A lifetime’s worth of singing and dancing

Right now, at the corner of 14th and H streets, it’s the familiar sight of grandparents with excited grandkids, the sound of toe-tapping musical numbers, the smell of intoxicating popcorn and, of course, the little taste of Broadway. Yep, the circus is in town, the big M.C.—Music Circus, that is. M.C. is a Sacramento tradition that’s been around for 61 years, spanning generations, venues and musical styles. So how do you reach out to those who aren’t the target demographics—those in their 20s and 30s who don’t get the tent reference, weren’t taken as kids, and may not be familiar with many of the shows? According to Christopher Bower, Music Circus director of marketing, “To reach a younger demographic, we’re incorporating in our marketing strategy more use of online and social media. We utilize Facebook, Google, Twitter and SLOAN [the Sacramento Local Online Ad Network] to reach the 20-40 demographic.” Maybe we’ll see a slew of M.C. hipsters at the upcoming shows!

Oliver! (through July 24), Anything Goes (July 26-31), Camelot (August 2-7), Annie Get Your Gun (August 9-14), I Do! I Do! (August 16-21), Miss Saigon (August 23-28), 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 2 and 8 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Sunday. $42-$74. Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H Street; (916) 557-1999; www.californiamusicaltheatre.com. Through August 28.