The San Juan Community Theater’s SummerFest is under way, and the quality of performance is already high. Acoustic guitar master Leon Redbone played to a sold-out house May 1, and Desirae Whalen et al are wowing audiences in “My Fair Lady.”
The rest of the SummerFest lineup promises equally enjoyable events.
This year offers a few returning favorites, and even more exciting novelties.
The rest of May sees a steady stream of enjoyable and varied music, from the Friday Harbor Middle School Band concert May 25, to the Tacoma Youth Symphony on May 29.
Now in its 47th season, the orchestra is one of the largest youth orchestras in the U.S. They will present, among other pieces, “Four Cornish Dances, Op. 91,” by Malcolm Arnold; “Concerto for Violin in D Major, Op. 35,” by Peter I. Tchaikovsky, and “Pines of Rome” by Ottorino Respighi.
June kicks off with more music and the popular Barbershop Bonanza on June 6. “Bonanza” is the right word as this is no meager a cappella group. Merritt Olsen, executive director of the theater, says of the returning act, “They are always great fun.” He said the music keeps going even after the end of the show, as the performers often sing their way down to the ferry on departing Friday Harbor.
The Barbershop Bonanza is followed by more June merriment with “Dance Happy” presenting a high-energy performance of local dancers and musical artists on June 19. Then on June 26, Chamber Music San Juans puts a classical touch on the transition into July, the concert including Beethoven’s “Trio op. 11 for clarinet, cello and piano”; Ingolf Dahl’s “Concerto a Tre for clarinet, violin and cello”; and Robert Schumann’s “Quartet Op. 47 for violin, viola, cello and piano.”
July begins with the return of the Missoula Children’s Theatre. This year, San Juan Island children are invited to perform in “The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.” After only one week of rehearsals, the junior cast will hit the stage on July 3.
Guitarist David Lindley follows on July 7. Lindley has played with a variety of big names, but is renowned for his solo show stage presence and his ability to play numerous guitars. “It is always a surprise to see how many instruments he will have on stage,” Olsen said.
Back by popular demand from last year, Abbey Road Live resurrects the Fab Four. Olsen said the theater tends not to repeat performances often, but the success of last year’s Abbey Road Live was so great that “we turned right around and brought them back.”
Expect a whole lot of musical fun from Juno Award winner Alpha YaYa Diallo, on July 30. Olsen said the theater is committed to World Music and featured the energetic Diallo two years ago.
“I was a little worried because everyone in the circle was dancing, everyone on the balcony was dancing,” Olsen said. “He is a lot of fun. He brings a party.”
Olsen is excited to present this show July 23 to Aug. 14: “Connoisseurs,” a play written by local playwright E.C. Strum. “Connoisseurs” won the 2010 Robert J. Pickering Award for Playwriting Excellence and premiered March 4 in the Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater, Mich.
“Connoisseurs” is one of two locally written works that will show in SummerFest. “Only a Ridgeline Away,” by Miguel Herbert, opens on Aug. 26. The play centers around the bonds of friendship forged between comrades-in-arms.
The summer season goes out on strains of classical music with Chamber Music San Juans on Sept. 11. A sonorous and peaceful end to a jam-packed summer.
— For complete schedule, times and ticket prices, visit the theater box office, call 378-3210, or visit www.sjctheatre.org.
