The next Whataburger Whata Night fundraiser is this Wednesday October 11 from 5p.m to 8p.m. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Whataburger periodically hosts events to help the community and its various schools. These events have ranged from “Oh Whata Nights” to jalapeño eating contests, drawings and raffles. This Wednesday October 11 from 5p.m. to 8p.m., Whataburger is hosting a fundraiser in San Antonio for the O’Connor High School Band. The public is invited to come and show their support by enjoying their favorite menu items and Whataburger will donate 20 percent of the sales during the posted hours to the organization. The first 100 customers will also receive a free Whataburger gift. This Whata Night fundraiser will be at the 9263 N Loop 1604 W location only. (Whataburger, 2017)
Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.
Whataburger
9263 N Loop 1604 W (near Bandera Road)
San Antonio, TX 78249
The new James Avery Whataburger charm is now available online. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.
Two Texas favorites, Whataburger and James Avery, have teamed up to release this season’s must-have keepsake. Effective today, the authentic sterling silver James Avery Charm, engraved with the Whataburger logo and measuring 5/8” long, is available just in time for holiday shopping. It features the Whataburger “flying W” at its heart and is exclusively available online. Customers can purchase the charm individually or they can build the perfect ready-to-wear pieced with James Avery’s Hook-On Bracelet or Changeable Charm Holder Necklace. This charm represents a partnership between two legendary Texas brands that got their start in the 1950s. Now, the beloved brands are joining forces to share a piece of history with fans. (Whataburger, 2017)
In other Whataburger news, during the month-long SA Goes Orange initiative, Whataburger donated $60,000 to the San Antonio Food Bank, which is the highest amount raised to date. With the funds raised, the San Antonio Food Bank can feed those who need it most in the San Antonio community. All this was made possible with customers’ help during the September 12 – 26 fundraising event.
Whataburger has been making burgers since 1950 when Harman Dobson opened a humble hamburger stand in Corpus Christi, Texas. He wanted customers to take one bite and say, “What a burger” so he named his stand on Ayers St “Whataburger.” Since then Whataburger now has over 700 locations across the country and continues to deliver fresh, made to order meals everyday with superior customer service. Community support includes charitable giving and volunteerism to nonprofit organizations that focus on children’s charities, cancer research, hunger assistance, disaster relief and military support.
The second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival is scheduled for October 20 through October 22, 2017. Photo: Monarch Butterfly Festival, used with permission.
The second annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival will take place this month from Friday October 20 to Sunday October 22, 2017. This three-day event is organized by the Texas Butterfly Ranch and the theme this year is Butterflies without Borders. The goal is to raise awareness and appreciation of the insect pollinators that make food possible. This celebration takes place during peak Monarch migration week in San Antonio, which generally occurs during the last two weeks of October. Each year, millions of the migrating black-and-orange butterflies move through the “Texas Funnel” on their way to Mexico to roost for the winter. Studies suggest the eastern migrating Monarch population has dropped more than 60% in recent years and the insect has been petitioned for listing as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. A full schedule of planned events is available online. (Monarch Butterfly Festival, 2017)
With the generous support from The Pearl, The San Antonio River Authority, HEB, the Rivard Report, Trinity University and the Mexican Cultural Institute, the Festival begins on Friday October 20, with an international scientific symposium at the Pearl Stable. Scientists from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada will explore the intersections of pollinators and politics in a Butterflies without Borders panel discussion: The Monarch Migration and our Changing Climate. On Saturday, there will be various art and education events throughout town including a teacher training workshop at the San Antonio River Authority, a “bug lunch” at the Witte, a butterfly walk and talk at the San Antonio Botanical Garden and art events at Yanaguana Gardens and the Mexican Cultural Institute.
On Sunday October 22, there will be a “People for Pollinators Parade” at the Pearl and costumes are encouraged. The parade route will march down Pearl Parkway and trained docents will teach kids the citizen science of tagging Monarch butterflies. More than 20 educational booths will offer education, engagement and fun. Tagged Monarch butterflies will be released at the Pearl amphitheater at noon. There will be numerous activities including Pedaling Pollinators Butterfly Bikes, face painting, kite making, story time by the Book Fairy, food and music.
Tickets to ‘Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella’ go on sale this Friday October 6, 2017. Show plays at the Majestic Theatre in January.
The 2013 Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical ‘Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella’ is coming to San Antonio and will play at the Majestic Theatre from Friday January 12 through Sunday January 14, 2018. From the creators of ‘The King and I’ and ‘The Sound of Music,’ this musical will play for only five performances for a limited engagement as part of the North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio season. Performances are 8p.m. on Friday, 2p.m. and 8p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. on Sunday. Tickets go on sale this Friday October 6 at 10a.m. and prices begin at $35. They are available online, at the box office, through Ticketmaster online or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Box office hours are 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday hours vary. Orders for groups of ten or more may be place by phone at (210) 226-5967. (North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, 2017)
The classic story has a fresh new take on ‘Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.’ The tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, this version combines the glass slippers, pumpkin and a beautiful ball with some surprising twists. She is more than just a pretty face with the right shoe size; she is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting who longs to escape the drudgery of her work at home and instead work to make the world a better place. As a spirited young woman with savvy and soul, she does not let her rags or her gowns trip her up in her quest for kindness, compassion and forgiveness. She not only fights for her own dreams but she also forces the prince to open his eyes to the world around him and realize his own dreams.
The production has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, a new book by Douglas Carter Beane and original book by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is directed by Gina Rattan and choreographed by Lee Wilkins. Music adaptation and arrangements are by David Chase and music supervision is by Greg Anthony Rassen. Some of the songs include “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible,” “Ten Minutes Ago” and “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?”
Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700
‘Into a Dark Frontier’ is the exciting new novel by John Mangan.
Lt. Col. John Mangan is a decorated combat rescue pilot, novelist and coffeehouse poet. He has deployed to the Middle East eight times and has commanded the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron in Kandahar, Afghanistan. His actions in combat have been documented in the books “Not a Good Day to Die,” “None Braver” and “Zero Six Bravo.” He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor twice, The Air Medal twelve times, and the 2009 Cheney Award. Now retired from the military, he has written his first novel “Into a Dark Frontier” about an ex-Navy SEAL named Slade Crawford.
The story takes place in the near future as Africa has collapsed into a failed state that is lawless and severely depopulated. It is now the playground for the outcast, the desperate, the criminal and the insane. The protagonist is Slade Crawford, who was falsely accused of terrorism, imprisoned and tortured. His personal life also took a beating when his son died in an accident and his marriage fell apart. At break neck speed, the action begins as he is fleeing for his life hoping to start a new life. He has been hired by the Judeans, a fundamentalist Christian community fleeing America to resettle in Africa to live and worship as they please. He is to ride with them to Africa, train them and escort them to their new settlement. Things do not go as planned when he crosses paths with an American colonel, Gary Kraven, who blackmails him into tracking down a blood cult that is ravaging its way across the sub-Sahara. The closer he gets to the cult, he more he learns about a global struggle that will change history forever.
“Into a Dark Frontier” by John Mangan is an action-packed page turner that pulls the reader in from the first chapter to the last. The characters are multi-dimensional with their own backstories and goals. Even the Judean community has its heroes and villains. Slade is the typical anti-hero who is deeply flawed and haunted by his past. Even though he seldom does the right thing he always does what he must do to get the job done. The action is fast paced, typically seen in the Dan Brown novels, and the details in the action sequences and military descriptions are believable and authentic without getting too technical. There are some darks and grisly scenes when the Judeans get captured and killed but it goes with the territory. With the introduction of Slade Crawford, readers now have a new action hero and hopefully there will be more adventures in the future. It is a must-read and recommended for fans of the black-ops genre and international spy novels.
*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s.
‘Sleeping Beauties: A Novel’ is the new release from the father and son collaboration team of Stephen King and Owen King.
Now on sale is the new Stephen King book co-written with his son author Owen King. Owen King is the author of the novel “Double Feature” and “We’re All in This Together: A Novella and Stories.” He is the coauthor of “Intro to Alien Invasion” and the coeditor of “Who Can Save Us Now? Brand-New Superheroes and Their Amazing (Short) Stories.” In “Sleeping Beauties: A Novel,” they tell the highest of high stakes stories of what might happen if women disappeared from the world of men.
According to Wikipedia, “Sleeping Beauties” revolves around Clint and Lila Norcross, a husband and wife who live in Dooling, West Virginia. It is a small Appalachian town where Clint works as a psychiatrist at the local women’s prison and Lila is the town sheriff. There is a strange epidemic going around town that causes women to fall into a deep sleep and become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze. While asleep, they go to another place, a better place, where harmony prevails and conflict is rare. If anyone tries to awaken them or open the cocoon, the women become violent and homicidal. One woman called “Eve Black” is immune to this sleeping disease. Some call her a medical anomaly to be studied while others consider her a demon to be slain. With the men suddenly on their own, they divide into warring factors and turn to violence in an all-male society.
Stephen King is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction and fantasy. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and many of them have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television shows and comic books. He is best known for “Carrie,” “It,” “The Green Mile” and the Dark Tower series.
‘Behind the Screen: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas’ opens at the McNay Art Museum on Thursday September 28 and will be on display through Sunday December 31, 2017. Photo: McNay Art Museum, used with permission.
This week the McNay Art Museum is unveiling an exhibit that is both scary and heartwarming. Behind the Screen: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas returns to the McNay for the first time since 2013 and features puppets and set pieces filmed for the 1993 cult classic stop-animation movie that has delighted generations of Halloween and Christmas fans around the world. It will be on display in the main Theatre Arts gallery and the puppets and pieces will be staged more theatrically to help take visitors on a journey. The exhibit opens on Thursday September 28 and will be on display through Sunday December 31. (McNay Art Museum, 2017)
San Antonio native Robert LB Tobin acquired the pieces from a Southeby’s auction in New York City two months after the movie opened in theaters. The movie tells the story of Jack Skellington, King of Halloween Town and his heartfelt yet misguided attempt to take the place of Santa Claus in Christmas Town. It became a surprise hit and has evolved into a holiday movie-watching tradition from Halloween through New Year’s Day. The exhibit will give visitors a rare opportunity to discover how camera crews shot 24 stills for each second of film. The trick-or-treating Lock, Shock, and Barrel have removable heads for different expressions. Holes in the Clubhouse floor indicate the positions of the bathtub that carries the three on a mission to kidnap “Sandy Claws.” Puppets of Jack Skellington, his faithful ghost dog Zero, and his Halloween Town rival Oogie Boogie also are among the collection.
Two other McNay exhibitions with similar themes complement this exhibit. One is Stage Frights, Madness, Monsters, Mayhem which will be on display from Thursday September 28 through Sunday December 31 and features scene and costume designs for plays, operas, and ballets by writers and composers from Shakespeare to Lorca to Anne Rice’s adaptations and from Wagner to Stravinsky to Scott Joplin. Drawing on diverse folklore traditions and popular-culture forms, scene and costume designs entice both adults and children to explore the dark side of their imaginations and the world. The other consists of two large murals by renowned muralist and Blue Star Contemporary’s Artist-in-Residence Alex Rubio with a Dia de los Muertos theme.
McNay Art Museum
6000 N New Braunfels Ave
San Antonio, TX 78209
(210) 824-5368
Tickets are now on sale for ‘Irving Berlin’s White Christmas’ coming to the Majestic Theatre in December.
The holiday season is almost here and it is time to start making plans. Celebrate the season with ‘Irving Berlin’s White Christmas’ when it plays at the Majestic Theatre in December. The stage adaptation of the beloved classic film is coming to San Antonio as part of the North Park Lexus Broadway In San Antonio season. This family friendly production will play for eight performances from Tuesday December 12 to Sunday December 17. Show times are 7:30p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8p.m. Friday, 2p.m. and 8p.m. Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30p.m. Sunday. Tickets are now on sale and prices begin at $30. They are available online, at the box office, through Ticketmaster online or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Box office hours are 10a.m. to 5p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday hours vary. Orders for groups of ten or more may be placed by phone at (210) 226-5967. (North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, 2017)
‘Irving Berlin’s White Christmas’ tells the story of two show business friends who start out putting on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn and end up finding their perfect mates. It is full of dancing, romance and laughter and includes some of the greatest songs ever written. These include “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “Happy Holiday,” “Sisters,” “Blue Skies,” and the unforgettable title song. Music and Lyrics are by Irving Berlin with Book by David Ives and Paul Blake and is based on the Paramount Pictures film written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank.
Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700
‘You Can’t Take It With You’ is now playing at The Classic Theatre. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.
Now playing at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio is the comedic play ‘You Can’t Take It With You’ by George S Kaufman and Moss Hart. It is directed by Mark Stringham and stars Andy Thornton, Catherine Babbitt, Jim Mammarella, Christi Eanes, Byrd Bonner, Allan S. Ross, Randee Lutterloh and Megan VanDyke. This is the final weekend to catch this hilarious production as it runs until Sunday October 1 with show times on Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are $32 for general admission and $28 for senior, military, educator and SATCO and $17 for student. They are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 589-8450.
‘You Can’t Take It With You’ is set in New York City in the large house of the Sycamore family and the story unfolds in three acts. The family consists of the patriarch, Grandpa Vanderhof, an eccentric old man who keeps snakes as pets and has never paid his income tax. His daughter Penny spends most of her day writing a series of unfinished plays. She is married to Paul who makes fireworks in the basement with the help of Mr. De Pinna, a delivery man who showed up one day and never left. Essie is one of Penny and Paul’s daughter. She is a candy maker who has always dreamed of being a ballerina and spends most of her days pirouetting and pliéing around the house. Her husband Ed is an amateur printer and plays the xylophone. Alice is the other daughter and the only ‘normal’ member of the family. She loves her family but is sometimes embarrassed by their eccentricities.
Alice comes home from work one day and announces that she is dating Tony, a young man she met at work. She plans to invite them over for dinner and the family promises to be in their best behavior. This would not be the crazy play it is if things went as expected and it does not. The madness includes a tax collector, a Russian ballet instructor, a Russian grand duchess and an accident with the beforementioned fireworks. Rheba, the housekeeper and her boyfriend Donald try to keep things from getting out of control but get caught in the middle.
Some of the best plays have universal themes that become timeless and resonate with any audience. Such is the case with ‘You Can’t Take It With You.’ No matter how hard the Sycamores try to act ‘normal,’ Tony’s wealthy and uppity parents meet them with resistance. The cast is big but they all work together to make the action flow seamlessly and there is always someone coming or going. Because the venue is small and intimate, some of the scenes can be overwhelming when there is too much going on onstage. Andrew Thornton is perfect as Paul Sycamore and John O’Neill’s portrayal of Mr. De Pinna is spot on. Overall, it is a must see show filled with humor and a few life lessons mixed in.
‘The Bodyguard’ is playing at the Majestic Theatre until Sunday September 24, 2017. Photo: North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, used with permission.
Now playing at the Majestic Theatre is the stage adaptation of the 1992 Oscar-nominated Warner Bros. film. It is adapted by Academy Award-winner Alexander Dinelaris and tells the story of former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard Frank Farmer who is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge but what they do not expect is to fall in love. Grammy® Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B and pop recording artist Deborah Cox stars as Rachel Marron and television star Judson Mills stars as bodyguard Frank Farmer. There are still three chances to catch the hit musical with show times at 8p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 8p.m. on Sunday. Ticket prices begin at $35 and are available online, at the box office, through Ticketmaster online or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
The first scene introduces audiences to superstar Rachel Marron and her music as she performs ‘Queen of the Night’ all the while unaware of the threat she faces from a stalker. Her manager hires Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service Agent to protect her and upgrade the security protocols. This version changes the focus of the story from the bodyguard to Rachel Marron. She collaborates with her sister Nikki on a new song, ‘Greatest Love of All’ and insists on performing her music as usual until she has a close call with the stalker while performing at the Mayan. From there they take the necessary precautions to keep everyone safe but when Rachel performs at the Oscars, Frank gets injured trying to protect her. Eventually they go their separate ways as he takes another job and she continues with her tour, ‘I Will Always Love You.’
With more than a dozen songs in the production, ‘The Bodyguard’ is more of a Whitney Houston tribute than a Broadway musical. It appeals to her fans and has a nostalgic feel from the first song to the iconic final performance of ‘I Will Always Love You.’ It is considered a romantic thriller but has occasional funny moments. Show highlights include Rachel’s concert-like performances and the hilarious karaoke scenes with the drunken college girls attempting to sing ‘Where Do Broken Hearts Go’ and Frank’s failed attempt at karaoke. It features such classic songs as ‘So Emotional,’ ‘One Moment in Time,’ ‘Saving All My Love,’ ‘Run to You’, ‘I Have Nothing’ and ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody.’ A word about the curtain call: give Stefan Raulston, who plays the assassin, a break. He is only playing a role. On opening night, he was booed when he took his bow.
SA Examiner 