family entertainment

#FamilyFun | 5 Reasons To See UniverSoul Circus @UniverSoulCirc | March 20-31,2019 in #RaleighNC

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Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to attend opening night as a blogger in the Raleigh/Durham area. All opinions are 100% my own.

Hey Raleigh, NC, Get ready for the triumphant return of America’s No. 1 Circus! Universoul Circus is back, now in its 26th year, to give you live family entertainment extravaganza! If you have never been before, or maybe you are a returning fan like me, I am here to share 5 Reasons To See Universoul Circus with your family and friends!

1. DIVERSITY

FACT: There are 13+ Countries Represented at UniverSoul Circus! Enjoy one-of-a-kind performances from around the world – all coming together as one under a single ring big top. Led by Ringmaster Lucky from South Africa and his long time Sidekick Zeke, the 2019 edition of UniverSoul Circus features contortionists from Guinea, Skaters from Cuba, Daredevil Motorcyclists from the United States, a High Wire Act from Colombia and Gabon, Trampoline Acrobats from Cuba and Ethiopia, Teeterboard Drillers from Mongolia, Solo Trapeze from Brazil, Trick Rescue Pooches from Colombia and Russia, a Cossack Horse Act from Kazakhstan, Cuba, Guinea and Mexico, Fresh the Clownsss from the United States, and many more surprises!

Teeterboard Drillers from Mongolia | Photo Credit: UniverSoul Circus

2. SIGHTS

UniverSoul Circus is rated as one of the top two circuses in America along with Cirque du Soleil and one of the reasons is because of all the exciting and electrifying acts! This once in a lifetime thrill-a-minute spectacle comes at you like a high-speed rollercoaster! If you like thrills and live entertainment, UniverSoul Circus has all of that!

Daredevil Motorcyclists from the United States | Photo Credit: UniverSoul Circus

3. SOUNDS

Celebrating 26 amazing years in 2019, UniverSoul Circus is a highly interactive combination of circus arts, theater, and music that spans genres including Pop, Classic R&B, Latin, Hip Hop, Jazz and Gospel. It embraces and celebrates the unique and familiar aspects of pop culture globally by bringing them center stage with a cast of international performers. FACT: There are over 11+ Performing Acts!

Photo Credit | UniverSoul Circus

4. SOUL

Celebrated around the world for spreading a soulful dose of unity, inclusion and diversity under its red and yellow striped big top, UniverSoul Circus was created in 1994 by a man named Cedric Walker who had a vision of creating a circus with an inclusive, jovial and soulful atmosphere. Participants are immersed into a global dimension, drawing multicultural, multinational, and multigenerational bonding through performance art for all people to enjoy and be entertained.

5. FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

The last time my family and I attended was the Summer of 2017 and we had so much fun! [You can read my 2017 recap>>>here]. UniverSoul’s fresh approach to family friendly live entertainment has garnered it a coveted spot as one of Ticketmaster’s top ten most requested family events. When people ask me how is it? I simply say it’s a good time for all ages and encourage them to see for themselves why UniverSoul Circus is the #BestCircusEver!

Me and my family at UniverSoul Circus, 2017

*SobeSavvyGiveaway: I hosted a flash giveaway on Instagram and the winner(s) are…drum roll..Congrats to Meka H. and Kiara R. of Raleigh,NC

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvNP0Y_HKe3/

GET TICKETS on sale now via: www.ticketmaster.com

CONNECT:

@universoulcircus (Instagram)

@universoulcirc (Twitter)

www.facebook.com/universoulcir

www.youtube.com/universoulcircus

*Be sure to visit website to signup and become an insider and get updates for your city tour stop/dates at: www.universoulcircus.com

FOLLOW my highlights from opening night on Instagram @SobeSavvy and check out my video recap on YouTube! >> https://youtu.be/iZ_6pQQdtkU

RALEIGH:

Wednesday, March 20 thru Sunday March 31, 2019

Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

3801 Rock Quarry Rd

Raleigh, NC 27610

* Next City >>Newark,NJ on 4/3/19

HAVE YOU BEEN TO UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS BEFORE? WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE MOMENT? Let me know in the comments below! See you under the Big Top!🎪

REVIEW | ‘A Motown Christmas’ Cary Arts Center in @TownofCary 12/28-12/30/18 #CaryNC #FamilyFun

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🎶 Candles burnin’ low

Lots of mistletoe

Lots of snow and ice

Everywhere we go
Choirs singin’ carols
Right outside my door

All these things and more
(All these things and more)
Whoa, that’s what Christmas means to me my love 🎶

In my home, Christmas just ain’t Christmas until we start playing ‘A Motown Christmas’ cd, which is a compilation album featuring christmas music sung by some of the greatest artists to ever come out of Motown. The album came out in 1973 (the year I was born) and its music can still be heard and enjoyed today during the holidays. The lyrics above are from Stevie Wonder’s ‘What Christmas Means To Me‘ is one of my favorites! In fact, the whole album is a family favorite. That’s why when I learned that ‘A Motown Christmas‘, a musical review presented by Li V Mahob Productions and the Town of Cary, was coming to the Cary Arts Center I had to make plans to see it! I even hosted a giveaway for 1 winner & guest to enjoy opening night on Friday 12/28 at 8pm.

I went to the Saturday 12/29 3pm show with my husband, our daughter and my mother, who came from out of town to see this show! We thought it was FANTASTIC! Their renditions of so many Motown classics were incredibly good. The groups were paired to best utilize their vocal similiarities to the originals. There was plenty of hand clapping and foot stomping to go along with superb storytelling. We got a bit of history lesson to start the show of how this production came to be along with the humble beginnings of Motown. There was no better combination than the festive Motown Sound and the gospel of love. The whole family can celebrate the joys of the holidays at this exciting, family fun musical event.

About the Show

This musical revue showcases original Christmas and holiday songs by Motown’s most celebrated artists like The Supremes, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye as well as the sounds of your favorite traditional carols. Under the music direction of Ronzel Bell, the direction of Deb Royals-Mizerk and choreography by Darian Moore, this show offers audiences a unique holiday experience full of soul, holiday joy and a message of Love.

The Cast
This show has one intermission and runs approximately 2 hours, but as the saying goes..time flies when you are having fun! The cast, which features some of the Triangle’s most gifted singers and musicians, did an amazing job of entertaining the audience. They kept us dancing and singing along in our seats without missing a beat!

Buy Tickets

There is still time to get tickets for the last show on Sunday 12/30 at 3pm. Tickets available through etix or The Cary Theater Box Office, 122 East Chatham Street, Cary NC

Adult 18+: $24

Senior 55+/Student/Child: $22

Military: $22

Group of 10+: $20

For more information contact: (919) 462-2051

Motown music is cross generational bringing joy and wonderful memories. Christmas time with a Motown influence uplifts us all! Nate Jacobs’ A Motown Christmas is a great way to say goodbye to the holidays and hello to the New Year. I definitely think this is a show worth seeing with the whole family!

Moses T. Alexander Greene , Producer of ‘A Motown Christmas’ and the Director of African American Cultural Center at NC State University with #outandaboutAva

•HAVE YOU SEEN ‘A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS’ MUSICAL REVUE? •WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOTOWN CHRISTMAS SONG?

Cary Arts Center

101 Dry Ave.

Cary, NC 27511

Hey #Raleigh Families, this March see Little Shop of Horrors +Beanstalk! The Musical @RLT1936 #Theatre #Fun

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This weekend, you have two last chances to check out a favorite MUSICAL COMEDY of mine, Little Shop of Horrors! Raleigh Little Theatre extended its run thru March 4, 2018 with more performances playing at the Canton V. Sutton Theatre. I look forward to seeing the final performance as a “Sunday Funday” activity with my family.

I remember watching the remake of the original movie in 1986. I was 13 years old and seeing Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold as part of a Black female singing trio who brought the drama and comedy to life was a memorable moment in this musical comedy. I know all the lyrics, so I definitely will have fun seeing these 3 singers on stage.

If you are not a superfan like me, here is a brief synopsis of the story:

The meek floral assistant, Seymour Krelborn, stumbles across a new breed of plant that he names “Audrey II” after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down-and-out Krelborn, as long as he keeps feeding it BLOOD. Over time, though, Seymour discovers Audrey II’s out-of-this-world origins and intent toward global domination!

Little Shop of Horrors is part of the RLT Sutton Series. Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken. Based on the film by Roger Corman and screenplay by Charles Griffith. Directed by Patrick Torres. The show is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Audrey II is sponsored by Bloom Works.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets are available now! Buy them online or from the box office at 919-821-3111. Group sales will also be available from the box office. Seating is Reserved Seating. Final Weekend Ticket prices (including taxes):

Adults: $29 Students/Seniors: $25

Seniors are age 62 and up. Students are through college.

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Get your tickets now for an upcoming family friendly production, Beanstalk! the Musical!, opening March 16. It is the first production to open in the newly renovated Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre. The production puts a unique spin on the classic fairy tale. For more information go to Raleigh Little Theatre‘s website: http://raleighlittletheatre.org/

SobeSavvy Tip: Did you know RLT offers a summer camp? They are now registering for 2018 Summer Camp – ages 4-18 offered at RLT, Apex, Wendell and Wake Forest locations! Learn about their upcoming 2018/2019 Season: Acts of Courage!

This March, make plans to go see one or both of these Raleigh Little Theatre performances and support the arts with your family/friends. Check back here on SobeSavvy.com for my review of Beanstalk! the Musical! Hope to see you there!

DO YOU ENJOY THEATRE? WHAT WAS THE LAST PLAY YOU ENJOYED?

Family Fun|Opening Night Review #DisneyOnIce presents Dare to Dream @PNCArena in #Raleigh 12/6-12/10!

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​Disclosure: I received complimentary tickets to review the show, however any opinions are my own.

On Wednesday Dec 6, my husband, daughter and I joined other families for a chance to celebrate what’s possible at Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream! Now showing at the PNC Arena until Dec 10, 2017, this show follows the adventures of five daring Disney heroines who’s mission is to spark the courage inside us all. Here is more about the show:

In her Disney On Ice debut, see how far Moana will go when she embarks on an action-packed voyage with mighty demigod Maui in a quest to save her island, become a wayfinder, and find her own identity. Anna’s devotion to her estranged sister Elsa sets her on a perilous journey to mend their bond, and stop an eternal winter. Rapunzel breaks out of her tower and teams up with an unlikely companion, Flynn Rider, as she goes to great lengths to realize her dream. Armed only with courage, Belle befriends the enchanted castle staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s rough exterior. With help from her friends and a little magic, Cinderella is determined to make the wish in her heart come true. Hosted by Mickey and Minnie, discover why no dream is too big when we find the strength to shape our own destiny at Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream!

SobeSavvy Tip: Make sure you get there early to have some time to walk through the concourse and browse some of the novelty stands. There is plenty of awesome Disney merchandise to choose from!

There’s also face painting and a Disney photo booth to enjoy prior to the show or during the brief intermission. A keepsake mug is a must for our daughter. So after some high level discussions on what style of cup she wanted, we settled on a souvenir Mickey Mouse snow cone mug and some cotton candy {which comes with a crown with Mickey Mouse ears}! 

We got to our seats just in time as the lights were dimmed and the show began. Belle from Beauty and The Beast, Cinderella, Frozen’s Anna & Elsa and Moana were the heroines of the evening. Each main character had their own unique elaborate sets and scenes straight from the big screen played out on ice with plenty of special effects and all the sing along sets we have come to love. Watching my 6 yr old enchanted by all the Disney Magic just made me feel like a kid myself all over again. He denied it, but I swear I caught my husband singing along with a ‘Shiny’ singing crab from Moana! I mean when was the last time you saw a crab dance and skate on ice?!

Disney is known for putting on a top notch show, whether on land or ice and this one did not disappoint. It snowed, got windy, had aerial acrobatics and even had a huge dancing horse. It’s a whole lot of magic and family fun with important life lessons for everyone. The Disney Heroines reminded us to face fears, be courageous, dare to dream and ……. ⤵

Join the magic now until Dec 10 at the PNC Arena. For more information about the show go to http://www.disneyonice.com. Tickets are available for purchase >>> here. 

Watch this video of more #DisneyOnIce magic moments from opening night here in Raleigh,NC at PNC! 

#OutandAboutAva Explores, Rescues, Protects and Reviews #OctonautsLive @DPAC ~Recap by #SobeSavvy .com

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Calling all Cadets! The Octonauts crew has something exciting for you at their brand new Octonauts Live! show.  #OutandAboutAva and I just saw the Deep Sea Volcano Adventure at DPAC and had loads of family fun watching the Octonauts come to life on stage. This high-tech production featured costume characters and animated projections to a massive screen on stage. The audience was filled with kids and families who enjoyed the opportunity to be apart of the action by joining the Octo-Cadets! 

DPAC packed the house on November 11 with fans to see this popular children’s show. The tour comes on the heels of new Octonauts episodes premiering throughout the year on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. Seasons one, two and three are also available on Netflix, and the first ever Octonauts 4D movie adventure is coming later this year. But just in case you do not know the Octonauts, they are a very dynamic team of heroes who go on a fast-paced, exciting underwater adventure. Their mission: to explore new underwater worlds, rescue amazing sea creatures and protect the ocean. The group is led by Captain Barnacles the bear, and also includes Kwazii the kitten, Peso the penguin, Dr. Shellington the sea otter, Dashi the dog, Tweak the bunny, Professor Inkling the octopus and Tunip the `vegimal’ (part vegetable, part animal). 

This stage show features sing-a-longs and alot of interactivity with the characters on stage. It was also educational as I learned alot about the ocean. Did you know it had layers like a cake? There’s 3 total: sunlight, twilight and moonlight before hitting the bottom of the ocean floor. Here is more of what you can expect to see at Octonauts Live! https://youtu.be/Bb1Nns8yKMg

Following the show, we attended the Octopod Explorer Party, which I talked about here in my prior post about Octonauts Live. It truly enhanced our Octonauts experience and I recommend upgrading your ticket for the following perks: