Last Saturday was one of those wonderful Los Angeles evenings… a trip to the Pantages to see The Phantom of the Opera. Nearly four decades after the musical first opened, the combination of spectacle, romance, darkness and that extraordinary score still works its magic. The current North American production had been playing at the Pantages through August 9.
My favorite. Turn up your volume, click the video, and close your eyes and immerse yourself in the Phantom of the Opera.
The Phantom’s story began long before Andrew Lloyd Webber.
French journalist and novelist Gaston Leroux published Le Fantôme de l’Opéra in 1910, setting his tale inside the magnificent Palais Garnier in Paris. The story went on to inspire numerous adaptations, including the famous 1925 silent film starring Lon Chaney.
Then came Andrew Lloyd Webber.
In the 1980s, already riding the enormous success of Cats, Lloyd Webber became interested in creating a musical from the story. The turning point came when he found an old copy of Leroux’s novel at a secondhand bookstall in New York and read it that afternoon. He saw something beyond the Gothic horror. He saw a love story. That insight became the emotional center of the musical. The Phantom of the Opera opened in London’s West End on October 9, 1986. Michael Crawford was the Phantom and Sarah Brightman was Christine.
I first saw The Phantom of the Opera when it came to Los Angeles in at the Ahmanson Theatre. Michael Crawford had crossed the Atlantic with the role he had created in London and then performed on Broadway. Playing Christine in Los Angeles was Dale Kristien.
And today is August 15th….. one of those dates that has always done double duty for me.
Growing up in India, of course, it was Independence Day. And growing up in our Catholic household we also celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary.
Today, six years ago, I did this blog post…. August 15, 2020
http://sonyachristianblog.com/2020/08/15/bakersfield-college-a-blessing-to-our-community/
Good morning California.
It is August 15, 2026.
A good day to be a Community College Champion
From California Community Colleges.
Our Time is Now!
NASA Brings Out of This World Summer Experience to Reedley College
Reedley College was awarded a $50,000 NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) grant through NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP). The program was led by Physics Instructor Kurt Shults, Engineering and Computer Science Instructor Dr. Emmanuel Abioye, and MESA Director, Dr. Jacquelyn Rubalcaba-Muniz. Together, the team oversaw a three-mission program designed to introduce students to NASA careers, hands-on science, and robotics.
Two Mt. San Jacinto College Honors Students Selected
for Prestigious National Partners in Peace Program in Oslo, Norway
Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) students Danela Young and Marisa Salazar have been selected to participate in the highly competitive Partners in Peace (PiP) program, a national initiative of the National Collegiate Honors Council in collaboration with the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. The Partners in Peace initiative challenges honors students from across the United States to examine the work and strategies of Nobel Peace Prize laureates and to develop projects that promote peace, understanding, and conflict resolution in their own communities.
Building a Legacy: Celebrating Southwestern College’s Mariachi Program
For nearly three decades, mariachi has been part of the Southwestern College experience. Students have studied the music, developed their performance skills, and strengthened their connection to a cultural tradition that continues to resonate across generations. But the college’s mariachi program began with a vision to create new educational opportunities for students.
In Case You Missed It
Finding the best ways to stay in touch with students
Prospective students don’t lack information; they’re buried in reminders about applications, financial aid and registration across a dozen platforms. The challenge instead is to help that person believe the message applies to them.
Research in psychology, neuroscience and behavioral science offers colleges a practical framework for doing just that. For community college leaders, the takeaway may be less about adopting new technology than rethinking how communication fits into the student experience. From a student’s first website visit to the post-graduation years, the messages institutions send — and the relationships behind them — can shape whether students enroll, persist and remain connected long after they leave campus.
Fun Photos & Spotted on Social Media
From Cerro Coso Community College:
Thanks to our dear friends at SSUSD for inviting us to attend last week’s “Party In The Parking Lot”! We had a wonderful time connecting with all of the fellow organizations and informing the community members of our many services, resources, and educational opportunities.
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From Butte College:
Roadrunner Rush 2026 is in the books!
Our newest Roadrunners spent the day getting to know campus, discovering resources and connecting with the Butte College community.
*****
From Las Positas College:
Yesterday’s Special Programs Orientation brought our newest Hawks together to connect, learn, and get ready for the semester ahead.
Students heard directly from campus programs and communities including Puente, MESA, the Honors Program, Basic Needs, Umoja, Movement API, the Cultural Community Center, and more. The day also featured a student panel, interactive activities, campus tours, and a resource fair where students could connect with even more campus support and resources.
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From Sierra College:
Yesterday, we gathered on the football field to celebrate our 90th Anniversary! Sierra College, originally called Placer Junior College, was established in 1936 sharing a location with Placer High School. We moved to our current location in Rocklin in 1961. Thanks to everyone who joined us, and we’re looking forward to seeing what the next decade brings.
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And check out this video from Moorpark College celebrating 60 years:
And From the Home of the Renegades
Bakersfield College Hosts EOPS Freshman Day
This week, the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) department at BC hosted their annual Freshman Day. Each year, new EOPS students are invited to the Panorama campus to connect with peers, meet EOPS staff, learn about programs and services, participate in workshops and activities, and much more.
Freshman Day was first launched in 2017 and has been an annual event ever since. This year, more than 200 students participated in the event which included workshops, a Cal Grant information session, lunch and keynote speaker Zach Gowen from Coolspeak. Zach shared his inspirational story of athletic achievement despite losing his leg at a young age. He encouraged students to believe in themselves and pursue their educational goals.
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Remember – our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work.
That’s all for today.
See you next Saturday!
With much hope and joy,
Your Chancellor,
-sonya
#OurTimeisNow
#NuestroTiempoEsAhora
A special thank you to our DVC student veterans for leading this meaningful tribute and reminding us of the values of unity, resilience, and service.
