Tatiana Cantu News

Much like the much-loved musical "Fiddler on the Roof," IN THE HEIGHTS focuses on family love and traditions being challenged by the beliefs of the next generation. In our modern world where a good education can make all the difference, what does it take for a poor family to put a cherished only child through an expensive university? And what happens when the student cannot keep up and drops out and gets romantically involved with someone her parents don't think is good enough? And what happens when a neighborhood is challenged by urban renewal and its flavor is about to be lost? Can it be saved when local shop owners must leave their beloved neighborhood when rents rise?

In the Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical about community and family in a Dominican-American neighborhood in New York City, has a multi-layered meaning for its talented cast. The production, which is currently being presented at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center, features veteran television actor Juan Carlos Cantu, returning to the stage after more than 30 years, to act besides his two daughters, Tatiana and Sandra. All three play major roles in the show, bringing the three together on stage for the first time. (Our review is in this week's Moorpark Acorn. http://www.mpacorn.com/news/2016-05-06/On_The_Town/Cast_takes_musical_to_the_highest_level.html) We visited with the girls and their proud father before a Sunday matinee performance.

 The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in association with the Santa Paula Theater Center presents the family-friendly holiday musical WINTER WONDERETTES from December 11 - 27, 2015.  Performances are 8 pm Today & Saturday and 2 pm Sunday.  Special weekday performances on December 17, 21, 22, and 23 are at 8 pm.  Tickets are $24 for Adults, $20 for Seniors & Students, and $18 for Children and can be purchased by calling the SVCAC box office at (805) 583-7900 or online at www.simi -arts.org.

 The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center in association with the Santa Paula Theater Center presents the family-friendly holiday musical WINTER WONDERETTES from December 11 - 27, 2015.  Performances are 8 pm Friday & Saturday and 2 pm Sunday.  Special weekday performances on December 17, 21, 22, and 23 are at 8 pm.  Tickets are $24 for Adults, $20 for Seniors & Students, and $18 for Children and can be purchased by calling the SVCAC box office at (805) 583-7900 or online at www.simi -arts.org.

In celebration of their 20th Anniversary Season, the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center brings back the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof from September 12 - October 18, 2015. With performances on Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm and Sundays at 2 pm as well as Thursdays at 8 pm on October 8 and 15, Fiddler on the Roof will make a third run at the Cultural Arts Center, having previously played in May of 2004 and September of 2006.