May 24, 2015 (Mt. Helix) – Can you say “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious?”  Christian Community Theatre San Diego celebrates its 35th anniversary at the beautiful Mt. Helix Park amphitheater with this summer's production of Mary Poppins.

Rare Event Affirms Welcoming Church Environment

May 20, 2015 (La Mesa)--At least 400 people are expected to attend a local event that is unusual for mainstream Protestant churches. A modern-day “Love –In” will showcase one United Methodist congregation’s welcoming environment for love between all people, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.  The event will take place on Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m. at Foothills United Methodist Church, 4031 Avocado Blvd., La Mesa.

May 16, 2015 (El Cajon )--Upstart Theatre Company is proud to present its inaugural production, William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, hosted by the Valhalla Theatre Arts Department on June 4 and 5. Upstart, founded in 2015, is comprised of and run entirely by students from schools throughout the Grossmont Union High School District, dedicated to keeping classical works of theatre alive on the modern educational stage.

By Mimi Pollack

May 14, 2015 (San Dego's East County) - As a child in Mexico City in the 1960s, I remember my older siblings listening to Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass’s album, “The Lonely Bull”, and I thought he was a handsome, musical, Mexican bullfighter. I loved his distinctive trumpet and signature sound. That signature sound could later be heard in various commercials, the Dating Game, and the movie, Casino Royale.

May 13, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation (MTRP) will present an exhibition featuring two award winning photographers Jodie Hulden and Robert Treat. This exhibit will be on display in the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center Art Gallery May 23 – June 19, 2015.  The public is cordially invited to a reception in honor of the artists on Sunday, May 31, 2015 from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

May 11, 2015 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Park and Recreation Foundation announces the 14th season of the City of La Mesa’s “Sundays at Six” free outdoor concerts.  The popular concert series are held at the beautiful outdoor amphitheater at Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Following is a listing of the 2015 season concerts:

May 6, 2015 (El Cajon) – The spring series of the San Diego County Library Acoustic continues in May with nine concerts taking place throughout the month! The Acoustic Showcase series offers a wonderful variety of some of San Diego’s very best singers/songwriters, folk music performers, and story tellers. These concerts are FREE to the community.

East County News Service                                                                                                     

April 29, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs)--The Jacumba Arts Council presents the fourth annual Blues Fest this Saturday, May 2nd from 2-7 p.m.  After 7 p.m. there will be a 'monster jam'. The event is sponsored by the Jacumba Hot Springs Spa & Resort and will take place at the Jacumba Hot Springs Spa located on Old Highway 80.  Admission is free, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase along with delicious varieties of barbeque.

By Kathy Carpenter

SDTheatrereviews. com associate and Youth reviewer

April 27, 2015 (Lemon Grove) - Celebrating 75 years, it's Diamond jubilee as a Parish, 1940 - 2015, St. John of the Cross will present "Fiddler on the Roof", the 20th play as a Parrish.The play opens at St. John of the Cross, in the Hall, at 8086 Broadway.  April 24th, at 7pm, with a wine and cheese hour at 6pm for $10.00, in the courtyard. People who attend this event go in ten minutes before everyone else. The seating is open. The play is also on the 25th at 7pm, 26th at 2pm, May 1st at 7pm, May 2nd at 7pm, and May 3rd at 2pm.

Playing now through April 25 at Valhalla High School Theatre Arts

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate and Youth Reviewer sdtheatrereviews

Hear our interview with Joel Gossert, Circle Players:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

 

East County News Service

April 18, 2015 (El Cajon)-- “Café Murder” will be presented by The Circle Players of East County, a new community theatre group, May 1 through May 3 at Richardson Hall, 551 Farragut Circle, El Cajon.

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate and Youth Reviewer sdtheatrereviews 

Running April 9-11 and April 16-18, 7 p.m., presented by Visionary Youth Theatre, San Diego

http://visionarydancetheatre.org/Visionary/

April 11, 2015 (San Diego)--Seussical fun for the whole family. Based on "Horton Hears a Who," Horton Hatches The Egg," and "Miss Gertrude McFuzz." Horton the Who snd The Cat in the Hat transport us from The Jungle of Nool to Circus McGurkus. When Horton finds a speck of dust containing little people called the Whos, he must protect them from danger and guard an egg left in his care temporarily. Friendship, family, loyalty and community are all challenged before Horton triumphs.

By Paul Kruze

Photo by Miriam Raftery: Performers on stage at ECPAC in brighter days

April 10, 2015 (El Cajon)--It has been said that “the opera ain’t over until the fat lady sings.” If all goes as planned, the fat lady could be soon be setting a date to sing on the stage at the shuttered and embattled East County Performing Art Center (ECPAC) sooner than later.

In a move that pleased local community activists who have decried the prolonged shutdown of downtown El Cajon’s entertainment venue, the City of El Cajon released an extensive request for bids to fix the theater’s leaky roof and bring about extensive technical upgrades throughout the facility.

April 9, 2015 (Ramona) – The 12^th annual Ramona Open Studios tour will be held this Satudray and Sunday, April 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you've ever wondered what an artist's studio looks like, now is your opportunity to see for yourself. During the Ramona Open Studios Tour, artists in Ramona will open their studios to curious visitors, inviting them to talk, check out how they work, and buy artwork if they're interested.

East County News Service

April 7, 2015 (El Cajon) – Members of the San Diego Early Music Society (SDEMS) will be performing baroque concertos for harp, mandolin and flute at Cuyamaca College’s Performing Arts Center on Thursday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. The program will hear is comprised of concerti of Vivaldi, Telemann, Durante, Corelli and Handel for various combinations of soloists.

“SDEMS members asked for a return visit by Concerto Koeln, and we’re only too happy to comply,” said president Mark Lester. “We’re delighted to be able to bring such an accomplished and widely recognized performing group to our newest venue in East County.”