Bethany Byrd started 5 Stones Open Door after seeing five of her friends die as a result of abuse. That abuse took several forms over the years, each of which is addressed by the non-profit organization she founded several years ago. They became the five stones of an outreach to people whose lives have been touched by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Theatre is back in varying degrees and this weekend the Selma Arts Center will be presenting Zoot Suit by Luis Valdez. We took a moment to interview the show’s director and Vice-Chairman of the Selma Arts Council, Juan Luis Guzman, about the show.
June is Pride month, but sadly, there are many places that still don’t acknowledge and recognize that fact. Former Selma, CA resident Lance Nelson decided that he wanted to make an effort to change that, starting with the area where he grew up. Lance was born and raised in Selma and attended Wilson Elementary School, Lincoln Middle School, and Selma High School. He graduated from Selma High School in 2006. Lance is currently attending Columbia University, majoring in human rights with an interest in equal access to education. His future goal is to work for a nonprofit, and perhaps one day, even the United Nations.
Look, this has been a strange month. I will be retiring in March (from my real-world job, not from Kings River Life), and there is a lot of paperwork and running back and forth involved in it. I went to six different restaurant locations in the last month, intending to review each one for The Great Food Search…but I’m only going to do one of them. Therefore, I wish to temporarily apologize to...
As the arts community continues to look for creative ways to share their talents in a Covid world, many theatre companies are turning more and more to streaming shows. On October 29 through 31 the Selma Arts Center will be streaming a new show with a Halloween setting called Captain Louie. We spoke with the show's director/choreographer Michael C. Flores to learn more.
Since theatre on stage is on hold right now (check out our recent article that checked in with many local theatre companies on what they are doing during this time), it seemed like a good time to feature some local actors who have also been acting on our podcast, Mysteryrat’s Maze. This week we chatted with local actor Sean Hopper who has been the voice of several of our episodes. Mysteryrat's Maze features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors.
This has been a difficult time for everyone. Not only are businesses closed that aren’t essential, but all events have been canceled as well. Many of those events have found creative ways to happen virtually, providing mostly free entertainment for those of us stuck in our homes. Community theatre has been hit particularly hard, canceling their shows has not only been disappointing for everyone, but they also don’t have those ticket sales coming in to help pay the bills.
Harry Potter fans rejoice, we may have to drive all the way to San Francisco to see Harry Potter and The Cursed Child but we can still enjoy some Harry Potter fun on stage right here in the Valley! Puffs, which is a Harry Potter inspired comedy, opened on the Selma Arts Center stage this past weekend and it is so much fun!
Another year of theatre in the Valley has come and gone, and it was another amazing one. There is so much talent in the Valley that no one needs to go to New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco to see a great show. Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights!
Picture this: A small town high school in the 1950s, filled with typical daily routines, quirky students, and a few love stories. Oh, and at least one zombie. If it’s a little hard to dream up on your own, let Selma Arts Center do it for you.
