CHICAGO THE MUSICAL Broadway Master Class with Leigh Zimmerman

Broadway star and Olivier Award-Winning actress Leigh Zimmerman teaches choreography, scenes and songs from the original revival of Chicago The Musical.

Carmel, CA, June 12, 2019 - Broadway star and Olivier Award-Winning actress Leigh Zimmerman teaches choreography, scenes and songs from the original revival of Chicago The Musical. Leigh brings this unique Broadway Master Class to the Monterey Peninsula at Carmel Academy of Performing Arts.

Leigh Zimmerman is an award winning multi-talented actress, singer and dancer whose career successfully spans stage, screen, and television in both the US and the UK. She has starred in numerous Broadway and West End musicals and plays, including the original cast of the Broadway revival of Chicago The Musical, A Chorus Line, and The Producers. She has appeared in over 25 films and television shows including Home Alone 2, United 93, Person of Interest, and NUMB3RS.

Since 2003, Leigh has been teaching Master Classes in musical theater all around the world. She has received international praise and acclaim for sharing her knowledge and expertise with established and aspiring entertainment industry professionals.

Join Leigh in two special sessions:

Saturday, August 3, 2019 10am-5pm
*Adults*

Sunday, August 11, 2019 10am-5pm
*12-18 years old*

One day $125.00 per person
Bring your own lunch and water bottle

BOOK NOW:
www.LeighZimmerman.com/Masterclass

Carmel Academy of Performing Arts
Mission Street & 8th
Carmel, CA
(831) 624-3729

LEIGH ZIMMERMAN BIOGRAPHY
Leigh Zimmerman is an Olivier Award-Winning, multi-talented actress, singer, and dancer whose career successfully spans stage, screen, and television in both the US and the UK. She is a leading entertainment professional, business owner, teacher, mother, wife, and activist.

Leigh is also proud to hold both American and British citizenship, which allows her to live and work all over the world. Leigh has starred in numerous Broadway and West End musicals and plays including the original cast of the Broadway revival of Chicago The Musical, A Chorus Line, The Producers, Relative Values, The Seven Year Itch, Contact, Crazy For You, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, and The Will Rogers Follies. She has appeared in over 25 films and television shows including Home Alone 2, Proof, United 93, W.E., Person Of Interest, NUMB3RS, Feel The Force, Doctors and One Life To Live.

Leigh has dedicated her professional career to the art of truthful storytelling through words, music and movement. In addition to her work as a performer, Leigh has been teaching master classes since 2003 in musical theater, acting and audition techniques all over the world. She has received international praise and acclaim for sharing her knowledge and expertise with established and aspiring entertainment industry professionals.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.LeighZimmerman.com/Masterclass

Renowned Florist and Floral Designer Teresa Sabankaya of Bonny Doon Garden Company In California Releases First Book, Launches Book-Signing Tour

When Teresa Sabankaya started her flower business in 1999 by growing her own assortment of boutique cut flowers, and later opened her own flower shop in Santa Cruz, precious few women were involved in growing and selling their own flowers and floral arrangements.

Bonny Doon, CA, June 11, 2019 — When Teresa Sabankaya started her flower business in 1999 by growing her own assortment of boutique cut flowers, and later opened her own flower shop in Santa Cruz, precious few women were involved in growing and selling their own flowers and floral arrangements. She is at the front of the farmer-florist movement, recognizing the importance of American Grown flowers and how to source them.

Now, 20 years later, Sabankaya is not only a renowned florist and innovative and in-demand floral designer, she is a pioneer of the Slow Flowers ™ movement, is an Advanced Certified Green Gardener, and now an author of a book on flowers.

Sabankaya’s “The Posy Book,” which was recently released on the Countryman Press imprint, explores one of her favorite topics, posies, a garden-inspired flower arrangement that conveys a message in the language of flowers.

In “The Posy Book,” Sabankaya, founder and creative director of Bonny Doon Garden Company, a full service floral design studio, Santa Cruz florist and botanical gift shop, shares what has become her signature — posies. Inspired by the Victorian-era language of flowers, Teresa’s modern-day posy is a gathering of flowers, herbs, and plants meant to convey messages such as Happy Birthday, Sympathy, Housewarming, and so much more! The Posy Book is the ultimate inspiration book, resource directory, instruction and historical reference book, and provides how-to and step by step directions on how the everyday person can use garden flowers and commercially grown cut flowers to create a modern-day floral design that uses the language of flowers to create a wide array of greetings and messages to it’s recipient.

Sabankaya and her posies have been a core part of her retail business from the beginning and have been featured in such media as CBS Sunday Morning, Romantic Homes magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Santa Cruz Sentinel and The New York Times.

Sabankaya holds an influential position as one of the most innovative florists in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her floral designs are highly desirable due to their unique style of arranging and elegant garden appeal. Her wedding florals have been featured in numerous wedding blogs and magazines including Smitten, Sweet Violet Bride, Style Me Pretty and Green Wedding Shoes.

She has been featured in Amy Stewart’s “Flower Confidential” book as well as her blog, and was featured “like a florist from 100 years ago” in the PBS documentary “Botany of Desire,” based on Michael Pollen’s bestseller “Botany of Desire.”

Sabankaya is an instructor of floral design and can be frequently seen leading workshops and presentations about flowers in many levels. Her “Posy in your Pocket” presentations have been highly attended at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, the Monterey Home and Garden Expo, Filoli Estate, and many garden clubs and nurseries.

She is an Advanced Certified Green Gardener, a member of Slow Flowers ™, Great Garden Speakers, and the California State Floral Association.

She kicked off her book-signing and floral demonstration tour on May 8 at Bookshop Santa Cruz, in Santa Cruz, California.

The Bonny Doon Garden Company
1101 Fair Ave.
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
www.bonnydoongardenco.com
http://www.teresasabankaya.com/
teresa@teresasabankaya.com
(831) 566-9925

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.bonnydoongardenco.com

2019 Monterey County Fair Advance Ticketholders Can Get Free Rides on Monterey Salinas Transit during Fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2 & Free Shuttle Rides from MPC, Friday Through Monday

Patrons of the 2019 The Monterey County Fair can get free bus rides on Monterey Salinas Transit from anywhere in Monterey County during the run of the fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2019, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Monterey, CA, June 08, 2019 — Patrons of the 2019 The Monterey County Fair can get free bus rides on Monterey Salinas Transit from anywhere in Monterey County during the run of the fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2019, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Patrons need only show a ticket purchased online or at Costco to get a free ride and will be dropped off adjacent to the Monterey County Fair at a convenient MST Bus Stop.

MST is also offering free shuttle service Friday through Monday between the Monterey County Fair and Monterey Peninsula College’s Parking Lot A at Via Lavandera on campus. Patrons will be dropped off at Gate 3, at the fair.

The shuttle departs every 10 minutes during these hours:

Friday 3:00 – 11:20 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday 10:10 a.m. – 11:20 p.m.

Monday 10:10 a.m. – 9:40 p.m.

Paid parking for the fair is available Thursday through Saturday at Monterey Pines Golf Course for $12, and starting at 3 p.m. Friday through Monday, at MPC for $8.

For information on MST, call 888-MST-BUS1 or go to the website at www.mst.org.

The Fair will be held Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2019, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey. The Fair’s theme this year is “High Tides and Carnival Rides.”

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center
The Monterey County Fair & Event Center is a premier event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is a state-owned multi-use facility that features four large banquet rooms, two outdoor concert venues, and a variety of outdoor and indoor cost-effective sites ideal for all types of events. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility.

For more information, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or go to www.montereycountyfair.com for more information.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereycountyfair.com

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Hosts Exciting, Informative Events for Both Children and Adults From June Through July 2019

The Museum is Now Open 7 Days A Week.

Pacific Grove, CA, June 07, 2019 — The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History has a number of fun and informative events for both children and adults on tap for June through July 2019.

Here are the events scheduled so far for June -July 2019. Events are held at the Museum, except where noted, at 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove.

Friday, June 7 - Sunday, June 9, 2019 2nd Annual Monterey Bay Jade Festival

The Monterey Bay Jade Festival is an annual gathering of jade vendors, enthusiasts, artisans and collectors with a common interest for the world of jade. This year’s event will take place at Monterey Bay Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940

Friday, June 7 from 1:00pm-7:00pm

Saturday, June 8 from 10:00am-6:00pm

Sunday, June 9 from 10:00am-4:00pm

Thursday, June 13, 2019 Hardcore Natural History Series

6:30pm - 8:00pm

Join us for a conversation about one teenager’s personal project to clean the oceans in our area. Alex Weber and her father Mike have been free diving off the coast for some time. A few years ago, Alex was struck by the number of golf balls that littered the ocean floor around Pebble Beach. Alarmed by what that addition of plastic might do to the ecosystem, she took on a personal crusade to clean the ocean floor around Pebble Beach. At HNH, we’ll be hearing more about her journey, the scientific paper she has published, and how this one project is reshaping policy and the ocean ecosystems along our coast.

$5 Members Online • $10 Non-members Online • $15 At The Door

Thursday, June 20, 2019

5:30pm-7:30pm

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

As we wrap up Volunteer Month, we want to celebrate our volunteers who help keep the museum running! We could not do it without you, and to show our appreciation, we invite our volunteers to the museum for Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. We will have a raffle for prizes and will be giving out awards for an evening our volunteers will not want to miss!

Friday, June 28, 2019 False Food Exhibition Opening Reception

False Food seeks to bring awareness to plastic pollution and the imperiled ecosystem through a presentation of plastic artifacts, fatally ingested by albatross, in aesthetically constructed images. With False Food, Jerry Takigawa creates paradoxical beauty that sustains the dialogue about a tragedy of our own making. This exhibit will run from Friday, June 28 through Sunday, September 15, 2019 in the museum’s Special Exhibit Gallery.

Saturday, June 29, 2019 Junior Naturalist Excursion

Moss Landing Marine Labs

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Junior Naturalist Club will head to Moss Landing for its June excursion to pay a visit to the famous Moss Landing Marine Labs. The club will be treated to guided tours of the MLML museum and laboratory spaces while learning about the cutting edge science and rich history of this Monterey Bay icon. The tours will start at 10:00 am. Junior Naturalist Club Membership required.

Thursday, July 18, 2019 Hardcore Natural History

The Plastic Link in the Agriculture Supply Chain

6:30pm - 8pm

Daniella Russo and Greg Baxter are the co-founders of Think Beyond Plastic, the leader of a global multidisciplinary effort to identify and commercialize upstream innovations that eliminate plastic pollution, with focus on innovative product delivery systems. At Hardcore Natural History, they'll be discussing their work in agricultural supply chains in our area.

$5 Members Online • $10 Non-members Online • $15 At The Door

Saturday, July 20, 2019 Junior Naturalist Excursion

10am - 12pm

Garland Ranch

The Junior Naturalist Club will head back to the Carmel Valley for its July excursion, where we'll be joined by the Museum's Watershed Guardians Coordinator, Matt McConnell, for an exploration of the Carmel River and its many inhabitants. We'll 'fish' for macroinvertebrates and hike a gentle loop trail while learning about watersheds and the importance of clean, cool rivers. Junior Naturalist Club Membership required.

Thursday, July 25, 2019 Member Event

6pm-7:30pm

With Pacific Grove’s notorious summer fog rolling in, we welcome museum members to join us inside our Bird Gallery for a special presentation of the documentary “Big Sur Fog: The Science and the History”. This will be followed by a Q&A discussion with Director and Writer Steven and Mary Albert.

For more information on Museum events, call (831) 648-5716, email admin@pgmuseum.org or go to the website at www.pgmuseum.org.

About the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
In 1883, our museum opened its doors among the first wave of natural history museums in America. Naturalists of this era, such as John Muir And Louis Aggasiz, began a national tradition of hands-on science education and nature preservation. The museum has continued this tradition for 130 years. The museum’s mission is to inspire discovery, wonder, and stewardship of our natural world. It envisions a community of curious minds, engaged in discovering the natural heritage and cultural legacy that exist today on the Central California Coast. The Museum is a catalyst for conservation and a valued learning resource in this region, facilitating active inquiry for all ages.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.pgmuseum.org

Longtime CAPA & Dance Kids Production Designer Working on Highly Anticipated Star Wars-Themed Park at Disneyland in California

It’s one of the most ambitious and eagerly awaited theme park attractions Disney has ever attempted and longtime Dance Kids and Carmel Academy of the Performing Arts production designer Nicole Bryant Stephens has been intimately involved in its completion.

Carmel, CA, June 06, 2019 — It’s one of the most ambitious and eagerly awaited theme park attractions Disney has ever attempted and longtime Dance Kids and Carmel Academy of the Performing Arts production designer Nicole Bryant Stephens has been intimately involved in its completion.

Bryant Stephens, an independent design contractor, has been hired as a field art director for Mural Makers since November 2018, working on the massive 14-acre Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme park being built at Disneyland Park in California (another one is being built at Disney World in Florida). According to Disney, the attraction will be the largest single-themed land expansion ever, and will have restaurants — including the park’s first-ever cantina — rides and other experiences to offer customers a fully-immersive experience.

“It’s phenomenal to be involved in a project of this magnitude,” says Bryant-Stephens, who has worked with Dance Kids and CAPA for over 25 years. “Just walking around and seeing it come alive is incredible.”

This is not the first time she’s worked with Disney. She has worked on teams that designed and built Disneyland Hong Kong, Disney’s California Adventure, Tarzan Tree House, and Disneyland. And she’s now working with her mentors from those projects, including Walt Disney Imagineers Ron Monk, Dino Fauci and 81-year-old Stefan Borowitz, who came out of retirement to work on Galaxy's Edge.

Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland Park in Anaheim is scheduled to open on May 31, while Disney World in Florida will open at the end of summer on Aug. 29. The goal for Disney is that fans will believe they have been transported into the world of Star Wars — at the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu.

“The 14-acre, themed destination at Disneyland Park in Anaheim will be unlike any attraction experienced before,” said the Hollywood Reporter, which was given a sneak preview last month. “With two state-of-the-art rides (Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run), a plethora of shops and restaurants (all in the theme of Star Wars so as not to feel like they are part of a Disney stop), jaw-dropping spectacles and full-scale droids milling about, the land delivers on the ambitious project (Disney chairman and CEO Bob ) Iger foretold when he announced the park at the D23 Expo in August 2015.”

Needless to say, the Star Wars park is the biggest project Bryant Stephens has ever worked on.

Born in New York, Bryant Stephens moved to Carmel in 1977. She was educated at Frohman Academy for Musical Theatre Education in Carmel and received her bachelor’s degree in fine art in Scenic Design from Theatre School formerly the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to Dance Kids and CAPA, she has designed sets for Santa Catalina School, York School, the Wharf Theatre, the Forest Theatre Guild and up in Aptos for Naatak the largest Indian Theatre group in the country. But her most extensive experience locally has been with Dance Kids and CAPA, including the annual “Nutcracker” and the Spanish-language version, “Cascanueces: A Folklorico Nutcracker.”

“My family has been extensively involved with CAPA and four generations of my family has been involved with Dance Kids’ ‘Nutcracker,’ even my grandmother, brother Joe and parents,” she says. “There couldn’t be a better creative outlet for my family than ‘Nutcracker’ and CAPA.”

Bryant Stephens has been involved in theater and dance since age 4, and by 12 began being paid for her work in technical theater. Her three children, two boys and a girl ages 7, 13 and 14, are all involved with ‘Nutcracker’, and her husband is the technical director he also helps out at home while she’s working on the Disney project in Anaheim. She has her own set and production design firm, Bottega Designs for over 27 years.

Working on a Star Wars project was one thing, but she was just as excited to be working again for Disney.

“I am a fan of Star Wars, but I’m an extreme fan of Disney,” she says, especially since being herself a Walt Disney Imagineer, for the first time in 2005 working on Hong Kong Disneyland.

Construction on the Star Wars park began in December 2017, Walt Disney Imagineering designed the project in collaboration with the Lucasfilm Story Group, with Imagineer Scott Trowbridge supervising the project, Asa Kalama and Chris Beatty serving as executive creative directors, and Lucasfilm's Pablo Hidalgo and designer Doug Chiang of Industrial Light & Magic involved as consultants.

The team decided to create a new planet of Baatu instead of using an existing planet from the Star Wars films such as Tatooine or Hoth in order to give guests a new experience.

"We wanted to build new Star Wars stories, new Star Wars destinations, but this time you could be in that story that required us to go to a new place," said Trowbridge to the Orlando Sentinel. “This used to be a vibrant trading port back in the old sub-lightspeed days, but now with advent of hyperspace, its prominence has kind of fallen and faded a little bit which has made it a great spot for those who didn't want to be on that kind of mainstream path. The smugglers, the bounty hunters, the rogue adventurers looking to crew up, the people who don't want to be found — basically all the interesting people.”

“The outpost looks lived-in and the intentional imperfections make the area feel like it's been around for hundreds of years,” said the Hollywood Reporter. “There will be three entrances into Galaxy's Edge, which is located north of Frontierland, where Big Thunder Ranch used to be, that also required the reconfiguration of the Disneyland Railroad and Rivers of America. Scents and music will be piped into the land, including original customized themes created by Star Wars composer John Williams.”

Bryant Stephens expects to work on the Star Wars project through April then it’s back to the Peninsula to work on local projects until Disney needs her again.

About Nicole Anne Bryant Stephens
Bryant Stephens has been a professional set designer and artist since high school. She received her BFA in Scenic Design from The Theater School formerly the Goodman School of Drama, DePaul University, Chicago, Ilinois. She has designed and worked on hundreds of productions including sets for the outdoor Forest Theater in Carmel, a variety of television specials, live musical events, theme parks and casinos.

After college, Nicole moved to Las Vegas and began work for PRG (Production Resource Group) where she expanded her skills working in casinos designing stages for a variety of shows. She was lead scenic artist for Penn and Teller’s "Sin City Spectacular" for their three-year run. After her tenure at PRG, Nicole struck out on her own, quickly building a stellar international reputation. During this time she also partnered with her family to launch Bottega Designs, where she applied her talents as a production designer and scenic artist to her father and brother’s architectural work.

Nicole has a talent and passion for teaching others new skills and techniques, directing live performances, and managing local crews as a field art director on various large casino and theme park projects.

Bottega Designs
https://nicoleannebryant.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://nicoleannebryant.com

Goodwill Central Coast Launches Donation Drives Across Three Counties on the Central Coast

Residents of the Central Coast can make a difference in their communities, empower people to work and preserve the landscape by diverting millions of pounds from landfills by donating to Goodwill Central Coast today.

Salinas, CA, June 03, 2019 — Residents of the Central Coast can make a difference in their communities, empower people to work and preserve the landscape by diverting millions of pounds from landfills by donating to Goodwill Central Coast today.

Goodwill Central Coast is encouraging residents in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo counties to donate to their local Goodwill store or donation station. From home pick-ups to tax write- offs, Goodwill makes giving to Goodwill as easy as possible.

It’s easy to declutter when you know Goodwill will be there to accept your donations and repurpose those items that don’t “spark joy” in you, but may do so for someone else.

Retail sales from donated items allows Goodwill to continue empowering thousands of people through employment every year. Goodwill gratefully accepts everything from clothing and accessories to small household appliances and furniture, electronics, books, fine china, art and other collectibles in good or new condition.

For more information, contact Goodwill at 1-800-894-8440 or donorservicessc@ccgoodwill.org, ccgoodwill.com or facebook.com/goodwillcentralcoast.

About Goodwill Central Coast
Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs over 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 13,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Goodwill Central Coast
1566 Moffet Street
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 423-8611
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

2019 Monterey County Fair Entertainment Goes Country with a Little Classic Rock Too, Aug. 29-Sept. 2

The 2019 Monterey County Fair will be going country this year, with a little classic rock thrown in for its free music entertainment on the Garden Stage during the run of the fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2019.

Monterey, CA, June 03, 2019 — The 2019 Monterey County Fair will be going country this year, with a little classic rock thrown in for its free music entertainment on the Garden Stage during the run of the fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 2, 2019.

Country star Mitchell TenPenny, whose 2018 hit “Drunk Me” hit #6 on the U.S. country charts, tops the list of country artists to headline, which includes Carrie Underwood Tribute and Garth Guy, a tribute to Garth Brooks. Journey Revisited, a tribute to the great Bay Area band, will also perform during the fair.

Nashville resident Tenpenny released his debut album, “Black Crow,” in 2015, and his second album and full-length major label debut album “Telling All My Secrets” in 2018.

All live music is free with fair admission. A full schedule of entertainment will be released this summer.

The Monterey County Fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 29-Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey. The theme of the 2019 fair is “High Tides and Carnival Rides.”

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center
The Monterey County Fair & Event Center is a premier event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is a state-owned multi-use facility that features four large banquet rooms, two outdoor concert venues, and a variety of outdoor and indoor cost-effective sites ideal for all types of events. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility.

For more information, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or go to www.montereycountyfair.com for more information.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereycountyfair.com