November 19, 2004

NEWS BRIEFS

Eastridge Mall celebrates ‘12 Days of Rudolph’

Beginning Dec. 1. Eastridge will celebrate the 40th TV anniversary of the animated classic “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” with the “12 days of Rudolph.” Through Dec. 12, Eastridge will post a daily trivia question about the holiday television special. One winner, with the correct answer, will be drawn daily.

In the animated holiday classic “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” Rudolph has the daunting task of saving Christmas for millions of boys and girls around the world. He does it with the help of an aspiring elf. What is the elf’s name and what kind of “assistant” is he? Shoppers who know the answers to these questions and more may walk away with an almost-life-sized plush Rudolph.

“Many of us grew up on this holiday classic,” said Sue Wareham, marketing manager for Eastridge. “We’re definitely going to have fun with the questions and we know our shoppers will, too. Many generations have grown up with this TV special. We expect winners of the trivia contest to be of all ages.”

“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” first aired in 1964. Forty years and several generations later, Rudolph is the longest running and highest rated holiday special in TV history.

Martin Luther King Jr. Library

Traces of the Hundred Viets art exhibition through Dec. 4

Humanity Through Arts presents “Traces of the Hundred Viets,” an exhibition and auction of exceptional artworks depicting the diverse Vietnamese experience and vision beyond the Vietnam War.

With more than 20 great caliber artists representing a wide spectrum of age, experience, styles and media, this expansive and unprecedented collection is made available to the general public for the very first time on the second floor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, 150 E. Fernando St. in downtown San Jose.

On Saturday, Dec. 4, the last day of the exhibit, an Auction-Live Painting-Reception will take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. The suggested donation is $30.

For thousands of years, the Vietnamese have been taught the mythology of being descendants of a dragon and a fairy whose union produced one hundred children. These mythical children spread to the mountains and to the seas.

They became the ancestors of the modern Vietnamese.

This myth teaches that the Vietnamese people are culturally diverse, but all share a common heritage. Now living all over the world, Vietnamese artists continue to preserve their heritage while adapting to new or changing environments.

A Christmas Carol opens CMTSJ 37th season, Dec. 3 –12

Evergreen resident featured as young Scrooge

Evergreen resident David Sanchez is featured in Children’s Musical Theater San Jose’s West Coast Premiere of Radio City Entertainment’s “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 3-12 at the Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose (corner of Market and San Carlos Streets).

Sanchez, who performed with Children’s Musical Theater as a teen, returns to play the ambitious young Scrooge, whose single-minded focus on making money drives his fiancée away. Kevin Hauge, artistic director of Children’s Musical Theater and also a resident of Evergreen, makes a rare appearance onstage as young Scrooge’s employer Mr. Fezziwig, the host with the most lavish Christmas party.

Other Evergreen residents in the production include Nicholas Bonnin, Rachel Bonnin, Kyle Hauge, Angeline Navarro, Michael Navarro, Erin Hopper and Nigel Jahn.

Though faithful in plot to Dickens’ ever-popular holiday classic about Ebeneezer Scrooge’s night-time visits from the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, “This show is radically different from the traditional ‘A Christmas Carol,’” said Director John McCluggage. “Others are plays with music. This is a true musical, with 100 minutes of wall-to-wall music. I think people will be very pleasantly surprised. The score is as memorable as ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”

Tickets are now on sale, $20 for adults, $13 for children 12 and under. Target Corporation is sponsoring a Target Family Matinee for the Saturday, Dec. 4, noon performance only, with all tickets just $9.50. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the CMTSJ Web site at www.cmtsj.org or phone the CMT Box Office at (408) 288-5437. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the CMT Box Office, 1401 Parkmoor Ave. (at Meridian, Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. or at the Montgomery Theater one hour prior to performances.