By Janette Turner

Some folks believe tuba season begins and ends with John Philips Sousa music on the Fourth. But folks in Edmonds get a second dose of oompah as the Duwamish Dixieland Jazz Band comes to Edmonds City Park on Sunday at 3 p.m.

This free event kicks off the Edmonds Arts Commission’s “Summer Concerts in the Park” series, sponsored by Acura Lynnwood and Lynnwood Honda. Be sure to bring lawn chairs or a blanket and, if you are so inclined, dancing shoes to enjoy the band’s set of hot jazz, blues and traditional gospel. In the event of rain, the concert will be canceled at 2:30 p.m. More information: www.edmondsartscommission.org.

Gallery North: Sam Spencer
Photos by Sam Spencer make up “The Bodhisattva Series” now showing at Gallery North. According to the gallery’s website, Spencer bends the rules of classic composition for emphasis, as he says:  “I tend to place my subjects on the outside edges of the composition because spiritual people often strike me as living on the outside of civilization looking inward. This gives them a different perspective from the rest of us.” His work will be on display through the month.

Cole Gallery watercolor class: Wait list only
Bev Jozwiak’s watercolor class, “Thinking Outside the Box,” set for July 6, 7, and 8, is full. If you would like to be on the wait list, or view another class offering, visit the Cole Gallery website.

Driftwood Players: “No Sex Please, We’re British” closing

Alyson Soma directs the English tickler, “No Sex Please, We’re British,” with the able Driftwood Players. The comedy plays Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m., with the final performance of the run on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Wade James Theatre. You can read our review here.

ECA: Wrap up
With Edmonds Center for the Arts shuttered for July, it’s time to reflect on the robust past season and express our gratitude to Executive Director Joseph McIalwain, Development Director Jamie Herlich, ECA staff, community partners, and donors. Some season highlights were national shows featuring Second City performers, an acoustic Los Lobos, Arlo Guthrie, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin. If you want a peek into the ECA budgeting process, check out the monthly meeting minutes here.

Theater auditions: Driftwood Players
Ever want to be on stage? See if you have the right stuff at the Driftwood Players auditions on July 8 and 9, starting at 7 p.m., for Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Nile.” Five women and nine men, ages 20-70s, are needed. Prepare a one-minute dramatic monologue, and bring a head shot and resume to the rehearsal annex at 200 Dayton St. Be ready to perform your monologue twice: once in your regular speaking voice and the second in a British, French, or another European accent. People of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Sign up for an appointment at www.driftwoodplayers.com, or 425-774-9600. The play will be directed by David Alan Morrison, and opens the troupe’s 54th season on Sept. 7.

Advance notice: Driftwood Players’ “Festival of Shorts”

Driftwood Players’ third annual “Festival of Shorts” hits the Wade James Theatre on July 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. According to Driftwood’s Carissa Meisner Smit:  “We (called) for submissions in January (for) ten- to fifteen-minute short plays based on a theme. This year’s theme was ‘Serendipity.’ This year we were amazed and gratified at the response, as we had more than 180 submissions from around the world! Our reader’s committee read steadily for weeks and narrowed the field down to eight finalists….The audiences (will) be able to vote on their favorite piece for the People’s Choice awards, and there will be first-third place awards presented by a panel of adjudicators.”

Arts reporter Janette Turner is your guide to local culture. In addition to covering visual, performing and literary events for My Edmonds News, Janette is managing director of EPIC Literary Series and a member of the Swedish Hospital Art Committee.   (Photo by Jennifer McKinney)