FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
Fun For Families This May at The Bankhead
Livermore, CA – (April 14, 2025) – This May, Livermore Valley Arts has a trio of delightful performances that will be exciting times for Tri-Valley families to come together at the Theater and enjoy a live performance (or three) during the warmer spring weeks. On Saturday, May 10, for not one but two performances, after a screening of the iconic movie The Princess Bride, Cary Elwes, Westley himself, will give An Inconceivable Evening, a behind-the-scenes look at life on and off the set of the classic film, The Princess Bride. A no-brainer Mother’s Day matinee for the mom(s) in your life, on Sunday, May 11 Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience will delight and thrill animal-lovers of all ages at this ‘poochly-perfect’ matinee, and America’s favorite trickster, Michael Carbanaro will thrill audiences and conjure up concoctions of unbelievable magic at Lies On Stage on Friday, May 16. The Bankhead is excited to bring these talented stars and talents to the Tri-Valley; these exciting performances will all take place at the beautiful Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore.
Don’t be a “Humperdinck,” make haste to see The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes for a performance you will always “tweasure!” At this Inconceivable Show, audiences will be able to join Cary Elwes (Westley) for a behind-the-scenes look at life on and off the set of the classic film, The Princess Bride. After a screening of the iconic movie, Elwes will engage in a moderated discussion revealing never before shared secrets and tales of inconceivable antics. A special nostalgia-fueled time at The Bankhead, audiences are invited to journey back to the lands of Florin and Guilder in an adventure filled with fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, miracles, and of course, true love. Cary Elwes has been in a multitude of films and tv shows, including Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Saw, Twister, Liar, Liar, Stranger Things, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. He recently starred in Guy Ritchie’s “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre,” “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1” with Tom Cruise, Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic, “Rebel Moon,” and his latest movie, Guy Ritchie’s “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare,” based on the true story of the first British secret mission during World War II. Even amidst Hollywood credits such as these, Elwes is hitting the road to share with fans the personal stories behind the making of this piece of cinematic history he is best known for, the beloved The Princess Bride, and this star will be in Livermore for two performances on May 10. (A limited number of VIP packages are available and include the best seats in the house, a Meet and Greet with Cary Elwes, and a signed copy of Cary Elwes’ best-selling book, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride.)
Chris Perondi (aka the Stunt Dog GuyTM) and wife Suhey Perondi, along with their famous stunt dogs are out of this world! The Perondis are master dog trainers and have been entertaining audiences of all sizes since 1999. They have produced over 10,000 live performances since the birth of the show using positive training methods, with over 5,000 being stage shows for performing arts theaters and for major theme parks, such as: Silver Dollar City in Branson (MO), Dollywood (TN), Stone Mountain Park (GA), Worlds of Fun (MO), Valleyfair Theme Park (MN), Knotts Berry Farm (CA), Carowinds (NC), and Six Flags of America (MD). Over the years the Perondis have been featured on TV numerous times, on programs such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, The Queen Latifah Show, Animal Planet’s Pet Stars, NatGeo Wild, DisneyPlus, or during the annual Rose Parade on every major network, and much more. They have also starred in commercials and have been featured in magazines such as Sports Illustrated, National Geographic for Kids, Dog Fancy, BARK Magazine, and hundreds of regional publications. On screen and onstage, the Perondis and their cast of human performers and dogs will delight audiences of all ages. They guarantee high-energy excitement from beginning to end. During this “Stunt Dog Experience™” on May 11, Tri-Valley audiences will witness some of the most incredible stunts and behaviors ever performed by dogs. The experience has amazing tricks, big air stunts, comedy antics, dancing dogs, athletic feats, and is the most entertaining show of its kind, a perfect Mother’s Day treat in Downtown Livermore. Audiences will meet a cast of delightful performers along with up to two-dozen talented pound pups. Additionally, the show is truly unique and brings forth pet adoption awareness. All the dogs have been rescued from pounds and shelters from across the country. Their mission is to promote animal rescue, pet adoption, encourage spay & neutering, and encourage people to spend more time with their pets. The Perondis are also authors and their first book is now available worldwide titled, The Big Book of Tricks for the Best Dog Ever. Every show also includes interactive crowd participation. It’s not just a show, it’s an experience! Audience members will chant “higher” and “dog gone fun!” throughout the show and be involved in the excitement of the production. Prepare to be blown away by the most agile dogs in the world; from world-class Frisbee-catching dogs, and high-jumping challenges, to racing events; this is a show you won’t want to miss, a masterpiece from mixing dog sports and performing arts in a one-of-a-kind theatrical production!
The following weekend, best known as the star and executive producer of the hit series THE CARBONARO EFFECT on truTV, Michael Carbonaro, known for frequent television appearances in shows such as Happily Divorced, 30 Rock, Grey’s Anatomy, and CSI Miami, will be dropping by The Bankhead with his show Lies On Stage. A performing magician since his youth, Carbonaro went on to study experimental theater at New York University with aspirations of entertaining audiences through a variety of theatrical mediums, including hidden-camera magic, which he later showcased frequently on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Following Carbonaro’s frequent late-night appearances, Michael launched his hit comedic series “The Carbonaro Effect,” which has run for over 100 episodes on truTV and currently airs on Max and in syndication worldwide. In this series, Michael performs inventive tricks on unsuspecting members of the public who are unaware that he is a magician. Jaws drop when he causes a car to disappear from under a security guard’s nose or makes alien crabs transform into kittens in a science lab. Whether posing as a coffee shop barista, museum curator, or seemingly unremarkable store clerk in the REAL world, Carbonaro’s illusion—along with his absurd, matter-of-fact explanations—leaves REAL people bewildered and families at home laughing out loud. In 2016 Michael embarked on his first theater tour with the widely acclaimed show “Michael Carbonaro Live!” and launched his current live show “Carbonaro: Lies On Stage” in 2021. Don’t blink or you’ll miss out on his hysterical shenanigans—trust us, you’ll just have to see it to believe it. Playing to thrilled audiences across the country, Michael continues to showcase his unmatched blend of humor and charisma along with inventive illusions which amaze audiences of all ages, cementing himself as one of the most dynamic entertainers of his generation. Don’t miss all the magic and all the mischief on May 16 in Downtown Livermore.
Tickets for the remaining shows in the 2024—2025 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office. For a complete list of events, visit LivermoreArts.org.
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to eight resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes Date/Time: Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 2:00pm and 8:00pm Selling Fast! Tickets: $50—$150 / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Chris Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience
Date/Time: Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 3:00pm
Tickets: $25—$65 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20%
Show: Carbonaro: Lies On Stage
Date/Time: Friday, May 16, 2025, at 8:00pm Selling Fast!
Tickets: $25—$95 ($25 student/military personnel) / Groups of 10 or more save 20% Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
