NOW PLAYING

Shine A Light: The Rolling Stones
May 9 to May 15

Nim's Island
May 9 to May 15

COMING ATTRACTIONS

   FILM CLUB MOVIES

   LIVE EVENTS

Pangea Day
Saturday, May 10, 11 am

Tom Rush
Saturday, May 31, 7:30 pm

  LIVE OPERA FROM THE MET

NEWS

Grant Brings Live Opera to The Arena Theater
The theater is now showing live opera from the Met because of a grant from the Payne Foundation. The Payne Foundation provided the theater with funds to purchase telecommunications, satellite, and other equipment to enable screening of live opera from the Metropolitan Theater in New York City. The theater receives the streaming video of the live opera performance via satellite as the opera performance takes place. Read about the operas coming to the theater...

 
(Left) La Boheme patrons gather in the lobby for pastries and beverages from Franny's Cup & Saucer.  (Right) The screen announces that the program begins in "one minute" superimposed on a still image of the key opera singers from La Boheme.

Sony Donates Blu-ray Player
High Definition film is a new addition to the media capabilities of the theater thanks to a donation from Sony Corp. You can take pride in the fact that the Arena Theater is one of the most high-tech equiped theaters in Northern California. Click here to read more about our new DVD player and about the theater's other media capabilities...

Shine A Light:The Rolling Stones

A Look at The Rolling Stones: This documentary was filmed by director Martin Scorsese over a two-day period at the intimate Beacon Theater in New York City in fall 2006. Cinematographers Robert Richardson and a team of nine others, all Oscar winners or nominees, capture the raw intensity of the legendary band as the Stones demonstrate that rock ‘n’ roll may not keep you pretty, but it does keep you dancing. Roger Ebert said this “may be the most intimate documentary ever made about a live rock 'n' roll concert. Certainly it has the best coverage of the performances onstage. The result is startling immediacy, a merging of image and music, edited in step with the performance.” Rated PG-13 for brief strong language, drug references and smoking. Running time: 122 minutes

Nim’s Island

Anything can happen on Nim's Island, a beautiful uncharted island ruled by the imagination of a young girl named Nim (Abigail Breslin) who lives there with her father Jack Rusoe (Gerard Butler), a research scientist. She spends her days having adventures in the woods with her animal friends, Fred the lizard, Galileo the pelican, and Selki the seal. This idyllic existence mirrors that of her favorite literary character, Alex Rover - the world's greatest adventurer. But the author of the Rover books, Alexandra (Jodie Foster), is actually a recluse who lives in the big city. When Nim's father goes missing, events bring Nim together with Alexandra. Now they must draw courage from their fictional hero, Alex Rover (also Gerard Butler), and find the strength together to conquer Nim's Island. Directors: Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin. Rated PG. Running time: 95 minutes

Monday
May 12

Doors Open
6:30pm

Film Starts
7:00pm

Seven Beauties (1976)

Directed by Lina Wertmüller (b. 1926, Rome). Wertmüller is known as a protégé of Federico Fellini, who brought her to prominence in 1962 when he offered her a position as an assistant director on his film 8.  Seven Beauties (1976) brought her reknown as she became the first woman ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Directing. This is a very dark war comedy about a small-time Italian crook in Naples with seven ugly sisters to support. In Italian with English subtitles. Unrated; 116 minutes.

For more information about this film, click here...

Saturday
May 10

Doors Open
10:30 am

Film Starts
11:00 am

Pangea Day

A Global Event Bringing The World Together through Film

4 HOURS. 24 FILMS. A NEW WAY TO SEE THE WORLD...
WONDERFUL, INSPIRATIONAL, MOVING, EDUCATIONAL...

FREE ADMIMISSION FOR EVERYONE
A Wonderful Event for Kids of All Ages

Starting at 11am on May 10, 2008, locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers.  The entire program will be broadcast in seven languages to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.

The 24 short films to be featured represent winning films selected from an international competition that generated more than 2,500 submissions from over one hundred countries.  The films were chosen based on their ability to inspire, transform, and allow us to see the world through another person's eyes.

Why Pangea Day?  In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common.  Pangea Day seeks to oversome that -- to help people see themselves in otherse throught the power of film.

Pangea Day hosts, musicians, and speakers:

In addition to the amazing films that have been chosen, dynamic hosts, inspiring musicians and brilliant speakers will participate in Pangea Day. Christiane Amanpour is chief international correspondent for CNN. She will be speaking live from London.

Lisa Ling is a journalist who has covered a broad range of topics and works frequently with Oprah. She will host live from LA.

Max Lugavere & Jason Silva are hosts on Current TV, filmmakers and gonzo-journalists. They will hosting live from LA.

June Arunga, a well known journalist and writer from Kenya, will be hosting live from LA.

Queen Noor, the widow of the late King Hussein of Jordan, works for peace and economic justice in the Middle East and throughout the world. She will be speaking live from LA.

Jean Paul Samputu is a Rwandan singer-songwriter who has fashioned himself as a cultural ambassador. He will be speaking live from Kigali.

Dave Stewart is the singer-songwriter for Eurythmics and president of the creative firm Weapons of Mass Entertainment. He will be singing live in LA.

Rokia Traore blends the traditions of her Bamana heritage with a modern singer-songwriter's approach to music-making. She will perform live from London.

Gilberto Gil is a singer, guitarist, songwriter, and the current Brazilian Minister of Culture. He will perform live from Rio de Janeiro.

Khaled Aboul Naga, Egyptian Actor and talk-show host will host live from Cairo.

Ali Abu Awwad and Robi Damelin are the Palestinian and Israeli members of the Bereaved Family Forum, respectively. They will be speaking together live from LA.

Ishmael Beah is a former child soldier from Sierra Leone. He will be speaking live from LA.

Mohamed Mounir is a Nubian-Egyptian singer whose modern pop sound has roots in traditional Egyptian and African music. He will be performing live in Cairo.

Donald Brown is an anthropologist and the leading authority on "human universals" - the hundreds of attributes that every human has in common. He will be speaking live from LA.

Jonathan Harris makes online art that captures the world's expression - and gives us a glimpse of the soul of the internet. He will be speaking live from LA.

Bassam Aramin is a Palestinian ex-fighter and Yonatan Shapira is an Israel ex-soldier. The two joined together to form Combatants for Peace. They will be speaking live from London.

Hypernova, an Iranian rock band, will perform live from LA.

Robert Kurzban is a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. He will be speaking from LA.

Muhieddine Chehab and Assaad Chaftari were soldiers in the Lebanese Civil War. Now they travel together to promote messages of peace. They will be interviewed together by Christiane Amanpour in London.

Eboo Patel is the Executive Director of Interfaith Youth Core, a global nonprofit that promotes religious cooperation. He will be speaking live from LA.

Carolyn Porco is a planetary scientist. She will be speaking live from LA.

Who's Involved?

Advisory Board
JJ Abrams Writer, Director & Producer - Alias, Lost, Mission: Impossible III Lawrence Bender Producer - Good Will Hunting, An Inconvenient Truth, Kill Bill Nancy Buirski Founder, CEO & Artistic Director - Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Alan Cumming Actor & Director - Cabaret, X-Men, The Anniversary Party Richard Curtis Producer & Screenwriter - Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually Ami Dar Executive Director - Idealist.org Cameron Diaz Actress - There's Something About Mary, Shrek, Vanilla Sky Matthew Freud Chairman & Founder - Freud Communications Bob Geldof Musician & Mastermind - Live Aid & Live 8 Goldie Hawn Actress, Director & Producer - The First Wives Club, Private Benjamin Jim Hornthal Venture Partner - CMEA Ventures Judy McGrath Chairman & CEO - MTV Networks Pat Mitchell President & CEO - The Paley Center for Media, New York & California Vik Muniz Brazilian contemporary artist Clare Munn Founder & CEO - The Communication Group Mira Nair Director - Salaam Bombay!, Monsoon Wedding, The Namesake Dr. Tero Ojanperä EVP, Entertainment and Communities - Nokia Eboo Patel Executive Director - Interfaith Youth Core Alexander Payne Director & Screenwriter - Sideways, About Schmidt, Election Richard Rogers Architect - Centre Pompidou, Madrid Barajas Airport, Millennium Dome Meg Ryan Actor- When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail Deborah Scranton Director - War Tapes (winner of Best Documentary at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival) Paul Simon Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeff Skoll Founder - Participant Productions, Former President - eBay Sir Martin Sorrell Chief Executive - WPP Philippe Starck World-renowned designer of interiors, consumer goods, & furnishings Dave Stewart Singer & Songwriter - Eurythmics, President - Weapons of Mass Entertainment Yossi Vardi Tech entrepreneur & Founding investor of ICQ Kevin Wall Executive Producer - Live Earth & Live 8 Forest Whitaker Actor, dorector & producer, Bird, Ghost Dog, The Last King of Scotland Will.i.am Founding Member - The Black Eyed Peas Paul Zilk President & CEO, Reed Midem

****** DONATIONS TO THE THEATER WILL BE ACCEPTED ******

For more information about the Pangea Day event, click here...

Here are some of the films to be screened...

Dancing Queen

I'll Wait for The Next One

Stille Post (Telephone)

Walleyball

...and 20 more films...

Showtimes:
Saturday May 31

Doors Open:
6:45 pm

Show Starts:
7:30 pm

Tickets:
$25 in advance
or
$30 at the door

Click here to...

Tom Rush

The Arena Theater proudly presents an evening to remember as Tom Rush returns to the Arena Theater, one night only, Saturday, May 31, 2008.  Tickets are $25.00 advance, $30.00 at the door. Arena Theater Doors open at 6:45pm, show at 7:30PM. Concessions will be open and wine and beer will be available for purchase. Those who missed Tom's last visit to the Arena Theater (April 13, 2007) heard all about it from friends and neighbors. This is his only appearance on the Mendocino Coast this year.

Many people first heard of Tom Rush four decades ago as FM radio, coffee-houses and small clubs, and record stores began to see an explosion of interest in folk music. With contemporaries like Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Tom Paxton, Richie Havens, and others, Tom Rush emerged as a clear, identifiable voice in the 1960s. He began his musical career playing Boston-area clubs while attending Harvard. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Jinx McCombs wrote glowingly in the ICO last year that "His joy in vivid language comes through in the songs he writes, and songs by other songwriters he's made famous. . . . Even more Tom Rush fans walked out than had walked in a few hours earlier, and the long-term ones were proud of the association." Purchase tickets now online or go to one of our local outlets. For more information go to www.tomrush.com.

Tickets are available at the door and online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Tom Rush

Tom Rush

News

Renée Fleming stars in the title role of
Massenet’s Thaïs, opening December 8, 2008.
Photo by Brigitte Lacombe

The Metropolitan Opera Announces Expansion
of Live, High-Definition Transmissions to Eleven Operas in 2008-09

“The Met: Live in High Definition” Series continues at the Arena Theater on
October 11, 2008

Saturday, October 11, 2008 SALOME (10:00 a.m.) – Soprano Karita Mattila reprises her acclaimed interpretation of the title character of Strauss’s Salome, with baritone Juha Uusitalo as Jochanaan. Mikko Franck conducts.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 DOCTOR ATOMIC (10:00 a.m.)  – Penny Woolcock directs the Metropolitan Opera premiere of John Adams’s Doctor Atomic, starring Gerald Finley as Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and Sasha Cooke as his wife, Kitty, with Eric Owens and Richard Paul Fink. Alan Gilbert conducts. NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, November 22, 2008 LA DAMNATION DE FAUST (10:00 a.m.)   – Robert Lepage directs Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust, starring Marcello Giordani in the title role, with Susan Graham as Marguerite and John Relyea as Méphistophélès. James Levine conducts. (A new production reconceived in collaboration with Ex Machina for the Met, based on a co-production of the Saito Kinen Festival and Opéra National de Paris.) NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, December 20, 2008 THAÏS (10:00 a.m.)  – Renée Fleming stars in the title role of Massenet’s Thaïs, with Thomas Hampson as the monk Athanaël in John Cox’s production, which originated at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Jesús López-Cobos conducts. NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, January 10, 2009 LA RONDINE (10:00 a.m.)  – Nicolas Joël directs Puccini’s La Rondine, starring Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna in a production originally mounted by the Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Marco Armiliato conducts. (Co-production with the Théâtre du Capitole, Toulouse, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.) NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, January 24, 2009 ORFEO ED EURIDICE (10:00 a.m.)  – Stephanie Blythe and Danielle de Niese star in Mark Morris’s production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. James Levine conducts. 

Saturday, February 7, 2009 LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR (10:00 a.m.)  – Dynamic opera duo Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón star in Mary Zimmerman’s acclaimed production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Marco Armiliato conducts.

Saturday, March 7, 2009 MADAMA BUTTERFLY (10:00 a.m.)  – Cristina Gallardo-Domâs sings the title role of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in Anthony Minghella’s stunning production. Marcello Giordani stars as Pinkerton. Patrick Summers conducts.

Saturday, March 21, 2009 LA SONNAMBULA (10:00 a.m.)  – Natalie Dessay and Juan Diego Flórez star in Mary Zimmerman’s new production of Bellini’s La Sonnambula, conducted by Evelino Pidò. NEW PRODUCTION

Saturday, May 9, 2009 LA CENERENTOLA (10:00 a.m.)  –  Elīna Garanča stars in Rossini’s bel canto Cinderella story, La Cenerentola. Lawrence Brownlee stars as her Prince Charming, Don Ramiro. Maurizio Benini conducts. 

Notes
Two ticket prices are available: $22 for adults and $15 for those age 16 and under.  Season tickets will be available for the 2008-2009 series. Prices will be annouced for season tickets when available.

Puccini’s La Rondine opens on December 31, 2008, in a special New Year’s Eve gala. Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna star.