Elijah Malcomb, Joseph Morales, Kyle Scatliffe, Fergie L. Philippe, and Company. Photo: Joan Marcus, used with permission.
Producer Jeffrey Seller and North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio announce a digital lottery for ‘Hamilton’ tickets will begin in conjunction with the show’s first performance January 5 in San Antonio at the Majestic Theatre. Only forty tickets will be available for every performance for $10 each. The lottery will open at 10a.m. Friday, December 24, 2021 and will close at 12p.m. Thursday, December 30, 2021 for tickets to performances January 5-9, 2022. Subsequent digital lotteries will begin on each Friday and close the following Thursday for the upcoming week’s performances. (Majestic Theatre, 2021)
How to enter:
Use the official ‘Hamilton’ app, now available for all iOS and Android devices in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.
The lottery will open at 10a.m. every Friday and will close for entry at 12p.m. the next Thursday prior to the following week’s performances.
Winner and non-winner notifications will be sent between 1p.m. and 4p.m. every Thursday for the upcoming week’s performances via email and mobile push notification. Winners will have two hours to claim and pay for their ticket(s).
No purchase or payment necessary to enter or participate.
Each winning entrant may purchase up to two (2) tickets.
Only one entry per person. Repeat entries and disposable email addresses will be discarded.
Lottery tickets may be picked up at will call beginning two hours prior to the performance with a valid photo ID.
Lottery tickets void if resold.
All times listed are in the local time zone.
Additional rules:
Patrons must be eighteen years or older and have a valid, non-expired photo ID that matches the name used to enter. Tickets are non-transferable. Ticket limits and prices displayed are at the sole discretion of the show and are subject to change without notice.
Lottery prices are not valid on prior purchases. Lottery ticket offer cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. All sales final – no refunds or exchanges. Lottery may be revoked or modified at any time without notice. A purchase will not improve the chances of winning.
Tickets for ‘Hamilton’ are currently on sale. Patrons are advised to check the official ‘Hamilton’ channels and BroadwayInSanAntonio.com for late release seats which may become available at short notice.
‘Hamilton’ is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, ‘Hamilton’ has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.
With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, ‘Hamilton’ is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors.
Help will be available on digital formats starting February 15, 2022. Photo: google
Ridder Films, in association with Executive Producer Lucas A. Ferrara, are delighted to share the new trailer and poster for their award-winning psychological thriller Help, which will be available on digital download in the USA and Canada starting February 15, 2022. Help was filmed over just twelve days. Due to UK lockdown restrictions, only twenty cast and crew members were involved. Help is a testament to producing high-quality films during such a turbulent time. (Ridder Films, 2021)
A young woman’s life turns chaotic when she uncovers a deadly secret about her friend. A painful break up prompts Grace to visit her friend Liv who is living in the idyllic English countryside with her boyfriend Edward and his dog Polly. The trio start the weekend in high spirits but soon turns into chaos, as well-kept secrets are exposed and the friends come to see each other in a whole new light. Everyone has a secret.
Help boasts an impressive cast of promising actors of Louis James (The English Teacher, A Simple Robbery), Emily Redpath (Romeo and Juliet, Casualty), Sarah Alexandra Marks (Glamour, Psychosis), and including a cameo performance from iconic boyband Blue’s very own Duncan James.
With a plot as dark as Help’s, you might not expect to see former boyband member Duncan James’ cameo, but the unlikely pairing came about organically. “I met Louis whilst filming in Liverpool, a mutual friend introduced us, and we immediately struck up a friendship,” explains James. “His passion was palpable and there was a lot of mutual respect. I watched his performance in a few of Ridder’s short films, such as ‘The English Teacher’ and ‘A Simple Robbery’ and thought he was great, so I wanted to support him and be involved in his next project.”
“No matter how hard we try, no one is perfect. We all have our own issues and help that we seek for. Especially in our personal relationships, much like the characters in this film. During the UK’s first lockdown in March 2020, it pushed me to create even more short films than I ever did before. Of course, with each film you make, it teaches you something, you learn from your mistakes and understand what really captures the audience through my storytelling. Which ultimately made me decide it was time to make my debut feature film.” – Director Blake Ridder
“As the script was developed I could sense from the early stages he was crafting something unique. Coming onboard as Producer I knew I would I have to match Blake’s machine like work ethic. I got to work immediately assembling a strong cast and crew to lift his story off of the page. We worked closely together to make sure our visions for the production were kept aligned each step of the way.” – Producer Louis James
Distributor: Ridder Films Digital Download Date: February 15, 2022 Digital Platforms: iTunes, Apple TV, Amazon, Google Play & Microsoft Writer and Director: Blake Ridder Producer: Louis James Executive Producer: Lucas A. Ferrara Cast: Louis James, Emily Redpath, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Duncan James, Blake Ridder, Amy Jim, Stuart Wolfe-Murray Run Time: 96 minutes Rating: TBC
Isaac Rodriguez’ Last Radio Call is one of the movies that will premiere on AVOD in January. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
Genre distributor Terror Films will officially launch their YouTube AVOD channel in 2022 with 2 new releases. The first film out of the gate will be Isaac Rodriguez’ found footage horror film, Last Radio Call on January 14, followed by Kipp Tribble’s home invasion horror film, Evil at the Door on January 21. The films will premiere exclusively on the Terror Films channel featuring a live chat event with the filmmakers, cast and fans during the premiere. The films will be released wide, across Digital and VOD platforms one week later after their premieres. (Terror Films, 2021)
In addition to new releases, the channel will also feature the distributor’s entire library of diverse, indie horror films, which will eventually expand to an international audience.
“This is such an exciting time for us as a company. This was a necessary, next step in our ongoing efforts to grow our brand while increasing the reach and revenue streams of our amazing library of horror films.”- Joe Dain, Terror Films President
Written and Directed by Isaac Rodriguez, who also produced alongside Cynthia Bergen, Last Radio Call centers around Officer David Serling, who went missing inside the abandoned Yorktown Memorial Hospital. One year later, his wife has hired a film crew to help bring light on what really happened that night. Using recovered body cam footage, she discovers a dark secret that sends her spiraling down a horrific path of ancient evil. She must now face an unknown terror to find the answers she desperately seeks. Starring Sarah Froelich, Jason Scarbough, June Griffin Garcia, Ali Alkhafaji, KeeKee Takatsuki, Bert Lopez, and Makayla Rodriguez, the film will be available across digital and VOD platforms January 21, one week after it debuts on the Terror Films Channel.
Written and Directed by Kipp Tribble, who also produced alongside Patrick Rivera, Kenny Yates and Executive Producer Richard Siegelman, Evil at the Door centers around a secret guild that has operated for nearly a century, known as The Locusts. Once a year this guild treats its members to a night of curated home invasions (aka, “runs”), known underground as “The Night of The Locusts.” With 180 minutes to do as they please with the occupants of the selected home, four masked men enter the home of Daniel and Jessica and begin to engage in sick, twisted games with them. Unbeknownst to the intruders, Liz, Jessica’s younger sister, is hiding under the bed. While the run time winds down, Liz plots her escape as The Locusts realize there is a traitor in their group. But will the division amongst the intruders be enough distraction for Liz to survive before The Locusts’ clock runs out? Starring Bruce Davison, Andrea Sweeney Blanco, Robert Allen Mukes, Kipp Tribble, Kenny Yates, Sunny Doench, and Richard Siegelman, the film will be available across digital and VOD platforms January 28, one week after it debuts on the Terror Films Channel.
‘The Starless Crown’ by James Rollins is book one of the Moon Fall series. Photo: amazon
James Rollins is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of international thrillers including, among others, the Sigma Force series, six individual thrillers, the Tucker Wayne Series, the Jake Ransom middle school grade series. His writing has been translated into more than forty languages and has sold more than 20 million books. Rollins unveils unseen worlds, scientific breakthroughs, and historical secrets matched with stunning suspense. As a veterinarian, he had a practice in Sacramento for over a decade and still volunteers at local shelters. In his new book “The Starless Crown,” which will be released January 4, 2022, an alliance embarks on a dangerous journey to uncover the secrets of the distant past and save their world. It is book one of the Moon Fall series. (amazon, 2021)
“The Starless Crown” – A gifted student foretells an apocalypse. Her reward is a sentence of death. Fleeing into the unknown she is drawn into a team of outcasts: A broken soldier, who once again takes up the weapons he is forbidden to wield and carves a trail back home. A drunken prince, who steps out from his beloved brother’s shadow and claims a purpose of his own. An imprisoned thief, who escapes the crushing dark and discovers a gleaming artifact – one that will ignite a power struggle across the globe. On the run, hunted by enemies old and new, they must learn to trust each other in order to survive in a world evolved in strange, beautiful, and deadly ways, and uncover ancient secrets that hold the key to their salvation. But with each passing moment, doom draws closer.
‘Contrast Brings Clarity’ is the new book on homeschooling by Teressa Kennedy. Photo: Teressa Kennedy, used with permission.
My name is Teressa and I am a proud homeschool mom, entrepreneur, and author with a passion for education. At this point on our homeschooling journey, I feel it is necessary to share our story with the goal of helping parents, and educators like yourself, work towards building stronger partnerships between schools and families in our mission to educate our children. From my personal experience, children learn best when parents, educators, other family members, and community members work together to encourage and support them along their journey. (Teressa Kennedy, 2021)
As parents, we want the best for our children, but sometimes we stand in our own way by solely relying on our experiences to help educate them. My son gave me gentle reminders to show me that he and I have two different learning styles. As much as I tried to teach him the way I was taught, it was not effective. Also, I came to the realization that I had limitations, and needed others to help support my son and me along our educational journey.
We have an amazing village of fellow parent educators, family members, teachers, and clients who all share the same vision about supporting our children’s unique educational journey. I hope our story will encourage you.
Does one size really fit all? As lovely as that might sound, people come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. It is therefore virtually impossible to design a clothing item that can truly fit all people. In reality, the ‘one size fits all’ ideal is actually designed to fit sizes within a specific range.
Much like clothing items, traditional education centers around a ‘one size fits all’ methodology. As a result, a single-core teaching model is used for all students, regardless of their individual learning style. And this applies to teaching styles as well as to student evaluations. So, as a parent, what do you do when your child does not fit into that one core teaching model?
In “Contrast Brings Clarity,” Teressa answers that very question. Her courageous response completely changed the course of her life — and that of her son. While she struggled to build a suitable educational experience for him, Teressa overcame countless obstacles and, in due course, answered the homeschooling call. Eventually, side by side, mother and son embarked on the adventure of a lifetime.
Along her incredible journey, Teressa learned numerous strategies that helped her son succeed academically — and she would like to share those strategies with you.
‘Lineage: Life and Love and Six Generations in California Wine’ by Steven Kent Mirassou. Photo: amazon
Steven Kent Mirassou is an acclaimed winemaker and a descendant of one of the oldest and most respected wine families in California. He received his BA in American Literature from the George Washington University and his MA in Literature from NYU. He started his wine career in sales but found his true passion after moving into the production side of the business in 1996. Steven has made the highest rated wines from the Livermore Valley, and he is a co-founder of the Mount Diablo Highlands Wine Quality Alliance and the President of the Livermore Valley Wine Growers Association. With his decades of winemaking expertise, and with his extraordinary gift for haunting writing, Steven takes readers straight into the heart of his calling in his first book “Lineage: Life, Love and Six Generations in California Wine.” (amazon, 2021)
Steven Kent Mirassou starts “Lineage” with a description of the critical hour at the vineyard before the harvest starts. It is a cold night and it is “wondrously lonely out now” before the workers arrive. He is alone with his thoughts as they wander to the past and he reflects on the path that brought him to the wine making business. As the narrative moves along, he takes readers deep into the art of his craft, through the six generations that the Mirassou family has been growing grapes and crafting wines in California, the last thirty years in the Livermore Valley. As with every story, there is family drama, including the highs and lows of running a business. But through it all, he loves what he does and he learns that every loss brings on new beginnings. The book is divided into two parts: Part One consists of chapters like The Deep and Simple Immensity, Making Wine is Morning Work, and Thanks You Can Never Repay and Part Two has chapters like The True North of Civilization, Imprisoned in These Barrels, and Each Dusty Sunset Observed. It is an inside look deep into the art, the craft, the passion, and the 8,000 years of history that lie inside the finest of wines. As he puts it, “I work to take care of people, to add richness and joy to their lives, to make the people who drink my wine a little happier after than than they were before, each day.”
Images of beautiful Italian vineyards often accompany thoughts of wine and the wine making business. What the general public does not see is what happens behind the scenes: the long cold nights with the only illumination coming from the lights around the perimeter which are powered by generators, the tired workers who show up to work the vineyards, and the winemakers with arms deep in crushed grapes. Told in the first person point of view, it is a deeply personal look into the history of winemaking and his family business. This is a book like no other. It is a combination of autobiography and beautiful poetic prose: “This sweaty ferment that is the wine production business is like the snake attracted to its own tail, making eternal circles.” Accentuated with hauntingly beautiful pictures that tell their own story, it is more than just a book about the history of winemaking, it an impressive work of literature. “Lineage” brings the art of winemaking to the general masses and is recommended for readers interested in books about winemaking with a genuinely personal touch as well as poetry fans.
“To taste a wine with one’s heart is to come to know the dirt between the farmer’s fingers, the exhalations of the vineyard as it sleeps in the black night.”
*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.
Naco 210 is hosting a Holiday Hangover Brunch on Sunday December 26, 2021. Photo: Naco 210, used with permission.
To help guests get over the strain of the holidays, Naco 210 is hosting a Holiday Hangover Brunch all day on Sunday, December 26 from 8a.m. until closing at 6p.m. The Naco team will be serving up pozole, tamales Oaxaqueños, special chilaquiles, and more, in addition to Mexican fruit punch and cafe canela, a cinnamon infused coffee. Pricing is based on a la carte items. (Naco 210, 2021)
The restaurant, an extension of the popular Naco Mexican Eatery food truck, just opened its first brick and mortar location earlier this month at Los Patios. The menu at Naco 210 includes all the food truck fan-favorites, but also includes all-day chilaquiles, a selection of breakfast egg benedicts made with traditional Mexican toppings including huitlacoche and Naco’s Mexican brisket, Mexican-inspired croissants with options like guava and cheese, all-natural aguas frescas, and more.
Holiday Hangover Brunch at Naco 210 2015 NE Interstate 410 Loop San Antonio, TX 78217
“The Sweetest Ladybug” by Isabel Cintra is a fantasy-based tale about kindness and inclusion. Photo: amazon
Isabel Cintra grew up in the small town of Sao Joaquim de Barra, Brazil. At an early age, she entered the magical world of writing and literature. Her book “Corvo-Correio” was a winner of Brazil’s 2017 Off Flip Literature Prize. (Black Château, 2021)
Isabel Cintra brings a message of representation and diversity to children around the world. She grew up wondering why the characters in her favorite fairy tales did not look like her and now she is changing that. Through her vibrant picture books, illustrated by her brother Zeka Cintra, Isabel strives to introduce kids to a world where diversity is valuable and beautiful. Her stories feature black and brown heroes and sheroes.
Award-winning author Isabel Cintra introduces children to the magical world of small insects in her new illustrated book, “The Sweetest Ladybug.” This fantasy-based delightful tale brings a message of representation and diversity, as well as the importance of kindness and inclusion.
Imagine if everything happening in your imagination also happened in real life. This is exactly what happens one day in the life of a curious, sweet, and intelligent girl named Johana. Guided by a beautiful ladybug, Johana discovers all the mysteries and beauties hiding in her own garden.
“When I was a child, I imagined being inside a hole where little ants were going. Playing with that imagination and wondering how the small insects in the garden live was the thought process behind this story.” – Isabel Cintra
“The Sweetest Ladybug” is a modern version of Alice in Wonderland for children aged 7-12. Johana becomes small, makes odd friends, and goes through some fantastic adventures full of kindness and challenges. It is available in paperback on Amazon and other major retailers. Paperback price: $15.99
EVO Entertainment Group is celebrating the blockbuster Spiderman: No Way Home with a special superhero themed event. Photo: EVO Entertainment Group, used with permission.
EVO Entertainment Group is bringing everyone’s favorite heroes, both on and off the screen, to celebrate the highly-anticipated blockbuster Spiderman: No Way Home. Spider-Man, Little Spider Gwen, Little Miles Morales, Iron Man and Hawkeye characters will appear in-costume at EVO Entertainment Kyle Crossing on Friday, December 17, 2021 from 7p.m. to 9p.m. and EVO Entertainment Schertz on Saturday, December 18, 2011 from 5:30p.m. to 8:30p.m. (EVO Entertainment Group, 2021)
EVO Entertainment is partnering with non-profit Cap’s Crusaders to bring these classic Marvel characters to life and give guests the chance to be a hero themselves. To take a snapshot with their friendly neighborhood heroes, guests are encouraged to bring a new or gently used children’s toy, book, or donation to benefit local children’s hospitals and shelters. Of course, photos can still be captured without a donation. So grab your popcorn, camera and web shooters and head to EVO Entertainment to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.
For those still looking for the perfect last minute gift this holiday season, EVO Entertainment is offering a Buy $50, Get $10 digital gift card for purchase to guests starting today, December 16, 2021. This offer is available through Friday, December 24, 2021 and terms and conditions of purchase may be found below. Guests can visit EVO Cinemas to purchase a $50 digital gift card and get their $10 bonus. Each card is redeemable at any EVO location so guests can experience unlimited excitement in EVO’s state-of-the-art gaming centers. Once players are done riding the Virtual Rabbids VR Coaster and fighting off the alien invaders in HALO: Fireteam Raven, they can head to any redemption shop and claim their prize.
Terms and conditions: *Order must be placed between 12/16/21 at 12a.m. CT through 12/24/21 at 11:59p.m. CT. Valid online only. One (1) $10 gift card will be awarded for each increment of $50 purchased in gift cards, up to $500. Limit of five (5) gift cards per customer, per day. Qualifying purchases will receive gift card via email within three hours of purchase. The gift card is redeemable at any EVO location. Promotion only eligible within the United States. Not valid on previous purchases. No backorders or substitutions.
The unfamiliar red Mustang pulled up alongside Lily Reyes, matching her pace as she walked on the sidewalk. Lily didn’t like the feeling of being stalked. She began walking faster, and looked around to see if anyone was outside. The Tallahassee heat and humidity had the neighborhood looking like a ghost town; everyone was at work or had retreated inside their air-conditioned homes. The Mustang continued to creep along and pace her. Its windows were tinted, only offering her a general outline of the male driver wearing a baseball cap.
Maybe I should run up to a house and ring the doorbell, Lily thought. But what if no one was home, and her stalker took that opportunity to come after her?
The car came to a hard stop right next to her. As the passenger window inched downward, Lily took a breath to scream.
“You getting in?”
“Oh, god,” she said, blowing out pent-up air. “I thought you were like some disgusting creep. Where’d you get the car?”
“Borrowed it from a friend.”
Lily opened the passenger door, tossed her backpack inside, and got comfortable in her seat. The cooling AC blew over her. “Nice ride. Must be a good friend to let you borrow it.”
“It’s a business thing.”
Lily decided not to press him for answers. Carlos never liked it when she asked too many questions, and she didn’t want him getting uptight. He seemed distracted about something. Why, he’d barely looked at her.
Lily was kind of hoping he would have noticed how she’d dressed up for him.
“I thought you were going to pick me up at Subway,” Lily said. “Decided to spare you the walk.”
Lily’s mom, Sylvia, didn’t know about Carlos. No one knew about him, except for Lily’s best friend, Madison, and even she wasn’t supposed to know anything. Carlos was paranoid about being busted. When Lily had first started dating him, she’d lied about her age, telling him she was eighteen. It was only after they’d been going together for a month that Lily admitted she was only fifteen. Of course, she hadn’t been the only one stretching the truth. When they’d first hooked up, Carlos had said he was nineteen, not the twenty-one he really was.
“Did you bring some change of clothes?” Carlos asked.
“In the backpack, even though you never explained why I needed them.”
“Always nice to have options.” “Where we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Lily tried to play it cool, and hid her smile. Madison seemed to think that Carlos was just using her, but she didn’t know him like Lily did.
“Stopped and got you a wild cherry Slurpee,” he said. “Better drink it before it melts.”
He had remembered her favorite drink. She would certainly mention that to Madison. Lily reached for the Slurpee, and took a long sip.
“Want some?” she asked.
“Not without adding some rum.” “I’m okay with that.”
“Maybe later.”
Carlos liked to party, and liked it even more when Lily joined in with him. She had to be careful, though. Her mom was always in her business.
As if reading her mind, Carlos said, “How long did your mom let you off the leash?”
“I told her I’d probably be eating dinner at Madison’s.”
“That gives us a little time.” “Sure does,” she said.
Lily reached out her hand, and ran it along his leg. Carlos needed to see she was grown-up, and not some kid, but instead of positioning her hand on him like he usually did, Carlos acted preoccupied. Maybe he was just in one of his moods.
She withdrew her hand and began drinking her Slurpee. “Sure you don’t want some?”
He shook his head, and she continued to sip. Halfway through the cup, Lily’s skin began tingling.
“I feel weird,” she said.
“We can get some fresh air at Cascades Park.” “Is that where we’re going?”
Carlos nodded. He still wasn’t looking at her, and seemed unusu ally attentive to his driving, continually checking the rearview and side mirrors.
“It feels like we’re floating,” she said.
Lily flapped the hand not holding her drink. “I’m flying. Whoa.”
Something wasn’t right. Why was she feeling out of it? Her gaze fell to the Slurpee. One look, and the pieces came together. Lily’s accusation was shrill: “You put something in my drink!”
“Relax. I just made you a Molly and benzo cocktail to help loosen you up.”
Lily tried to process her panic, along with Carlos’s explanation. She wanted to feel reassured, but didn’t. One by one, words emerged from her mouth. Each syllable felt as if it were weighted down on her tongue. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted you to be calm while I explained a few things.” “Oh, shit.” This was bad. “You’re breaking up with me.” “No, baby, never.”
Lily struggled to find the words, and speak them. “We’re. Still.
Together?”
“Forever, baby. It’s just that things didn’t work out with my big plan.
Remember we talked about that?” “Big score.”
“That’s right. And it would have been, but my luck went bad, really bad.”
Lily managed to say, “That’s okay.”
“No, it’s not okay. Everything went to shit. It put me in the hole for almost five thousand bucks.”
“I can help you . . .”
Lily had earned almost two hundred dollars babysitting. She’d give it to him. But Carlos interrupted before she could finish.
“Thank you, baby. I knew I could count on you. They were going to mess me up bad, maybe even kill me. You were my only hope.”
Lily tried to follow what he was saying, but her brain couldn’t find its balance. Everything was hazy.
“After you work off my marker, baby, we’ll get back together. I promise.”
“Don’t understand.”
“A guy I know fronted the money I owed, but he needed collateral.” “What?”
“I had to put up something of value. And nothing’s more valuable to me than you. I love you.”
Lily had been waiting for a long time to hear those words. But now they sounded wrong. Felt wrong. Love?
Carlos said, “You’re a lifesaver. It will just be for a few months. And when you come back to me, things will be better than ever between us.”
Too dizzy to support her chin, Lily’s face dropped down to her chest.
Talking was beyond her. She didn’t know how long they drove, and was barely aware when they came to a stop. She heard two men talking, but it was like listening in to a dream.
“Is she good to go?”
Lily had never heard that voice before. She would have remembered it if she had. There was something scary about it, a rasp with a serrated edge.
“She agreed to work off what I owe.”
“You explain what would happen to you if she didn’t?” “I told her.”
“Okay, then. I’ll find you if there’s a problem. Count on it. Give me the keys.”
Lily heard retreating footsteps. Carlos didn’t say goodbye. There was a part of her that was still listening for his voice, that wanted him to declare his love for her once more.
She couldn’t lift her head to acknowledge the new occupant of the driver’s seat, but heard the ugly voice.
SA Examiner 