Theatre Under the Stars - Moonlight Celebrates 35 Years

Last week we took the kids to enjoy "All Shook Up" at Monnlight Amplitheatre.

Image via Moonlight Production

This year marks 35 years of magic on the outdoor stage. If you can believe it, I grew up in Vista and never had the privilege of going to Moonlight. Ever since high school I have loved live theatre! When the characters perform live before your eyes there is an added connection to the story line that cannot be fully described. I couldn't wait to share this love of live theatre with the kids!

After picking up our tickets at will call we walked through what felt like a little slice of summer with these beautifully lit arches. As the sun went down they became even more beautiful. This picture is not representing the full romance.

And on the ground there are these timeless quotes about the arts.

 

Next time I plan to ask the kids to read them and find out what they think the meaning is for each one. I love finding interesting quotes like this out in our communities. They can be great conversation starters whether on a date or to inspire your kids to embrace their creative side.

We planned to get there a little early to eat dinner before the show. As luck would have it we were running a little behind but still got to our seats with enough time to eat before the first set. Just one of the many benefits of outdoor theatre.... eating in your seats is totally allowed! Many people in the lawn seats both in front of us and behind us had either blankets sprawled out or what I call wine and cheese tables.

I pointed out to the kids that behind us that there was a lighting crew that would help set the mood for each scene.

I was delighted with our seats even if we were near the back row. As you can see there's not a bad seat in the house.

All Shook Up was a great show! I was toe tapping and singing along to Elvis classics like Jailhouse Rock and Blue Suede Shoes.

The summer show schedule has something for everyone

The kids saw that Shrek the Musical is in August and want to come back for that one!

Moonlight offers fabulous family night ticket pricing on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday nights. Adult tickets are $24 and kids 15 and under just $10 each. These are good for lawn seats, don't worry, they provide the chairs! This makes picnicking before the show a perfect pair. This time we had reserved seats but the kids already declared that they want to do lawn seats next time.

If you have not added theatre to your summer bucket list, I highly recommend it! If you live in San Diego, the drive to Vista for this truly unique experience is worth it. If you happen to live outside of San Diego, I encourage you to see if there is an outdoor stage somewhere in your vicinity, it truly adds a little bit of magic to summer.

Disclaimer: I was provided tickets in order to share my experience. 

Regardless, all opinions are my own. 

Windows Keep Opening

You've heard the saying, "Where one door closes, another one opens." I like to think of the variation about the WINDOW opening because of the ability to look through the window in the first place where we might actually see what is out there. Apparently Alexander Grahm Bell coined the phrase and online I was able to find the full quote:

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. – Alexander Graham Bell

And then upon researching it online I learn some attribute the phrase to Helen Keller - am amazing woman. Apparently she was friends with Bell, so perhaps it was a quote that came out of conversation between two great minds.

Anyway, I've been thinking about how my path changes and so many times the opportunities that present themselves are not the ones I've been chasing. Recently though a door closed and I was remorseful and bitter and couldn't shift my thinking for over a week. It seems though that the universe saw something better for me to open up my eyes to and handsomely rewarded me and my efforts over the past two years.

Photo credit JLMphoto on flickr

Sharing the exact situation of what door closed and which window opened is less important than the lesson of having faith that it will and to be aware of it when it happens.