Pooh and the gang from the Hundred Acre Wood learn a lesson about caring and sharing in Valley Youth Theatre’s annual Christmas show.

Performing Arts 2012-13 theater season preview

‘Ted” follows a similar formula to other buddy movies of its kind. There are two major things that distinguish the film though. For starters, “Ted” is a really funny movie, producing just as many laughs as “21 Jump Street” from a few months ago. Secondly, one of the buddies in question is a living teddy bear. The teddy bear is not merely a product of someone’s imagination like in “Calvin and Hobbes.” He’s literally a walking, talking stuffed animal that has been casually accepted into society.

“Ted” follows a similar formula to other buddy movies of its kind. There are two major things that distinguish the film though. For starters, “Ted” is a really funny movie, producing just as many laughs as “21 Jump Street” from a few months ago. Secondly, one of the buddies in question is a living teddy bear.

“Ted” follows a similar formula to other buddy movies of its kind. There are two major things that distinguish the film though. For starters, “Ted” is a really funny movie, producing just as many laughs as “21 Jump Street” from a few months ago. Secondly, one of the buddies in question is a living teddy bear.

Ventriloquist Wilma Swartz doesn’t want anyone to refer to her characters as the “D” word. “Vent pals” would be a more appropriate term since the “Dummies” books own the copyrights to the word, she said.

With the Oscar nominees being unveiled in less than a week, numerous critics are attempting to predict what will be nominated. I could offer you my forecast of what will be nominated on Oscar morning. Given my track record though, I'll likely just end up feeling like an idiot. So instead, I've compiled a list of what should be nominated, something that I can't possibly be wrong about.

With the Oscar nominees being unveiled in less than a week, numerous critics are attempting to predict what will be nominated. I could offer you my forecast of what will be nominated on Oscar morning. Given my track record though, I'll likely just end up feeling like an idiot. So instead, I've compiled a list of what should be nominated, something that I can't possibly be wrong about.

This has been a nostalgic year for Walt Disney Pictures, producing a new "Winnie the Pooh" movie and rereleasing "The Lion King" in 3-D. Now Disney brings back the Muppets, which the studio officially acquired the rights to in 2004 after years of collaborations like "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island." The Muppets' latest film outing, which was pitched by Jason Segel and Nick Stoller, is a winner in just about every respect imaginable. It is crystal clear that all the people involved with the picture share nothing less than complete admiration for the Muppet legacy. The end result is a warm, delightfully corny, refreshing, and funny gem that will appeal to nostalgic adults just as much as it will to kids being introduced to the Muppets for the first time.

This has been a nostalgic year for Walt Disney Pictures, producing a new "Winnie the Pooh" movie and rereleasing "The Lion King" in 3-D. Now Disney brings back the Muppets, which the studio officially acquired the rights to in 2004 after years of collaborations like "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island." The Muppets' latest film outing, which was pitched by Jason Segel and Nick Stoller, is a winner in just about every respect imaginable. It is crystal clear that all the people involved with the picture share nothing less than complete admiration for the Muppet legacy. The end result is a warm, delightfully corny, refreshing, and funny gem that will appeal to nostalgic adults just as much as it will to kids being introduced to the Muppets for the first time.

"The Nutcracker" Gilbert dance company Ballet Etudes' staging of the classic has become a 25-year-old East Valley holiday tradition. DETAILS >> Nov. 25-28 and Dec. 2-4 at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., and Dec. 8-11 at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $16-$25. (480) 558-2080 or www.balletetudes.net.

Summer vacation may have ended back in August, but all of the fun definitely hasn't.

Summer vacation may have ended back in August, but all of the fun definitely hasn't.

Actors Theatre

Actors Theatre

Actors Theatre

Countless children are reaching that age where they're old enough to go to their local cineplex and have a significant movie-going experience. Unfortunately, many kids growing up in our contemporary society have to settle for "Mr. Popper's Penguins" and "Zookeeper" as a first outing to the movie theater. Remember in the era prior to home video when Disney would re-release one of its various classics into theaters, allowing every generation a chance to experience a great children's film on the big screen? In an age dominated by DVD and Blu-Ray, it seems like the only way one of Disney's classics can get a re-release into theaters is if it's in 3D.

Countless children are reaching that age where they're old enough to go to their local cineplex and have a significant movie-going experience. Unfortunately, many kids growing up in our contemporary society have to settle for "Mr. Popper's Penguins" and "Zookeeper" as a first outing to the movie theater. Remember in the era prior to home video when Disney would re-release one of its various classics into theaters, allowing every generation a chance to experience a great children's film on the big screen? In an age dominated by DVD and Blu-Ray, it seems like the only way one of Disney's classics can get a re-release into theaters is if it's in 3D.

Winnie the Pooh tends to amble unhurriedly through his days, enjoying his life and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood at his own pace. But "Winnie the Pooh," the movie, couldn't have come along at a better time.

LOS ANGELES — In real life, hangovers make us promise to be good and never do it again, until the next time. In Hollywood, fans have been anxious to do it again ever since they walked out of the surprise comedy blockbuster "The Hangover" two years ago.

Two storybook classics are featured on the West Valley youth theater stages this weekend. Theater Works’ YOUth Works production of “Winnie-the-Pooh” will play Friday in the McMillin Black Box Theater at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts.