The Celebration of Military Children occurred on April 7, 2018. There were presentations and speeches in support of the children of military families who are annually recognized for their resiliency and important role in the military family.
At the event, we engaged children and families with drawings for discounted or free tickets to productions, while educating them about ARIEL programs and answering questions they may have about our mission.
Gladly representing ARIEL Theatrical were: Sandra and Renee Ortega, volunteers; Heather Kirk, executive director; Frank Kragh and Alan Liddle, ARIEL Board trustees.
Registration is open for Summer Programs at ARIEL Theatrical – Day Camps, Community Show and performances for all ages! Space is limited so don’t delay – check your schedule and register today!
Sing, dance and celebrate summer with ARIEL Theatrical! Meet new friends and have an unforgettable adventure on stage. One, two and three-week day camps (9 am – 3 pm) with an extended day option (7:30 am – 5:30 pm) will allow for flexible drop-off and pick-up times. Try something new this summer at ARIEL!
KIDS ON STAGE – Two sessions, June 4-8 and July 23-27. Children ages 4-12 are welcome to participate in these one-week camps that will teach musical theatre basics and give them a chance to try out their new skills on stage. Each camp concludes with a recital for family and friends.
The Wizard of Oz – is a three-week camp Mondays-Fridays, June 11-29 with performances on June 29, 30, July 5, 6 and 7. Follow the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion as they meet the Munchkins, bargain with the Wizard and contend with the Wicked Witch of the West. Youth ages 7-19 comprise this “Over the Rainbow” cast that will bring L. Frank Baum’s classic to life.
Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS – is a two-week camp, Mondays-Fridays, July 9-20 with performances on July 20 & 21. Welcome to the Hundred Acre Wood, where Winnie the Pooh is once again in search of honey. Along the way, he meets his pals, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit and Owl, but soon discovers that Christopher Robin has been captured by the mysterious Backson! As they prepare for a rescue operation, the animals learn about teamwork, friendship and, of course… sharing snacks. Young people ages 6-14 are invited to register.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, The Hunchback of Notre Dame showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score. Be part of an epic adventure that will sweep audiences away to another time and place. Rehearsals begin Saturday, June 16. Open to high school and adult participants. Performances are on August 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.
This Saturday, March 31, is the annual Salinas Downtown Business Hop! This event is very inviting for the guests to explore local shops and to get treats from local businesses. This event is family friendly, fun, and free. Enjoy the day from 11 am – 2 pm for a scavenger hunts, treats, smiles, and fun!
Just confirmed…..Tuck Everlasting and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory are coming to ARIEL Theatrical Summer 2019! Two amazing musicals in one exciting summer!
Based on the book by the same name, Tuck Everlasting follows Jesse Tuck and Winnie Foster as their friendship endures mysterious family secrets, the power of a magical spring and a suspicious man who threatens to topple their fragile existence. Stay tuned for dates and details!
Roald Dahl’s fantastical tale of Charlie Bucket and his life changing trip to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory springs to life with music and dance in 2019. Kids won’t want to miss this sweet treat on stage! Information will be posted on the ARIEL website as soon as it is available.
Two more reasons to visit ARIEL Theatrical! See you soon!
ONLINE TICKETS HERE – Based on the beautifully illustrated story about what’s in a name, Tikki Tikki Tembo will come to life with a cast of children ages 5 to 10 this weekend at ARIEL. Common Sense Media gives wonderful insight into the value of sharing this story with the next generation. The following is from their website:
“Tikki Tikki Tembo is a …memorable Chinese folktale about what’s in a name. It has….a beautiful message about honoring tradition while embracing change, with fun, chantable repetition….kids will see other kids problem-solve with persistence and trust their own instincts when they sense the right thing to do….the repetition of Tikki Tikki Tembo’s full name is a delight to repeat and likely will inspire kids to try out some memorization and inspire a fascination with Chinese culture.”
Join us this weekend, February 23 & 24, for a show that is short and sweet, despite the long name! Tikki Tikki Tembo will delight young and old and is the perfect show for the entire family. Tickets are $5 for everyone three and older – under age three is free!
Shows will take place at the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, home of ARIEL Theatrical.
We gratefully acknowledge our show sponsor, Prunedale Chevron and our season sponsors, Aladin Properties, Cardinale Moving & Storage and Central Coast Cleaning.
Friday, February 23 – 7 pm
Saturday, February 24 – 2 pm & 7 pm
Tickets: $5 all ages (Under 3 is free)
Tickets may be purchasedonline, by phone at 831-775-0976, or in the box office.
January 29, 2018 – Salinas, CA … ARIEL Theatrical announced that Heather Kirk has accepted the position of Executive Director. Kirk joined the ARIEL team nearly two years ago as the Development Director. She navigated challenges following the devastating fire that gutted the neighboring Dick Bruhn building with an optimistic outlook and focused on establishing new community partners and maximizing outreach efforts. She continues to reinforce the efforts of the production team and maintain a level of excellence that has been established at ARIEL. As a parent and long-time proponent of positive artistic outlets for young people, Kirk is determined to enlist broad support and promote the sustainability of, as one parent described, this “jewel in our community.”
Kirk is thrilled to take a more public role as an advocate for an organization that has touched so many lives for more than three decades. She recently stated, “It is inspiring and exciting to see how the process of bringing a musical production to the stage works as an ideal environment for teaching valuable life lessons to our young cast members. The result when the curtain opens is a reflection of not only hours and hours of hard work but also the principles that each young person has embraced and put into action. It is truly magical to watch!”
Kirk is dedicated to the ARIEL mission of helping young people learn to lead principle-centered lives and looks forward to enlisting support for this effort on stage, behind the scenes, in the audience and all throughout Monterey County.
Located in the heart of Salinas City Center, ARIEL Theatrical provides opportunities for children to explore the stage and learn valuable lessons about Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Leadership – A-R-I-E-L. ARIEL’s finest productions are not the plays but the responsible young people who come together in a positive, collaborative spirit to learn, perform and share experiences that they will carry with them for a lifetime. Visit ARIEL in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main Street in Salinas City Center, online at www.arieltheatrical.org or call 831-775-0976.
What does 2018 have in store for you? At the beginning of each new year we gear up, get energized and prepare for what’s ahead. We hope that ARIEL will be part of your 2018 plans. We have programs for young people, day-time theatre classes, off-site after school programs, summer camps, and even a community program every summer open to high school age and older with opportunities for families to be on stage together. The Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre is literally filled with song and dance all year long! Registration is open for our beginning program, Tikki Tikki Tembo (ages 4-12), and our Sherwood Hall show, Wonderland! (ages 7 & up). And if you have a home-schooler, our daytime class, The Play’s the Thing, is still open for enrollment.
We are thrilled to have received a generous grant from the Andrew and Phyllis D’Arrigo Charitable Foundation to upgrade our sound system. We are more than happy to retire our very well-used wireless mics and look forward to a vast improvement in sound quality. Casts and audiences alike will benefit from this investment.
We are so grateful for the incredible support we have received from individuals, businesses and foundations as we deliver programs that help young people learn to lead principle-centered lives. We hope that you plan to make ARIEL part of your new year. Check out the full schedule and see what adventures are in store for you and your family. Whether you are on stage, behind the scenes or in the audience, we welcome you and look forward to a fabulous year!
“That……was……AWESOME!” A young boy proclaimed this glowing review in the lobby at ARIEL Theatrical at the conclusion of Narnia opening night. Don’t miss the epic adventures of the Pevensie children as they face a challenge that will truly test the best that’s in their hearts. Will Narnia remain in frozen desolation? Will Aslan confront the White Witch? Will spring ever come again? Come to ARIEL Theatrical and find out!
The remaining shows are December 8, 9, 15 & 16, Fridays at 7 pm and Saturdays at 2 pm and 7 pm. All shows take place at ARIEL Theatrical in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main Street, Salinas. Tickets may be purchased in our box office, online at www.arieltheatrical.org, or by calling 831-775-0976.
Support the Monterey County Women’s Shelters by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to add to the donation barrel in the lobby at ARIEL. Share some Christmas joy with those who need it the most.
How can just a regular, run-of-the-mill Tuesday make a difference at ARIEL? It can when it is GIVING TUESDAY. Take a minute to reflect on what ARIEL means to you, your family, and your community. Why is it important to practice Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Leadership? What sets ARIEL apart from other youth theatres? How can you show that you value the mission of ARIEL Theatrical? Make a donation that will fund everything that happens at ARIEL. Give a little or give a lot and help keep the ARIEL stage a place where young people learn to make the world a better place. Thank you for investing in ARIEL Theatrical.
It’s hard to believe that Halloween is here. Where has 2017 gone? Time flies when you are having fun, especially when you are having fun at ARIEL Theatrical!
Most people associate ARIEL with the ten musical productions that are presented throughout the year, including shows like Stone Soup (November 3 & 4) and Narnia (December 1 – 16, Fridays at 7 pm and Saturdays at 2 pm and 7 pm), which will close out the 2017 Season. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll discover that these ten productions are just the beginning! Throughout the year, we provide three eight-week sessions of day time theatre classes for home-schooled students, all concluding with a recital showcase for family and friends. ARIEL is also branching out into the community even more with off-site theatre programs at several local elementary schools (Mission Park in Salinas, King in Seaside, Monte Vista in Monterey). This program has been extremely successful and could potentially grow to include eight schools in the very near future.
Another highlight of each season is our partnership with Special Kids Crusade. REACH Theatre invites youth and young adults with developmental disabilities to team up with ARIEL mentors for five weekly rehearsals that culminate in a live musical for the entire community. REACH Theatre is a fabulous way to highlight the principles that ARIEL teaches and encourages, as young volunteers create an atmosphere where all participants, whatever their challenges, can bring their very best to the stage. Special Kids Crusade recently released a REACH Theatre Behind-the-scenes documentarythat captures some of the joy and inspiration that is created with this special group of kids.
ARIEL Theatrical makes attending live performances possible for many in our community through the Outreach Ticket Program. Thanks to generous funding from organicgirl, ARIEL is able to provide complimentary tickets to several child and youth advocacy organizations, along with other underserved populations. This program has connected ARIEL with many young people who may not normally have the opportunity to attend such events.
ARIEL Theatrical really does a lot more than produce a few musicals each year. Our mission-focused programs benefit our participants and our audiences on many levels. We hope to increase our impact and broaden our reach as we enlist the support of local businesses and foundations. Check out our sponsorship packetand join our growing number of community partners. We can’t wait for 2018! See you soon at ARIEL Theatrical!
