Going to the South Side for “West side”

There are few three-word titles as instantly recognizable as “West Side Story.” They conjure images of gang warfare, young love, and well-choreographed dance numbers. They conjure sounds of American jazz, mixed with a grab bag of famous Latin music styles. After my time rehearsing for this production, I’ll also conjure thoughts of long nights spent doing the thing I love most: watching a show come together, and being a part of it as well. Why is that? Well, let’s go back to the start. November of 2024, to be exact. Now that “A Christmas Story: the Musical” has begun performing,…

Suspenseful horror abounds in “Heretic”

The co-writers of “The Quiet Place,” Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, bring you an exciting thriller/horror inside the head of a well-mannered creep, or at least in his house. A24 did it again, making a suspenseful “horror” movie with “Heretic.” I personally won’t call it a horror movie because there aren’t many jump-scares and it’s not gore/torture porn like your average modern horror movie. The movie follows two girls who are part of the Mormon church knocking door to door till they arrive at Mr. Reed’s door, played by Hugh Grant. The lesson we can all learn from the trailer…

Starting community theater with “A Christmas Carol”

By the time this article publishes, I will have already performed on the Harbor Playhouse stage. Getting to this stage was a dance with my friends and a fight with myself. I walked into Harbor Playhouse on a sunny September afternoon with two things in mind: the thought that I was out of my element auditioning for “A Christmas Carol,” but the conviction to still give it my all. My afternoon was spent watching many people give stellar performances, meanwhile I stayed worried about my chances about making it in the cast after all. We were told that the cast…

Holloway finds niche in local theater

A calling can come from anywhere. The moment where someone stumbles into something that resonates can be found in a variety of locations, and Del Mar drama student Hunter Holloway found his calling from seeing people on stage for a musical. “I saw my first ever community theater show, which was ‘Footloose’ at Aurora Arts Theatre,” Holloway said. From the moment he saw it, he was sold on theater. “I knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life,” Holloway said. He went on to audition for a musical, wanting to give this new medium a try for himself.…

Local theater brings beloved Christmas movie to stage

Del Mar Drama student Cameron Spencer has been working their way toward getting on a community theater stage for some time. “I’ve been auditioning for Aurora [Arts Theatre] and Harbor [Playhouse] for years,” Spencer said. All that hard work finally paid off when he got the call to be in “A Christmas Story,” a role he accepted. “I was glad to get in,” Spencer said. Based on the 1983 film of the same name, “A Christmas Story: the Musical” follows nine-year-old Ralphie Parker doing anything he can to get his hands on his dream Christmas gift: a Red Ryder carbine…

Magical weekend includes hiccups

KadabraCon 2024 ran earlier this month on Oct. 4-6, its second year as a convention in the South Texas pop culture and anime scene. With many pop-ups and advertisements promoting the event, this year’s turnout was expected to surpass the previous year’s effort by a large margin. Expectations were set high with a stacked list of special guests including the full cast of “The Amazing Digital Circus” alongside voice actors from properties like “JuJutsu Kaisen” and “Genshin Impact,” in addition to a live performance by musical artist Beomhan. It seemed this year was destined to be one for the books.…

Joe’s Backyard Hosts Halloween Hardcore Bash Featuring Canadian Band

On Oct. 23, Joe’s Backyard transformed into a hub of energy as it hosted its Halloween costume-encouraged hardcore show, featuring special guests Reality Denied from Canada. The event, organized by HC Demonstrations, drew a diverse crowd eager to celebrate the hardcore scene. Sanity Slip singer, Sarynthia Marmolejo, played a pivotal role in bringing the band to South Texas. “I messaged Reality Denied requesting to perform with my band,” she explained, “they responded with what they would need to come to the states.” Conner Gibbs, band member of Reality Denied underscored the challenges faced by Canadian bands touring in the U.S.…

Backyard Show Thrills Fans at Joe’s Backyard in Corpus Christi

Local hardcore music scene came alive on Sept 29 known colloquially as, “Joe’s Backyard”, a non-traditional venue, home of Hardcore Demonstration Records owner, Jose Luis Valdovinos, Jr. with bands such as Bed of Nails, Turn Cold, No One Winz, Within Range and newcomers Mind Your Own. Jose Luis Valdovinos Sr., the venue’s VP welcomed attendees with enthusiasm. “I do anything and everything for my son,” Valdovinos said, highlighting his dedication to his son, the label, and its hardcore community. Anyone who is familiar with the genre knows that the atmosphere comes with loud, aggressive music with a strong sense of…

Salem’s Lot (2024): Mid on Max

In the day and age of studio tax write-offs, “Salem’s Lot” was lucky to see the light of day at all. Filmed five years ago, and sat on by Warner Brothers for a couple of years, the film adaptation of Stephen King’s1978 novel finally released on Max just in time for Halloween.  Fans of the book will tune in to see if it is a faithful adaptation, but as with most movies based on the written word, adaptation can prove to be tough. The film suffers from pacing and editing issues galore. The film’s director, Gary Dauberman, claims he had…

Professor Frederick’s farewell production imminent

Del Mar’s very own Kim Fredrick will be retiring with his last show as a drama professor. Fredrick, a cherished figure in the drama department, is orchestrating the special production as a farewell to his long and impactful career. Having dedicated over 30 years to DMC, Fredrick is set to retire after a final showcase of “Greater Tuna,” a play that resonates deeply with him. “Of the many plays, “Greater Tuna” – I feel a connection with this play, in particular,” he shares. His connection to the play underscores his belief in its enduring charm and the joy it brings even decades…