***********************************************************************************************************************

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

Saturday December 14, 2013   1:00 pm & 4:00 pm

Tickets: Adults: $8  Seniors (62 & Over): $7

Youth (Ages 6 – 17): Free With Paid Adult or Senior

GENERAL SEATING

t’s a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story “The Greatest Gift”, which Philip Van Doren Stern wrote in 1939 and privately published in 1945. The film is considered one of the most loved films in American cinema and has become traditional viewing during the Christmas season, alongside popular classics such as Holiday Inn, A Christmas Carol, White Christmas, Meet Me in St. Louis and Miracle on 34th Street.

The film stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others and whose imminent suicide on Christmas Eve brings about the intervention of his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody (Henry Travers). Clarence shows George all the lives he has touched and how different life in his community of Bedford Falls would be had he never been born.

Director: Frank Capra

Cast: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Ward Bond

Genre: Drama / Family / Fantasy

Runtime: 118 min.

WATCH TRAILER / BUY TICKETS

************************************************************************************************************************

The Ballet Company of East County Presents The Nutcracker

Saturday December 21, 2013   12:00 pm & 4:00 pm

Sunday December 22, 2013   12:00 pm & 4:00 pm

Orchestra Section (Downstairs): $20
Loge Section (Upstairs): $18

Opera Section (Upstairs): $16

RESERVED SEATING

The Ballet Company of East County is pleased to announce its ninth annual production of The Nutcracker. The Nutcracker is a timeless holiday tradition that brings a young girl’s Christmas dream to life. This beautiful production is geared towards children’s enjoyment but will also entertain the young at heart.

Runtime: 1 hour 20 minutes

NOTE: SPECIAL OFFER FOR (BOTH) 4:00 PM SHOWS ONLY

“Land of Sweets Gala”

Doors will open at 3:00 pm and you will be given the opportunity to take pictures with the dancers.

Don’t forget to order your Scout Patches when you buy your tickets.

BUY TICKETS

************************************************************************************************************************

International Film Showcase Presents – Joyeux Noel

Sunday December 29, 2013   1:00 pm & 4:00 pm

Tickets: Adults: $8  Seniors (62 & Over): $7

Youth (Ages 10 – 17): Free With Paid Adult or Senior

GENERAL SEATING

In 1914, World War I, the bloodiest war ever at that time in human history, was well under way. However on Christmas Eve, numerous sections of the Western Front called an informal, and unauthorized, truce where the various front-line soldiers of the conflict peacefully met each other in No Man’s Land to share a precious pause in the carnage with a fleeting brotherhood. This film dramatizes one such section as the French, Scottish and German sides partake in the unique event, even though they are aware that their superiors will not tolerate its occurrence.

Director: Christian Carion

Cast: Diane Kruger, Natalie Dessay, Benno Fürmann
Genre: Drama / History

Language: French, German, English

English Subtitles

Runtime: 116 min.
Rated: PG 13

WATCH TRAILER / BUY TICKETS

************************************************************************************************************************

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COMPLETE CALENDAR.

Guest trumpeter Dr. Jonathan Knight performs with the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Timothy M. Stuart at Los Medanos College, Saturday night, November 23, 2013.

By Allen Payton

A small gathering of East County residents enjoyed a wonderful concert by the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, Saturday night at Los Medanos College

The concert opened with Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein with the full orchestra, which was then reduced to just seven instruments for a condensed, six-song version of L’Histoire du Soldat (The Soldier’s Tale) by Igor Stravinsky.

It was followed by the full orchestra, again, playing Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra in A minor, with Dr. Jonathan Knight providing a superb performance on trumpet, to round out the first set of the evening.

Antioch residents Jennifer Baston, left and Stuart Gillespie, play violin with the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra at LMC, Saturday night.

Led by Music Director and Conductor Timothy M. Smith, who was Professor of Music at Cal State East Bay for 22 years, the orchestra is made up of volunteer musicians ranging in age from under 20 to over 80, who come from various fields of employment, as well as students.

Two Antioch residents, a husband and wife team of violinists, Stuart Gillespie and Jennifer Baston, recently joined the orchestra.

Gillespie has been playing violin since he was in third grade, and Jennifer, a violin teacher in Pleasant Hill, started playing six years, later.

If you missed Saturday night’s concert, you can catch the orchestra performing the same one on Sunday night, November 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

The orchestra will be performing at Antioch’s El Campanil Theater on May 10^th, 2014. For more information about the orchestra, visit www.ContraCostaChamberOrchestra.org. For tickets to the El Campanil concert, visit www.ElCampanilTheatre.com.

Begins Saturday, October 5

Painting by Gloria Cannon

The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch is proud to present the works of artists living in and around the Delta at the Lynn House Gallery.  With the many hills and valleys, along with East Bay Regional Park properties, artists have an abundance of opportunities to capture nature and all its wonders in many art forms. The Nature’s Canvas Exhibit, will feature nature, in all mediums. The Lynn House Gallery is located at 809 West 1st Street in downtown Antioch. The exhibit begins on Saturday, October 5th, with an artist reception from 2-4 PM. Nature’s Canvas exhibit continues through October 26th on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1-4 PM. The artist reception and exhibit are free to the public. |

Participating artists are: Nordyn Anderson, Gary Augustino, Lori Azzolino, Steven Bloom, Gloria Cannon, Prudence Capelle, Sandra Carrigan Berkson, Jo Cotarelo, Clyde Cox, Jean Cucuel, Laurie DiMaggio, Michele Eakin, Ezra J. Engle, Betty Espindola, Sandy Gangwer, Lon Givens, Easy Gonzales, Danny Grace, Kathleen Henderson, Carol Jurczak, Karen Kelly, Kay Kirby, Jolynn Lacasse, Ellen LaVaccare, Julia Offord, Patricia Puryear, Alma Renko, Nancy Roberts, Lisa Salazar, Paul Schorr, Carol Sideman, Julia Starr, Joel Summerhill, Ken Tomlin and Beverly Turner.
For more information, visit http://art4antioch.org/Nature’s_Canvas.asp, email: Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call Executive Director Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

Click here to sign up for the Arts & Cultural Foundation’s Free Monthly Newsletter.

Painting by Sherry Cummings

The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch’s continuing partnership with Antioch’s Umpqua Bank, located at 3700 Lone Tree Way, continues as a venue for local artists to showcase their work. The exhibit changes every two months. The second exhibit for the ongoing display opens October 3rd and ends on November 22nd. Art can be viewed from 9 AM to 5 PM (Umpqua’s operating hours) . There is a free artist reception on Thursday, October 17th, from 5-9 PM. The featured artists for the October / November Exhibit are: Sherry Cummings, Mary Lamb, Jeannie Wallen, Joel Summerhill, Ken Tomlin. For more information, visit http://art4antioch.org/UmpquaBankExhibit-Oct-Nov2013.asp or call Diane Gibson-Gray at 925.325.9897.

Currently seeking artists for the ongoing exhibit.

Painting by Jeannie Wallen

Exhibit changes every two months. If you are interested in participating, please email Diane@Art4Antioch.org or call Diane Gibson-Gray at (925) 325-9897.

The annual Delta Blues Festival returns to Antioch’s historic downtown Rivertown this Saturday, September 21st in Waldie Plaza on 2nd Street, starting at Noon and running until 8 p.m. Best of all it’s FREE!

So bring your lawn chair and get their early for a good spot to watch and listen to all the bands they have lined up, for this year’s show.

For details please visit www.deltabluesfestival.net.

JOEL: A Tribute To The Songs Of Billy Joel

Sunday,  August 18, 2013   3:00 pm

Location: El Campanil Theatre, 602 W Second St – Downtown Antioch

Tickets: Adults: $33   Seniors (62 & Over): $29  Children (Under 18): $15,  Online: www.ElCampanilTheatre.com or by phone: (925) 757-9500

JOEL is the premier rock and roll Billy Joel Tribute band on the West Coast.  Fresh off the national tour of Billy Joel’s Tony Award-winning rock musical “MOVIN’ OUT”, Piano Man KYLE MARTIN and his group of professional musicians have toured California and are preparing for their national tour later this year.  The band performs Billy Joel’s timeless repertoire including songs like “Big Shot”, “Only the Good Die Young”, “An Innocent Man”, and “New York State of Mind.”  They are blazing hot, and will have you on your feet rocking out.

KYLE MARTIN made quite a name for himself amongst Broadway and Rock fans as he traveled to over 100 cities starring as the “Piano Man” in two separate National Tours of the Tony Award-winning Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp musical smash “MOVIN’ OUT.”  The show is unusual in that, unlike the traditional musical, it essentially is a series of dances linked by a thin plot, and none of the dancers sing. All the vocals are performed by a pianist and band suspended on a platform above the stage while the dancers act out the narrative sans dialogue, making the show, in essence, a rock ballet.  Kyle outperformed over 30,000 people to nab the coveted role, and reviews like “Dynamic”, “Spectacular”, “A piano player with a touch like Billy Joel”, are just some of the accolades he received along his journey.

About Relay For Life

Relay For Life is an annual fundraiser to support the American Cancer Society.  Each year, more than 4 million people in more than 20 countries take part in this global phenomenon to raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.  Funds raised during Relay support cancer research and treatments as well as care programs such as Look Good … Feel Better and Road To Recovery.

Relay For Life is a 24-hour event in which participants form teams and keep at least one person on the track at all times.  This is a symbolic effort to demonstrate that cancer never sleeps and the fight against cancer will never rest.  The event includes special ceremonies to honor survivors and remember those who have lost their battle with cancer. Relay is also about having fun.  Teams host fundraisers and activities while live music keeps the energy going on the track.