Artfully Edmonds: Driftwood’s ‘Festival of Shorts’ premieres this weekend

10425507_826402087378269_2306568295604887950_nFestival of Shorts Co-Producer Diane Jamieson ~A Driftwood Players Profile

The Driftwood Players 2014 Festival of Shorts (FOS) is coming up this weekend and Artfully Edmonds was able to spend time with co-producer Diane Jamieson to discuss the popular theatre company’s Festival, aka “World Premier x 8”.

Here is a transcript of Artfully Edmonds (AE) exchange with Diane (DJ):

AE: Diane, the Festival of Shorts seems fast-paced – and – err – almost . . . wild! What are your feelings about this year’s Festival?

DJ: It’s one of my favorites since the 1st Annual Festival of Shorts (FOS). It’s hard to believe we are on our 5th annual production!

AE: How have you been involved in previous Driftwood Players (DWP) productions?

DJ: I stage-managed four of the eight productions during the 1st Annual FOS and that was my first time doing anything with Driftwood Players! Since then I have been a light board operator (three years); a reader of submitted scripts (three years); and for the last two years I moderated the groups of readers to help each group choose their favorites for production.

AE: That is a heavy commitment to Driftwood Players. How is this commitment hitting you right about now?

DJ: It is a real thrill to be co-producing this year!

AE: What is the process for a playwright’s work to make it into the Festival?

DJ: First, a call for “short” plays is put out on the web to various websites during [the preceding] January. We accepted play submissions until April. This year we received over 280 short plays. We had two groups of readers (four volunteers in each group). Each group read half of the plays.

In April, I met with each group of readers and through a fun group-process each group came to a consensus on their favorite 10 submissions.

The final groups of readers (Carissa Meisner Smit, myself, and our fabulous stage manager, Thomas Glass) each read these 20 plays and chose the best eight, based on our criteria:
1) How well they fit the theme (this year’s theme is Transitions)
2) The quality of the writing.

AE: And the result of that process will showcase which playwrights this year?

DJ: The eight plays that will premier in Driftwood Players 2014 Festival of Shorts include:

1) In Transition by Terry Riley from Sante Fe, NM
2) A Day in the Life of a Recovering Nine Year Old by Kim M. Baker from Warwick Rhode Island
3) A Swinging Christmas by Joe Starzyk from Troy New York
4) The Screens by Erik Champney from Haughton LA
5) A Place That Looks Like Davenport by Paul Lewis
6) Life on the Line by Matthew Konkel
7) Winter Light by Christine Foster from Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
8) Flowering by David Muschell from Milledgeville, GA

AE: Who can regular theatre-goers expect to see returning to the stage to perform this exciting variety of plays?

DJ: We have many returning actors this year – first off – Justin Tinsley who has been in 23 of the Driftwood Players productions over the last 15+ years!

“Shorts” is a favorite among our actors. In fact, we have several actors this year who were in our very first Festival of Shorts five years ago, such as Mary Kay Voss. She and I both started our involvement with Driftwood Players at the first “Shorts,” and have been involved ever since!

We have several new and exciting actors including Woody Lotts and Stephanie Spohrer, who are both cast in “A Swinging Christmas.” Then, we have several people who have been in both our Main Stage productions (four of our actors from Thugs) and our TIPS productions.

Ted Jaquith (who has directed two of the “Shorts” since the first year) is now an actor in Joe Starzyk’s “A Swinging Christmas.”

AE: Who is your co-producer, and under whose direction will the eight “Shorts” be managed?

DJ: Penny Morrison, to whom I am indebted, is co-producing with me.

Let me also mention that we have five different directors for the eight plays. This is our chance to give directors who are new to Driftwood Players a chance to see how we work (and vice versa) as well as a chance for past directors who have not had a chance recently to direct our other productions to step back into that role.

Our directors are: Nikki Fey Burgett, who is a new director to DWP – and brings with her 30 years of experience directing on the East Coast. Also directing are Chrystian Shepherd and Paul Fleming, who both directed in last year’s “Shorts”. Our returning directors from several prior years include Dave Morrison and Roy Arauz, who are each directing two of the “Shorts”.

AE: Diane, you have been so generous with your time during this busy pre-curtain-call week. Thank you for spending time with My Edmonds News – I know that the community is excitedly anticipating the 2014 “Festival of Shorts” aka “World Premier x 8”

You can buy tickets to the Festival of Shorts here.

See you from the audience. I’ll be there Saturday night!
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Day-by-Day in Edmonds This Week

There are so many great and entertaining events happening in Edmonds this week, that we are going to list them one day at a time – starting with today (Thursday)!

July 10 ~ 5-6:30 p.m.
Hazel Miller Plaza
5th Ave. S. at Maple St.

Plaza Concerts featuring “The Winterlings”

The band plays as a duo, trio, and full band at gigs in the Seattle-area and well beyond. I’m sure that Amanda and Wolffe (who represent the “duo” of “The Winterlings” will treat us to performances of songs from their first album, “On The Night You Were Born,” released under the name of The Orphan Trains.
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gilligan
Phoenix Theatre ~ “Comedy without all the drama!”
9673 Firdale Avenue
Gilligan’s Island – A Parody

One Weekend Only!
Friday/Saturday July 11/12 ~ 8 p.m.
Sunday July 13 ~ 2 p.m.

Are you ready to reunite with the characters of Gilligan’s Island? Who could forget The Skipper; and of course, Gilligan. Then there’s get-rich-quick Mr. Howell and his “Lovey”, Mrs. Howell; not to mention Hollywood’s “Ginger”. The Professor surely will continue to be as aggravatingly logical as MaryAnn Summers (and her coconut pies) are sweet.

“To be, or not to be. . ?” Perhaps you want to know how “Gilligan’s Island – A Parody” came to be? Read the Artfully Edmonds Brief.

Tickets for this weekend’s “Gilligan’s Island – A Parody” are available here or by calling the box office: 206-533-2000
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An Early Morning Classic Car Show!
Dick’s Drive In parking lot
21910 Highway 99, Edmonds
Event: Saturday, July 12 ~ 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

An early morning start for Saturday? Who cares with weather like this!

What could be more perfect for admiring the Classic Car Show line-up than a morning filled with sunshine.

“A Classic Car Show! is accepting late entrants” Artfully Edmonds is informed by one of the event’s veteran organizers, Al Rutledge. Saturday morning registration at site the morning of the car show is $25.

The proceeds from this event will benefit Edmonds area food banks. Mr. Rutledge has long been known for his commitment to Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood food banks.

Mr. Rutledge can be reached with questions about the event at 425-776-7130.
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concours
Friday Night Gala Kicks Off
Concours d’Elegance at the Wood
Gala Auction: Friday, July 11
Car Show: Saturday, July 12 ~ 1 p.m.

Tickets: $10

A Gala event, to be held at Woodway Hall on the Edmonds Community College campus will be followed by one of the most sophisticated car shows to grace the Edmonds area.

The Classic, Sports and Muscle Car Show, which begins at 1 pm on Saturday at the Lynnwood Golf Course will feature over 60 collector automobiles, many from the “Brass and Nickel Era”.

Coverage of this premier car show (and its kick-off gala auction) is detailed in My Edmonds News here.
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"Comedy and Combat" at ECA.
Comedy and Combat Camp at ECA.

July 14 – 18
Edmonds Center for The Arts
“Comedy and Combat Camp”
Five day theatre camp for ages 11+

From the playbill: In this introduction to comedy and stage fighting, laughter and trickery abound! Participants will work on comedic scenes and monologues from Shakespeare throughout the week.

In addition to comedic character creation and improv games, expect large doses of unarmed combat, simple swordplay and comedic fights!

Students will wrap up the week with a performance for family and friends.

To arrange the theatre experience of a lifetime for your children (or grandchildren) visit www.ec4arts.org, or contact Gillian Jones, Education & Outreach Manager, at gillian@ec4arts.org or 425-275-9483.
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Coming Up Close By!

Shakespeare In The ParkLynnwood Park Amphitheater
18927 72nd Ave. W., Lynnwood
Shakespeare in The Park
Julius Caesar

Wednesday/Thursday ~ July 16/17 ~ 7 p.m.

The Lynnwood Arts Commission is producing a “Shakespeare in The Park” series this summer. The first production begins Wednesday/Thursday, July 16/17.

So, since Edmonds’ two main stage drama/comedy venues are avoiding Shakespeare this week, next week you will have to take the short drive to Lynnwood if you are predisposed to hear lines from the works of The Bard.

Seattle Shakespeare Company’s “Wooden O”, and also “Green Stage” will perform this summer’s Shakespeare series.

Suggested Donation: $5 per person.

The arts commission would like you to know this about seating: The Lynndale Park Amphitheater has main seating consisting of wood benches on concrete platforms. The Amphitheater was recently renovated which included environmental improvements, ADA accessibility, a paved path to the seating area and the addition of bleacher seating. Patrons will still be able to bring camping chairs however, although the seating area for chairs is limited.

You can find more information about this arts commission program here.
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ARTsplash!Friday, July 18 ~ 6 – 8 pm
Sat./Sun., July 19/20 ~ 10 am – 5 pm
ArtWorks
201 2nd Ave. S.
ArtSplash!

This year’s ArtSplash will be unveiled with an Artist’s Reception at ArtWorks that begins on Friday, July 18 at 6 p.m. The splashy event will feature original works by over 20 artists.

Saturday and Sunday will herald the elegant jewelry, zany art and stunning work of many of the artists who refer to ArtWorks as their “studio home base.”

Mark your calendars now, summer events are lining up quickly!
For information about the event go to the Artists Connect website at www.Artists-Connect.com/artsplash or call 425-774-6049.
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Reminder to Photographers!

I want to close this week’s column with a very special arts-related reminder:

Members of the community are being invited by Swedish Medical Center/Edmonds to submit digital images that will be juried for display in the Swedish/Edmonds facility’s new expansion.

Applicants are advised that, “Images should promote healing, health and community. The design concept of the new facility involves the natural northwest landscape, including the many glacial features that helped form our region 15,000 years ago.

Photo submission requirements:
• Submissions are due Thursday, July 17, 2014.
• Images must be submitted electronically, in one-sheet PDFs or Word documents.
• Please place up to 10 images on one 8.5” by 11” sheet with your name, street address, email address and telephone number (minimum 72 dpi).
• Selected photographs must be a minimum of 300 dpi, 8×10 print size.
Please submit photos and questions to kathleen.moles@swedish.org.

— By Emily Hill

Emily ~ Square jPegEmily 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.

  1. It’s so exciting to have all the wonderful upcoming local arts events gathered in one article. Who needs to drive to Seattle for an arts pick-me-up with all of this in our neighborhoods. Thank you Emily for being our great source of information.

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