A-LISTS theatre
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY Cygnet Theatre will be performing this annual heartwarming holiday tradi-
tion one final season, staged in Studio A at the radio station WCYG. It is the story of George, a beleaguered man who imprudently wishes he were never born. His bumbling apprentice angel is tasked with the earthly job of showing him the consequences to all lives he has touched of his erasure—changes so irrevocable to the people he loves most dearly, because of one moment of despair—a lesson that we all should remember. Performances take place at The Old Town Theatre, 4040 Twiggs Street, Wednesday, November 30th through Saturday, December 31. For tickets and information call 619.337.1525 or go to
cygnettheatre.com.
DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! The tiniest heart in Whoville with that mangy green fur is at it again. Look
THE NUTCRACKER I just can’t be Christmas without this ballet masterpiece. Join Clara and her
magical leading man, a tall, dark and handsome nutcracker, in this classic tale of mice and men... who fight on Christmas Eve... then the nutcracker becomes a prince... who sweeps her away on a magical journey... where she meets a plucky sugar plum fairy... who honors the couple with dancing from other worlds... all in tights. And then she wakes up. Joking aside, there are several fantastic performances this season and here
are four from which to choose: City Ballet’s performances take place at the beautiful Spreakels Theatre, 121 Broadway downtown from Friday, December 9 to Wednesday, December 21. For tickets call 858.272.8663 or go
tocityballet.org San Diego Ballet’s performances take place at the newly refurbished Birch North Park Theater, Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4. If you can’t make those dates, you have a second chance at the Mandeville Auditorium in La Jolla on Saturday, December 17 and Sunday, December 18. For tickets call 619.294.7311 or go
tosandiegoballet.org California Ballet performs their version with the San Diego Symphony at the Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Avenue, Saturday, December 17 through Friday, December 23. Meet the cast at their sugar plum parties after the matinee performances! For tickets call 858.560.6741 or go
tosandiegotheatres.org And finally, if you prefer a little Russian flair, the Moscow Ballet’s Great Rus- sian Nutcracker touches down for its 19th year of holiday touring at Copley Symphony Hall for one night only,Monday, December 19. For tickets go to
ticketmaster.com.
out Cindy-Lou; he is about to steal Christmas away from the happiest place on earth (sorry Mickey, but December is just once a year). Join the fun at the Globe Theatre’s annual Dr. Seusian Christmas tale now in its 14th year, How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Originally conceived and directed by Globe alumnus Jack O’Brian, this version is directed by James Vasques with lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. If you have never been, take the time to do so and bring your children as well, or at the very least, bring your inner child and remember what it means to be delighted by this enchanting Christmas fable. Get your tickets fast, this show sells out quickly! This year’s cantankerous green furry version features Steve Blanchard in
his Globe stage debut as La Grinch. He has appeared on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast (another furry role),Frankenstein, Camelot, The Three Musketeers and A Christmas Carol. His national tours include Little House on the Prairie, Camelot, The Phantom of the Opera, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Hans Christian Andersen—we caught up with him between rehearsals for a quick chat about his upcoming role.
Hello Steve, welcome to San Diego, we are all excited to see you perform as the Grinch —Tell me a little about how you came to the role? My agent was on the phone one day with the Globe and suggested me.
They were aware of my monster-ness and asked me to come and play. This is such an iconic story for Christmas; did you grow up watching the TV version? I did love the cartoon and the book as a child. I’m a big Boris Karloff fan, too.
So my version ofThe Grinch is a little tribute to him. The show has been at the Globe for the last 14 years—is it intimidating coming in to something that has been running for so long? Nah, I’m a big boy. I’m sure there’ll be things the
YULETUBE The San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus is at it again! Join them as they don their
gay apparel for their annual holiday extravaganza, which is sure to give your holiday season a little ho-ho-ho! This year they are calling it YuleTube and it features their well-known brand of humor with selections like “The 12 Fitness Days of Xmas” and “The Annoying Drummer Boy.” There will also be great contemporary holiday tunes such as “My Grown Up Christmas List” and the Glee version of Wham’s “Last Christmas.” You will also get to experience the full range of the chorus’ symphonic sound, with contemporary classical music such as Randol Bass’ “Gloria” and the haunting “Not In Our Town,” which tells the true story of how the tiny town of Billings, Montana rallied behind the victims of a hate crime during their Hanukkah celebration. Be sure to adorn yourself and spend a social hour! Yuletube will be held onSaturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4, at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Avenue. For tickets and information call 877-296-7664 or go
tosdgmc.org.
other Grinches have done that I won’t do. And hope- fully, I’m going to bring some new snacks to the table that they didn’t think of. Seems like you have a theme in your life of playing furry roles—this one green, the last one brown inBeauty and the Beast. What’s that like? I had a gray one in between too,
Frankenstein’s creature. The joy is finding humanity in these dark-on- the-surface characters. And they’re all searching for the same thing— trying to find that loving soul inside all that stuff. Just like life.
The Old Globe’s 14th annual production of Dr. Seuss’How the Grinch Stole Christmas! runs at The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park now throughSaturday, December 31. For tickets and information call 619.234.5623 or go
totheoldglobe.org.
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RAGE monthly | DECEMBER 2011
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