Amidst COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Means Music provides a musical outlet for young students Galen Kusic, Editor Jesse Means, a 1985 graduate of Benicia High School is going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic to make sure his New York City music students get a quality music education. Means became a public school music teacher […]
Benicia Middle School student accepted into prestigious ballet academy
(This article orginally appeared in the Jan. 31 print edition of the Herald) Galen Kusic, Editor 13-year old Benicia Middle School student Bella Cannon was recently accepted into ArtEmotion, an elite summer ballet intensive (sister program to Ballet West Academy) in Cleveland, OH. Girls from all over the country auditioned and only 100 were accepted […]
Centenarian Peter Caggiano honored with City of Benicia proclamation
Galen Kusic, Editor Over the past decade, the Solano County Board of Supervisors has featured a centenarian celebration among Solano residents. This year, one distinguished Benician, Peter Caggiano was honored along with 53 others, as he turns 100 on Dec. 26. “Through Norma at the Benicia Senior Center, we’ve become friends,” said Supervisor Monica Brown. […]
Benicia Old Town Theatre Group’s ‘Born Yesterday’ a smash hit as community theater thrives in Benicia
Galen Kusic, Editor There aren’t enough words to describe how incredibly perfect the final show of Benicia Old Town Theatre Group’s (BOTTG) “Born Yesterday” was executed on Sunday, Nov. 10. Director Carlene Collier Coury, the production staff and the cast all did a tremendous job producing Garson Kanin’s 1946 Broadway play, which was adapted for […]
Benicia High School Advanced Dance Show, “Slumber Party” set for three performances
Galen Kusic, Editor This year’s annual Benicia High School Advanced Dance Show, titled “Slumber Party,” is scheduled for three shows on May 30, 31 and June 1 at the Hayley Horn Auditorium on campus. This event is not only a great medium for students to showcase their dancing skills, but it also helps provide funding […]
Vallejo Symphony to perform with ACHS Chamber Choir this weekend
Galen Kusic, Editor The Vallejo Symphony is hosting its Concert III-Profound on March 30 and March 31 at the Empress Theatre in Vallejo. The Symphony and conductor Marc Taddei will be performing Beethoven, Leonore Overture No. 3, Sibelius, Symphony No. 7 and Faure, Requiem. This is a special concert that will feature soloists Shawnette Sulker, […]
BAS encourages audiences to ‘walk this way’ for musical production of ‘Young Frankenstein’
It’s alive! It’s alive! At least it will be alive soon, “it” being Bay Area Stage’s production of “Young Frankenstein: The Musical,” which opens Friday, Oct. 12 and promises to be more fun than a roll in the hay. The 2007 musical is an adaptation of Mel Brooks’ 1974 spoof of 1930s Universal horror films, […]
BHS nabs 13 Arty nominees apiece for 2017-18 productions; BOTTG nets 5
The Performing Arts Network (PAN-Arts) announced its nominees for the 34th annual Arty Awards, which honor theatrical productions at all levels in the counties of Solano, Napa and– for the first time this year– Yolo, this morning. Once again, Benicia High School and Benicia Old Town Theatre Group are well-represented among the nominees. Benicia High […]
Coming-of-age play to debut national run at Empress in September
Fairfield resident Lisa Smith-Bryant’s story “Clown in the Prayer Closet” has had quite an odyssey. It began as a book in 2013 and then was adapted by the author as an independent movie in 2015. Now the story is about to begin its run as a theatrical play when the production comes to Vallejo’s Empress […]
‘Snow White’ sequel to debut at Bay Area Stage Friday
As anybody who has read the fairy tale “Snow White” knows, the prince brings the titular princess back to life and they all live happily ever after…or do they? Concord author Jay Hartlove explores several questions about the Snow White story in a new musical sequel titled “Mirror’s Revenge,” which premieres Friday at Vallejo’s […]