Arts in the Valley, April 13 (Sat. 8 pm) & April 14 (Sun. 2 pm) 2013, 1480 KYOS AM, Merced, CA

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Arts in the Valley host Kim McMillon interviews literary icon Kim McMillon on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 & 14, 2013. Kim McMillon also interviews Melissa Kelly-Ortega about her Arts in the Valley monthly program, Eyes on the Community. Melissa lets the public know what’s happening in Merced and surrounding communities. Hip Hop Movement of UC Merced will also be interviewed about their upcoming programs.

To listen to the interview with Nikki Giovanni, click onto the link:

Melissa Kelly-Ortega is the Communication Specialist for Building Healthy Communities.

To listen to Melissa’s interview, click onto the link:
Building Healthy Communities is a 10-year, $1 billion plan of The California Endowment. In connection with staff-led, statewide policy initiatives, 14 communities, including Southwest Merced/East Merced County, are taking action to make where they live healthier. They’re doing this by improving employment opportunities, education, housing, neighborhood safety, unhealthy environmental conditions, access to healthy food and more.

The goal: to create places where children are healthy, safe and ready to learn. Ultimately, we’re aiming at nothing less than a transformation in the way all of us think about and support health for all Californians.

For more information, please visit http://www.calendow.org/healthycommunities

Araceli, Reanna, and Alan from Hip Hop Movement of UC Merced will speak about their upcoming programs.

To listen to Hip Hop Movement’s interview, click onto this link:
Hip Hop Movement’s mission is to preserve traditional hip hop culture and promote awareness of the art within the campus and community of Merced.

They are a student-led organization of expressionist representing the four elements of hip hop:

Graffiti, DJ, MC, and Dance.

To learn more about HHM, visit
http://www.youtube.com/UCMHipHopMovement

You can also visit their Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/HHM.UCM

Arts in the Valley, Saturday, September 29th, 6 am, 1480 KYOS AM

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Listen to Gail Benedict, producing manager of Arts UC Merced Presents, on Arts in the Valley at 6 am this Saturday on 1480 KYOS AM.

To Listen to Gail Benedict’s interview, click onto the link:  lulu dance-2

Innovative dance company performs at Merced Theatre 

By KRISTA BJORN – Sun-Star Correspondent  –

Wednesday, Sep. 26, 2012

MERCED — This weekend Arts UC Merced Presents will host the Lula Washington Dance Theatre at the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre.

“The Lula Washington Dance Theatre is a Los Angeles-based dance company that performs innovative and provocative choreography,” said Gail Benedict, producing manager of Arts UC Merced Presents.

“Lula Washington’s powerful, high-energy choreography is derived from many dance styles: ballet, jazz, performance art and street dancing.

Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/09/26/2560179/innovative-dance-company-performs.html#storylink=cpy

“Many of her works reflect the African-American culture and history. Her athletic dancers are highly trained professionals, many from the inner city of Los Angeles,” Benedict said.

Ticket prices reduced

Normally tickets to such an event run as high as $100, but this special performance will be presented to Merced audiences at a cost of $10 to $15 per ticket.

“The only reason Arts UC Merced Presents is able to bring such a high-quality program to the community is because the Lula Washington Dance Theatre received a grant from the James Irvine Foundation to tour the Central Valley’s smaller communities, who might not have access to these kinds of performances,” Benedict explained.

“The grant has allowed us to keep the prices low so that as many people as possible have an opportunity to attend the performance,” she said.

The Lula Washington Dance Theatre’s activities include community outreach.

“We’ve arranged for them to do a presentation at Golden Valley High School for the high school theater students on the Friday before their performance,” Benedict said. “Following that, they will arrive on campus to do a presentation to our biggest lecture class called ‘Core Friday’ in the Lakireddy Auditorium.”

Kim McMillon has worked with Benedict and other women in promoting the Lula Washington Dance Theatre throughout the Merced community.

“What is powerful and exciting about this event is that not only will the audience watch some of the most innovative choreography on the planet,” McMillon said, “but they will also have the opportunity to hear icon Lula Washington speak about her company, her work in underserved communities, and the magic of dance.

Youth perspective

“Lula Washington uses dance to explore social issues and culture,” she said. “Her dancers are athletic, so that when they dance, they excite, bringing an energy and power to dance.”

McMillon is excited to see the responses of area high school students.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Merced youth watching this incredible dance company,” she said, “knowing that just as I remember seeing The Alvin Ailey Dance company, or Pilobolus Dance Theatre for the first time, they will also have wonderful memories of the power of dance.”

Lula Washington Dance Theatre

The Lula Washington Dance Theatre will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Art Kamangar Center at the Merced Theatre.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission, and $10 for students and children under 12. They are available at the Merced Theatre box office.

Call (209) 381-0500 or go to www.mercedtheatre.org. Box office hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call Gail Benedict at (209) 228-4566.

Read more here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/09/26/2560179/innovative-dance-company-performs.html#storylink=cpy

Arts in the Valley, Saturday, Aug. 11 (8 PM), and Sunday Aug. 12 (2 PM), 2012, 1480 KYOS AM, Merced, CA

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Arts in the Valley host Kim McMillon inteviews Robert Hypes, the Artistic Director of Playhouse Merced, and Psychic Medium Renata Santorelli on Saturday and Sunday, August 11 at 8 pm, and August 12 at 2 pm.

To listen to Rob Hypes discuss Playhouse Merced’s Season, click onto the Link:merced theatre-5

Founded in 1994 as the Merced Center for the Performing Arts, Playhouse Merced has grown over the years into the area’s premier theatre organization, presenting a Mainstage season of at least a dozen shows and special events annually.  Additionally, the youth Conservatory offers after-school instruction in theatre, voice and dance, provides educational opportunities through outreach to outlying communities and presents acclaimed theatre summer camps for young people.

Partial list of Playhouse Merced’s upcoming season

9 to 5: The Musical
August 31 – September 16, 2012

Music and Lyrics by  Dolly Parton 
Book by  Patricia Resnick 
Based on the 20th Century Fox Picture

It’s a hilarious tale of friendship and revenge — three unlikely friends who conspire to take control of their company and learn there’s nothing they can’t do — even in a man’s world.

A Few Good Men
September 28 – October 7, 2012 
by Aaron Sorkin

From the writer of “The West Wing,” “Moneyball” and the “Social Network” is this riveting drama of military lawyers at a court-martial who uncover a high-level conspiracy in the course of defending their clients, United States Marines accused of murder.

Richard O’Brien’ The Rocky Horror Show
 October 12 – October 31, 2012


Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien

Let’s do the Time Warp again!  Meet Brad, Janet, Riff-Raff, Magenta, Columbia and Dr. Frank N. Furter in one of the most outrageous shows ever produced.

To listen to Psychic Medium Renata Santorelli, click onto the link:renata santori-2

Psychic Medium Renata Santorelli was born in Kentucky and raised in California. Her own life experiences have contributed towho she has become today: a motivational psychic medium, a motivational speaker, a spiritual counselor and a radio show host. Her desire is to continue to inspire others with messages of hope and inspiration through her private consultation sessions, her personal writings… and workshops and lectures, all of which tell of her varied and often difficult life experiences. 

Unfortunately like so many others, Renata has experienced various levels of abuse while growing up. She was taken away from her family when she was twelve due to the abuse; she was made a ward of the state of California and lived in a state run girls’ home in Los Angeles, from the ages of twelve to eighteen.

Her spiritual journey has steadfastly led her to a place of healing and peace as a result of sharing her life’s story with thousands of others. Many other people have also endured what seemed to be impossible life experiences and circumstances.

Renata has been communicating with those in the afterlife since the age of three…

The spiritual world was not something her family understood… This was a confusing time for her, because while what she was hearing and seeing was very real, she learned that her ability was not something she could share with most of her family without severe repercussions at times. She began internalizing what she saw, heard or felt – for fear of ridicule. She was exposed to various religious beliefs, both from her family and from the religious girl’s home where she lived during her teen years. With these beliefs imposed upn her, she was again left with the impression that what she saw, heard and felt from her contact with those on the other side was not a gift, but ‘a curse’.

It was not until her third near death experience in 1997 that she began to realize that maybe what she thought was her biggest curse in life might be a gift. But she was still keeping her abilities a secret at that time.In 1998, once again her life would forever be changed. It was during her physical healing process from an automobile accident that her beloved brother took his own life. After his passing, she fell into a deep depression.Then, one night months after his passing, she had a visit from him. During this visit, he told her that it was now time for her to begin using her abilities and gifts to help others. His visit transformed her life forever.

Thus began her search for the true meaning of the Higher Power that was called ‘God’.

Renata Santorelli worked with the The Windbridge Institute for Applied Research in Human Potential.  The Institute  is concerned with asking, “What can we do with the potential that exists within our bodies, minds, and spirits?” Can we heal each other? Ourselves? Can we affect events and physical reality with our thoughts? Can we know things before they happen? Are we connected to each other? To the planet? Can we communicate with our loved ones who have passed?