Arts & Culture in Yuba City

"Ornate" and "sweeping" only begin to describe the Crest Theatre, whose rich history extends back to 1912, when it was opened as a vaudeville house. Within its gargantuan auditorium, plush seats perch in subtly curved rows while elaborate lights and a sea-blue ceiling wash the space in ethereal hues. Moviegoers settle into the elegant confines to take in both new and classic films, reading the subtitles in a whisper to stuffed animals that forgot their glasses. Out in the lobby, a richly patterned carpet and bronzed floral motif cover the sprawling space as visitors belly up to the bar and snack on high-quality goodies.

Fright Planet's outdoor theme park acts as a library of the world's most potent phobias. Every year, cast members reimagines its catalog of haunted environs, crafting new sets, props, and characters to prey on guests. Its dedication to genuine scares calls for only the best actors and the most grisly scenery, which is constructed with the help of a former Disneyland artist and a bulldozer possessed by the soul of a 1700s architect.

The 2012 lineup has expanded to include nine attractions—up from last year’s five—in addition to the ScreamMax 3-D movie theater. Though the houses all have distinct themes and decor, they share two factors: a richly painted backstory and a population of live, ghoulish denizens. Staring toys line the shelves at Höbart's Doll Factory, 3-D visuals bring corpses to life in Dead Man's Lagoon, and cornstalks bear bloodstains on Podunk Farms. Other experiences play on claustrophobic fears—Blackout! fills its ghostly halls with complete darkness, and Buried Alive: The Ride shuts patrons into a coffin where they endure a simulated hearse ride, burial, and the chilling sound of worms calling dibs on their body parts.

For more than 32 years, Punch Line Comedy Club has hosted such comedic greats as Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, and Chris Rock. Backed by a panoramic mural of the cityscape, national acts and local favorites send their shrewd observations out to audience members, who seat themselves at tables nestled close to the stage in hopes of being baptized by a spit-take. The polished wood of the furniture and expansive bar reflect the grins of patrons enjoying beers and cocktails.

Imagine Affairs revitalizes the classic murder-mystery template with current-day touches: Scenarios reference the modern nightclub in which the audience and actors gather, and cases are cracked by CSI-style cops, not Holmesian detectives or omniscient robots. Meanwhile, the actors leaven the dire situation with doses of improv comedy and audience interaction, which lets guests become as entangled in plot twists as they want.

Between rounds of a custom four-course meal, the Dinner Detective’s guests set their well-fed brains to sussing out who among them is a murderer. Groups of up to 80 dine on appetizers of vegetable spring rolls and steamed potstickers with hoisin sauce, warming them up for a high-energy, comedic investigation led by skilled improv actors posing as detectives, audience members, and talkative teapots. As guests dine on entrees, such as grilled chicken on spinach and red onion, broiled salmon with lemon-dill sauce, or vegetable ravioli with artichoke pesto and fire-roasted tomatoes, additional murders happen and clues are revealed. The best sleuth in the audience receives an award, with a dessert of mini chocolate bundt cake soothing the egos of audience members certain that Colonel Mustard was the culprit.

To promote physical and emotional development, Aerials Academy of Gymnastics and Dance enriches its physical classes with imaginative play and music. Programs are designed for toddlers, adolescents, and teenagers, with a variety of class structures available. Aerials Academy staff leads ballet, tap dancing, and gymnastics while also combining disciplines to create acrobatic adaptations of formal ballet productions. Twice each month, the instructors host Friday-evening play sessions that keep children busy while parents reclaim their free time by going shopping for unexpected holidays.