This week’s Artfully Edmonds leads with news coming from Edmonds’ most consistently funny playhouse – The Phoenix Theatre, located in Firdale Village.
But humor seems to be on the minds of all of our Edmonds thespians because both of our high schools are featuring forays in farce and fun.
My Edmonds News encourages the community to support our young people in their stage performance aspirations by attending these wonderful productions – community theatre! Enjoy the laughter!
Theatre offerings are just the beginning of an active To Do list as over the next few days (and weeks!) Edmonds-area residents will enjoy the inauguration of the Creative Age Festival of Edmonds 2016; many world-class ECA shows; classical guitar, classical ballet, and several opportunities to enjoy classical music.
As always – We recommend that you bookmark Artfully Edmonds on your tablet or smart phone – because we’re pretty sure you’ll be coming back to double-check our arts and events listings.
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Thursday, April 7
8 p.m.
Dress Rehearsal Fun!
Show Opens: Friday, April 8
8 p.m.
Becky’s New Car
By Steven Dietz
Directed by Ted Jaquith
A joy ride of comedy through the twists and turns of middle age is what The Phoenix has in mind for us for its spring production.
No production company in the Puget Sound region does screwball like The Phoenix troupe. With a cast that includes Melanie Calderwood, Jake Friang, Steve Heiret, Michael G. McFadden, Christine Mosere, Veronica Tuttle, and Rick Wright audiences are assured that Ted Jaquith’s directorial work is about to get very serious about being funny!
But funny ultimately turns to touching as described in this synopsis of “Becky’s New Car”.
Have you ever been tempted to flee your own life? Becky Foster is caught in middle age, middle management and in a middling marriage—with no prospects for change on the horizon. Then one night a socially inept and grief-struck millionaire stumbles into the car dealership where Becky works. Becky is offered nothing short of a new life…and the audience is offered a chance to ride shotgun in a way that most plays wouldn’t dare. “Becky’s New Car” is a thoroughly original comedy with serious overtones, a devious and delightful romp down the road not taken.
Please note this play contains adult themes.
The Phoenix Theatre boasts an intimate wine bar and you-select-your seat ticketing at this link.
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Thursday/Friday
April 14/15
7 p.m.
True West
By Sam Shepard
Directed by Bruce Mindt
Performed by:
Edmonds Woodway Players
Edmonds Woodway High School
7600 212th St. SW
Premiering July 1980 at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre, “True West” tells the story of Austin, a moderately successful Ivy League screenwriter who is stuck in a slump. However, all is about to change when Austin is left to watch his mother’s house while she’s on vacation. Enter his brother, Lee, a beer-swilling desert rat and petty thief who shows up with plans to loot the neighbors of their household appliances.
Saul Kimmer, a producer, appears on the scene with the intention of approving Austin’s well-worked project but – alas! — ends up choosing Lee’s half-cocked movie pitch. To add insult to injury, Kimmer’s plan is to make Austin write the screenplay to his brother’s pitch
Alcohol, stress and exhaustion lead to the airing of past sibling resentments, violence and chaos.
Dark humor anyone? Since Shepard’s play reveals the darker sides of family – with just the right degree of black humor – you are in for a treat as the young thespians of Edmonds Woodway High School bring it home in “True West.”
General Admission: $5 at the door.
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Thursday/Friday
April 14/15
6:30 p.m. doors open
Miscast Cabaret, a comedy
Meadowdale Players
Meadowdale High School
Great Hall
6002 168th St. S.W.
Dinner and a Show!
“The Miscast Cabaret” promises to provide friends, family and fans to an evening of fun hilarity as members of the Meadowdale Players sing songs from roles in which they would simply never be cast. Never. Ever!
Your dinner-theatre ticket includes entry to a delicious, sit-down dinner served by the Culinary School and a dinner show directed by Addy and Peter Davies.
April 14 ~ Student Night $5
April 15 ~ Dinner + Theatre $15
Doors open at 6:30pm. The show begins at 7 p.m. Contact information is available at the My Edmonds News events tab.
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Saturday, April 9
7:30 p.m.
Andre Feriante and the
Bohemian Entourage
Wade James Theatre
950 Main St.
Award-winning Segovia-trained guitarist/composer Andre Feriante and the Bohemian Entourage will perform this weekend at the Wade James Theater (950 Main Street) as a benefit for EPIC Group Writers.
The evening promises to be full of amazing performances with a creative blend of classical, flamenco, jazz and Brazilian styles.
Andre has been described as “a very gifted performer” and the “Picasso of the guitar” who “takes the genre to a whole new level.”
A wonderful storyteller and poet as well, Andre weaves stories into the performance and connects with the audience on a deep emotional level, bringing listeners inward to see our similarities as humans.
For more information about Feriante, see www.andreferiante.com.
Tickets are available at www.epicgroupwriters.com or cash or check at the door.
EPIC Group Writers, a volunteer-run non-profit, builds and sustains the writing community by offering workshops, an annual writing contest for adults and youth, and many year-round free writing groups open to all.
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Saturday, April 9
7 p.m.
The Sleeping Beauty
Olympic Ballet Theatre (OBT)
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.
Calling all children, parents and grandparents!
After four seasons of planning and as part of OBT’s 35th anniversary celebration, the highly anticipated full-length classical ballet, “The Sleeping Beauty”, will be premiered at Edmonds Center for the Arts, showcasing professional sets, costumes, and world-class guest artists in principal roles.
The ornate, state-of-the-art sets have been designed by award winning scenic artist, Jeanne Franz with lighting design by Peter Bracilano.
To purchase tickets, visit the OBT website or call 425-774-7570
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Free!
Saturday, April 9
7:30 p.m.
Spiritus Winds performing at:
Trinity Lutheran Church
6215 196th St. S.W.
A free concert featuring five diverse works for wind quintet.
Spiritus Winds is a new wind quintet based in the Seattle area. Their name comes from the Latin word spiritus, which means breath or breathing.
Member profiles:
Bassoonist Jeff Eldridge, a member of Orchestra Seattle since 1995 has played with a number of northwest ensembles, including Tacoma Symphony, Philharmonia Northwest, and Soni Ventorum. In addition to his musical work, he teaches mathematics and statistics at Edmonds Community College.
Flutist Danijela McElwee studied flute in Serbia before moving to the US in 2001 to earn a masters in flute at the University of Washington. Along with her active teaching studio, she serves as principal flute with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra
Oboist Yuh-Pey Lin, born and raised in Taiwan, earned degrees from Eastman School of Music, Rice University, and the DMA from the U of W. She performs with a number of orchestras, teaches for the Northshore school district, and coaches for Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Jenny Ziefel, clarinetist, also plays saxophone and teaches professionally while playing with a number of ensembles to include Cascade Symphony, Lake Washington Symphony, and the Setzer/Ziefel Duo. She enjoys jazz, musical theater and chamber music.
Paulette Altman, French hornist, is from Pennsylvania with degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Cincinnati Conservatory. She has taught horn in the area for over 25 years, founded the Redmond Horn Choir, and worked with the Seattle Youth Symphony.
Additional information about the program is available at the Trinity Lutheran Church website www.trinitylutheranchurch.com.
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Friday, April 15
4 p.m.
Free!
Student Musicians Clinic with
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra members
Join SRJO and special guest composer/NEA Jazz Master Bill Holman for a free student clinic at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N.
The clinic will include a presentation by SRJO’s co-artistic director Michael Brockman on the fundamentals of arranging for jazz ensembles, followed by Bill Holman who will share stories about his life and career as a writer in the jazz world.
This clinic is geared toward advanced middle school and high school jazz students; however all jazz enthusiasts are welcome!
Students! Reservations are necessary — Click here to sign up and reserve your spot!
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Friday, April 15
7:30 p.m.
Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra
At Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)
410 4th Ave. N.
A CAFE Event!
You’ve waited your whole life for this type of a festival! And now it has come to arts-forward Edmonds!
There are so many exhilarating choices put together by the Creative Age Festival of Edmonds crew including this one that pairs CAFE with the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra for Friday night.
The ticket link to Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra is here
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Saturday, April 16
CAFE Continues!
Frances Anderson Center
700 Main St.
The Creative Age Festival of Edmonds (CAFE) continues at Frances Anderson Center Saturday morning where jazz, travel, activities and art are happening!
Plus — a delightful “networking” café will be set up on the Plaza Level for registrants to this exciting new Edmonds-Kind-Of event.
Don’t spend your creative years sitting in front of the television – Get out! Discover! Have fun!
Information about what everyone is talking about is available at https://www.creativeagefestival.org.
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It’s a Saturday Sampling…
April 16
Noon-5 p.m.
President and Head Distiller, AJ Temple of Temple Distillery in Lynnwood (19231 36th Ave W, Suite F) is inviting readers of My Edmonds News and Lynnwood Today to a release party: “We are releasing our long awaited “Limoncello” and having a party to celebrate!”
The grill will be fired up and there will be lemonade for the kids, AJ tells us.
“Come sample our gins and sample cocktails.”
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Sunday, April 17
3 p.m.
Cascade Symphony Orchestra
Ensemble
At United Methodist Church
828 Caspers St.
The next full program performance for Cascade Symphony Orchestra is slated for May.
Maybe you want more — sooner! If that’s the case CSO offers the annual spring Ensemble featuring unique and varied solo players and chamber ensembles from all sections of the beloved orchestra.
CSO will showcase small ensembles during its annual Ensemble Concert. Your ticket link to this annual concert is at the CSO online ticket booth.
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Thursday, April 21
7:30 p.m.
Patty LuPone sings at
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.
In concert with her selections from “Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda” LuPone gives audiences a first opportunity to listen to the performances she wants a second chance at.
Tickets will be gone by performance day – get your set of tickets today at the ECA online box office.
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Sell Out Alert!
Saturday, April 23
7:30 p.m.
Portugese Fado Singer Ana Moura
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.
Artfully Edmonds is advancing the calendar to Saturday, April 23 because of the Sell Out Alert caused by Internationally-recognized fado artist Ana Moura.
The youngest fadista to be nominated for a Dutch Edison Award, Ms. Moura excels in the expressive and sensual form of Portuguese song in a highly personal way.
Her engagement in Edmonds will include new songs from the Moura album, as well as older hits such as Leva-me aos Fados, Até ao Verão and O Fado da Procura.
Tickets for what promises to be a stunning evening are available at the ECA ticket link.
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Friday, April 29
7:30 p.m.
Coming Soon!
The Intergalactic Nemesis: Target Earth
Edmonds Center for the Arts
410 4th Ave. N.
Written for the stage and directed by Jason Neulander, “The Intergalactic Nemesis: Target Earth” arrives Edmonds from its NPR and Conan O’Brien showings.
The premise is simple: a raucous adventure story “featuring Pulitzer-winning reporter Molly Sloan, her intrepid assistant Timmy Mendez, and a mysterious librarian named Ben Wilcott as they face the most serious threat Earth has ever known: an impending invasion of sludge monsters from the planet Zygon.”
Three actors voice the play’s dozens of characters, as a Foley artist creates all the sound effects, and a pianist plays a cinematic score.
Imagine keeping up with the more than 1,250 individual full-color hi-res comic book panels tell a hilarious sci-fi adventure story visually from an enormous movie screen.
If you’ve got an inner 12-year-old (or an actual 12-year-old living in your home), “The Intergalactic Nemesis: Target Earth” is one show you’ll want to treat them to.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.ec4arts.org , through the ECA Box Office
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Events for a Sunny Season
Friday, May 20th
5:30 p.m.
Anchors Away!
Edmonds Senior Center
220 Railroad Ave.
The Edmonds Senior Center presents, “It’s An Edmonds Kind Of Evening – Anchors Away” fundraiser– and we have all received an invitation from Edmonds Councilmember Diane Buckshnis.
Expect great things – starting with this menu:
- Salmon with a signature rub then baked to perfection;
- Tender grilled chicken breast lightly breaded in panko bread crumbs with choice of sherry mushroom cream sauce or Dijon cream sauce;
- Field green salad with baby field greens, sliced strawberries, craisins, thinly sliced red onions and crumbled goat cheese and candied walnuts tossed in a raspberry vinaigrette;
- Rice Pilaf;
- Roasted vegetables;
- Rolls and butter.
Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at the Senior Center or through Brown Paper Tickets.
— By Emily Hill
Emily Hill is the author of two novels and a short story collection. 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.
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