Smuin Ballet Hosts Toys For Tots Drive And Special Appearances By Santa

In the true spirit of the holiday season, Smuin Ballet offers two opportunities to celebrate kindness and encourage generosity. The acclaimed ballet company will host a Toys for Tots drive at each of its venues and reward participants with one free ticket. Toy donors who bring a new, unwrapped toy to the box office will receive a free ticket with the purchase of a second ticket on any of the following performance dates: November 27 in Walnut Creek, December 5 in Carmel, December 11 in Mountain View, and December 16 in San Francisco. The toys will be distributed by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves to needy children during the holidays. Additionally, youngsters will get a "Sweet Santa" surprise after the 2pm Sunday matinees on December 13 in Mountain View and December 20 in San Francisco. Santa Claus will be waiting in the lobby to greet the young and young at heart with complimentary sweets and beverages after the matinee. Additionally, Carmel audience members can look forward to meeting Frosty the Snowman, who will don his magic hat and dance over to the lobby to dole out sumptuous snacks after the 2pm matinee December 5, 2009 at The Sunset Center in Carmel.

WHEN/WHERE: Toys for Tots
8pm, Friday, November 27, 2009 at the Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Drive (at Locust Street), Walnut Creek

8pm, Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Sunset Center
San Carlos Street (between 8th and 9th Streets), Carmel

8pm, Friday, December 11, 2009 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
500 Castro Street (at Mercy Street), Mountain View

8pm, Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
701 Mission Street, San Francisco

Santa's Sweets
After the 2pm matinee
Saturday, December 5, 2009 at the Sunset Center in Carmel (Frosty's Treats)
Sunday, December 13, 2009 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts
Sunday, December 20, 2009 at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco

TICKETS: Single tickets to the ballet ($18, $41, and $56) are available through the respective theaters. Discounts are available for seniors, students, and groups of 10 or more.

Information about subscriptions for Smuin Ballet's three-program series is available by calling (415) 556-5000 x5 or online at www.smuinballet.org. Discounts are available for seniors and students.