Carlsbad orchestras to hold community concert

CARLSBAD -- The Carlsbad High School and Aviara Oaks Middle School orchestras will hold a community holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at Carlsbad Performing Arts Center on Lancer Way, Carlsbad.

The suggested donation for admission is $5 and a silent auction of festive holiday and gift-themed baskets will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the schools' orchestras.

This year, Carlsbad High School has been invited to play in the Heritage Music Festival at Carnegie Hall in April 2009. The community is invited to this evening of classical and favorite holiday music selections. Call (760) 331-6104.

Valley Center theater plans Country Christmas

VALLEY CENTER -- The Valley Center Community Theater is holding a "Country Christmas" Dec. 12 through 14 at Bates Nut Farm on Woods Valley Road.

The Country Christmas is a family event with crafts and games, Santa, living Nativity, carolers and a community tree lighting. Free admission; crafts and games are $1.

The centerpiece is the group's production of "Mr. Scrooge's Christmas," a theater-in-the round event under a tent on the grounds.

General admission tickets are $10. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 13-14. Visit www.vcct.org.

Carlsbad High to present holiday chorale

CARLSBAD -- The Carlsbad High School Choral Department will present its annual holiday concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 11, 12 and 13 at the Carlsbad High School Cultural Arts Center.

The evening will feature the Lancer Choir, Encore, Chamber Singers, and Sound Express. Tickets are $10 for student, youth, and senior citizens; and $7 for general admission. The box office opens at 6 p.m. before each performance.

For advance-order tickets, send checks payable to CHS Choral Boosters, P.O.Box 92, Carlsbad, CA, 92018-0092. Tickets will be held at Will Call. Please include your e-mail address. Carlsbad High is at 3557 Lancer Way. Call (760) 331-5100.

Winter dance showcase planned

RANCHO BERNARDO -- Dance Motion Studios will present its annual winter recital, "Mamma Mia: Studio Showcase 2008," from 6-10 p.m. Dec. 6 at the studio, 12120 Alta Carmel Court, Suite 410-D.

The show will feature ballroom, Latin and swing dance performances by dance instructors and their students. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for children.

Information: (858) 451-3775, dancemotionstudio@yahoo.com, www.dancemotionstudios.com/assets/flyers/winter_08.jpg.

North Coast Rep presents "A Christmas Carol"

SOLANA BEACH -- North Coast Repertory Theater will present "A Christmas Carol" Dec. 5-27.

The show is directed by Stephen Elton and has been adapted by Jacqueline Goldfinger from the classic novel by Charles Dickens.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 2 and 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 23; and noon Dec. 24.

Tickets are $30, general; $27, seniors, military, students with ID; $15, children 15 and under;

The theater is at 987D Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach. Call (858) 481-1055.

Canyon Crest Academy presents 'Crimes of the Heart'

SAN DIEGO -- The Pulitzer Prize-winning tragicomedy "Crimes of the Heart" will come to the Black Box Theatre at Canyon Crest Academy from Dec. 11-Dec. 18.

The performance features a cast of seasoned students and tells the story of the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy's home in Hazlehurst, Miss., after Babe shoots her abusive husband. Each sister has endured her share of hardship and misery, and during this strained reunion, past resentments come to the surface.

"Crimes of the Heart" features Nora King, Cindy Mersten, James Pratt, Eleot Reich, Ryan Sandrew, and Hannah Swenson. Five of the six actors are members of Canyon Crest's audition-only Envision Theatre Conservatory, four of whom are in Level Three of the Conservatory (seniors).

Show times are at 7 p.m. Dec. 11, 13 and 17; 4 p.m. Dec. 12 and 18; and 2 p.m. Dec. 13.

Tickets range from $5 to $15 and may be purchased online at www.cca-envision.org.

The theater is at 5951 Village Center Loop Road.

CHS dancers plan shows

CARLSBAD -- Carlsbad High School's Lancer Dancers, the Xcalibur dance troupe and the school's dance department will perform shows in December.

Performances are planned for 7 p.m. Dec. 17-18, and 4 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Tickets will be on sale during lunch on campus on Dec, 9, 11, 12 and 15, and can be purchased by mail.

Make checks, payable to CHS Dance Team Boosters, to 2261 Masters Road, Carlsbad, CA 92009. Information: kedc@roadrunner.com.

'Seussical Jr.' to open

CARLSBAD -- Carlsbad Community Theatre will present "Seussical Jr.," a musical based on the stories of Dr. Seuss, from Jan. 29-31 at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center, 3557 Monroe St., on the Carlsbad High School campus.

The show is directed by Athena Espinoza, with musical direction by Olivia Schulenburg and choreography by Mandy Langen. Favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mazie and the Whos of Whoville, will be brought to life on stage. A cast of 60 actors, ages 8-18, will be featured.

Show times are 7 p.m. Jan. 29-30, and 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 31. Tickets cost $15, or $12 each for groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available at the box office one hour before show time or by calling (760) 931-8709.

Writing contest deadline approaches

NORTH COUNTY -- Children ages 7-12 are invited to enter the "Write a Book about Mrs. Butterworth" creative writing contest.

The competition's deadline is Dec. 11. The grand prize for the most creative story in book form will include a year's supply of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, $5,000 savings bond, $100 worth of books from Scholastic and publication of their book on line.

Entrants are asked to write a 400-word book about breakfast with Mrs. Butterworth. They can include photos or illustrations, as long as they are not personal photos of the contestant or any identifiable person. Children can also include recipes and cooking tips. Ten finalists will receive $500 savings bonds and a year's supply of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup.

Information: www.mrsbutterworthsyrup.com/contest.

Ballet school to present 'The Nutcracker'

ENCINITAS -- Janice Lee's Youth Ballet of Encinitas, will be presenting its 16th annual performances of "The Nutcracker," danced by a company of 50 ranging in age from 5 through 20 years, augmented by local adult and boy actors.

Lindy Astl, 13 of Carlsbad, who studied on scholarship with the Boston Ballet Company last summer, and will be dancing the role of Clara in this all-time favorite holiday story, with original costumes and sets designed to depict the Victorian period.

The choreography has been re-created from the original work by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov.

Performances will be at La Costa Canyon High School Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14.

Tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for those under 18. Call (760) 753-7811 or visit www.janiceleeballet.com.