Santa Cruz Theater

2010 GOLD AWARDS
It's that time again! We couldn't possibly let awards season pass without recognizing Santa Cruz's best coffeehouses, donuts, dive bars, yoga studios, solar companies, neighborhoods, karaoke nights .... you get the picture.
Results will be announced in our March 31st issue. Last day to vote: Feb. 24.

Click here to vote. Don't forget to vote for your favorite Theater Troupe *cough-Someone Else's Clothes-cough*

The Willing Suspension Armchair Theatre

What: Gary Young & Maria Elena Caballero-Robb bring students from Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School to read poetry and other literature on themes of their concerns.

When: 7:30 PM, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, March 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Where: Capitola Book Café,, 1475 41st Ave, Capitola; Monday, March 1,

and Santa Cruz Actors’ Theater 1001 Center Street, Santa Cruz;

Tuesday & Wednesday, March 2 & 3

Cost: donation will be shared with a project chosen by the students.

Information: www.santacruzactorstheatre.org/
Business Office: Gerry Gerringer, 831-425-1003

Don't miss your chance to be captivated by this cozy, mystery-comedy, dinner-theater piece!

Come see Norman Beim's "Jewel Thieves: A Preposterous Comedy" , directed by Steve Brenner and produced by "Head-Elf" Rita Wadsworth of Elf Empire Productions http://www.elfempire.com/

Three Sundays only: March 7, 14, and 28, 2010.
For reservations please call Peachwoods @ Pasatiempo: 426-6333.
Dinner seating: 5:30 p.m. with a special stimulus price of only $40.00
Price includes: show, dinner, tax, and gratuity!

A stranded stranger, Harold Busby, (Dennis Vierra) is invited into the elegant country home of retired film legend, Gloria Desmond, (Tara McMilin) where he encounters a mysterious countess (Elizabeth Hammock) and a substitute butler (Chris Arias). Suspicions arise about everyone's identity and purpose in the home. The intrigue and the laughs build as all attention turns to Gloria's precious jeweled Mandarin Necklace.

The Valley Press called the 2003 Santa Cruz production of JEWEL THIEVES “...a glittering feast…a hilarious ride to what becomes a full fledged mystery.”

Come join us for the newest romantic heartfelt comedy,"ROSE'S DILEMMA", in its Northern California premiere by one of America's greatest playwrights, Neil Simon. The author of such Broadway hits, "The Odd Couple", and "The Goodbye Girl". Find out what happens when the ghost husband of fame author, Rose Steiner, visits her nightly trying to convince her to finish the novel he was writing before he died.

Opening Valentine's Day weekend at the Broadway Playhouse, 526 Broadway, Santa Cruz California February 12th thru February 28th. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 8pm; Sunday matinee 3pm. $16 General, $14 Seniors, Thursday all tickets $12. For advance tickets brownpapertickets.com. Or at the door. Visa and Mastercard accepted. Box office opens 7pm; Sundays 2pm.

Oscars!!!

Now that the Superbowl is over, it's time to get ready for The Academy Awards. For me they're bigger than the World Series and the Superbowl. Maybe bigger than both of them combined. For the Oscars it's kind of a tradition for me to get some Chinese take-out and plop myself in front of the TV. This year will be no different. Unfortunately this last year I wasn't able to catch any of the movies up for best picture except for "Avatar" (though I don't know if it counts because I fell asleep), "Inglorious Basterds" and "Up." I do have "The Hurt Locker" and "District 9" laying around and will hopefully be getting to those soon.

The nominees for the major awards:

Best picture-
"Avatar"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
"Up in the Air"
"Inglourious Basterds"
"Up"
"The Blind Side"
"District 9"
"An Education"
"A Serious Man"

Actor-
George Clooney, "Up in the Air"
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker"

Actress-
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"

Supporting actor-
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Supporting actress-
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"

Director-
Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds"
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"
James Cameron, "Avatar"
Lee Daniels, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air"

I'm going to take my shot and say it's going to be Christoph Waltz for the win. Even without having seen any of the other nominees in the supporting actor category I'd place my bet on him. His is one of THE most terrifying performances I've ever seen. I know Mo'Nique is cleaning up at other awards shows and that with Anna Kendrick also nominated for "Up in the Air," Vera Farmiga's chances are almost non-existent but mark my word this woman will win an Oscar one day. Do yourself a favor and go to Blockbuster or log onto Netflix and rent "Down to the Bone" and you'll see what I mean. I'm hoping against hope that Avatar will horribly bomb in the major categories. I just did not get this film. It looked pretty (okay, fucking amazing) but it was "Dances with Wolves." Cameron peaked at T2. The next few weeks I'm going to be on a mission to catch these movies before the big show. If there are no new blog posts just know it's because I'm sitting in a dark theater.