“When a show can fill you with the awe and wonder of a 10-year-old,
you know you have had a good time.”

– The Dance Insider, from a review of The Peking Acrobats

enTRANCE! THE SERIES

2008/2009 Inaugural Season

Kids 15 and under 50% off!

Introducing a unique, dynamic series with four fantastic performances appropriate for anyone 8 years old and above. Whether you're a young person beginning to explore, or a grown-up open to new ideas and perceptions, prepare to be thrilled and enchanted as you embark on a magical path to discovery at The Granada.

It begins in September with the quirky theatrics of Birdhouse Factory, blending brilliant cirque performers and inventive contraptions in a magical story of life, laughter, loss and flight! For the holidays, The Granada’s first production of A Christmas Carol takes you on a journey of hope and redemption in this classic Dickens tale. The New Year launches with the dazzling spectacle of The Peking Acrobats, drawing you into an ancient culture rich with intrigue and beauty. And the series culminates with a bang in the spring as the powerful percussion rhythms and movement of TAIKOPROJECT add a contemporary edge to a centuries-old folk tradition.

Friday, September 12 – 8 p.m.

Birdhouse Factory
By Cirque Works

Enter the most unlikely setting for a circus: a factory.
One where the workers are acrobats and the machines
are circus props!

A place where spectators will be captivated by amazing
acro-dancers and contortionists, amused by the antics of the comedic characters, and enchanted by the magical story of laughter, love, flight and… birdhouses.

This is a simple story of factory workers brought together by the most unlikely of events: a bird accidentally injured by the main steam boiler. The caring for the bird inspires them to break away from the efficiency and monotony of the assembly-line and display their true talents and abilities.

Birdhouse Factory is brought to life by international veterans of Cirque du Soleil and the Moscow Circus. The quirky contraptions and extraordinary cast transform the mundane into the magnificent.

Inspired by the industry murals of Diego Rivera, the outrageous illustrations of Rube Goldberg and the slap-stick humor of Charlie Chaplin’s film “Modern Times”.

A Granada Production - Premiere Night!
Saturday, December 20 – 8 p.m.

A Christmas Carol
Dickens' Classic Holiday Tale

Seven other performances to choose from!
Saturday, 12/20 2 p.m.; Sunday, 12/21 2 p.m.;
Tuesday, 12/23 8 p.m.; Wednesday, 12/24 2 p.m.;
Friday, 12/26 8 p.m.; Saturday, 12/27 8 p.m.;
Sunday, 12/28 2 p.m.

If you can engage a person’s imagination, you can trigger their humanity.

Behold the frigid existence of Ebenezer Scrooge, whose disdain
for mankind and contempt for holiday cheer are challenged by the appearance of the ghosts of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, and Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Over the course of one magical Christmas Eve, Scrooge is guided through a transformation from hardhearted miser into compassionate human being.

In The Granada’s first house production, we take up Dickens’ classic holiday tale, embracing the timeless universal themes of empathy, hope, communal spirit and redemption.

One of literature’s most enduring stories, A Christmas Carol has become an important ritual at holiday time for many families, regardless of religious background or faith.

Prices: $55 / $45 / $35 / $25

Friday, January 23 – 8 p.m.

2009 World Tour
The Peking Acrobats

“ ... gymnastic displays of such awesome pyrotechnics that they knocked the audience on its ear.”
–  Anchorage Daily News

China’s most gifted gymnasts, tumblers, contortionists and jugglers bring their 2000-year-old tradition of physical artistry to life with all the pageantry and spectacle of the modern Chinese Carnival! The Peking Acrobats defy the laws of body mechanics (and physics) with raw physical virtuosity and jaw-dropping feats that border on the surreal.

Witness daring maneuvers, treacherous balancing acts, and astonishing displays of flexibility, control and grace.

One major dance reviewer remarks, “It’s like watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon live… uplifting, awe-inspiring and an exploration of the full extent of human potential.”

In China, high honor is conferred on one skilled enough to become an acrobat, who can be considered the equivalent of an American opera star.

Prices: $55 / $45 / $35 / $25

Friday, May 1 – 8 p.m.

TAIKOPROJECT: (re)generation

“They play with sheer pleasure and consummate skill, telling a story of taiko that is deeply personal and recognizably universal.”
–  San Diego ARTPOWER!

With powerful percussion rhythms and exuberant energy, the acclaimed ensemble of premiere musicians and performers engage audiences with moving, spiritual artistry.

TAIKOPROJECT: (re)generation is a state-of-the-art theatrical production that blends the ancient art of taiko drumming with storytelling, world rhythms, dance and multi-media. It ignites a terrific merging of the tradition and rich history of taiko with a contemporary edge, exploring new dimensions in the centuries-old art form.

In 2005, TAIKOPROJECT traveled to Japan for the first time to represent the progressive American taiko at the annual Tokyo International Taiko Contest and made history by becoming the first foreign group to capture the prestigious competition’s top prize.

American taiko is an evolving, innovative young art form that encourages communities to have pride in and explore their own cultural backgrounds, and those of others.

Prices: $55 / $45 / $35 / $25