Review: A Magical Weekend of Transcendence Theatre's 'Broadway Under the Stars', Wine and More in Northern California

Northern California is home to miles of gorgeous Pacific coastline, over 50 parks with hiking and cycling trails, world-class restaurants, boutique shopping, and of course, majestic vineyards. Sonoma, in particular, offers the rustic charm of down-to-earth locals, farmers, winemakers, tasting rooms, and farm-to-table restaurants, not to mention both luxury resorts and quaint bed & breakfasts, making it the perfect getaway for weekend travel.

Transcendence Theatre Company's 'Broadway Under the Stars'

After driving around the country with a truck and a dream, the Transcendence Theatre finally found their home at the exquisite Jack London State Park and annually present nothing less than "magic moments" in a spectacular setting overlooking the rolling hills and redwoods from the ruins of the 19th century winery. Now in its fifth season, the Transcendence Theatre celebrates the life and legacy of Jack London, which marks the 100th anniversary of his death. They honor him with this year's theme, "Call of the Wild."

Featuring top talent on one of the most beautiful stages in the country, with the best of local wine and picnicking alongside sprawling vineyards and moonlit skies, Broadway Under the Stars in Jack London State Historic Park is truly a transformative experience for both longtime Broadway fans and anyone new to musical theatre.

The park opened two and a half hours before the show for picnicking, live jazz, and premium wine tastings from Glen Lyon, Korbel Champagne Cellars, Benziger Family Winery, Chateau St. Jean, Mayo Family Winery, and more. Two Transcendence wines are featured from Benziger Family Winery -- the 2014 Red Blend ("Call of the Wild") and 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ("Best Life Ever"). Food trucks also lined the area for delicious fare and samplings.

On opening night, the weather was a little chilly, but things quickly heat up as soon as the company took the stage with the opening number, "Seize the Day/I'm So Excited." Something truly magical happens when the sun begins to descend and this extraordinary cast comes together to share their passion for music in perfect harmony in a truly breathtaking backdrop.

This year, the lineup featured a perfect blend of classic Broadway songs mixed with popular music to truly offer something for everyone. This is an ensemble production with stellar talent from around the country. However, you will want to live on 'Avenue Q' when the astonishing Q. Smith dominates the stage with her awe-inspiring rendition of Transcendence's original song, "Live," leaving you with goosebumps from start to finish and ending the first Act with rousing applause.

The cast also paid tribute to the victims of the Orlando shootings, particularly in the song "Dare You to Move." I dare you not have tears streaming down your face during this incredibly touching and riveting performance featuring Courtney Markowitz, Danny Calvert, and Leslie McDonel with other members of the cast. Choreography by Valerie Salgado, especially in this piece, was absolutely breathtaking as the cast moved seamlessly with flawless expression.

Other standout performances included "Magic Changes" featuring Danny Calvert, "A Wink and a Smile" with Brooke Morrison and Eric Jackson, "I Put a Spell on You/Love Portion #9" with Leslie McDonel and Tony Gonzalez, "Beach Boys Medley" featuring the men Danny Calvert, Eric Jackson, Nick Dalton Stephan Stubbins, Tony Gonzalez and Tyler Foy, "The Story Goes On" with Courtney Markowitz, and a hauntingly beautiful "Phantom of the Opera" with John Yi, Michele Maika Berg, Nick Dalton, Stephan Stubbins, and Q. Smith.

The live orchestra under Music Director and Supervisor, Daniel Weidlein, was impressive and well-balanced, allowing the performers to showcase their voices without being overbearing.

Transcendence Theatre's 'Broadway Under the Stars' is a magical night of pure, raw talent in breathtaking surroundings that is a must-see when in Northern California. The sheer passion of each performer is contagious as they graciously pour every ounce of heart and soul onto the stage just as wine in a glass.

For more information, visit: transcendencetheatre.org, and check out their promo video!

*Worth mentioning is the Glen Ellen Star Restaurant located nearby in Glen Ellen, offering fresh local and international cuisine with a rural and rustic feeling of California wine country. If you're lucky enough to get in, you will not be disappointed.

Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn & Krug Event Center

Located in the heart of downtown Sonoma, the family owned and operated Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn is a great choice for your wine country stay. Literally only steps away from The Plaza, across from Whole Foods, CVS, and within walking distance to all the major restaurants, tastings, parks, and shopping, the Sonoma Valley Inn offers luxurious living with a warm, comfortable stay and easy accessibility for all your local needs.

We stayed in a fireplace, jacuzzi suite, which was spacious and comfortable and well-maintained. Amenities include free parking, free WiFi in all rooms, a complimentary full buffet-style breakfast, courtyard gazebo with fireplace, private patio, hot tub and steam room, salt water pool, and fitness center. The resort has a "Tuscan" feel with hand-painted motifs, cobblestone walkways, archways, and a pet-friendly environment. As a bonus, every Friday, the Sonoma Valley Inn hosts complimentary wine tastings by a local winery in their garden courtyard.

The Krug Event Center provides 2,000 square feet of space to adequately fulfill any of your business needs. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable and more than happy to answer any of your questions or immediately attend to your needs. Whether your stay is for business or pleasure, you can't go wrong with the Best Western Sonoma Valley Inn, offering an affordable, comfortable home-away-from-home atmosphere in the heart of wine country.

For more information, visit: http://www.sonomavalleyinn.com/

Wineries/Wine Tastings

So many wineries, so little time. Just as you can never hit all the amazing restaurants in NYC, the same applies to the California vineyards. With sprawling regions throughout the Northern Coast and over 500 wineries in Sonoma alone, the Sonoma/Napa regions boast a dizzying array of exceptional wineries, local tastings and pairings, and informative tours to give any wine enthusiast countless options for the new or refined palette.

Some favorites include:

SONOMA

*Best Informational Tasting* - Ram's Gate Winery. Located in the Sonoma Valley, Ram's Gate Winery wins the award for "Best Informational Tasting." They are home to carefully crafted fine Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and assorted varieties of grapes from the vineyards of Sonoma and Carneros, resulting in an array of rich and complex aromas, textures and flavors. Each bottle maintains the integrity of each vineyard site preserved in their wines. At $40, the Ram's Gate tasting bar flight featured four wines (2 Chardonnays and 2 Pinot Noirs), for a very informative, personalized experience. The Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs that I tasted were exceptional, with terrific balance, fruit forward flavors, and smooth finishes. Reservations required.

*Best Outdoor Terrace View* - Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards. Gloria Ferrer is not only the first sparkling wine house in Sonoma Carneros, but also the first to plant Champagne clones and the first to plant in Carneros. Their tasting consists of a wide array of sparkling and estate varietal wines either inside their contemporary tasting room or on their gorgeous Vista Terrace overlooking the incredible expanse of mountains and vineyards. Unfortunately, when we visited, the caves were closed for maintenance, so we were unable to tour them for safety reasons. However, the wines are extraordinary, and offer notes ranging from crisp and bright to rich and vibrant.

Jacuzzi Family Vineyards. The Jacuzzi Family Vineyards owns and farms grapes at its estate in Sonoma-Carneros and the Sonoma Coast appellation, specifically the Petaluma Gap. Owned by the Cline family whose winery is across the street, the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards and The Olive Press is a tribute to Fred Cline's Grandfather, Valeriano Jacuzzi, and the Jacuzzi family home in Casarsa, Italy. Small groups of up to 5 guests can sample 5 complimentary wine tastings and unlimited olive oil/balsamic tastings with no reservations required. The Jacuzzi winery offers a laid-back, casual atmosphere with knowledgeable sommeliers for a quick sampling of a variety of reds, whites, and dessert wines.

*Best Olive Oil Tasting and Selection* - The Olive Press. The most highly awarded olive oil producer in the nation, The Olive Press (which is located inside the Jacuzzi Family Winery) offers the best and freshest California extra virgin olive oils, along with a variety of vinegars for creative and explosive pairings. Some award-winning olive oils include Mission, Sevillano, Italian Blend, Limonato, Lime and Jalapeño. Featured pairings are Peach Balsamic Vinegar & Jalapeno Olive Oil, Coconut Balsamic Vinegar & Lime Olive Oil, Fig Balsamic Vinegar & Limonato Olive Oil, and Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar & Master Blend Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A must-see in Sonoma, you are free to mix and sample with breads, tapenades, mustards, and more.

Cline Cellars. Located right across the street from Jacuzzi Vineyards, Cline Cellars is family-owned since 1982 by Fred and Nancy Cline. All their wines are sustainably farmed and have won multiple medals, awards, and accolades from the top wine enthusiasts in the country. They are known for their awarding-winning Rhône-style wines and Zinfandels, as well as classic Sonoma County varietals including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Merlot. Cline Family Cellars' varietals are planted in prime locations to produce wines of great depth, power and intensity of flavor.Like Jacuzzi, Cline Cellars offers free samplings of 5 wines with no reservations required for parties up to 5.

Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery. Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery is located just a few blocks from historic downtown Sonoma. They pride themselves on using sustainable farming methods to ensure all aspects of their winery are environmental friendly. Sebastiani is a historic winery with a hospitality center, barrel room with antique redwood tanks, grand event space and daily tours, tastings and pairings. Their tasting bar is lively, casual, and informative to experience wine history, food and wine pairing, winemaking techniques and the culture of wine. My standout favorite was the 2012 Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, which offers remarkable, complex flavors of black cherry fruit with soft tannins and nice acidity on the finish, made up of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

HEALDSBURG

*Best Overall Tasting and Tour Experience* - Jordan Vineyard & Winery. Established in 1972, Jordan Vineyard & Winery was inspired by the great wine estates of France and the connection between food, wine and hospitality. Located in Sonoma's Alexander Valley, they boast an extraordinary chateau with winemaking facilities, guest suites, and kitchen and dining areas, offering a dream home away from home feel. Second-generation vintner John Jordan continues to preserve the ecological richness of this property and share its breathtaking vistas with guests through the Jordan Estate Rewards experiences and the Jordan Estate Tour & Tasting. The private library tour is an elegant, informative and sophisticated experience to learn about the Jordan family and taste their exquisite new and vintage wines paired with their Estate Extra Virgin Olive Oil and California's best artisan cheeses. When you visit the Jordan Estate, you will not only feel like part of the Jordan family, but you will experience superior wines that are second to none. This is a winery not to be missed!

NAPA

*Best Value Tasting* - Domaine Carneros. Domaine Carneros is a singular winery best known as a small grower-producer of sparkling wine, Pinot Noir, estate vineyards, and a breathtakingly beautiful château. The Domaine Carneros château is a stunning regional landmark with exceptional tableside service overlooking Northern California wine country. For $30, we were generously treated to three sparkling wines, in addition to two Pinot Noirs and the 2014 La Terre Promise Chardonnay - an excellent, well-balanced Chardonnay offering a limited production that is only available at the winery. A gorgeous winery located on top of the sprawling rolling hills of wine country, with excellent service and exceptional wines.... Just watch out for the birds, who were abundant and nagging outside on the terrace.

*Best Cabernet Sauvignon* - Caymus Vineyards. Caymus Vineyards is 100% family owned and operated by Chuck Wagner and his family. A $50 tasting showcases their top collection of wines, including the Mer Soleil 2014 Reserve Chardonnay, Emmolo 2013 Merlot, Caymus 2013 Zinfandel (only available at the winery), the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon (new release), and the 2013 Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernets are abundant in textural tannins yet soft and velvety on the finish, presenting a wide array of aromas and flavors including cocoa, cassis and vanilla. Although a little pricier compared to other tastings, Caymus offers impeccable vintages on lush grounds to make your experience worthwhile.

Louis M. Martini. For more than 75 years, the Martini family winemakers have crafted award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Sonoma and Napa counties. Louis M. Martini embodied the premise that the best grapes make the best wines. Today, third-generation winemaker, Michael Martini, carries on this tradition at their historic winery in Napa Valley, which was among the first to open in the Valley after the Prohibition. The tasting room offers a contemporary feel with a classic barrel cellar atmosphere. The $50 "good life" flight includes their flagship wine, Cellar No. 254, Lot 1 Cabernet Sauvignon and pairs with seasonal wines and delicacies for a memorable experience.

GLEN ELLEN

*'Greenest' Winery* - Benziger Family Winery. Family owned and operated, the Benziger Family Winery is one of the few wineries who practices Biodynamic growing. Maintaining the highest level of organic farming, the Benzinger Winery takes great care of the environment while producing high-quality, delicious wines. They offer biodynamic tram tours, estate library tastings, VIP tastings, along with informative teachings on their winemaking portfolio. They also happened to be the producers of Transcendence Theatre's two wines this year, the 2014 Red Blend ("Call of the Wild") and 2015 Sauvignon Blanc ("Best Life Ever").

---

While the highlight of Sonoma/Napa is the wine country experience, travelers can also enjoy bike tours, hikes, regional and historic parks, farmers markets, countless restaurants, and boutique shopping. Make it your summer tradition to also experience Transcendence Theatre's 'Broadway Under the Stars', which will transport you to a magical journey of Broadway and beyond.

To post a comment, you must register and login.