Tiny Oranges – Fresh, fun blog for OC moms

Ahoy mateys! Do I have a fun family event to share with you! And it is going to be yo ho ho and a bottle of FUN! Sorry, got a little carried away with Googling “pirate sayings” while inspired by this post…

Story Pirates is a national arts and literacy organization that engages students in under-resourced public schools by showing them that their ideas, words and stories are important. Originally founded in New York in 2003, Story Pirates believes that every child has a story to tell.

This Saturday, December 17th, 2011 Montage Laguna Beach is thrilled to offer a special performance of The Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates open to guests of Montage Laguna as well as local OC families. This fun-filled comedy musical showcases creative writing by students from across the country, performed by the best professional comedians and improvisers in the Los Angeles area.

A mix of sketches and songs adapted from stories written by elementary students, Story Pirates will delight and surprise with puppets, costumes and antics, all the while motivating children to be creative.

Story topics run the gamut, from kung fu ninja babies fighting crime, to hot dog superheroes and space bats. The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart calls the show “crazy entertaining.” Click here to watch him talking about Story Pirates with Larry King.

Show is complimentary; parking will be validated and charged a reduced rate of $8/car.

They hope to see ya thar!

Story Pirates Performance
Saturday, December 17th, 2011 * 2:00-3:00pm
Montage Laguna Beach * Grand Ballroom

Space is limited, contact (949) 715-6005 to sign up. You can also visit the Montage Laguna Beach website for more information. For more information about Story Pirates, please visit geffenplayhouse.com/storypirates.

[Disclosure: Montage Resorts is a Tiny Oranges Sponsor.]

Fun, cheap OC summer activity alert! Woo hoo!

UltraLuxe Cinemas at Anaheim GardenWalk will be holidng their 2011 Summer Kids’ Movie Series every Tuesday and Wednesday from June 28 through August 31.

As part of the series, kids are invited to enjoy 10 weeks of recently released, family-friendly films for the one-time ticket price of $5.00.  Can you believe it’s only $5.00?!

A different film is featured each week, including favorite titles such as Yogi Bear, Shrek Forever After, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and How to Train Your Dragon.

Tickets are on sale now at theater box offices. All films will be presented in 2D format, are rated G or PG and will start at 9:30 a.m. with the doors opening at 9 a.m.

Guests simply choose the day of the week they would like to attend and the one-time ticket price of $5.00 allows each guest to come back and see all 10 weeks of films. Children 2 and under are admitted for FREE.

This summer’s featured films are:

Yogi Bear

Shrek Forever After

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Ramona and Beezus

How To Train Your Dragon

Despicable Me

Megamind

Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Alpha & Omega

Tooth Fairy

UltraLuxe Cinemas is located at Anaheim GardenWalk on the upper level at 321 W. Katella Ave. Free parking for 4 hours is provided with validation at the movie theater. The most convenient parking structure entrance for UltraLuxe Cinemas is off Disney Way. Tickets will be available at the box office only.

UltraLuxe Cinemas is the flagship Orange County location of UltraStar Cinemas, Southern California’s largest privately owned movie theater group. For more information, visit www.ultrastarmovies.com.

My husband and I had the pleasure of seeing the Cirque du Soleil performance of Quidam last week in Long Beach and as I have come to expect from Cirque du Soleil, it was AMAZING!

The show has now moved to Ontario at the Citizens Business Bank Arena and will be there starting today, April 27th through May 1st.

Quidam had its world premiere in Montreal under the Big Top in 1996 and since that time has toured on five continents. Starting last December, Quidam has been touring through North America dazzling audiences with an international cast of incredible acrobats, musicians, singers and characters.

Quidam, meaning a nameless passer-by, or someone swallowed up by the crowd, follows young Zoe, ignored by her parents, into an imaginary world where she is encouraged by various characters to free her soul.

The first act opened with the “German Wheel,” where a performer became a human spoke as he spun, turned and twisted within the wheel.

In every Cirque show I have been to, what I love the most is that, edge of your seat “can they do that without falling?!” feeling!  And with this first act, I was immediately on the edge of my seat and the show opened with a bang!

I loved all the different acts, but some of my favorite pieces are the aerial contortion because they are just so beautiful.

In the “Aerial Contortion with Silk” act,  the performer did a variety of moves suspended by only a piece of red silk.  Set to beautiful music, it was absolutely stunning to watch her move and strike gorgeous poses.

The show moved at an entertaining pace, intermixing thrilling “acts” with funny skits in between by the resident “clown,” who often utilized audience members, which made it even more entertaining! And I have to say, the Quidam clown, was one of the best I have seen!

All in all what Cirque du Soleil does best, other than provide pure entertainment, is showcase the amazing agility of the human body. With poses like this you have no choice but to be in complete awe of what the human body is capable of!

Quidam was magical, amazing, and pure entertainment.  Take your husband for a date night or bring your family if they are old enough to enjoy the art of live performance.  It is truly a show you will remember long after the event is over!

Visit this site for showtimes and tickets!

{Disclosure: I received two free media tickets to facilitate this review.  All photos and graphics & some descriptions of the acts provided by Cirque du Soleil.}

Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam opens Wednesday, April 20th at the Long Beach Convention Center with performances running through the 24th, and then will be showing in Ontario at the Citizens Business Bank Arena from April 27th – May 1st.   I have to admit I am a Cirque fanatic so I am ecstatic to be able to attend this show on Wednesday for a date night!

If you have never been to a Cirque du Soleil performance, it is one of those things you have to put on your bucket list.

I remember someone telling me before my first performance years ago, “you will never forget your first Cirque du Soleil experience.”  I have never forgotten that because it is so true!   There is something magical about these shows. Each one is different, and awe-inspiring, and a little twisted in the best possible way.

This show follows the character of Zoe, who, lacking meaning in her life escapes into an imaginary world of Quidam, where she meets characters who allow her to free her soul.

I can’t wait to escape into the world of Quidam myself!  I hope you might get to experience it too.

Click here for showtimes and tickets.

www.cirquedusoleil.com/quidam

{Disclosure: I will receive complimentary media tickets to this performance. Again, I am ecstatic.}

The Los Angeles Ballet is back to thrill their Southern California audiences during the holidays and kick off their fifth season with the Neary-Christensen choreographed production of The Nutcracker, the city’s most enduring holiday tradition!  And I have been given a special Nutcracker coupon code to share with you for 25% off the regular ticket price.

But you have to hurry and get your tickets, as the discount is only good through tomorrow, 10/27/10.

All you have to do is mention the discount code (N25) when you purchase tickets over the phone or online and you will receive a 25% discount from the original ticket price.

Click HERE for dates, showtimes & locations.

I have never seen The Nutcracker ballet. Have you?