza Gardens Stage, and Duffy the Bear in his pumpkin attire at Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A. Eight additional photo locations feature princesses, Disney villains and more Disney and Pixar pals.
* The special opportunity to play in Disneyland for three hours before the party starts
* Trick or Treating – candy and healthy treats ­- in the ultimate Disney neighborhood
* The “Halloween Screams” fireworks spectacular, hosted by “Master of Scare-omonies” Jack Skellington (presented exclusively for guests of Mickey’s Halloween Party)
* “Mickey’s Costume Party” cavalcade, performed twice nightly
* An opportunity for everyone in the family to attend the park in costumes
* Nearly all the favorite Disneyland rides and attractions

Tickets purchased in advance for Mickey’s Halloween Party are $49 most days, while tickets purchased on the event days are $59. All tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party on Friday, Oct. 28, and Halloween Night, Monday, Oct. 31, are $64.
(Disneyland Resort)
Favorite Disney characters, including Mickey himself, will dress up in fun, fall costumes. It’s the ideal environment to eat special holiday treats, play interactive games, listen to “spirited” music and watch a nightly character cavalcade that celebrates the season.

For Halloween fun at Disneyland, guests will enjoy Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy in Tomorrowland. The experience begins as a typical Space Mountain adventure, but suddenly launches voyagers into a haunted section of the universe. Ghosts appear out of the starry darkness and swirling galaxies of Space Mountain, reaching out as if to grab guests as they speed through space. The exhilarating drops and curves of the journey are punctuated by piercing screams, creepy sound effects and haunting music.

Jack Skellington also returns to take over the Haunted Mansion and bring back Haunted Mansion Holiday to New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Transformed to a mix of Halloween spookiness and Christmas tradition, Haunted Mansion Holiday is inspired by the classic animated film “Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.” Jack’s return to the Haunted Mansion includes the traditional Halloween/Christmas gingerbread house in the Mansion Ballroom, with some special spooky surprises in this year’s design.

Halloween Time offers frightfully delightful fun for children and adults.

* For spine-tingling fun, drop in at The Twilight Zone™ Tower of Terror at Disney California Adventure park, where a “supernatural” event happened on Halloween evening, 1939, forever haunting the building.
* Main Street, U.S.A. in Disneyland is transformed for the Pumpkin Festival. More than 300 pumpkins will be on display and none of them are the same!
* Visitors to Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland will find ranch animals, pumpkin carvers, Halloween décor and activities for youngsters.
* Meeting Disney characters will be easier than ever as Disney villains gather to plot Halloween mischief at “it’s a small world” Mall in Disneyland, while other characters in spooky attire greet guests in Town Square, Main Street, U.S.A.
* Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland will honor Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead with traditional skeleton figures on display Sept. 16 through Nov. 2.
* Special Halloween treats will be available in Disneyland, including menu items such as Zero’s Ghostly Ghoulash, served in a dog dish in honor of Zero.



For more information about Halloween Time at Disneyland Resort, see www.disneyland.com/halloween. This site will be updated with frightfully fun details.

For information on new attractions and vacations at Disneyland Resort visit www.disneyland.com, call (866) 60-DISNEY or contact local travel agents.

City Life News

HOLLYWOOD, Calif.- Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights opened today with more mazes than ever – and an all-new Terror Tram: Scream 4 Your Life.
Halloween Horror Nights 2011
( Universal Studios Hollywood )

This year's six horror mazes include the return of "Rob Zombie's House of 1000 Corpses: In 3D ZombieVision." Rocker Alice Cooper joins the fun with "Alice Cooper: Welcome To My Nightmare."

Director Eli Roth put together "Eli Roth's Hostel: Hunting Season," which features items from Roth's personal collection of original "Hostel" movie props.

"La Llorona: Villa De Almas Perdidas" ("The Weeping Woman: Village of Lost Souls") is from actor and director Diego Luna, who re-imagines the legend of melancholy and murder that he was told as a child. The other mazes are "The Thing: Assimilation" and "The Wolfman: The Curse of Talbot Hall.'

The new backlot experience, "Terror Tram: Scream 4 Your Life," is based on the latest installment of Wes Craven's "Scream" film series. "Scare Zones" and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Halloween Adventure" add to the nightmare theme.

"Halloween Horror Nights" are Sept. 23 and 24 plus Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Oct. 7-9, 14-16, 20-23 and 27-31. Tickets can be purchased at UniversalStudiosHollywood.com/hhn. Updates on "Halloween Horror Nights" are available at www.halloweenhorrornights.com/ and also on Twitter and Facebook. Tickets now on sale!

Disney Resort on the Islands


KO OLINA Hawaii - Bob Iger, President and CEO, The Walt Disney Company (right) and Tom Staggs, Chairman, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, are joined by Mickey Mouse on Sept. 21 as final preparations are made for the grand opening celebration of Aulani, a new Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii.

With its fun recreation features and restaurants, comfortable rooms, and its combination of Disney magic with Hawaiian beauty, tradition and relaxation, Aulani offers a new way for families to vacation together on the island of Oahu. (Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney Destinations)

By Margie Anne Clark

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - WICKED, the colorful Broadway hit musical, is back by “Popular” demand. The dazzling musical will take to the stage of the Pantages Theatre, just in time for the holiday season, beginning Nov. 30 and running through Jan. 29, 2012.



After a record-breaking two-year run and called “a phenomenon that keeps growing” by The Los Angeles Times and “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times, WICKED's story of two girls who meet in the land of Oz comes to life in a musical burst of energy and fun for the whole family. One girl – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and glowingly popular.

Audiences will enjoy discovering a whole new side to the Wicked Witch of the West and Glenda the Good Witch of the North.

Don't be green with envy, by your tickets now! Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-982-ARTS (2787) or by visiting the Broadway LA website at: http://www.broadwayla.org/production/show.info.asp?ID=1


Photos by Joan Marcus

Gov. Jerry Brown, Assemlyman Cameron Smyth, Sheriff Lee Baca, Photo by Margie Anne Clark

City News Post by Margie Anne Clark

Newhall, Calif. - Governor Jerry Brown visited Santa Clarita on April 21 Brown met with educators and law enforcement officials from the Los Angeles area to discuss how the budget crisis is affecting schools and public safety. Attendance at the meeting was by invitation only.

Brown was accompanied by Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, who was the first Republican legislator to join Brown as he toured the state to talk to the public about extending certain taxes to avert further budget cuts.

Editor's note: In the next few posts I'll be catching up to some events that I've attended in Santa Clarita and the Los Angeles area.

City News

Hollywood, California - On the night of Tuesday, April 26th, the international ballroom stage show sensation, 'Burn the Floor,' will arrive at Hollywood's Pantages Theatre, celebrated by a star-studded red carpet gathering.
Photos by Joan Marcus

Perhaps that's just a logical extension of a current passionate love affair between Ballroom and Hollywood, as witnessed by ABC Television's ratings juggernaut Dancing With The Stars.

But the true birthplace of BURN THE FLOOR took place nearly 15 years ago.

When Harley Medcalf attended Elton John's 50th birthday party at London's Hammersmith Palais Ballroom in 1997, the last thing he expected to find was an exhilarating new theatrical project. But when 16 young ballroom dancers hit the floor for a special performance, he found himself captivated. "Moses could have come into the room and he wouldn't have been able to part the 600-plus crowd," Medcalf says. "But these dancers had the audience transfixed. Their charisma was electrifying."

That's when Medcalf, producer of the direct-from-Broadway ballroom dance show BURN THE FLOOR, first got the idea for the project that would become the first touring theatrical ballroom dance show in history. BURN THE FLOOR labels itself as "ballroom reinvented." As Medcalf puts it, "It's like ballroom dancing super charged. It's the incredible art form of ballroom dance combined with rock and roll."

Medcalf's first production of BURN THE FLOOR started rehearsals in 1999, and as the show changed and evolved, it went on to give performances in over 30 countries and 160 cities before coming to Broadway. The trip to Broadway was a long 11-year journey, but Medcalf attributes his unwavering commitment to the project to his dancers. "The real inspiration for me comes from the dancers themselves," says Medcalf. "They possess these incredible qualities, qualities found in competition ballroom dance. It's their passion, their commitment, work ethic and raw energy, and their total dedication to the art of dance. These performers are on stage 800 hours a year performing 400 shows in 50 weeks. And no matter how difficult the schedule, their intensity never diminishes."

In July of 2009, BURN THE FLOOR's Broadway dreams were realized. In thinking back to what that opening night on Broadway was like for him, Medcalf says, "The buzz and the energy from the audience was overpowering. I could not stop the tears all night, it was so emotionally overpowering. To actually get there and make it happen was extraordinary." The Broadway run of BURN THE FLOOR was scheduled to be a 12-week limited engagement, but, due to demand, the show extended its run and eventually closed in January of 2010.

Of course, the show's success and appeal on Broadway and on tour is reinforced by the recent surge in the popularity of ballroom dance generated in part by powerhouse reality television series like Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

Medcalf says, "When we started the show, ballroom was out of fashion. Everyone said I was insane for producing the show, and I probably was, probably still am. But in 2005, television discovered ballroom dance. The groundswell that television has created for us has created a bigger and bigger wave that we can ride. It's interesting, if you'd asked someone in 2005, ‘What's a Paso Doble?' they'd say ‘I don't eat Spanish pizza,' and now everyone's an expert on the Paso Doble because they watched it on Dancing With the Stars the night before."

BURN THE FLOOR has also featured many of the professional dancers who have become household names from their appearances on Dancing With The Stars or So You Think You Can Dance. Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev, finalists on Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance, have been the most recent dance stars to tour with BURN THE FLOOR, and they will be featured in the upcoming Pantages Theatre engagement.

With the company now touring the U.S., Medcalf says the dancers have "kicked the show up a gear" since Broadway. "The company is really committed to live the show every night and constantly work to make it better. They've grown up a lot and matured from the Broadway experience. They've gotten great confidence from that," he says. But, Medcalf adds, the popularity of the show on Broadway and now on its national tour is really all about the massive energy boost the audience gets from the performance, "The energy is what draws you in and fulfills you from seeing the show. The performers give 120% every night. It's inspiring. And they make the technical skill of dancing seem so easy and accessible. We have the energy of five Broadway shows."

When Medcalf looks back on his 14-year-and-counting journey with BURN THE FLOOR, he attributes the joy of his experience and the ultimate success of the show to his dancers who possess the same verve and passion that he witnessed back at that birthday party in London. "It comes back to the commitment of the dancers every night on stage. They go out and have a great time and make sure the audience has a great time as well. And you can see the audience smiling away and taping their feet, and they're taking something away in the heart. At the end of the day, if we didn't deliver the highest quality show and take up the challenge to make it better every night, we simply would not have lasted 14 years."

The electrifying Latin and ballroom dance spectacular BURN THE FLOOR will play the Pantages Theatre for a strictly-limited 2 week engagement, April 26 - May 8, 2011. This Los Angeles engagement will feature So You Think You Can Dance alumni Anya Garnis, Pasha Kovalev, Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara, and Karen Hauer. Also featured is Vonzell Solomon, second runner-up in Season Four of American Idol, who is BURN THE FLOOR's female vocalist. BURN THE FLOOR has thrilled audiences in more than 30 countries with the fire and passion of live ballroom - years before Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance turned the artform into "must-see TV." Featuring 20 champion dancers in an energetic theatrical experience, BURN THE FLOOR has received raves from critics worldwide, including The New York Times which called the show "Dazzling!" and The Times (London), which called it "the summer's hottest ticket!"

Tickets for BURN THE FLOOR are priced from $25 and are available at www.BroadwayLA.org, by phone at 800-982-2787, and at the Pantages Box Office (6233 Hollywood Blvd., open daily at 10am).

Hollywood, Calif. - From March 28-April 1, @Pantages – the official Twitter account of Broadway/L.A. and the Pantages Theatre – will give
followers the opportunity to win a midweek Hollywood getaway for two – including tickets to the April 12th opening night of
RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES, plus overnight accommodations at Hollywood’s The Redbury Hotel, located just
around the iconic corner of Hollywood & Vine.
Photos by Joan Marcus
The contest – dubbed AlphaBEATicLES – will take participants on an alphabetical walk through classic Beatles songs,
challenging them to be first to accurately identify a passage of lyrics based only on a string of initials.

A sample clue might appear as follows: CYEAIKYTIMYRIABT #RAIN #alphaBEATicLES #A The final hashtag “#A”
identifies the clue as being from a Beatles song beginning with the letter “A,” and the first string of letters represent initials
of a well-known lyric – in this case, from the A-titled song All My Loving: “Close your eyes and I’ll kiss you,Tomorrow I’ll
miss you,Remember I’ll always be true.”

A total of 19 challenges will be issued during the contest, and the 19 winners will be entered into a grand prize drawing –
st
and on Friday, April 1 at 5pm, @Pantages will announce (in 140 characters or less) the winner of the two opening night
tickets, plus a one night stay for two in a Vine flat at The Redbury, the latest addition to the award-winning sbe Hotel
Collection. To participate, follow the Pantages Theatre on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Pantages.

Curated by visionary Creative Director and renowned photographer Matthew Rolston, in collaboration with sbe Founder
and CEO Sam Nazarian, The Redbury offers spacious guest flats with uncompromising amenities and services. With its
unpretentious and engaging hospitality experience, The Redbury appeals to a community that is passionately connected
to the arts, music, fashion and entertainment.

RAIN, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, returns by popular demand to Hollywood’s historic Pantages
Theatre, where they enjoyed astounding success during their special one week engagement in 2009. RAIN will play the
Pantages for eight performances only, April 12-17, 2011. Ticket prices start at just $25. For more information about RAIN
– A Tribute to the Beatles’ Los Angeles engagement, as well as for complete contest rules, please visit the Pantages
Theatre’s official website, www.BroadwayLA.org.

By Margie Anne Clark

Santa Clarita, Calif. The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project is getting more exciting every year and it's not too late to join in the fun.

Providence Medical Center is Proud to Present The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project’s 3rd Annual Sweet Charity Cake Auction & Competition, judging panel coming up on on April 9, 2011 at the Tournament Players Club in Valencia.

A 2010 entry for the SCV Youth Project's Sweet Charity fundraising event. This year April 9, 2001 event is expected to draw even more creative entries. Photo by Margie Anne Clark

Judges include: Jim Moret, chief correspondent for Inside Edition, Chef David Lawrence, the host and Creative Food Director of the hit web cooking series Good Bite, and Cindy Schwanke, culinary instructor at College of the Canyons.

Also joining in the fun will be the famous Porto’s Bakery & Café, siblings Margarita and Raul Jr. Porto

“It should be a great night. We have great new sponsorships and we continuing to see such excitement amongst the community members!” said Kim Goldman, Executive Director for the SCV Youth Project. “Having Jim, Chef David and of course Cindy, is going to add some spice to the night, it will surely make for a memorable evening."

For more information call 661.257.YOUTH (9688) or visit the SCV Youth Project website at:
www.HelpNotHassle.org.

By Margie Anne Clark

Hollywood, Calif., - Taking its cue from the groundbreaking years of public television’s Muppet lore, Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical 'Avenue Q' is sweeping the clouds of political correctness away during its whirlwind stop at the Pantages Theater. The show opened tonight and runs through Sunday in a special limited engagement.

David Colston Corris, Ashley Eileen Bucknam, Michael Liscio Jr. (Top-Bottom) Actors Michael Liscio, Jr., David Colston Corris and Ashley Eileen Bucknam pose at the opening night of "Avenue Q" at the Pantages Theatre on March 1, 2011 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images North America) _________________________________________________________________________


Reflecting on the early days of 'Sesame Street' which starred the likes of Bert and Ernie, Kermit the Frog, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster, 'Avenue Q' cast member Ashley Eileen Bucknam who stars in two roles as "Kate Monster" and "Lucy the Slut," told City Life that audiences are sure to enjoy the show’s unique and risqué format.

"You have to come into the show with an open mind, and by the end of the show you end up really feeling for these puppets," said Bucknam who was born and raised in South Jersey where passion for the arts took flight at the age of two while growing up along the beaches of the Jersey Shore.

"There are many similarities to the original characters of Sesame Street but there is a lot more to it than a-b-c and one two three. You get involved in their lives and every character is someone you can relate to and have fun with."

While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, 'Avenue Q' has not been authorized or approved in any manner by The Jim Henson Company or Sesame Workshop, which have no responsibility for its content.

In a departure from Sesame Street, the puppeteers of 'Avenue Q' take to the stage more in the tradition of a ventriloquist than a muppeteer.

Bucknam and her fellow cast members are fully seen on stage as they provide the voices for their colorful furry, Styrofoam-eyed characters with their lips moving in full sight.

"All of the actors wear black, but as the show progresses they are watching the puppets - it's like watching the subtitles in a movie," explains Bucknam of the challenge audience members may have of suspending belief with the actor’s faces and moving lips in full view. "Eventually you get used to it end up watching the puppets."

As the play opens, 'Avenue Q' introduces audiences to a young man named Princeton, a bright eyed, college grad who moves to NYC with big dreams and a tiny bank account. The only apartment he can afford is way out on Avenue Q, where everyone is looking for the same thing he is: a decent job, a stable relationship, and a "purpose."

"Every show is different because the characters evolve over the course of the tour," Bucknam said of the show that has been seen in more than 96 cities in the United States and Canada.

Bucknam stars opposite David Colston Corris Princeton, Rod), Michael Liscio, Jr. (Nicky, Trekkie Monster, Bear & Others), Lisa Helmi Johanson (Christmas Eve), Tim Kornblum (Brian), Anita Welch (Gary Coleman) and Kerri Brackin (Mrs. T, Bear & Others). Rounding out the company are ensemble members Ben Hart, Kate Lippstreu, Katie McCreary, and Zach Trimmer. Avenue Q features music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, a book by Jeff Whitty, based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; and is directed by Jason Moore. Puppet design is by Rick Lyon, with orchestrations by Stephen Oremus, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Mirena Rada, lighting design by Howell Binkley, and sound design by Lew Mead. Associate director is Evan Ensign and music supervisor is Andrew Graham.

"We’re thrilled and excited to be performing right in the heart of L.A.," said Bucknam in between performances during her San Francisco stop prior to making her way down to the streets of Hollywood's storied Tinseltown.

"Everything in life is for now only," the classically trained actress added borrowing a line from the last song of the show when the characters come to the realization that growing up isn’t so bad at all.

"I hope that LA will love it as much as we do - and you never know what will happen next!"

Tickets to 'Avenue Q' may be purchased by visiting www.broadwayla.org or by call 800-982-ARTS (2787). Parental warning, Due to adult situations (like full-puppet nudity), 'Avenue Q' may be inappropriate for kids under 13. (Everyone must have a ticket; children under 5 will not be admitted to the theatre).

City News

Hollywood, Calif. - Tom Cruise gave audiences a real treat on Saturday, February 19th, when he attended a performance of ROCK OF AGES.


Immediately following the performance, Tom Cruise visited the cast and crew backstage to get a taste of ROCK OF AGES up close and personal with stars Constantine, Maroulis, Rebecca Faulkenberry, MiG Ayesa and company. The L.A. born ROCK OF AGES is currently celebrating its triumphant Los Angeles homecoming and Pantages Theatre Premiere playing now through Sunday February 27th.

The Pantages Theatre is located in Hollywood at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard at Vine Street.

Regular tickets for ROCK OF AGES range in price from $25 - $115. Prices are subject to change without notice.

For more information on ROCK OF AGES, please visit www.RockOfAgesMusical.com.

For more information about the ROCK OF AGES’ Los Angeles engagement, please visit the Pantages Theatre’s official website, www.BroadwayLA.org.

# # #

ABOUT THE SHOW:
CONSTANTINE MAROULIS TO REPRISE HIS TONY AWARD-NOMINATED PERFORMANCE
Tony Award Nominee and American Idol finalist, Constantine Maroulis, will reprise his acclaimed performance as Drew in the First National Tour of the five-time Tony Award nominated smash-hit musical ROCK OF AGES, which will mark its L.A. Premiere at the Pantages. As Rolling Stone magazine says, "ROCK OF AGES has found a perfect lead in Maroulis,” and so like Bartles & James, big hair and Dep, some things are just meant for each other.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker—and in LA's most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s. It's ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison and many more. Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small town girl met a big city rocker—and in LA's most famous rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80s. It's ROCK OF AGES, an arena-rock love story told through the mind-blowing, face-melting hits of Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison and many more.

Don't miss this awesomely good time about dreaming big, playing loud and partying on.

CONSTANTINE MAROULIS TO REPRISE HIS TONY AWARD-NOMINATED PERFORMANCE
Tony Award Nominee and American Idol finalist, Constantine Maroulis, will reprise his acclaimed performance as Drew in the First National Tour of the five-time Tony Award nominated smash-hit musical ROCK OF AGES, which will mark its L.A. Premiere at the Pantages. As Rolling Stone magazine says, "ROCK OF AGES has found a perfect lead in Maroulis,” and so like Bartles & James, big hair and Dep, some things are just meant for each other.

The Pantages Theatre
Individual Tickets: CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW!
Or Call 800-982-ARTS (2787)

Group Tickets: Save up to 10% when you
purchase 10 or more
Click Here For More Information

Season Tickets: 4-show packages from as low as $122
Click Here For More Information
Running Time: 2 Hours and 20 Minutes
Price Range: $25 - $90
Parent Advisory: Ages 14 and Up (Everyone must have a ticket; children under 5 will not be admitted to the theatre)

City News
Posted by Margie Anne Clark

Hollywood, Calif. - The Amazing 7 Fingers (Les 7 doigts de la main) are an astonishingly talented young French Canadian company who have pioneered a whole new brand of circus. Their show TRACES was a runaway hit at the Edinburgh Festival in 2007 and now it’s here in Los Angles for the very first time.


Combining awe-inspiring circus training with infectious urban energy, six men and one woman give dazzling, gravity-defying displays of skill, balancing casually on each other’s heads, or tumbling through hoops and leaping spectacularly up giant poles without using their hands.

TRACES is more than just a display of acrobatic brilliance as snippets of the performers’ real lives are revealed through film clips, narration and music. We are gradually drawn into their story, and by the final, dramatic climax of the show, the audience is on the edge of their seats, willing them to pull off the seemingly impossible.

Please Note: Everyone must have a ticket; children under 5 will not be admitted to the theatre

Editor's note: I just saw a matinee of "Traces" this afternoon and I totally loved it!!! My review will be posted soon, but please go see this show, it is full of heart, passion, tons of humor and a whole lot of amazing talent!! - Margie Anne Clark

http://www.broadwayla.org/production/show.info.asp?ID=33

http://www.broadwayla.org/production/photo.asp?ID=33

By Margie Anne Clark

It's time to gussy up in your cowboy dudes and get your tickets for five days of cowboy culture and excitement! This year, the best performers in western entertainment will help celebrate the City of Santa Clarita’s 18th annual Cowboy Festival, April 27-May 1, 2011.

The Veluzat Family, pictured above, will be opening up Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studios to the Public during this year's Cowboy Festival. Photo by Margie Anne Clark _____________________________

There are several events throughout the Santa Clarita Valley with the main festival taking place on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 when visitors are invited to Melody Ranch Motion Picture Studio, a real working movie ranch formerly owned by Gene Autry.

General Admission tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children. A special two-day weekend pass is available for $30 for adults and $15 for children. The City offers a limited number of “Friends of the Festival” packages, which includes admission to Melody Ranch for both Saturday and Sunday, preferred seating at all Melody Ranch Stage shows, all-weekend access to the Melody Ranch VIP Bunkhouse. Weekend Passes and Friends of the Festival packages must be purchased by April 15, 2011.

“The annual Cowboy Festival event is consistently recognized as one of the best in the world, taking visitors back in time to enjoy the sights, sounds, and spirit of the American West,” commented Mayor Marsha McLean.

The festival’s 2011 headliners include: Hot Club of Cowtown, Don Edwards, Sons of the San Joaquin, Wylie and the Wild West, Waddie Mitchell, Belinda Gail, Sourdough Slim, Chuck Pyle and Larry Maurice.

For more information on the 2011 Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, including tickets, event times, prices, venues and more, visit www.cowboyfestival.org or call the Cowboy Festival Ticket hotline at (661) 286-4021. 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 300 Santa Clarita, CA 91355 T.: (661) 259-2489 F.: (661) 259-8125
santa-clarita.com