Update : The Riverfront Playhouse’s “Theatre Under the Stars” fundraiser (written about below) has been postponed due to slow ticket sales. When the group announces a new date, we’ll post that information. Also, look for more information about the theater’s capital campaign in the coming months.
The YMCA and the Shasta Women’s Refuge have found a hit of a fundraiser with “Dancing With The Stars — Shasta County Style,” which kicks up its heels at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the Cascade Theatre in Redding.
I was a skeptic two years ago when the event first launched. A local event based on a TV dance contest? Kind of a reach, I thought.
The 2009 “Dancing With The Stars — Shasta County Style” performers. (Photo by Michael Burke)
Turns out it was good fun for a good cause. There’s something so endearing about seeing non-professional dancers (paired with experts) giving it their best effort on a big stage. I think audience members see themselves in the local stars and tend to root for them. (Last year, I was wondering how Chita Johnson could be considered a non-pro.)
Anyway, it’ll likely be a great turnout for the third-annual event, which features: Melissa Hunt (Anderson City Council), Jeff Avery (State Farm), Michelle Martin Streeby (Record Searchlight), Mike Krueger (KRCR Channel 7), Yvonne Mazzotta (Enjoy! Magazine), and Jerry Benito (Shasta County District Attorney). There will also be a return appearance by last year’s champion, Tracy Edwards, as well as Chita herself and Don Burton from Redding Radio.
Tickets are $25 general and $20 for youth and seniors. Click here for more info.
• The event I hope doesn’t get lost in the shuffle on Saturday is “Theatre Under the Stars” at the Turtle Bay Amphitheater. This is a Riverfront Playhouse Capital Campaign Committee fundraiser and it features a dinner (chicken or tri-tip sandwich), live music, a performance by the Redding Improv Players, and a performance of the two-person play “Love Letters.”
The play recently enjoyed a fine run at Riverfront. This version will star Wade Riggs and Kim Basial. Basial, a two-time Riverfront Best Actress winner, is subbing for Carol Shestak, who starred with Riggs during the regular run.
Tickets are $100 for the evening event. It’s a spendy ticket, true, but the playhouse needs to raise a bundle of money to hit its goal of breaking ground on its new downtown Redding theater by next year. Riverfront has raised an impressive $700,000 in community donations and has been deeded the property (on the corner of Pine and Placer streets) by the city of Redding. There is, however, a timeline for breaking ground and completion of the project, so that puts some urgency on capital campaign.
Tickets are available at Graphic Emporium (1525 Pine St., 241-4278) or by calling Darrell Burrell at 243-7847.
By the way, Riverfront’s newest play, the comedy “Who’s in Bed With the Butler?”, opens on July 18.
• Also on Saturday (July 11) is A Salute to the Eagles (Hotel California) Live at Big League Dreams with special guests Mumblefinger. I’m interested to see a concert out at Big League Dreams (haven’t yet) and Mumblefinger certainly puts on a quality show. For tickets, click here or call (800) 838-3006.
