‘NEW’ THE MORONGO BASIN NEWS Desert Local News© • An Independent Weekly News Magazine • March 15, 2010
Wild Musical Satire “Walmartopia” Opens at Theatre 29
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Yucca Valley to get WalMart SuperCenter by 2012 LESLIE ANDREWS YUCCA VALLEY, CA- As promised to the community of Yucca Valley, the proposed WalMart SuperCenter has gotten the green light to go ahead and proceed, after the Center for Biological Diversity settled a lawsuit brought against the company over possible global warming impacts caused by the construction of the center.
The hard-working cast and Crew of „Walmartopia” had the West Coast premiere of the over-the-top musical with an opening night sponsored by the Yucca Valley Rotary Club Friday, March 12. The „campy, caustic and comically irresistible” show will run Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00pm through April 10. A Thursday performance will b held at 7:00pm March 25th and a Sunday matinee at 2:30pm April 4th. Director Charles Harvey was enthusiastic about the show, which was last seen Off-Broadway in 2007, saying, “Walmartopia” is a story everyone can relate too. Everyone who works or have worked for a corporation will understand the insanity of it all. While this show highlights the world’s biggest retailer, it is a larger indictment on the corporate machine in America. The production is a political satire, it is also a lot of fun. Great music, outrageous characters and, at the heart of it all, a story about the bond of a mother and daughter. It’s silly and serious, all wrapped in toe tapping tunes and hilarious social commentary.” “Walmartopia”, written by Catherine Caparello with music and lyrics by Andrew Rohn, both of Madison, Wisconsin, tells the hilarious and timely tale of a single mom who speaks out against her company‚s working conditions. Through a fantastic series of events, she finds herself jettisoned to 2040, into a future where Wal-Mart has taken over the world! The musical, peppered with lots of silliness, even features the singing head (head only) of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. Reservations can be made by calling the Theatre 29 box office at 760361-4151, or online at www.theatre29.com . Tickets are $12.00 for regular admission, $10.00 for seniors and military, and $6.00 for children under 12 ( the show is not recommended for young children) and students with ID. Theatre 29 is a non-profit, all-volunteer, tax exempt community theater. It is located at 73637 Sullivan Road (right around the corner from Barr Lumber) in the City of Twentynine Palms.
As part of the settlement. WalMart will be required to install three rooftop solar facilities of about 250 kilowatts, to incorporate cutting-edge efficiency measures into the design of the proposed stores, and implement a refrigerant audit and improvement program at certain existing stores in California. The lawsuits challenged the company over the projects for failure to properly consider measures to reduce the greenhouse gas pollution resulting from building the Supercenters. “This settlement is yet another example of the California Environmental Quality Act working to improve new development, reduce greenhouse gas pollution, save energy, save money, and promote a vibrant green economy,” said Matt Vespa, a senior attorney with the Center’s Climate Law Institute. “The settlement raises the bar for future projects. If big-box stores are to be built in California, measures like the installation of solar-power systems must be adopted to minimize the project’s greenhouse gas pollution.” In a letter sent to the Town of Yucca Valley obtained by Desert Local News, it is also agreed that the environmental groups shall not disrupt the opening of the supercenter, scheduled for two years from now. This settlement also includes a $120,000 check payable to the Mojave Desert Land Trust for the purpose of land conservation. Plus, the town acknowledges the right of the Coalition for Environmental Integrity to endorse a ballot initiative prohibiting development of future super centers. Plans to expand the current WalMart store in Yucca Valley into a SuperCenter have been in the works since 2008. This location, like all others in Southern California, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.