‘Merlin’s Apprentice’ musical opens this weekend
SALINAS — ARIEL Theatrical will present “Merlin’s Apprentice,” a new musical, at the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre in Oldtown Salinas.
The production follows Abigail, a young girl struggling with a move to a new town and school, who is transported to the underground kingdom of Subterra. There, she encounters wizards, riddles and unusual creatures, ultimately relying on her intelligence and love of science to restore order and find her way home.
Performances are scheduled for May 8, 9, 14, 15 and 16 at 7 p.m., with additional 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays.
The theater is located at 320 Main St. Tickets are available online, by phone at 831-775-0976, or at the box office until sold out. For more information, visit arieltheatrical.org.
Republican Women host monthly meeting Tuesday
KING CITY — Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will host its monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 12, at 11:30 a.m. at Wildhorse Café, Highway 101 and Wildhorse Exit, in King City.
The guest speaker will be Don Wagner, Republican candidate for California Secretary of State.
Everyone is welcome to attend the meeting. For reservations and more information, call 831-385-1333 or email ka************@***il.com.
Waltz Creative offers grants for local nonprofits
CENTRAL COAST — For the 10th year, Waltz Creative is opening applications for its Creatives for Community (C4C) grant program, which provides professional graphic design and marketing services to nonprofits across Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties at no cost.
What started as a conviction that nonprofits deserve the same caliber of creative work as their for-profit counterparts has grown into a decade-long tradition, with more than 26 organizations served, 790-plus hours of creative talent donated and more than $116,500 in design fees contributed since 2017.
Each year, selected nonprofits receive up to 30 hours of donated expertise in marketing and graphic design, along with personalized attention from Waltz Creative’s creative and account management teams. One nonprofit is selected from each of the three counties, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz, making a meaningful local impact across the region.
Applications for the 2026 program are open now through May 15. For more information or to apply, visit the Creatives for Community website waltzcreative.com/c4c-application.
