Edmonds’ event planners have launched the New Year with a vibrantly colorful array of offerings to contrast the days of winter weather that stretch before us.

Let’s not disappoint them by staying home! There’s something for everyone as we peruse what is happening this month on Edmonds’ stages.

Grab your coat, a bright neck scarf, jingle the car keys and set out to meet your Edmonds-area neighbors at these arts happenings. Whether it’s the boisterous screaming-me-me’s of Kidstock! this Saturday, or the dramatic upcoming performance of the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto by top-drawer Cascade Symphony Orchestra, you’re going to enjoy making it an Edmonds-Kind-of January if one of your resolutions is to take advantage of what this sparkle of a city has in store for us as 2016 begins.

Here’s a sampling, with liner notes, of what to expect this month.

– – –

Saturday, Jan. 9
9:30-3:30 p.m.
Kidstock!
Edmonds Center for The Arts (ECA)
410 4^th Ave. N.

Yell! Scream! Jump! Shout! That is how we want to start 2016 – and the ECA Family Series gives us the opportunity. What better way to introduce children, tweens and teens to the amazing spectrum of colorful community art?

What’s the price of admission to this entertainment extravaganza? Click-click – just a few keystrokes to get you to the free family pass line! That’s all! Kidstock is free!

So glance once more at the exciting line-up and then make your reservation at this ECA ticket outlet.

Kidstock!
2016 Main Stage schedule:
9:45 am: Recess Monkey

You may be wondering, “Who are the Recess Monkeys and why would the ECA staff think that a troupe with such a moniker should be serially-invited to the first Family Series event of the year?

Here’s a sampling of the Recess Monkeys paying “tribute” to Tom Brady.

11 a.m.: Ropeworks 

Noon: * “Theatre Simple: Myth Understandings”

1:15 p.m.: Bailadores de Bronce

2:30 p.m.: Alex Zerbe (America’s Got Talent) with special guest Godfrey Daniels

Did you click through the YouTube samples of the headliners? Bringing your kids to Kidstock! will lend energy, heat and fun to your weekend! Grab your free family pass right now!

(*Theatre Simple’s performance will be ASL-interpreted)

~ ~ ~ ~

Wade James Theatre
Show Opens!
Thursday, Jan 14
8 p.m.
Driftwood Players
950 Main St.

Playwright David Auburn’s taut play “Proof” premieres at the Driftwood Players in one week as the company’s post-New Year’s event.  A sophisticated plot line weighing loyalty, fear and emotional unknowns is guided skillfully by director Rick Wright.

Besides directing many local productions in the theatre community, Wright serves as technical director for Driftwood Players since May 2014.

“Proof” – a product of TIPS (Driftwood’s Theatre of Intriguing Possibilities) — will enjoy eight performances.

Get your tickets at the Driftwood Players online box office.

~ ~ ~ ~

 

Sell Out Alert!
Thursday, Jan 14
7:30 p.m.
Edmonds Tipsy over Pink Martini

Pink Martini with Storm Large  

Founded in 1994 by aspiring Portland politician Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini outgrew its description as a “little orchestra” years ago. Lauderdale reached back to his Harvard days in locating China Forbes, who in 1995 joined Pink Martini. The group’s 1997 release “Sympathique” put them on the charts – Storm Large joined with her smoky pipes and as they say, “The rest is history.”

If you were at grandma’s house during the holidays and missed out on getting your ticket to Pink Martini, Artfully Edmonds thinks it would be worth the trip over to the ECA to see if any tickets for this show become available.

Oh! And a recipe for a Pink Martini might be fun to have as we all sit pretty waiting for next Thursday:

Two parts vodka

One part dry vermouth

4 dashes of orange bitters

2t grenadine

~ ~ ~

Monday, Jan 18
7:30 p.m.
Cascade Symphony Orchestra
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4^th Ave. N.

Conductor Robert D. Collins will provide the downbeat as this sell-out orchestra begins its January symphony with the Carnival Overture, op.92 by Dvorak. Written in 1891, the premiere was conducted by Dvořák on April 28, 1892 in Prague. The program then continues with these selections:

Avni – Largo for Strings

Strauss – Death and Transfiguration, op. 24

Tchaikovsky – Piano Concerto No.1, op. 23, in B flat minor

– – –

Sell Out Alert!

Thursday, Jan 21
7:30 p.m.
Wellington International Ukuele Orchestra
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4^th Ave. N.

It took them 10 years to get here, so give this Kiwi band a warm Edmonds welcome!

It all began in December 2005 when award-winning New Zealand musician and co-founder of the band, Age Pryor, began work on putting together the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra.

Since then the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra has toured the United States, China, Japan, and United Kingdom plus has headlined major festivals throughout Australia and New Zealand.

What makes the Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra so popular? “Alongside the band’s energetic performance are picturesque visuals, including flamboyant costumes and delightful theatrical effects,” says ECA’s Director of Marketing and Business Development, Tina Stryker.

Truly? Grab your tickets now at this link.  Tickets are going fast!

– – –

Thursday, Jan 28
7:30 p.m.
Travis Tritt
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4^th Ave. N.

Sell Out Alert!

Edmonds Country!

Travis Tritt is about to receive an Edmonds-Kind-of-Welcome from a standing room only crowd for his end of January performance.

Artfully Edmonds sees only a small sprinkling of single seats for this star whose YouTube channel subscribers number over 14,000.

There is no doubles/couples seating left. If you are grab any of the remaining tickets for this concert plan to make new friends with folks who bought their tickets in December.

A full roster of ECA upcoming shows is at this link.

– – –

Friday/Saturday, Jan 29/30
7:30 p.m.
Edmonds Comedy Night IX
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4^th Ave. N.

Edmonds Comedy Night returns for a 9th year, bringing nationally touring comedians together to raise funds to benefit the students of Terrace Park School.

Headliner comedian and local celebrity Kermet Apio, who has been seen on Comedy Central and NBC will host Edmonds Comedy Night joined by comedians and performers Jackie Kashian, who has appeared on Conan and @Midnight; Andrew Rivers, who has been seen on Fox’s Laughs and The [206]; and David Crowe, who had his own one-hour special on Showtime and is a past winner of the Seattle and San Francisco Comedy Competitions.

Got Friends?

This is a bring-your-friends-along evening – group ticket purchases is what Artfully Edmonds recommends for this long-run and highly successful ‘support our schools’ benefit.

You can grab your tickets at the Edmonds Comedy Night link.

– – –

Sunday, Jan 31
6 p.m.
A Taste of The Taste
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4^th Ave. N.

You know those moments when you think to yourself, “I’m can’t be 50 – I feel like I’m 30!” or “I can’t be 70 – I feel like I’m 50!” If there was ever a “be young again” night to howl – this is it.

Straight up spectacular fun! We’re thinking that clapping, cheering and even (dare we say!) dancing in the aisles is what’s expected at this let-down-your-hair event.

A Taste of The Taste is a brainchild of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, which is pulling a fast one on last summer’s Rain Gods, who washed out the first night of A Taste of Edmonds 2015.

Rock band legends performing for A Taste of the Taste will be brought on stage by Jeff “the Fish” Aaron. The program, which may be subject to change, currently features No Rules, Spike and the Impalers, The Joe Slick Band, The Beatniks, Heart By Heart and The Michelle Taylor Band.

We agree with the promoters, this is going to be a “world class” event!

Tickets! Tickets! Go to this link.

~ ~ ~ ~

Theatre News

This month we have acting classes (offered by The Phoenix Theatre) and audition opportunities (offered by Driftwood Players).

If there was ever a time to get your drama on – it’s right now!

Saturday, Jan 9
11 a.m.

Acting classes for adults are currently being offered by The Phoenix beginning on Saturday and will continue through a series of Saturday mornings for a four-week and eight-week option.

– – –

Monday, Feb 15
11 a.m.

Aspiring thespians and beginning actors are encouraged to join The Phoenix classes which will be held on Mondays beginning Feb. 15 at 11 a.m.

Acting teacher Christine Mosere describes the class: “For actors who want to make stronger and bolder acting choices and book more jobs!”

Have you always wanted to take an acting class but felt too self-conscious or shy? This class will be perfect for you!  Melanie Calderwood and Christine Mosere teach in a supportive, non-threatening, friendly environment. Beginning actors and experienced actors are encouraged to enroll.

Mosere has over 20 years’ experience performing, directing and teaching in the theatre arts. She studied with master coach Tim Phillips–trademark holder of Sherlock Holmsing the script, Ron Stetson of The Neighborhood Playhouse, and at Carnegie-Mellon University.

Christine moved from the New York theatre district to Seattle’s theatre scene three years ago.

Sign up for any of these classes by emailing  Christinem@phoenixtheatreedmonds.org for registration forms.

~ ~ ~ ~

The Driftwood Players company has two productions currently holding auditions:

“Man Defeats Nature,” by Christopher Bailey will accept auditions this Saturday and Sunday with callbacks on Monday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Nikki Fey-Burgett directs.

– – –

A musical under the direction of Mark Press, “The 25^th Annual Putman County Spelling Bee,” has a bit longer preparation window, with auditions scheduled in February.

Details on how to prepare for an audition for either of these productions and sign up for an audition slot is at the Driftwood’s audition management website.

~ ~ ~ ~

Early Ticketing Alert!

Saturday, Feb. 20
3 p.m.

For this year’s very popular Children’s Concert, the Cascade Symphony Orchestra will perform

Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, op. 67 along with the Cascade Percussion Ensemble, and an inspirational performance by one of the CSO Rising Star musicians.

As has become tradition, narrator Dave Dolacky will do the honors of guiding the concert program.

Tickets for the Children’s Concert are priced at family-friendly rates so best pick up your set of tickets now at this online ticket booth.

— By Emily HIll

Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. She also writes the “Lynnwood Lifestyle” column for Lynnwood Today. Emily is retired from a career in public information and news media relations. If you would like your event listed, or featured, in Artfully Edmonds, Emily invites you to contact her at arts@myedmondsnews.com.