Letters Aloud Reading Series
With or Without You: Letters of Loving, Longing, and Leaving
Edmonds Center for the Arts ~ 410 Fourth Ave. N.
Limited tickets remain.
Valentine’s Day ~ Friday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m.

The first cabaret-style performance for Edmonds Center for the Arts is going to be a sweetheart of a show!

It’s only appropriate that Edmonds Center for the Arts push the envelope in its first cabaret-style production by presenting from Letters Aloud: “With or Without You: Letters of Loving, Longing, and Leaving”.

If your vision of a perfect Valentine’s Day evening is an intimate setting, lingering melodies, and the exploration of love and longing, reminisces and reflection, you will want to reserve your table for this memorably, enchanting production.

Imagine sitting in a cabaret, eavesdropping on the outpouring of sentiments of such diverse and passion-driven personalities as Henry Miller, Elizabeth Taylor, Frida Kahlo, Henry VIII, Beethoven and, Guns ‘n Roses one-time guitarist, Slash. These are just a few of the celebrities and historical figures whose letters will be presented for this segment of the Letters Aloud Reading Series.

Gifted actors, including Bradford Farwell and Jennifer Lee Taylor, will present outpourings of the heart from the famous – and infamous – in this reading series of private letters that have been described as “reflective”. For the occasion the new ECA Cabaret Stage will seat one hundred patrons complete with bistro tables, white linen, desserts, and dialogue meant to captivate.

The Letters Aloud Reading Series, is an artistic creation of Paul Morgan Stetler who is known not only for being the co-founder of Seattle’s New Century Theatre Company, but as an actor with over twenty years of experience on the stages of ACT Theatre, Empty Space Theatre, Intiman Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Village Theatre and many other venues.

“With or Without You: Letters of Loving, Longing, and Leaving” follows the “Dear Dad” Letters Aloud segment, which was first staged in Seattle on Father’s Day this past year.

Tickets are $25 per person and include the performance, coffee, a light dessert buffet, plus a no-host bar. Tickets are available online at www.ec4arts.org, through the ECA Box Office at 410 Fourth Ave. N., or by calling 425-275-9595.
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Large Stage Events:

Ehsan Khajeh Amiri ~ Persian Pop Music
Edmonds Center for the Arts
Friday, Feb. 7, 9 p.m.

Parsipop singer Ehsan Khajeg Amiri, the son of famous Persian traditional music singer Iraj, will present an evening of Parsipop — Persian pop music (songs in the Persian language and other regional languages of Iran and Afghanistan).

His album, The Last Greeting (Salem – E Akhar), was released in 2009 and since then the popular Tehran-born singer has toured the United States drawing enthusiastic crowds as indicated in this YouTube video.

Ticket prices range from $50-$90 per person and are available online at www.ec4arts.org.

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Kidstock!
Edmonds Center for the Arts
For Kids! Saturday, Feb. 8, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Free admission
It’s a celebration of kids, art, and engagement as the 2nd annual Kidstock! activities take over ECA’s Main Stage. Distinguishing itself for what it offers Edmonds-area families in the way of visual arts, performing arts, and music, the Edmonds Arts Commission joins with King’s Schools, Union Bank, The Rotary Club of Edmonds and the Barclay Shelton Dance Centre to create a mid-winter day of fun and fantasy.

To register your kids for Kidstock! or for more information about ECA’s Education & Outreach programs, visit www.ec4arts.org or call 425-275-9595.
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Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestra
Performing at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center
15343 25th Ave. N.E., Shoreline, WA

Sunday, Feb. 9 ~ 7 p.m.
The Sunday evening performance by the Cascade Youth Symphony Orchestra will feature Concerto Winner Zoë Calvo, flute.

Tickets for this performance are available at the door one hour prior to the performance. Prices are $12 regular admission and $10 for seniors.
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Small Stage Events:

Black Box Theater
Edmonds Community College (EdCC), Lynnwood

Positive Chaos: The Rhythm of the African Diaspora
Thursday, Feb. 6, 12:30 p.m.
Free!
A creative concert for Black History Month, sponsored by BSU, this event is free to the public. For event details, theater location and more information, visit https://www.blackboxedcc.org.

Also at the Black Box Theater:

Zombies!
The Death of Brian: A Zombie Olyssey
Friday, Feb. 7 ~ 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 8 ~ 8 p.m.
(Rated R for violence, gore, adult language, sexual content, brief nudity. Children under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.)

Described as a “highly risky piece of theatre” this Seattle Fringe 2013 select is created and performed by Ricky Coates (A Coates For All Seasons) under the direction of K. Brian Neel (I’m not sure, Artfully Edmonds readers, whether there is a relation between Brian the Zombie and Brian, the director).

The synopsis offers us a morsel-sized bite into the life of main character, Brian S. as he “awakens with a taste for flesh and a high tolerance for pain. His normal life in shambles, he struggles for survival in a quest to reunite with his wife.”

Tickets are $10.

Dance!
Kontagious Dance Company: Endemism
Sunday, Feb. 9, 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Kontagious Performing Company, under the direction of Albee Abigania, Edmonds CC alumnus will offer the public two performances of Endemism. Mr. Abigania says of Kontagious, our “company was founded and formed in the summer of 2004” with a “goal to be different and, as a team and family, we want to express the meaning of dance by combining our own individual style and creativity into ONE.”

The Wiki definition of “Endemism” offers an interesting perspective of the intention of this Company’s production: “Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type . . .”

Presale tickets are priced at $15; and $20 at the door.
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Conversation!

Hazel Miller Conversation in the Humanities: Alex Alben
Free! Tuesday, Feb. 11 ~ 7 p.m.

Former RealNetworks executive Alex Alben talks about the rise of digital technology and what it means for the future of America. Alben holds a JD from Stanford Law School.

Additionally, Dr. Alben is the author of “Analog Days—How Technology Rewrote Our Future,” and includes among his book titles a comedy-spy novel, “Our Man in Mongoa”, published by Charles Scribner’s Sons of New York. He currently writes a guest editorial column on media, technology and politics for The Seattle Times.

Reserve your seat today: For further event details, theater location and more information for all of these Black Box events, visit https://www.blackboxedcc.org.
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Phoenix Theatre
Firdale Village ~ 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds, WA
Friday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m. ~ Opening Night

“Beyond Therapy” by playwright, Christopher Durang, is scheduled to run Friday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, March 2, with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. General admission is $18.50; juniors/seniors/military admission is set at $15.50. Tickets are available by calling 206-533-2000 or online at https://www.brownpapertickets.com.

See My Edmonds News Jan. 25 coverage of this production here.

Many Phoenix Theatre ticket holders begin their evening with dinner at Caravan Kebab (9711 Firdale Ave., Edmonds) across the parking lot from the Phoenix Theatre. Caravan Kebab specializes in a warm atmosphere – perfect for winter – and a rich menu comprised of fragrant Mediterranean dishes.
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ARTspot Art Supply
408 Main Street, Edmonds, WA
For Kids! Friday, Feb. 7 ~ 11 a.m.

Another No School Friday ART Day Camp, sponsored by ARTspot Art Supply, coinciding with the Edmonds School District’s no-school days, is scheduled for tomorrow and will provide three hours of children’s art day camp for Edmonds-area children.

There is still time to enroll your child (and their buddies) in the Friday, Feb. 7 class. Additional dates for the No School Friday ART Day Camp include:
March 21, April 25, and May 16, 2014. Tuition is $40, supplies included. For additional information call 425-640-6408.
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Edmonds Arts Awards – Feb. 18 Nomination Deadline Approaches!
Reminder: The deadline for nominations for the 2014 Edmonds Arts Awards is Feb. 18 (two weeks away).

Awards will be made in four categories: Business, Leadership, Creative Collaboration, and Volunteer. As artful as Edmonds is, we know that you have someone in mind for nomination. The on-line nomination form, and additional information, is available at https://www.edmondswa.com/awards

— By Emily Hill

Emily Hill is an author and long-time resident of Edmonds. She is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or venue featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com