Tickets now on sale for ‘The King And I’ at the Majestic Theatre

kingandicast — The cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘The King And I.’ Photo: Matthew Murphy, used with permission.

Ambassador Theatre Group and NETworks Presentations LLC announce that the national tour of the Lincoln Center Theater Production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘The King And I’ will make its San Antonio premiere at the Majestic Theatre for eight performances from Tuesday October 17 through Sunday October 22 as part of the North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio 2017-2018 season. Tickets are now on sale and start at $35 and are available at Ticketmaster online, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Majestic Theatre box office. Box office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours vary. Orders for groups of 10 or more may be placed by calling (210) 226-5967. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday, 2p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. (North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, 2017)

‘The King And I’ is set in 1860s Bangkok and tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher hired by the King to teach his many wives and children. It is based on Margaret Landon’s novel “Anna and the King of Siam” which is based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens who was the governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam. The fifth musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein, it is directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher and is the winner of four 2015 Tony Awards® including Best Revival of a Musical. The score features such classics as “Getting to Know You,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance,” “I Have Dreamed” and “Something Wonderful.”

Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700

Movie adaptation: The Dark Tower series by Stephen King

darktowerposter — The movie adaptation of The Dark Tower opens in theaters this Friday August 3, 2017.

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. The movie adaptation of the Dark Tower series is set to be released on Friday August 4 and stars Idris Elba as Roland Deschain, a gunslinger on a quest to protect the Dark Tower, and Matthew McConaughey as his nemesis, Walter o’Dim, the ‘Man in Black.’

According to Wikipedia, the Dark Tower is a series of eight books that combines multiple genres including dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror and Western. It expands on King’s multiverse and links together many of his other novels. The story centers on a “gunslinger” and his quest to protect the Dark Tower, a mythical structure which supports all realties. The inspirations for the series includes the poem “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” by Robert Browning as well as The Lord of the Rings, Arthurian Legend and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The movie is a continuation of the series and takes place in both modern-day New York City and Mid-World, Roland’s Old West-style parallel universe. Roland is on a quest to reach the Dark Tower in End-World and reach the nexus point between time and space that he hopes will save humanity from extinction. It is a sequel to the events that take place in the books.

Whataburger celebrates children’s superhero spirit

whataburgerchickensandwich-jpg — Celebrate the super hero spirit with Whataburger this Thursday August 3 at the Cypress location in San Antonio. Photo: Whataburger, used with permission.

This Thursday August 3, Whataburger restaurants will celebrate the spirit of superheroes with an evening of family fun. San Antonio area families are invited to a Super-Duper Celebration only at the Whataburger located at 516 W Cypress St from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Customers will be able to spend quality time with their little heroes and treat them to a superhero-themed celebration that includes food and giveaways. There will be a balloon artist and a face painter onsite as well as a photo booth and a special appearance from Whataburger’s mascot, Whataguy. This event is to support the mission of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio which provides specialized programs and extends whole-health treatment to children. A donation to the organization will be presented. Children 12 and under dressed in a superhero costume will also receive a free kid’s meal.

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.

Whataburger
516 W Cypress St (between Jackson St and San Pedro Ave)
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210)444-0212

Best seller of the month: ‘The Late Show’ by Michael Connelly

lateshowmichaelconnelly2 — ‘The Late Show’ by Michael Connelly holds the top stop on The New York Times best seller list. Photo: amazon

New to the best seller list on The New York Times is “The Late Show” by Michael Connelly. It was released this month and it holds the number one spot on the list. Michael Connelly is the author of detective novels and other crime fiction, the most popular being the ones featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus “Harry” Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. With “The Late Show” he introduces Renee Ballard, a young detective fighting to prove herself on the LAPD’s toughest beat.

According to Amazon, in “The Late Show,” Renee Ballard works the night shift in Hollywood, also known as the Late Show. She was once an up-and-coming detective but she was given this shift as punishment for filing a sexual harassment complaint against a supervisor. Now, she begins many investigations but does not finish them because each morning she turns everything over to the day shift. One night she gets two assignments that she does not want to hand off: the brutal beating of a prostitute left for dead in a parking lot and the killing of a young woman in a nightclub shooting. Determined not to let go of the cases, she works both by day while maintaining her shift by night. The deeper she delves into the investigation, the closer they pull her to her own demons.

Michael Connelly is the best-selling author of twenty-eight novels and one work of fiction. He has sold over sixty million copies of his books worldwide and they have been translated into thirty-nine foreign languages. Before turning to writing, he was a newspaper reporter who worked the crime beat at the Los Angeles Times and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. His first book, “The Black Echo” won the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1992. Movie adaptations of his novels include “Blood Work” starring Clint Eastwood and “The Lincoln Lawyer” starring Matthew McConaughey. The series of books featuring Harry Bosch is now an Amazon Studios drama series starring Titus Wellliver and is streaming on Amazon Prime.

Theater review: ‘Clear to Partly Crazy’ at The Classic Theatre

‘Clear to Partly Crazy’ opened at The Classic Theatre of San Antonio last night as Jaston Williams brings his one-man show to San Antonio audiences. Picking up where he left off after ‘A Wolverine Walks Into a Bar,’ he muses on subjects from cheerleaders to tornadoes and certifiably insane blood relatives. It is written and performed by Jaston Williams and no late seating is allowed at any performance. Next show times are Friday at 8p.m. Saturday at 3p.m. and 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and are available online and at the box office.

Before the show, he takes the time to welcome everyone and say how happy he is to be back in San Antonio despite the hot weather. The stories contained in this show are: An Empty Space, The Whistle and A Window Seat to Never, Neverland. Dressed casually in a robe, pajamas and slippers he begins with a rant about how silly television is nowadays with reality shows and other nonsensical forms of ‘entertainment’ including televised cheerleading competitions. Being from West Texas, he can relate to football culture and the one thing that comes with it: cheerleaders. This is the topic of An Empty Space where he recalls how important they were to high school society. Tornadoes and storm shelters take center stage on The Whistle while a family member’s unfortunate bout with mental illness and institutions make it into A Window Seat to Never, Neverland.

Fans of Jaston Williams and his brand of comedy are in for a treat with ‘Clear to Partly Crazy.’ He always manages to find the humor in even the bleakest of situations. His animated storytelling pulls the audience in as they hang on to his every word. After the laughter dies down every story has its serious side; an especially poignant moment is his quiet ode to his cousin as he ended A Window Seat to Never, Neverland. Some of the references may be aged but that should not be a deterrent. Laughter and humor, after all, are ageless. It is a must see show that explores the themes of politics, television, natural disasters and family but most of all, it is a reminder not to take life so seriously.

Book review: ‘Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean’ by Jonathan White

tidespic — In his new book ‘Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean,’ Jonathan White explores the science and spirit of ocean tides. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Jonathan White is a marine conservationist, a sailor, surfer and author. He has written for publications like the Christian Science Monitor, The Sun, Orion and Surfer’s Journal. His first book, “Talking on the Water: Conversations about Nature and Creativity” is a collection of interviews exploring human relationships with nature. After a boating incident involving tides while on a seminar in Southeast Alaska, he vowed to learn more about tides and their powerful forces. In his new book, “Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean” he shares what he learned during his years of research that took him across the world; from the Arctic, to China, France, Chile, Scotland, Panama and Venice.

In “Tides,” Jonathan White writes about that all-important force that keeps earth’s waters in constant motion. With global warming making headlines worldwide, he explores how tides are affecting sea level and people’s livelihoods. The book is divided into nine chapters that give readers unique stories about tides such as: The Perfect Dance: Birds and Big Tides in the Bay of Fundy and Fast Water: How Tidal Currents Slow the Earth and Bend Time. He uses pictures, scientific figures, line drawings, brilliant color pictures and personal anecdotes to share his knowledge of what tides are and how they work. It is a combination of travel log, personal journal and scientific textbook.

Jonathan White’s love and respect for the ocean comes through in every story and scientific discovery he shares. The material is interesting and easy to understand although sometimes it can get too technical for the lay reader. Thankfully, he does an excellent job of balancing the science and the personal stories so that everyone can get something out of it. It is recommended for readers who enjoy learning about oceans, tides and wildlife along with interesting cultural history.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.

Tickets now on sale for Mala Luna Music Festival

malalunafest17pic — Tickets for the second annual Mala Luna Music Festival are now on sale. Photo: Mala Luna Music Festival, used with permission.

Tickets are now on sale for the second annual Mala Luna Music Festival to be held on Halloween weekend October 28 and 29 at the Nelson Wolff Stadium, west of downtown San Antonio. Due to a sold-out event last year, the festival has moved to a new location and is expanding to two stages. It will feature high-profile musical performances, multiple live art installations and numerous local food vendors and merchandise. The Halloween theme, designs and costumes will help pay tribute to the local culture and the community’s annual Diá de los Muertos celebrations. (Mala Luna Music Festival, 2017)

General admission tickets, $149 and VIP passes, $399 are on sale online as well as other VIP Packages including Black Moon for $189, Harvest Moon for $209, and Fly Me to the Moon for $399, which offers ticket-buyers the most enhanced experience at the festival. Attendees are encouraged to act fast as these VIP tickets are in short supply and will continue to increase in price as the event date approaches. VIP perks include preferred viewing areas, expedited entry, dedicated bars and restroom facilities, festival merchandise and more.

This year’s musical lineup includes Future, Lil Wayne, Wiz Khalifa, Migos, Afrojack, Carnage, Khalid, Borgore, Playboi Carti, Kali Uchis, Ugly God, Smokepurpp, Trae Tha Truth, J.I.D, and Maxo Kream. One of Mala Luna’s missions is to support San Antonio’s up-and-coming music scene and several San Antonio-based artists are also scheduled to perform, including Xavier Omär, Intre, Bamsworth Belli, Izaq Roland and Lil Yodaa, as well as Rayne and Isabella Rodriguez of Network for Young Artists.

Through its continuing partnership with Network for Young Artists (NYA), the Mala Luna Music Festival will donate a portion of the proceeds from each ticket sold to the San Antonio-based organization. NYA is a nonprofit organization that provides affordable classes in voice, guitar, percussion, keyboard and dance to San Antonio-area youth ages 4-20. Last year’s festival donations supported student-driven music education initiatives through the end of 2016 and into 2017.

Nelson Wolff Stadium
5757 W US Highway 90
San Antonio, TX 78227
(210) 675-727

Weekday Signature Hour and Weekend Signature Brunch

Signature, Inspired by Chef Andrew Weissman, one of the fine dining choices at La Cantera Resort & Spa is now offering a weekday Signature Hour and a weekend Signature Brunch. For those looking for a charming and relaxed Hill Country culinary experience, Signature offers dinner from Monday through Saturday from 6p.m. to 10 p.m., Signature Hour from Tuesday through Friday from 4:30p.m. to 6 p.m. and Brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations for dinner and brunch are recommended but not required and can be made by calling (210) 247-0176. (Signature, 2017)

The cocktail menu at Signature Hour changes weekly to showcase the mixology mastery of the restaurant with a rotating menu of hand-crafted specialty cocktails, beer and wine. The bar has approximately 50 scotches from single-malt to blended, including the rare Gaelic scotch Ice God, with only 30,000 bottles existing in the world. The vast bourbon and rye collection includes many hard-to-find selections, including Hibiki 21-Year-Old and Whistle Pig Boss Hog Single Barrel. Signature Hour has menu options that include a savory selection of menu favorites such as the ever-popular Deviled Egg Potato Salad, Gold Leaf Risotto, Signature Petite Burger with fried egg and pickles, charcuterie and new items such as Mumbai-Style Lamb with curry and Black Truffle Laneh and La Reve Wasabi Oysters. Prices range from $5 to $15. Drink prices range from beer for $5 and wine and hand-crafted Signature cocktails for $7.

Chef Andrew Weissman has teamed up with Executive Chef Laurent Rea to create a French-inspired weekend Brunch menu with Texas influences. The menu offerings include an authentic French toast made with challah bread, a true New England-style lobster roll and French style omelet and diners can choose between mixed-mushroom, lobster, crawfish or smoked salmon, prepared with fresh herbs grown in Signature’s garden. Texas influences include a breakfast burger stacked with Swiss hash browns, apple-smoked bacon atop a house-made brioche roll, creamed chipped beef on a house-made biscuit and Blueberry buttermilk pancakes with warm maple syrup and apple-smoked bacon. Fresh cocktails include a house-made Bloody Mary made with yellow tomato juice, designed to complement brunch offerings.

Signature
16401 La Cantera Pkwy
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 247-0176

‘Clear to Partly Crazy’ at The Classic Theatre

Jaston Williams returns to The Classic Theatre for the San Antonio premiere of his one man show ‘Clear to Partly Crazy’ from Thursday July 27 to Sunday July 30, 2017. Previously seen on ‘A Wolverine Walks Into a Bar,’ he muses on subjects all Texans understand; from cheerleaders to tornadoes and certifiably insane blood relatives. Travel with him from grandstands to storm cellars to the occasional mental institution, laughing all the way. Written and performed by Jaston Williams. No late seating will be allowed at any performance. Show times are Thursday and Friday at 8p.m. Saturday at 3p.m. and 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are $20 for general admission and are available online. (The Classic Theatre of San Antonio, 2017)

Jaston Williams is best known as one of the trio of writers of the Greater Tuna series. Along with Joe Sears and Ed Howard, they wrote ‘Greater Tuna,’ ‘A Tuna Christmas’ and ‘Red, White and Tuna.’ The shows are comedic plays each set in the fictional town of Tuna, Texas and are an affectionate view and satire of small-town, Southern life and attitudes. Williams and Sears play the entire cast of over twenty characters of both genders and various ages.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

Movie adaptation: Valerian and Laureline

valerianpic — Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets is the movie adaptation of the French comic book series Valerian and Laureline. It opens in theaters on Friday July 21, 2017.

Pierre Christin is a French comics creator and writer and he, along with Jean-Claude Mézières, a French comic strip artist and illustrator created the French comic book series Valérian and Laureline. First published in 1967, it is also known as Valérian: Spatio-Temporal Agent, or simply as Valérian, and it recounts the adventures of the dark-haired Valérian, a spatio-temporal agent and his redheaded female colleague Laureline as they travel the universe through space and time. The movie adaptation, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, will be released in theaters on Friday July 21, 2017. It stars Dane DeHaan as Major Valerian, Clara Delevingne as Sergeant Laureline, Clive Owen as Arün Filitt, their commander and Rihanna as Bubble, a shapeshifting entertainer.

According to Wikipedia, Valérian and Laureline, Valérian is a classical hero who is kind, strong, brave and follows the orders of his superiors even if he does not always agree with them. His partner Laureline is intelligent, determined, independent and good looking. The comic series combines space opera with time travel. Christin’s writing style contains humor, complexity and strongly humanist and left-wing liberal political ideas while Mézières’ art is best known for its vivid depictions of the alien worlds and species that they encounter along the way. It is considered innovative in European comics and pop culture and its influence can be seen in films such as Star Wars and The Fifth Element. Many of the stories have been translated into several languages.

SA Examiner

Your Insider Source For Entertainment And Business Headlines

Author: Sandra Cruz