Balboa Park Beat

Countdown to Opening Night

It’s 3:45 p.m. and the Casa del Prado Theatre looks like a scene straight out of the TV show “Glee.” Teens in jean shorts, tank tops, and plaid shirts are hurrying to their spots on the stage while Director/Choreographer Steve Anthony shouts instructions.

“Look at your numbers. Look at your numbers! Guys, I’m not going to do props today. It’s just too crazy.”

Donny Gersonde, assistant choreographer and Junior Theatre alumnus, tries to pay attention to a side conversation while the teens start a new song.

“It’s so hard for me to not watch them right now,” he says, sneaking a peek.

 It’s less than two weeks until July 30, the opening night of San Diego Junior Theatre's “FAME: The Musical,” and it’s the first time the 33-member cast has practiced in the theatre where they’ll be performing in front of 650-person audiences of family, friends, and strangers. For the past five weeks, they have been practicing in a smaller studio space.

Donny’s eyes divert quickly to one cast member who is coming out of sync with the others on stage. “We have kids who have never danced before and we’re making them dancers in two months.”

Based on the 1980 musical film of the same name, “FAME” offers an energetic look at life in New York’s celebrated High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street, telling the story of a diverse group of students who are committed to becoming professional performers.

The cast members will start wearing their 80s-era costumes during a week of dress rehearsals prior to opening night. Meanwhile, the 38-member crew will work on finishing the set and completing a run-through of the lighting. There’s a lot to do, but Steve said that the teens always pull it together.

“I don’t treat them like they’re children. I treat them like they’re professional actors in the real world,” says Steve, a Broadway veteran who spent 15 years in New York theater. “They all rise to the challenge and they’re excited about doing it.”

The show opens at the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park on Friday, July 30, and runs through Sunday, August 15. Performances are at 7 p.m. on Fridays, and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. There will be an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, August 14. Tickets are $8 - $14. For ticket purchase and information, call San Diego Junior Theatre’s box office at (619) 239-8355 or go to the box office website.

Weekend preview (no costumes required)

Yeah, yeah, I know. The annual geek-meets-chic Comic-Con festival is taking over San Diego this weekend. But if you’re skipping the Con this year, or if you have no intention of ever parading through downtown in a superhero suit, check out these special events happening this weekend at the park.

Thursday, July 22 / The Museum of Photographic Arts is screening "A Hard Day’s Night" as part of its POP Thursday series (Free to members, $6 students, $8 general). Enter the theater to see it on the big screen or lounge at the bar and watch the film projected on the atrium walls. Enjoy live music by Rafter, Brit pop grooves by DJ Rob Moran, and era-inspired activities. Inside the galleries, explore Taking Aim, a rock 'n' roll photography exhibit featuring stunning images of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and others. The event begins at 7:00 p.m.; the film begins at 8:00 p.m.

Friday, July 23 / There's nothing like a movie marathon to help you relax after a rough work week. The Reuben H. Fleet Science Center’s "Fridays at the Fleet" IMAX schedule features an excellent line-up of "Hubble" at 6 p.m., "The Ultimate Wave Tahiti" at 7 p.m., and "The Living Sea" at 8 p.m. See one film for $8.50 and catch up to two additional films for $5 each.

Saturday, July 24 / Hello, classy date night! The Selvaggi Trio will perform at The San Diego Museum of Art on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. ($20 members, $25 nonmembers, $10 students). The group, comprised of professional musicians Jun Iwasaki, Grace Fong and Patrick Jee, will explore the link between the art of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and music of Maurice Ravel and Claude Debussy.

Sunday, July 25 / Spend a day with the fam at Mingei International Museum's Discover Mingei! Treasure Hunt, a special community event happening from noon – 4p.m. ($5 families, $3 individuals). Children and families can explore Mingei’s exhibits of folk art, craft and design, and win prizes for completing the treasure hunt.

Interview with Jeff Cutler, executive producer of "The Ultimate Wave Tahiti" IMAX film

Even if you’re not a surfer, you probably know the name Kelly Slater. Held to be the greatest surfer of all time, Slater holds nine world titles and dozens of other trophies. By winning his first title at age 20 and his ninth title at age 36, he is the youngest and oldest world champion in history. 

So it’s no surprise that this legend has joined the ranks of Woody and Buzz Lightyear by starring in a critically-acclaimed 3D film this year. Opening Thursday, July 1, at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, “The Ultimate Wave Tahiti” follows Slater (pictured at right) on his journey to the Polynesian islands to find the perfect wave-riding experience. 

Executive Producer Jeff Cutler said that the production team sought to create a narrative with universal appeal-- not just another DVD for surf shop shelves.

“We were hit with the challenge of marketing it globally, from landlocked Munich, Germany to surfing communities like San Diego, California,” Jeff said.

He has found that audiences in landlocked countries “find it to be a bit of an escape, which is a key component to IMAX films. Tahiti is so exotic it feels like a place many people might never get to go to, but audiences feel like they can immerse themselves in the film for a 40-minute vacation.” He said Director Stephen Low and the team also focused on making it more than a surf film by integrating educational elements about how waves are formed and how waves can influence the culture of islands like Tahiti.

Born and raised in Manhattan Beach, Jeff has been surfing since age 12. He still surfs with the same friends in the same area he surfed when he was a teenager. Jeff’s passion for surfing and other sports led him down a career path of marketing and production that has included becoming a founding partner of havoc Television, a cross platform media outlet that showcases action sports and indie music videos. Then he embarked on this four year endeavor, alongside Stephen Low, to help produce a large-format surf film.

Jeff joined the cast and crew in Tahiti for much of the filming, living alongside locals who gave up their homes for some of the crew and brought the visitors fresh fish. He attributes some of this instant hospitality to the involvement of the film’s co-star Raimana Van Bastolaer (at left), Tahiti’s most famous surfer.

“Outside of the core Canadian production team, Raimana was adamant about hiring local talent. This really brought out the cultural aspects of Tahiti.”

While in Tahiti, Jeff spent some time on his board—an experience he calls “more satisfying” than surfing in Southern California because of the powerful waves that break over live coral reef—but he also dealt with some significant obstacles.

“One IMAX camera broke twice. It had to be hand-carried from Tahiti to Los Angeles to Spokane, Washington, to Idaho where it would be fixed. Then back to Tahiti, of course,” he said. “We’d think: this thing costs a million bucks. If it goes over the wave, we’re done. At times we handled it with kid gloves but we did what we had to do.”

The film's schedule is available on the Fleet's website.

Behind the Scenes: "All that Glitters" exhibition at SDNHM

Upon stepping into the San Diego Natural History Museum’s special exhibition “All that Glitters: The  Splendor & Science of Gems & Minerals” my first thought was about the scene in Breakfast at Tiffany’s when Audrey Hepburn’s character Holly Golightly talks about the feeling she gets when entering a jewelry store:

“...the only thing that does any good is to jump in a cab and go to Tiffany's. Calms me down right away. The quietness and the proud look of it; nothing very bad could happen to you there.”

Sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the upstairs dinosaur exhibit, the exhibition has a serene atmosphere created with low lighting, ambient music, and an elegant display of jewelry and crystals.

Erica Kelly, exhibit developer at SDNHM, said that one of the biggest debates was about whether the exhibit should focus more on the science or the beauty of the objects. To establish an appropriate balance, the exhibit mixes jewelry with minerals and gems in their natural form (see the Jade boulder pictured at left).  There are also some interactive elements, such as a wall-mounted flat screen television that displays the periodic table of the elements. Visitors can click on the name of a gem and the screen shows which elements comprise the gem.

Over 14 months, Erica worked with Curator and Graduate Gemologist Elise B. Misiorowski and a team of about a dozen staff and contractors to design and install the exhibition. Erica’s job as developer is to help interpret the curator’s knowledge in a way that will engage visitors who may be completely unfamiliar with the subject.

“We wanted to create a sense of wonder and elegance,” she said. “The first gallery seduces you, then there’s science, then the area devoted to San Diego, and then what I call dessert.”

“Dessert” includes cases of diamonds, rubies, opals, quartz—dazzling materials that did not necessarily fit into the other sections of the exhibit. Although some of the minerals and exhibit decorations are from the SDNHM’s collection, the majority of the objects are on loan from private collectors and major U.S. institutions. Because of the terms of the loans, some objects will need to switched out after six months or a year. The exhibition is scheduled to be on display through April 2012.

Photo of opalized clamshells credit: Tom Spann
Photo of Jade boulder courtesy of the San Diego Natural History Museum

Give blood, meet the Padres: Blood drive today at the Hall of Champions

If you’re a sports fan, I’m guessing you’re wide awake after this morning’s World Cup match between the United States and Slovenia. The Hall of Champions was buzzing at 8:30 this morning, but the energy level has risen even more with the start of the 14th Annual Padres Blood & Bone Marrow Drive. By 10am, Padres fans were already coming through the HOC doors to give blood and join the registry of the National Marrow Donor Program. Blood donors receive a Padres t-shirt, pennant, and Padres schedule window cling. All donors are also entered into a drawing for Padres field level tickets.

Word in the lobby is that Padres players Clayton Richard, Luke Gregerson, and Oscar Salazar will be meeting donors and signing autographs from 1-2pm.

You don’t need an appointment, so come on by! Anyone at least 17 years old, in good health, and weighing at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate blood. Snacks are provided but be sure to eat a good meal before donating.

The Hall of Champions is located at 2131 Pan American Plaza, near the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The San Diego Blood Bank drive goes from 10am-4pm today.

3 for 2: Three summer date night options in Balboa Park

If your typical date night involves take-out sushi from down the street, whatever happens to be next on the Netflix queue, and a 10pm bedtime, it might be time to try something a little more adventurous. I’m not suggesting that you develop a lifestyle like Ashton Kutcher’s character in “Killers” – actually, given the reviews, let’s forget I even mentioned it – but a jaunt to Balboa Park for a few hours of culture and conversation sounds pretty nice, right?

1. Whether you’re in a 10-year relationship and you’re looking for new friends for Trivial Pursuit night or you’re brainstorming a fun way to spend time with your newest connection from Match.com, The San Diego Museum of Art's Culture & Cocktails event (free for museum members, $15 for nonmembers) is a fun way to go out, be social, and experience fine art. Tonight’s Culture & Cocktails, held in conjunction with the exhibition "Heroes: Mortals & Myths in Ancient Greece," will feature Ouzo cocktails, live DJs, and a sneak preview of "Heroes and Hope" by Sacra/Profana. Art making activities for the evening include designing Greece-inspired crowns and participating in Brian Dick's Museum Mascot Project by crafting a sticker, button or pin for his mascot outfit.

2. Step into a museum during a busy Saturday afternoon and you probably won’t describe the experience  as romantic. But Thursday at sunset? Entirely different story. This summer, the Museum of Photographic Arts and The San Diego Museum of Art will both be open until 9pm every Thursday. To go big, opt for the Prado’s VIP Dinner Package, which includes dinner with a bottle of wine and two tickets to MoPA for the “Taking Aim” exhibition of rock ‘n’ roll photographs selected by Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Given the 3-course menu, it’s an excellent deal ($79.95 per couple, tax and gratuity not included) but if you need a more budget-friendly option, stop by the Prado’s bar during happy hour (Tuesdays – Fridays, 4-6pm & 8-10pm) for $3.50 drinks and similarly priced appetizers.

3. The Old Globe’s 2010 Shakespeare Festival started this week. Arguably the best date night option is “The Taming of the Shrew,” the light battle-of-the-sexes comedy that doesn’t require downloading a Shakespeare iPhone app to understand the action on stage. The Shakespeare Festival plays are all performed at the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, a perfect venue for snuggling under the stars. If you’re under 30, check out The Globe’s $20 Under 30 program to purchase discounted tickets for “The Taming of the Shrew," "King Lear," and other upcoming shows.

MoPA night facade by Jennifer Dery

Diaries of San Diego rattlesnake expert Laurence Klauber available online

The San Diego Natural History Museum (SDNHM) has been working with the Balboa Park Online Collaborative to digitize the field journals of Laurence M. Klauber (1883-1968), a researcher whose fascination with snakes culminated in a 1,533-page study titled “Rattlesnakes: Their Habits, Life Histories, and Influence on Mankind.” His diaries were scanned and uploaded to the Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital library. 

In the diaries, Klauber (pictured at right) wrote about where he found certain snakes, reptiles, and amphibians, including some species that are hard to find in those areas today.

“Theoretically, we should be able to link a specimen in our herpetological collection to the day Klauber found it, as noted in the diary,” said Margaret Dykens, the SDNHM’s registrar and director of research library. “Our hope is that we can integrate a lot more of the data that we have.”

The SDNHM’s herpetology collection includes more than 43,000 fluid-preserved specimens that Klauber personally catalogued. Through his efforts, SDNHM has the most comprehensive collection of rattlesnakes in the world.

Sample entries from Klauber’s diaries:

March 13, 1927
A fine day but did not go out. Nursing a boil. Philip caught an alligator lizard.

February 20, 1933
Gave a snake talk this noon at the Chula Vista Rotary Club. Came home via La Presa and Helix. 31 miles. No snakes seen. Got a horned toad on the road at La Presa.

On May 19, 1940, he started a multi-page entry about a not-so-pleasant interaction with a snake:
In some way which I will never understand he got enough of his head loose to bite me on the inner side of the right thumb above the upper joint. Both fangs, but probably got very little venom as he was small and had already bitten the stick. I jerked my hand loose and got a tourniquet on (necktie) at once. The pain was evident in the thumb instantly. Started to drive on and then went back (about ¼ mile) and collected the snake. . . drove as fast as possible in spite of the Sunday traffic. Drove as far as El Cajon myself; gg drove the rest of the way.

To read more, go to www.archive.org and search for “Laurence Klauber.”

The Old Globe celebrates its 75th anniversary with Shakespeare and sword fights

The Old Globe Theatre was built in 1935 to present 50-minute versions of Shakespeare’s plays as part of the California Pacific International Exposition, the second major exposition in Balboa Park. Shakespeare has continued to be important to the Globe: this summer’s 2010 Shakespeare Festival, held in the outdoor 615-seat Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, will feature "King Lear", "The Taming of the Shrew", and Alan Bennett's "The Madness of George III".

On Sunday, June 13, the Globe hosted an open house to launch its 75th anniversary celebration. The event featured sword fighting demonstrations in the Globe's courtyard. Here's a clip: 

Tickets for the summer plays are available on the Globe's website. On select nights, the theatre is offering social events with pre-show drinks, appetizers, and music.

Artists hold semi-annual pottery sale at the Spanish Village Art Center

The San Diego Potters’ Guild is having its spring sale this weekend at the Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. I stopped by the village this afternoon to check out the pottery on display and meet the artists. At a booth near the center of the outdoor courtyard, I met David Ferrin, an El Cajon-based artist who has been making pottery for 40 years. He said he can't imagine doing anything else because he loves to get his hands dirty. David was available for a demo so I pulled out my Flip video camcorder and took a quick video of him in action:

The pottery sale will continue tomorrow, Sunday, June 13, from 10am-4pm. If you go, I also recommend a stop at Gallery 21 for "Catnip Connection 4," a juried mixed media exhibition honoring cats. Approximately three dozen artists have artwork on display and a reception will be held tomorrow from 4:30-7:00pm.

Padgett Mason (pictured at right) is an artist who enjoys acrylic and watercolor painting and specializes in pet portraits.

"I have been doodling cats ever since I was a little girl," said Padgett, a proud owner of three cats.

"Catnip Connection 4" will be on display through June 21, 2010, from 11am-4pm daily.

Spanish Village Art Center
1770 Village Place
San Diego, CA 92101
(between the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Natural History Museum)

The best free places in the park: a high school student's perspective

Hi! My name is Aaron Roiz. I’m a junior at High Tech High School, and for three weeks, I was an intern at the Balboa Park Online Collaborative. During that time, I wandered around the park and took notes on what there is to do for different types of people with different budgets. After I was done with that, I created a tourist’s guide that featured activities in three price ranges: free, cheap, and expensive. At 16 years old, this served as my introduction into the working world, and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. This is an excerpt from my guide.

Who Says Nothing Good in Life is Free?

A great place to start (after you’ve picked up a map from the Balboa Park Visitors Center) is the Botanical Building, home to more than 2,000 plants, all beautiful and interesting in their own way. Not to mention kids love the carnivorous plants that are on display. When you’re done enjoying the plants, both of the ponds are perfect places to enjoy lunch. If you happen to have a camera handy, take a photo of the Botanical Building from the edge of the lily pond, one of the most photographed scenes in Balboa Park. 

Once you’re done with the Botanical Building, you should take a look at the awesome International Cottages. The cottages— as the name suggests—each represent a different nationality, which is reflected inside. There are 32 cottages and they are open to the public every Sunday. If you visit during an event like St. Patrick’s Day, one cottage (in this case, the House of Ireland) will have a celebration of traditional performances and ethnic foods (in this case, an Irish jig and delicious soda bread).

Aside from the sites to see, there are also the numerous hiking and walking trails around the park. Florida Canyon is easily the most popular. As it has sagebrush, cacti, and other flora growing alongside it, it makes for a great hiking or mountain biking trail. However, there are multiple trails through Balboa Park and all are different in their difficulty levels. By that, I mean that they are harder to traverse, and longer then the last.

>> Check out a special free event this weekend: The Old Globe's 75th Anniversary Open House.