This North Coast Weekend: Dell'Arte Holiday Show

A friend in Boston who traveled often to L.A. on movie business once described to me his example of the quintessential California attitude: "When somebody told me 'have a good weekend' on Tuesday."

In that spirit, and in view of the upcoming Thanksgiving travel-holiday-travel complex, here's the major stage news (to my limited knowledge) about the upcoming weekend...and beyond: the annual children and family-friendly, mostly free Dell'Arte Christmas show.  Or winter holidays show, if you prefer.

This year it is Pippi Longstocking, a childrens book heroine from Sweden who does not suffer from overexposure in the US, having escaped the velvet hand of Disney.  (But not Shirley Temple Storybook, one source for last year's Dell'Arte holiday show, Babes in Toyland.)

Pippi, the star of only three books originally, hasn't been totally neglected--there are live action and animated films and TV series in various countries, including a US feature in 1988 starring Tami Erin, a child star who in recent years has become known for, well, a sex tape, and an alleged DUI and hit-and-run. But we're going astray from the main point here.

Pippi herself is a notable child heroine because she's a girl who is very strong, physically strong.  A proto-superhero maybe.  But that may also be beside the point.  Her father is a pirate (which is part of this show.)

The point is Dell'Arte is opening its 34th annual Holiday Show Tour this week with its adaptation of Pipi Longstocking, beginning on Friday (Nov. 28) in the Carlo. Directed by Michael Fields, original music by Tim Gray, featuing Alyssa Hughlett, Moses Norton, Hannah Gaff (all seen this summer in the acrobatic "Taken Away"), Cooper Lee Smith, Kaitlen Osburn, Christophere Kehoe, Drew Pannebecker and Sarah McKinney.  With sets by Lynnie Horrigan, lights by Michael Foster and costumes by Lydia Foreman.

As usual the show tours up and down the North Coast, and most shows are free.  The full schedule of public shows follows--for school shows closed to the public and other information check the Dell'Arte web site www.dellarte.com.

Friday and Saturday (Nov 28, 29) at 7:30 : Carlo Theatre

Wednesday Dec. 3 at 7:30 : McKinleyville High        

Friday Dec. 5 at 7:00: Trinidad Elementary
        
Saturday Dec. 6 at 7: Lorna Byrne Middle School, Cave Junction

Sunday Dec. 7 at 5 p.m.: Orick Community Hall

Tues. Dec. 9 at 7:30: Winema Theater, Scotia

Wed. Dec. 10 at 6:30: Mateel Community Center (not free)

 Saturday Dec. 13 at 7:30: Eureka Theatre

Sunday Dec. 14 at 7:30: Van Duzer Theatre HSU

Tues. Dec 16 TBA: Hoopa Elementary

Thurs, Fri. and Sat. Dec. 16-20 at 7:30: closing (paid) shows back at the Carlo.

TICKETS: Carlo Theatre shows reservations at 707 668-5663 ext. 5.  For Arcata, Eureka, McKinleyville and Trinidad: free tickets at Pierson Building Center, Wildberries Marketplace, Coast Central Credit Union or at Dell'Arte.  Tickets also available at each venue before each performance.

The audience is asked to contribute non-perishable food items, which the cast collects and donates to local food banks in collaboration with local non-profit, Food for People.

Free performances are made possible by support from: Pierson Building Center, local schools, Wildberries Marketplace, Coast Central Credit Union, Renner Petroleum, Green Diamond Resource Company, California Redwood Company, Stephany Joy of RE/MAX Realty, Suddenlink, Sierra Pacific Corporation, Ironside Metal Works, and Coastal Business Systems.