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A Christmas Story Comes to Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

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This is a favorite holiday movie classic made into a Broadway Musical. It’s about a young boy, Ralphie, who is trying to figure out a way to convince the adults that the “Red Ryder air rifle” would make a wonderful Christmas gift. Every time he brings it up, he’s told, “You’ll put your eye out!”

Christopher Swan as The Old Man and the company of A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL presented by Broadway On Tour at Memorial Auditorium Nov. 8-17, 2019. Photo by Gary Emord Netzley.

I Love Fair Oaks was invited along with a group of Sacramento bloggers and social media influencers by Broadway on Tour to see A Christmas Story. We are part of a group headed by Julie Gallaher and Sacramento Top Ten, called Instayelpatweetasnap and dubbed Broadway Sacramento Ambassadors by Broadway Sacramento.

This is one of my favorite holiday stories of an era long gone. Kids even walked to school in the snow. I can’t even imagine kids today having a bb gun unsupervised.

We follow Ralphie through his outrageous antics leading up to Christmas.

The scenery was a fabulous snowy town decorated for Christmas. I enjoy the simplistic stage with the house set up like a dollhouse. Very cute!

What was really impressive about the show was how well the actors danced. They were hoofing it up on stage with the clickety-clack of the tap shoes. It was energetic and very entertaining. I’m surprised at how big the cast of child actors there were. All gave a superb performance.

Towards the end, there’s a scene where the audience is bathed in soft flowing lights, and you just can’t help feeling overwhelmed with joy. This is a beautiful show to kick off the holidays. Get your tickets!

A Christmas Story is playing at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium through November 17th, 2019.

The Community Center Theater is being renovated. It will open again in the fall of 2020, so all of the 2019 Broadway on Tour shows will be playing at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium.

Broadway Sacramento’s Aladdin Dazzles

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Inside the cave of wonders in the Broadway Musical production of Aladdin
Disney’s Aladdin ©Disney Photo by Deen van Meer

“You ain’t never had a friend like Meeeee!” This song has been dancing around in my head since we saw the live theatre production of Disney’s Aladdin on Thursday evening at the Sacramento Community Center Theatre. If you haven’t been to a Broadway Sacramento Musical, and this is your first, it is going to set the bar high on your expectations forever. I’ve heard that the Lion King is the best, but I haven’t seen it so for me, Aladdin is number one.

two people standing in front of the Aladdin backdrop at the Sacramento Community Center Theater
My son and me at the Sacramento Broadway Musical, Disney’s Aladdin.

The performance was breathtaking. I brought my son with me; he just turned 29 and had never been to a Broadway Musical. He expected it to be more about doing something thoughtful for his mom by coming out to a musical. But when it began, and the curtain opened, he gasped. “Oh my God! That’s a live orchestra!” I whispered back, “It’s a Broadway production.” As if he should know. But I run around with my group of blogger friends, and we do all sorts of fun things here in Sacramento and attend almost all of the Broadway Sacramento Musicals. My son is just discovering that his mom is cool!

I was tickled to see how much he was enjoying the show. Aladdin was his favorite Disney movie when he was a kid. He was beaming the whole time, clapping hard and whistling during the big applause. The entire audience was excited. The theatre was full too. When you are still as enthusiastic days later, it’s a pleasant experience.

HIGH QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT

I have never seen such an elaborate stage set. Swarovski Crystal beads and gold sparkling so bright. The scene where Aladdin and Jasmin sing, “A Whole New World,” while flying under the moon and stars on the magic carpet was beautiful. Yes, the carpet does fly.

Disney’s Aladdin ©Disney Photo by Deen van Meer

The genie is hilarious and even throws in some modern-day references and banters a bit with the audience. There are no dull moments in this show.

This traveling Broadway musical is one of the largest productions. It takes 20 trucks to carry the stage sets, lighting, equipment, and costumes. Almost 200 people are involved in delivering each performance of Aladdin, and this includes the actors, stage crew, musicians, hair stylists, makeup artists. And guess who gave me that information. My son! He was talking with some of the crew during intermission.

Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway

I’m hoping this will inspire him to see more plays. It meant a lot to me to have this experience with him, and hopefully, he’ll get to take his future son or daughter to see it one day.

BEFORE THE SHOW

young man at the Amourath 1819 located inside the Hyatt Regency Sacramento
Enjoying a cocktail at Amourtath 1819 before the show.

Before seeing a Broadway Musical, we like to meet for a drink at the Amourath 1819 located inside the Hyatt Regency Sacramento or Downtown & Wine. Both are classy and offer excellent service.

I AM GIVING AWAY SOME SWAG! ENTER TO WIN @ILOVEFAIROAKS INSTAGRAM

Thank you to SacramentoTop10 and Broadway Sacramento for inviting me to review the show and providing the prizes for me to give my audience. I’ll be doing a giveaway on the I Love Fair Oaks Instagram page. Enter to win some great Disney’s Aladdin swag. Contest ends June 3rd, 2019.

ALADDIN PLAYS THROUGH JUN 2, 2019

Get showtimes and ticket information at the Broadway Sacramento website. See what’s coming in 2020. Don’t forget to check out Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavillion.

Broadway Sacramento Presents Disneys Newsies

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Broadway Sacramento Music Circus Newsies

I was treated by my dear friend, Julie Gallaher, of Get on the Map and Broadway Sacramento to the dress rehearsal performance of Disney's Newsies.

Newsies is based on the newsboys strike of 1899, when odds were against them, they banded together to fight the powerful publishers.

Dinner before the show?

You can get parking and dining information here.

We usually meet at Chando's for dinner and walk across the street to the theater. They have the best tacos! Check out their low carb menu.

You never know who you might run into.

We had great seats inside the theater. Sacramento Mayor, Daryl Steinberg, was seated near us. He's such a friendly laid back person. I spent the day with him in the green room and backstage when I was a photographer for TEDxSacramento a few years back. It was before he was our mayor. As you can see in the photo below, he's accessible and approachable. You'll get a friendly greeting if you see him out and about.

My favorite photo of the evening!

My friend, April, and her sister taking a selfie.

The printing press on stage was real! I loved the way they set up the props throughout the theater in the round. See the clotheslines.

Stay up to date with Broadway Sacramento and see what shows playing soon.

The theatre-in-the round Broadway At Music Circus experience just keeps getting better and better! Where else can you see some of Broadway’s most talented actors in such an intimate and casual setting? With even bigger savings and other great benefits, there’s no better way to experience Broadway At Music Circus than being a season ticketholder.

Fun Fact: $35 Under 35 Club

Did you know that Broadway Sacramento has a low price ticket program called the $35 for under 35? To Join:  You must be 18 – 35 years of age.  All you have to do is sign up and create a brief profile.

 

Broadway Sacramento Music Circus Summer of 2018 Singin In the Rain

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Can you believe it rained on that stage? Yes, it did! I have the song, “Moses supposes his toeses are roses” stuck in my head. LOL!

Tickets were sold out but I was invited by Julie Gallaher of Get on the Map and Broadway Sacramento as a guest to see the dress rehearsal. We’re so fortunate to have the level of arts and entertainment that we have in Sacramento.

Have you been to Broadway Sacramento? Fun, upbeat performances and don’t worry about crowds. They have enough concession stands all around with a good selection and variety of snacks. They even have Gunther’s ice cream. I’ve never had it, but it looks yummy.  Gunther’s is a local business in Sacramento! Lines move quickly because the show must be on time. So you’ll get a chance to move around at intermission, get some snacks and use the restroom.

You can find out what shows are coming up and get tickets on the Broadway Sacramento at Music Circus website.

#instayelpatweetasnap #broadwaysacramentoatmusiccircus #singinintherainMC18