In Brief: Central Valley Con coming to Modesto in December
Mark your calendars for the first-ever Central Valley Con on Sunday, Dec. 6, at Modesto Centre Plaza.
The new pop culture convention comes on the heels of October’s Steampunk Con in Turlock. The event will be presented by Battleground Games, formerly Kriers Cards and Comics, and run 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is the third city where the creators of StocktonCon will hold an event, with the other being Lodi’s Grape City Con.
Celebrity guests will include veteran voice actor Dino Andrade from “World of Warcraft” and “Batman: Arkham Asylum,” and actors Najee De-Tiege and Hector David Jr., both known for their roles on “Power Rangers Samurai.”
Ticket prices for the one-day event are $7 at the door and $5 in advance at Battleground Games. A portion of the proceeds from the Central Valley Con will benefit Make-A-Wish Northeastern California and Northern Nevada and the Modesto Gospel Mission. For more information, visit http://centralvalleycon.com.
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld is returning to the Central Valley.
The comic and TV star is booked to play a show at Stockton’s Bob Hope Theatre on March. 11. This will be the third visit to Stockton for the 61-year-old comic and star of his eponymous sitcom. He headlined at the grand reopening gala of the Bob Hope Theatre in 2004 and returned the the venue in 2013.
March is proving to be a comic-heavy month in area entertainment. His appearance comes during the same month as shows by Bill Maher (March 6) and Bill Engvall (March 19), slated at Modesto’s Gallo Center for the Arts. A show by comic Craig Ferguson at the Turlock Community Theatre also has been rescheduled to March (see below).
Tickets for Seinfeld’s show are $62.50-$147.50. Call 209-373-1400 or visit www.stocktonlive.com.
Craig Ferguson
The scheduled December show of comic and former late-night host Craig Ferguson has been moved to March.
The Scottish funnyman’s appearance was slated for Dec. 16, but has been rescheduled to March 4 at the Turlock Community Theatre. Current ticketholders may request refunds up until the original date of the show. All other tickets will be honored for the new date, with new tickets issued and mailed out. Tickets are still available to see the former host of “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” on the new show date as well.
For more information or to request new tickets, call 209-668-1169.
MJC concerts
Modesto Junior College closes out its semester with a series of concerts this week.
First up the MJC symphonic band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, at the East Campus Main Auditorium. Director Erik Maki will conduct the ensemble as they perform a variety of music for modern wind band. The event is free and open to the public.
Then the MJC community orchestra presents “JurClassic Park” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the East Campus Main Auditorium. The show will be directed by professor Anne Martin and includes works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and more performed by college, high school and community musicians. Tickets are $5 general, $1 students.
Finally, two different concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2, on the MJC East Campus. The MJC community concert band puts on its annual fall concert at the Main Auditorium. Maki will conduct the show, which will include works by Sousa, Dvorak and more. Admission is free. At the same time, the department of music presents “MIDI Griddy Electronic Music Concert” in the Recital Hall. The show will feature original electronic music compositions by student composers from the MJC electronic music classes and the MJC Electronic Music Club. MJC Electronic Music Studio director David Dow also will perform an original electronic music composition. Admission is free.
Holiday with the Rat Pack
Frank Sinatra sings and swings again at the State Theatre for “Holiday with the Rat Pack” this week.
Modesto performer Matt Henderson channels Old Blue Eyes for the show of holiday favorites. Henderson is a regular performer at area retirement communities. The show will feature local talent performing some of the Rat Pack’s favorite songs and shticks.
Admission is free. Show starts at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3. Call 209-527-4697 or visit www.thestate.org.
MSO Holiday Pops!
A truly “Wicked” star will be adding yuletide cheer to this year’s Modesto Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops! show.
Broadway star Alli Mauzey will be the featured soloist at the seasonal show Friday-Saturday, Dec. 4-5, at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Mauzey starred as Glinda in “Wicked” in the 10th anniversary of the famed New York production. Associate conductor Ryan Murray will lead the orchestra in the show, which also includes the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus, Turlock High School Cantata and a visit from Santa Claus.
Tickets range from $19-$92. Call 209-338-2100 or visit www.galloarts.org.
This story was originally published November 24, 2015 at 1:58 PM with the headline "In Brief: Central Valley Con coming to Modesto in December."