Theater review: ‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ at the Woodlawn Theatre

After a successful opening weekend, ‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ continues tonight at the Woodlawn Theatre and runs until Monday December 23. ‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ is the story of the mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge who, on Christmas Eve, receives visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Be and is given a chance for redemption. This family friendly holiday production plays Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Ticket are: Adults $30, Senior/Military/First Responders $24, Children/Student $18 and are available online or by calling the Box Office at 210-267-8388.

‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ takes place on Christmas Eve in 1843 in London where Ebenezer Scrooge (Isidro Medina), an ageing miser who dislikes Christmas, first encounters the three ghosts of Christmas as a candle lighter-Past (Jillian Sainz), a charity show barker-Present (Bob Galindo) and an old beggar woman-Yet to Be (Giselle Galindo). “Nothing To Do With Me” That night at home, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, (Michael Cooling) who warns him to repent or face condemnation in the afterlife and informs him that three spirits will visit him during the night. “Link by Link” As Jacob Marley predicted, the ghosts visit Scrooge at one, two and three o’clock that night. They remind him of his past, show him the joys of Christmas Day in the present and foretell a grim future if he does not change his ways. Recognizing his faults, Scrooge wakes up on Christmas Day and greets Christmas morning with a cheerful “Happy Christmas” before spending the day reconnecting, making amends and sharing love with those who mean the most to him.

With the holiday season in full swing, now is the time to enjoy a holiday classic like ‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ with the family. It has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens and is a delightful reminder of the magic of the season. From the first notes of “Hear the Bells,” the audience is surrounded by Christmas cheer and nostalgia from this classic production. For those who think they have seen it all, there is always something new to discover about the story. Show highlights include the hilarious “Link by Link” when the ghost of Jacob Marley and other ghosts visit Scrooge and “Fezziwig’s Annual Christmas Ball” in the Present, during the big Christmas party, which has an abundance of singing and amazing dance sequences. With outstanding performances by the entire cast, beautiful costumes and plenty of holiday cheer, ‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ is a production the entire family can enjoy together. It is definitely a must-see. The show is shorter than expected and runs two hours with a 15 minute intermission.

Upcoming promotional nights.
Pride Night – Friday December 13, 25% off tickets with code: PRIDE
ASL (American Sign Language) Night – Saturday December 21 – 25% off tickets with code: ASL

Old West Christmas Light Fest in Boerne

outdoorchristmaslight — Old West Christmas Light Fest is now open through Christmas Day. Photo: Google

Holiday magic comes to life at Old West Christmas Light Fest in Boerne. Set in an Old West town, it is brimming with lights, music, games, activities and flavor. Experience holiday glow and some of the best Christmas lights in the San Antonio area in a true Texas setting where Santa and his Holly Jolly Herd of longhorns are ready to pull his sleigh across Texas. Delight in a synchronized light show set to music, play laser tag in the lights, escape holiday stress with family fun in the Old West’s Christmas Escape Rooms and snap sweet pictures in Candyland. Bring family, friends and camera: pictures with Santa are always free at Old West Christmas Light Fest. (Old West Christmas Light Fest, 2019)

Old West Christmas Light Fest is open from 6p.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday through Sunday evenings until Sunday December 15 then every night December 19 through 25, including Christmas Eve and Christmas night.

Hinojosa Family Lights has taken over the ranch this year. Come see the magic that features Christmas classics and surprise songs in a synchronized Old West Light Show. The show is included in admission to Old West Christmas Light Fest and runs continuously. Escape holiday stress in one of the Old West’s Christmas Escape Rooms. With two holiday-themed rooms, guests can make Christmas memories with friends and family while trying to beat the clock. Or save Christmas by playing Laser Tag in the Lights, electronically defending holiday fun surrounded by the glow of thousands of Christmas lights. There is also a Candyland Instagram room where guests can snap share-worthy shots all season long and holiday cooking decorating classes. Two special nights of romance will take place on December 8 and December 15 with “Romance Under the Lights” with a host of local romance writers greeting fans and getting in on the holiday fun. Fill your holiday gift list by shopping the Old West merchants and fill your belly with flavors from a variety of food trucks on site each night. No matter what you choose, a night at Old West Christmas Light Fest is one to remember. Every night features music, with beer and wine at the bar and hot cocoa and s’mores by the campfire. Santa is at his favorite ranch to hear holiday wishes through Christmas Eve and photos with Santa are free.

Tickets are available online and are $15 per person ages six and older and children five and under are free. Family 5-packs are available for $60. Members of the military, active duty, guard, reserves and all retired service members, as well as first responders and their immediate families receive a $5 discount. Season passes are $45 per person. Onsite parking is included.

Enchanted Springs Ranch
242 Hwy 46 W
Boerne, TX 78006

Take exit 540 off of I-10 and travel three miles west

Texas Monthly LIVE at the Witte Museum

Texas Monthly LIVE, presented by the 80|20 Foundation, is bringing the unique experience of a live issue of the magazine reimagined for a theatre audience to the Witte Museum on Wednesday, December 4 from 7p.m. to 8:45p.m. The first Texas Monthly LIVE performance premiered in Austin in the Spring of 2018 and has been performed in Austin, Houston, Brownsville and Dallas. San Antonio will be the fifth and final stop of the 2019 tour. This marks the first year that the magazine will bring the event to San Antonio audiences. (Texas Monthly, 2019)

Mixing music, video, narration, and live performances, this special 90-minute editorial production will take audience members on an unforgettable storytelling journey. Texas Monthly LIVE will feature stories and performances curated and performed by Texas Monthly editors, showcasing the breadth and depth of Texas. Hosted by Texas Monthly columnist David Courtney, this unique event will explore the sights, sounds and feelings of Texas and will have the audience laughing, reminiscing and dancing.

Ticket holders will have access to the exclusive after-party following the show where guests will have the opportunity to explore the first-floor exhibits of the Witte Museum after dark. After-party experiences will be custom-produced by the Witte’s curatorial staff and will bring the exhibits to life with special activations curated based on the stories from the Texas Monthly LIVE performance. Museum activations include: Chili Queens at the Alamo, Better Living through Botánicas, Water Runs Through It: San Antonio River as Lifeblood and How Beef Became BBQ. Light bites and beverages will be available for purchase. The after-party will take place until 11p.m. VIP tickets to the show are sold out but General Admission tickets are still available online until the day of the event for $20.

Performance highlights (subject to change)

Confessions of a Skinny Bitch / Executive editor Patricia Sharpe fondly reflects on her upbringing as a picky eater and how it led her on her journey to becoming Texas Monthly’s food editor.
Patient Observation / Executive Editor Skip Hollandsworth recounts his younger years in Wichita Falls, Texas when he stepped inside the gates of the local state hospital and realized that every town has another side.
Star Hunter / The Rio Grande Valley is steeped in lore. Senior Editor Carlos Sanchez tells the tale of one Brownsville resident that began 1.3 billion years ago.
Life, In Dog Years / Following the death of her father and the inheritance of his beloved corgi, Executive Editor Mimi Swartz explores the way her family expresses love through their pets.
The Biggest Wild Plant Catalog in the World / Executive Editor Katy Vine tells the story of one man in Austin who has been cataloguing all of the plants in Texas since 1971.
G-L-O-R-I-A / Executive Editor Michael Hall tells the story of the Gloriathon, when, in the summer of 1999, he and dozens of Austin’s finest musicians, performed Van Morrison’s song “Gloria” for 24 hours as a way to say goodbye to a beloved club — and a beloved era.

The Witte Museum
3801 Broadway St.
San Antonio, TX 78209

Book review: ‘Ending Back Pain’ by Jack Stern, M.D., Ph.D.

Jack Stern, M.D., Ph.D. is a board-certified surgeon specializing in spine neurosurgery. He is the co-founder of Spine Options, New York’s first and only facility committed to non-surgical care of back and neck pain. Dr. Stern has been on the front lines of back pain treatment and research for more than four decades, during which he has helped more than ten thousand patients find relief. In his book “Ending Back Pain: 5 Powerful Steps to Diagnose, Understand, and Treat Your Ailing Back,” he shares a multidisciplinary, holistic perspective that has been missing from conventional back pain treatment and has already helped thousands of patients suffering from back pain.

“Ending Back Pain” begins with a Preface where Dr. Stern shares his experience with back pain. After a well-meaning birthday gift from his wife-a massage, goes horribly wrong, he was able to self-diagnose and, thanks to proper access to medical care, get the necessary treatment to get relief. He realized that most people are not so lucky. This experience deepened his understanding of what his patients go through and made him a more empathetic doctor. His goal in writing this book is “to equip every back pain sufferer with the information and power to get to the bottom of his or her own problem.” It is a step-by-step companion to enable people to finally achieve a pain-free lifestyle.

The book is divided into five steps: Step 1: Unlock Your Back’s Unique Pain Code, Step 2: Prepare to Work with Health Care Professionals, Step 3: Ensure Proper Diagnosis, Step 4: Embrace Various Pathways to Healing: A Physical and Emotional Journey and Step 5: Live a Life That Supports a Strong, Healthy Back. He begins step 1 with a checklist to help readers pinpoint exactly where the pain is located. Part of this has to do with the six Pain Generators: muscles, soft tissue, bones, discs, facets and neural foramina. This information is meant to create better educated patients who are active participants in the treatment of his or her medical issues to receive the best care possible. At the end, he provides a section of recommended reading and online resources for anyone who wants more information on the subject.

Not only is the author a doctor, but he also understands how debilitating back pain can be and how frustrating it can be to seek treatment. That is what gives “Ending Back Pain” an authentic voice. This extremely useful guide contains basic anatomy lessons that often read like a textbook. The purpose is to help readers understand the origin of their pain. He achieves this without using complicated medical jargon, but easy to understand terminology. Highlights include Step 3 where Dr. Stern explains the inner workings of a doctor’s mind and the different types of pain to help patients ensure a proper diagnosis; and Step 4 which includes other medical options such as physical therapy, acupuncture and yoga/Pilates. Step 5 is especially informative on how posture, sleep, positive thinking and a healthy diet can help treat and in some cases prevent back pain. “Ending Back Pain” is recommended for readers who want to be informed patients regarding pain with the understanding that in the long run, informed patients get better care.

“Back pain is the second most common neurological ailment in the United States-only headaches are more common….And some 95 percent will recover from back pain without invasive or risky treatments.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ at the Woodlawn Theatre

The holidays have arrived at the Woodlawn Theatre with their next production, ‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical.’ It opens this Friday November 29 and will run through Monday December 23, 2019. ‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ is the story of the mean-spirited Ebenezer Scrooge who, on Christmas Eve, receives visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future and is given a chance for redemption. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling the Box Office at 210-267-8388. Ticket prices are: Adults $30, Senior/Military/First Responders $24, Children/Student $18. Groups of 10 people or more receive a 20% discount. The non-profit partner during this production is Any Baby Can. (Woodlawn Theatre, 2019)

‘A Christmas Carol, the Musical’ is based on Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella of the same name. Ebenezer Scrooge is a prosperous curmudgeon who believes that personal wealth is far more valuable than the happiness and comfort of others. With an infuriated “Bah! Humbug!” Scrooge summates his feelings of Christmas tidings and charitable giving but he is forced to face his selfish ways when three ghosts on Christmas Eve lead him through his Past, Present and Future. Thanks to their guidance, Scrooge recognizes his faults and greets Christmas morning with a cheerful “Happy Christmas” before spending the day reconnecting and sharing love with those that mean the most to him. It has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens. Cast includes Isidro Medina as Ebenezer Scrooge, Travis Bulen as Bob Cratchit and Nicholas Duke as Tiny Tim with Ronald Watson as director and Kate Ragan as choreographer.

Promotional Nights:
Student Night – Saturday November 30 – $10 Student/Child tickets with code: STUDENT
Pride Night – Friday December 13, 25% off tickets with code: PRIDE
ASL (American Sign Language) Night – Saturday December 21 – 25% off tickets with code: ASL

Woodlawn Theatre
1920 Fredericksburg Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 267-8388

Holiday shopping deals around town

Photo: Shake Shack, used with permission.

This week, Black Friday ushers in the holiday shopping season and area businesses are offering special deals to their customers to help them get the most for their dollars. (Shake Shack, Pluckers Wing Bar, Hiatus Spa + Retreat, 2019)

In celebration of Black Friday, Shake Shack will be running a Black FryDay promotion from November 27 through December 1. Each guest (for all order modes – in-Shack, App pick-up, or delivery order) will receive a scratch-off ticket in their bag for the chance to win a prize. The scratch off area is the first gondola and all cards will be a winner. Prizes include: Free burger with any $20+ order or free fries with any $15+ order on the Shack App, Free Delivery with any $15+ order through Grubhub or Free Shack for a year (aka a $2,500 gift card). This offer would be a great time to try one of Shake Shack’s holiday shakes: Christmas Cookie Shake, Chocolate Peppermint Shake and Coconut Snowball Shake – which are offered now through January 5.

- Christmas Cookie Shake: Sugar cookie frozen custard, topped with whipped cream, crumbled shortbread and holiday sprinkles.
- Chocolate Peppermint Shake: Chocolate custard, peppermint fudge sauce, topped with whipped cream and chocolate peppermint bark.
- Coconut Snowball Shake: Vanilla custard, coconut, marshmallow, topped with whipped cream, coconut and sprinkles.

Pluckers Wing Bar will be offering $10 Pluckers Club Memberships on Black Friday and 20%-off everything via the Pluckers Shop (excluding gift cards) on Cyber Monday. Pluckers Club members enjoy a variety of rewards, including, but not limited to, free birthday meals, invitations to exclusive events, food and drink specials and more. Pluckers club membership is now available through the app on iTunes and Google Play – a treat for current and aspiring members.

Hiatus Spa + Retreat is running a special on their Bright and Early gift cards perfect for holiday gifting, stocking stuffers and to kick off the new year. Guests who purchase an online gift card valued at $125.00 get it for only $99.00. The limited time offer is valid through Friday, November 29. Hiatus Spa + Retreat is ringing in the holidays with the December monthly specials and holiday packages such as:

- - - The Merry & Bright: Two is better than one. Pick any two Essential Services–The Signature Massage, The Tailor Made Facial, The One & Only Mani-Pedi, The Body Glow or The Body Wrap–and make a day of your getaway. 2 or more hours, $179 (up to $220 value)
    - The Peace, Love, & Joy: their three most in-demand services —The Signature Massage, The Tailor Made Facial and The One & Only Mani-Pedi — are bundled up and tied with a bow, for your sugar plum 3.5 hours, $269 ($320 value)

December Monthly Retreat: December in Manhattan
“Embrace the holiday frenzy with our take on December in Manhattan – inspired by the timeless cocktail. A gentle full-body exfoliation prepares you to be smothered in a warm masque of antioxidant-rich Black Cherries, spicy Nutmeg and luscious Bourbon Vanilla. Unwind with a deeply penetrating massage, letting the fragrant masque nurture your skin and inspire your senses. A final rinse under the Vichy shower leaves you soft, sultry and satisfied, ready to sip a heart-melting Manhattan made with housemade bourbon and Madagascar vanilla-infused cherries.” (80-minute service for $195)

PAWliday pet food campaign

daisycaresfooddrive — The PAWliday Pet Food Campaign is taking place through December 20. Photo: DaisyCares

Since 2009, DaisyCares has been helping feed pets of families in need through a partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank. From now through Friday December 20, 2019, DaisyCares is hosting the “PAWliday Pet Food Campaign.” Five years ago, DaisyCares was only serving about 25,000 pets and 10,000 families. Now, DaisyCares serves over 76,000 pets and 29,000 families annually. (San Antonio Food Bank, 2019)

With the holidays fast approaching, DaisyCares is experiencing a higher than normal request for pet food. Now more than ever before, families are faced with tough decisions between putting food on the table or in the bowls of their pets. Programs like DaisyCares help ensure that pets receive the nourishment they need and stay in their family’s home where they belong. Along with food items, DaisyCares is also in need of supplies like new toys/accessories, potty pads and cat litter. Food drop off sites are located throughout the city and include Alamo Heights Pet Clinic, Amigo Animal Hospital and Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital. A full list of these sites can be found online.

DaisyCares is a 501c3 non-profit organization that helps people care for animals by providing pet food, veterinary care, and animal welfare education to the community. These services help over 76,000 pets and 29,000 pet owners annually.

Pearl announces new pop-up: Nave Coyote

Pearl is excited to present Nave Coyote, the third pop-up in the Diehlman Building. As the brainchild of designers Peter Glassford and Isabel Moncada, Nave Coyote will showcase a compilation of hand-selected contemporary designs from Guadalajara, Mexico, Moncada’s hometown. Glassford and Moncada curated a vibrant collection of fashion, jewelry, leather goods, tabletop designs, furniture and lighting items that vary from practical to extravagant. This showcase will introduce San Antonio to the booming contemporary design scene in Mexico. (Pearl, 2019)

Designers Peter Glassford and Isabel Moncada kick-started their careers in 1990 after falling in love with the talent they found in Mexico. The duo formed Glassford Moncada in 2016, a design alliance and workshop in Guadalajara with a Tex-Mex perspective. Their pop up in the Diehlman Building will have items that were exclusively selected for the Pearl and will be available for a limited time; from Friday November 29 through Monday January 6. Business hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10a.m. to 6p.m.

Diehlman Building
200 E. Grayson Street, Suite 100
San Antonio, TX 78215

Show review: ‘Blue Man Group Speechless Tour’ at the Majestic Theatre

bluemangroup19 — The Blue Man Group performs at the Majestic Theatre through Sunday November 24. Photo: Blue Man Group, used with permission.

Opening night pre-show energy at the Majestic Theatre last night was unmistakable as the audience awaited the return of the Blue Man Group to San Antonio, part of the North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio 2019-2020 season. Fans of all ages came to witness the multimedia sensation made up of the blue tinted, wide eyed men who have delighted people worldwide without uttering a single word. Tickets start at $40.

The ‘Blue Man Group Speechless Tour’ features new and original compositions, acts and instruments alongside iconic Blue Man Group moments based in joy, art, music, laughter and escapist absurdity. It is the same blue but the rest is new at this interactive experience perfect for the whole family. The Blue Man characters embark on a fresh journey of discovery on this all-new tour, the result of more than 27 years spent observing humanity. The tour features material that fosters communal moments, continues the evolution of tube-based instruments to support all new music and includes large-scale audience participation. Blue Man Group is the global entertainment phenomenon, known for its award-winning theatrical productions, iconic characters and multiple creative explorations. The performances are euphoric celebrations of human connection through art, music, comedy and non-verbal communication.

The Blue Man Group is universally appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds as evident by last night’s make up of the audience. Without giving too much away, this is a one of a kind show and must be experienced with fresh eyes not knowing what to expect. The often heart pounding music, percussions and a guitar, is loud but not as loud as in previous productions and there are plenty of bright and flashing lights. Audience participation segments include the blue men walking among the audience while they appear on screens and three audience members appear in skits. As always, the shaming of late-comers draws the most laughter. The combination of comedy, music and technology with some science lessons snuck in makes for a show the entire family can enjoy. It has a rock concert vibe that ends in a party like celebration.

There are only three more chances to catch this electrifying show. It plays until Sunday.

Saturday November 23 at 8p.m.
Sunday November 24 at 2p.m. and 7:30p.m.

This is an hour and a half show with no intermission.

‘Elf The Musical’ opens this Friday at The Public Theater

elfmusical — James R. Welch as Buddy the Elf in The Public Theater’s production of ‘Elf The Musical.’ It opens this Friday November 22. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.

Opening at The Public Theater of San Antonio this week just in time for the holiday season is ‘Elf The Musical.’ It opens on Friday November 22 and will run through Sunday December 22 in the Russell Hill Rogers Auditorium. Buddy the Elf embarks on a journey to discover his true identity and is determined to win over his new family. ‘Elf The Musical’ is the modern day holiday classic that reminds us that the best way to spread Christmas Cheer is by singing loud for all to hear. Tickets are available online and at the box office by calling (210) 733-7258. Prices are $45 for adults, $35 for military members with ID, $25 for seniors age 60 and older and students with ID and $20 for children aged 12 and under. Group rates are available for groups of ten or more. Additional ticket services fees may apply. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7:30p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. On opening night, there will be a special reception following the performance. (The Public Theater of San Antonio, 2019)

‘Elf The Musical’ is based on the New Line Cinema film by David Berenbaum with a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin. It is the story of William “Buddy” Hobbs, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa Claus’ bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. After discovering the baby, Santa and his elves decide to raise the child as an elf. Years later, Buddy finds out that he is actually human and, with Santa’s approval, goes to New York City in search of his father, Walter Hobbs. Faced with the harsh reality that Walter is on the naughty list and that his son Michael does not even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his birth family and help New York City remember the true meaning of Christmas. Cast includes James R. Welch as Buddy, Brandon R. Mace as Walter Hobbs, Pamela Sharkey as Emily Hobbs, Mariel Ardila as Jovie, Chip Wood as Mr. Greenway, John Paul Tucker as Michael Hobbs and Robert Moritz as Santa Claus.

The Public Theater of San Antonio
800 W. Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-7258

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