KIDSTAGE explores race in ‘Ragtime’
July 27, 2010
Nick Johnson (left), Jordon Bolden, Aaron Johnson, Madison Willis and Robert Poole perform the "Gettin' Ready Rag" with the many other 18-and-under cast members in a rehearsal for the Village Theatre KIDSTAGE production of "Ragtime." By Greg Farrar
The power and drama of the American experience at the turn of the 20th century unfolds on Village Theatre’s Mainstage as aspiring young actors from the theater’s KIDSTAGE program present “Ragtime” July 31 – Aug. 8.
Tackling issues of poverty and wealth, hope and despair, and freedom and prejudice, the musical unfolds as a story told from the perspectives of three very different families living in post-industrial America.
One of the show’s main characters, Harlem musician Coalhouse Walker Jr., is faced with racism as he tries to make a career for himself as an artist.
The show is a challenge for young actors, because it deals with a wide variety of issues that allows them to stretch their abilities, said Renton resident Jordan Bolden, 16, who plays Walker.
Pick up POPs! tickets soon
July 27, 2010
Catch a free pops concert in downtown Issaquah courtesy of Rowley Properties.
The developer and property management company presents the annual POPs! Goes Issaquah concert at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N. The free event features the Sammamish Symphony Orchestra and conductor R. Joseph Scott.
Pick up tickets at Rowley Properties, 1595 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Suite 1, starting July 30. Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations will be accepted. Pick up tickets between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
For the 15th anniversary of the event, POPs! Goes Issaquah will have two guest performers: 11-year-old trumpet star Natalie Dungey and tenor Gregory Carroll.
Brian Yorkey returns to direct ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
July 27, 2010
Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Issaquah High School alumnus Brian Yorkey returns to Village Theatre in May to direct the blockbuster “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
The rock musical about the last days of Jesus Christ runs in Issaquah from May 11 to July 3, and then opens for a monthlong run in Everett.
Before he headed to Broadway, Yorkey served as associate artistic director for Village Theatre. He started at the theater as a pioneering force in the popular youth education program, KIDSTAGE.
Community performances of Shakespeare return
July 20, 2010
The cast of Seattle Shakespeare Company's ‘Othello’ performs during the summer's first ‘Shakespeare on the Green’ presentation in Issaquah. By Amy Dukes
The famous Shakespeare play “Much Ado About Nothing” won’t put a dent in pocketbooks July 29, when Issaquah’s Arts Commission and 4Culture will co-sponsor the play for the final show of this year’s “Shakespeare on the Green.”
This year is the second annual Shakespeare on the Green event according to Amy Dukes, arts coordinator for the Arts Commission. Issaquah hosted the event several years ago before Wooden O and Seattle Shakespeare merged; the program restarted last year.
The Arts Commission supports the event because it provides, “free high quality performing arts to the community in a relaxed accessible environment,” Dukes said. Read more
Kris Orlowski band performs for a cause
July 20, 2010
The Kris Orlowski Band performs July 2 in front of the Issaquah Library as part of the ArtWalk lineup of live entertainment. By Kirsten Johnson
Each summer, Issaquah sees plenty of talented performers come and go.
But the Kris Orlowski band, which performed July 2 at the Issaquah Library during ArtWalk, is a bit different from the rest.
The group has chosen to team up with LivLife, a charity that raises money for 6-year-old Olivia Cook. At just 18 months, Olivia was diagnosed with a rare, terminal kidney disease. Just to stay alive, Olivia is scheduled to receive a transplanted kidney this month from local fitness instructor Danica Kilander, who has selflessly chosen to sponsor the young girl.
After being approached by Kilander to help Olivia, Kris Orlowski band wrote a song for the young girl, called “Liv.” The band chose to donate all proceeds of the song to the cost of Olivia’s operations and medical bills. Read more
KIDSTAGE gets ‘All Shook Up’ for summer production
July 13, 2010
Village Theatre Erin Herrick (as Natalie, left), Kody Bringman (as Dennis), CJ Eldred (as Chad), and Adrian Slade (as Sandra) are cast members in the Village Theatre Kidstage production of ‘All Shook Up.’ By Jean Johnson
There’s a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Village Theatre’s Mainstage as the KIDSTAGE cast gets ready to debut “All Shook Up” July 17.
Inspired by the songs of Elvis Presley, “All Shook Up” is a family-friendly comedy, cast members said. Think part “Rebel Without a Cause,” part Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” part “Footloose” and a whole lot of The King.
“I saw it at a high school last summer and from then on, I knew I wanted to do the show,” Director Kelsey Thorgalsen, 20, said. “I love the energy of it. It’s just fun and funny to watch how the love element takes over the people in the town and changes them.”
The KIDSTAGE youth theater program — which began in 1985 as Village Theatre’s youth program for children and young adults, ages 3-20 — produces two full theatrical productions each summer.
“All Shook Up” is the program’s annual Summer Independent production, managed from inception to final curtain call by youths and young adults from 13-20.
The program allows children and young adults to discover all aspects of theater work, including choreography, technical set design and acting, connecting with professionals and pushing themselves, Production Manager Michael McManus said.
McManus, a 2010 graduate from Issaquah High School, said without KIDSTAGE he wouldn’t have had the opportunities to meet the people he did, nor develop the body of work that helped him gain admittance to George Washington University.
In all, more than 30 youths make up this year’s Summer Independent cast. Read more
‘Twain’s Feast’ author comes to library July 14
July 13, 2010
Andrew Beahrs
Food lovers and fans of Mark Twain, mark your calendars.
At 7 p.m. July 14, Andrew Beahrs, author of “Twain’s Feast: Searching for America’s Lost Foods in the Footsteps of Samuel Clemens,” will be at the Issaquah Library to sign copies of his book.
Beahrs has had works appear in a variety of publications, including The New York Times, Food History News and Virginia Quarterly Review. “Twain’s Feast” is the third of Beahrs’ three books.
In “Twain’s Feast” Beahrs explores Twain’s fantasy food menu of American dishes that Twain missed the most while on a tour of Europe in 1879.
Twain’s unique menu includes Southern-style hot biscuits, Canvasback duck and grass-fed steak for breakfast. It is the story of an American who truly loved American food.
“Essentially, he’s kind of homesick in Europe for authentic food in the U.S. and he put together this unique food wish list,” Issaquah Librarian Mark Shields said. “I think most people would want to be friends with Mark Twain. This should give them a chance to learn more about him and also the talent of an established food writer.”
While attendance turnout at library events can be difficult to predict, Shields said he believes Beahrs’ appearance will be a success.
“The book has Mark Twain as a renowned authority and there are a lot of ‘foodies’ universally,” Shields said. “I think that putting those two together with a talented author, the event will have a high success rate.”
The University Book Store at the University of Washington is sponsoring the event. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the signing.
If you go
- Meet Andrew Beahrs
-Issaquah Library
-10 W. Sunset Way
Kirsten Johnson: 392-6434 or isspress@isspress.com. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
Thundering Angels rumble back in town with charity ride
July 13, 2010
Triple XXX Rootbeer Drive-in has been known for its root beer, burgers and car shows, but four years ago, Eastside Harley Davidson of Bellevue started a motorcycle rally there. Since then, the Thundering Angels Motorcycle Club has taken on the responsibly of hosting the event.
Last year, the event expanded, making it a two-day event with a charity ride the first day and the rally the second day.
“We wanted to get together and do something for the community,” organizer Larry Rudé said. “Something that is fun for a group of motorcycle riders, and worthwhile.”
This year’s charity ride will be July 17; registration begins at 11 a.m. at Downtown Harley in Renton. The ride costs $25 per bike. Downtown Harley will supply soda, coffee and snacks before the ride beings at noon.
“All motorcycles are welcome,” he said. “Not just one style motorcycle group. Everybody is welcome.”
The money raised during the ride will benefit two local charities, the Issaquah Food Bank and a second charity that has not yet been picked, according to Rudé . Read more
Bake’s Place debuts showcase for new talent
July 13, 2010
Ever searching for new ways to introduce local jazz aficionados to music, Craig Baker debuts his newest theme nights — “Weekend of Rising Stars.”
Kicking off the new showcase for Bake’s Place are Riley Mulherkar on July 16 and Siobhan Brugger on July 17.
“I’m excited to give them the opportunity to perform when they don’t normally get a place to showcase their talents,” Baker said.
Mulherkar, a trumpeter, graduated in June from Garfield High School, where he was a member of the prestigious Garfield Jazz Band. The band recently took top honors at the Essentially Ellington Competition in New York, and Mulherkar was named the Ella Fitzgerald Outstanding Soloist.
Brugger, a vocalist, has been singing jazz standards since she was 12. She has appeared at jazz clubs in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Kobe, Japan. She is the two–time winner of the “Outstanding Alto Soloist” award at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival; winner of the student division of the Seattle-Kobe Jazz Vocalist competition; was a selection for the 2008 All-State Jazz Choir; and also was a two-time finalist for the Gibson/Baldwin Grammy Jazz Festival.
Baker said he hopes to regularly showcase the Rising Star talent. To continually renew the artists in the showcase, Baker is finalizing the next phase, “Who’s Got Game?” Essentially, it’s an open call for musicians and bands to submit demos, and then audition live at the club Thursday nights, starting Oct. 7.
Baker said the thought behind the talent search is twofold.
“There are very few places for these young musicians to perform,” he said. “We’re definitely looking for talent, but we also want to help these artists develop their skills and to teach them about ways to find performance opportunities. It’s a coaching experience as well.”
Are you a Rising Star?
Bake’s Place seeks a variety of performers, including vocalists, singer-songwriters, classical artists, a cappella groups and bands of different genres, such as R&B, jazz and blues. Submit a demo recording to the club. Call 391-3335 or go to www.bakesplace.org.
David Hayes: dhayes@isspress.com, 392-6434, ext. 237. Comment at www.issaquahpress.com.
Artists asked for submissions for Salmon Days special edition art
July 13, 2010
The Issaquah Salmon Days Festivals Office is producing a special artist edition retail item for the 2010 festival.
Artists are invited to submit artwork for this project that should reflect the basic theme of the festival and the salmon (returning, spawning, life cycle, etc.) and can be produced in almost any medium that can be reproduced for print, screenprinting and possibly embroidery.
Submissions must be original, completed artwork not previously used in any commercial reproduction. Artwork may be submitted by mail, on disk, electronically or in person. Electronic submissions should be saved as jpeg, eps, psd or pdf files (minimum 300 dpi).
All artwork must be received no later than 5 p.m. July 23 at the Festivals Office, 155 N.W. Gilman Blvd. or vendorinfo@salmondays.org. All original artwork will be returned to artists upon final selection and selected piece will be returned following production.
