ier416

Theater & The Arts
A Place Like No Other
Where History and the Arts Flourish and the Experience Lasts a Lifetime!
THE RAMONA PAGEANT Kayla Contreras as Ramona and Joseph Valdez as Alessandro.
From the time it first began in 1923, California’s most incredible love
story, Ramona, has been performed in a unique and beautiful natural
setting at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheatre. The Ramona Bowl boasts
amazing acoustical properties and breathtaking natural beauty. That
combined with this enduring and compelling love story during an early
California in transition and you have an entertainment experience you will
never forget.
The Ramona Bowl is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon on any
spring day, but when the Ramona Pageant is being presented, it is even
more special. When coming to the pageant, allow time to drive through
the scenic countryside and arrive at the bowl as the gates are opening at
1:30pm. Although the play starts at 3:30pm there are many things to do
before the actual performance.
The courtyard of the Ramona Bowl features an outdoor stage where
dancers and singers entertain before the show. There are vendors and artists
in the courtyard and one can visit both the gift shop and the museum.
The museum is a must see with its exhibits from all the past Ramona’s
going back to 1923. There are examples of how Ramona has influenced
Ramona performs April 16-17, April 23-24, and April 30-May
1. For more information, call (951) 658-3111 or go online to
www.ramonabowl.com.
the history of California leading it to be a premier vacation spot as tourists
from the east wanted to experience the romance of the early California
missions, Native Americans and Mexicanos. The highlight of the museum
is a fresco done by Milford Zorne and his students. This is the only example
of a fresco ever done by famous mural painter Zorne.
If you are hungry before the show there are many delicious choices.
You can visit the Kiwanis BBQ, The Taco Man or the Ramona concessions
and eat in the courtyard and enjoy the shows. Or, you can wander up to
the Ramona Terrace and have a sit down lunch served as you look over the
most beautiful view of the valley. Enjoy a glass of wine as you listen to the
music and feel the light breeze in the shadowed spot.
This year the play will once again present the newer version of the play,
which was presented last year. The Board of Directors felt it was time to
update the script to include pieces of California History that people in
1923 were very familiar with but as time passed people had forgotten how
America had come to govern the area of California that had once been
part of Mexico.
Again this year the role of Alessandro is being played by Joseph Valdez
who did such a wonderful job last year. This year he is joined by Kayla
Contreras who is a local product, having reigned as Miss Hemet, but went
to Cal State Fullerton where she is pursuing a BFA in musical theatre. She,
too, is Native American and with Joseph they bring a portrayal of the star
crossed lovers that rings true in all aspects. IER
14
April, 2016 Inland Entertainment Review