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BLOG POSTS

From page and screen to Broadway’s stage
Top 10 Patriotic Musicals for Your July 4th
Five Perfect Mother’s Day Gifts From The Hanover Theatre
Five reasons you NEED to see Bright Star in Worcester this Spring
A Broadway season of love
Musical Playlist Highlights from our 2017-2018 Broadway Series
Hope for the holidays
Stay warm with these Columbia merchants
Visit Columbia for these last-minute gifts

FEATURES

Articles

San Francisco students participate in HAMILTON’s EduHam program
History had its eyes on two thousand students last Wednesday when they arrived at SHN’s Orpheum Theatre for the second San Francisco EduHam. Fourteen high schools participated in the April 12th program, with groups of one to three students from each school given the opportunity to “tell their story” on the Orpheum stage.

Nostalgic radio show lifts spirits
Iconic Jimmy Stewart characters come to life at Sierra Rep
Big River Has Big Steps — Part 1 — Part 2
Big River Comes Back Around for Sonora Actress — Part 1 — Part 2

Biola University presents “Into the Woods”
With a deep voice and an elegant costume, senior Matthew Kellaway becomes Rapunzel’s prince. “It’s just that feeling,” Kellaway said. “As soon as I put on the sword, it makes me feel like royalty.”

Richard Chase, former Biola president, dies
Students compared him to Abraham Lincoln. His eloquent speech, tall height, and angular features earned him the comparison, but it was his relationship with the Lord and his vision for Biola that made him the respected man many remember today.

Indonesian quake shakes Biola Senior 
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit senior Fransiska Hartanto’s hometown of Padang, Sumatra, in Indonesia last Wednesday, Sept. 30. While the quake in Sumatra did not affect her parents and grandmother, who were on vacation, she still worries. “I feel grief for what is happening,” Hartanto said. “As part of our culture, we call each other brothers and sisters. Even though most of them are Muslim, we didn’t feel different. We tried to love one another.” 

Q&A Interviews

Christian Thompson on RENT 20th Anniversary Tour
THE KING AND I’s Anthony Chan and Stephanie Lo
Matthew Dailey Talks JERSEY BOYS 
Brian Stokes Mitchell’s Broadway Christmas
Tina Stafford on ONCE 
PHANTOM’s Carlotta, Jacquelynne Fontaine  
Ora Jones on MATILDA
I Love Ethel Mertz – Lori Hammel on I LOVE LUCY LIVE

Columns

Bruin’s brand comes from proud past
At no failure to vocalize how wonderful her son is, Deborah Robles’s humble pride is enough to inspire anyone. A few months after writing about a nameless bear displayed at the Tuolumne County Museum, I drove with museum volunteer Winnie Lovine to speak with James Robles, the winner of the museum’s Name the Bear Contest. The bear will officially receive James’ American Indian heritage-inspired choice of names at a special event Saturday celebrating National Museum Day.

Sonora man creates support group for MS patients
More than 100 people in Tuolumne County have multiple sclerosis (MS), explained Stephen Lucas, once a businessman, now an adult whose parents act as caregivers. Stephen, who with his mother’s help founded the Tuolumne County MS Selfhelp Group in 2007, cannot retain short-term memories due to his cognitive MS. Other forms of MS cause both mild and severe symptoms like numbness of the limbs, paralysis or loss of vision. The symptoms are unpredictable for each individual and the disease can affect both children and adults.

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THEATRE REVIEWS

BWW Review: Jane Austen Fans Embrace an Enchanting New MISS BENNET
It’s the holidays at Pemberley. One might expect lavish decorations, ornate rooms, and a ball to be had any day now. But it’s not the eclectic library or drawing room that stands out in Marin Theatre Company’s latest production – although the tree does receive a few pleasant jabs throughout. Playwrights Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon treat us to a family Christmas in which the Bennet sisters continue to meddle, prattle and all together steal our hearts.

BWW Review: BAKER STREET at 42nd Street Moon
Sherlock Holmes relocates his flat on “Baker Street” to 42nd Street Moon and the Eureka Theatre for an elementary musical adventure, now through November 20.

BWW Review: Jodi Benson and Charlie Brown at SF Symphony 
San Francisco continues a – hopefully – new tradition this week with “A Charlie Brown Christmas – Live!” This delightful program had its West Coast premiere last season, with first-half vocals from Lisa Vroman and the Symphony Chorus. This week, the concert features “Little Mermaid” voice Jodi Benson, a perfect choice for the production’s youthful target audience.

BWW Review: Enchanting EMMA Returns to TheatreWorks 
Clever, sharp and witty, “Emma” the musical is as charismatic as it title character. Creator Paul Gordon took the Jane Austen classic and gave audiences a crisp, well-paced and engaging script with a score that wonderfully serves its characters’ acerbic humor and innermost thoughts. Gordon’s soliloquy style and multiple short themes highlight each role, which, when well-cast, sell the show with radiant storytelling.

BWW Reviews: Music Circus Provides a ‘Loverly’ MY FAIR LADY 
Music Circus opened its 2015 season Tuesday evening with Glenn Casale’s enchanting production of the Lerner and Loewe classic “My Fair Lady.” Casale’s direction and Bob Richard’s choreography scatter gems of endearing humor throughout. At three hours, the show drags at times, but the lengthy dialogue and excellent character development also find a forte in California Musical Theatre’s production.

BWW Reviews: A LITTLE PRINCESS Gets The Royal Treatment
Exceptionally crafted, Sacramento Theatre Company’s world premiere of “A Little Princess” is full of imagination and excitement. A well-paced book by William J Brooke follows the story of young Sara Crewe’s life troubles. From  optimism to pragmatism, the psychological drama reads down-to-earth and true. And it’s matched by exquisite music written by Eric Rockwell.

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NEWS

Biola not immune from LA area crime
While La Mirada continues to boast some of the lowest crime rates in the Los Angeles area, Campus Safety reminded students that the city and surrounding neighborhoods are not immune to crime La Mirada was home to 27 registered sex offenders as of May 2009, according to City-data.com. Crimereports.com lists several vehicle thefts and non-aggravated assaults within the last month as well as at least three house break-ins all within one mile of Biola.

Los Angeles experiences record heat
Despite record high temperatures in the Los Angeles area this week, Biola students say the generally good weather of Southern California remains an attractive feature of the campus. While local news outlets reported Monday’s record high temperatures, Newsweek recently named Biola one of the top “25 Great Schools With Great Weather.” Ranked at 23, Biola is one of three Christian colleges on Newsweek’s list, along with Westmont College and Pepperdine University.

Mural week rife with voices
Speakers challenged students to commit to a united campus at Friday’s chapel, which ended the week-long “Picture This: Love, Justice and Jesus” chapel series focusing on the Jesus Mural and multicultural awareness.

Summer construction preludes larger changes
Models of the arts and sciences buildings that will replace the current McNally buildings are scheduled for release within the next few weeks, revealed Ken Bascom, senior director of facilities planning and construction. The construction of these buildings will follow that of the Talbot School of Theology buildings, which Talbot plans to break ground for within the next year. Meanwhile, students are enjoying recent additions to the campus, including practice rooms for music majors and sidewalks leading from the lower campus to Fluor Fountain.

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