San Carlos Chickens' Ball: Tickets On Sale For 2020 Variety Show

SAN CARLOS, CA —The folks behind the longstanding San Carlos Chickens' Ball are readying for their next performance. This year's theme: "The Night They Invented Champagne."

Now in its 80th year and dubbed the "Longest Running Show in the Peninsula," the variety show will run March 13-15 and March 20-22 at Central Middle School, Mustang Hall, 826 Chestnut St. in San Carlos.

The Chickens' Ball, held every two years and presented by the San Carlos PTAs and the community, raises funds to support performing arts programs in San Carlos public schools.

The tradition started in 1939 when a former teacher at Central School, Howard Demeke, was seeking ways to help fund the public schools and "to raise milk money; early in the war years," according to organizers.

The vaudeville-type performance features song and dance to contemporary music and is mainly funded by the local PTAs, businesses and individual sponsors.

"I am a big fan and believer of this wildly entertaining show, and cannot say enough great things about the good work that they are doing for the schools," said San Carlos Mayor Ron Collins. "It takes courage, dedication, and good humor to go in front of a live audience to sing and dance, and they are amazing!"

Tickets are on sale here.

"I think it is tremendous to be able to celebrate 80 years in production at this day and age," said Mona Klein, Chicken Ball's general chair. "Some of the cast members are long-standing performers, and though none of it is paid work, the outcome is always extraordinary."

The Chickens' Ball's original melodrama and variety skits are written and submitted by community organizations and are based on the history of the Barbary Coast Era, circa 1889 to 1918, organizers said.

"This year, we celebrate 80 years of performing in a community where people pull together to help support our local schools' visual and performing arts," Chicken Ball production chair Karen Althoff said.

For more information or for details on sponsorships, follow this link.

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