Jazz, Brass, and Excitement Build for Orcas Center’s Sneak Preview Tomorrow

Global Dance Party comes to Orcas Feb. 27. Photo by Ben Kerns

A bold and brassy season awaits Orcas Center patrons in 2010, and a lively “Sneak Preview” will give a taste of what’s to come tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 27.

The Sneak Preview begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Center, and all are welcome to get revved up for the year to come. Orcas Center Executive Director, Barbara Courtney, says, “It’s the most diverse and broadly appealing season” in her tenure at the Center.

Courtney is particularly jazzed about the spring performance of “Gypsy.”  In keeping with Orcas’ love of community musical productions, “Gypsy” cast, crew and direction are all islanders; rehearsals are scheduled to begin next week. Courtney has long wanted to produce the 1960s musical – ever since she appeared in “Uncle Jocko’s Kiddie  Capers,” in a childhood production of the musical.  “It’s upbeat and fun, and the cast and Sparks [Center Theater Productions Manager Deborah Sparks]  and I are all so excited about it,” she says.

The Five Bells concert in the OffCenter will feature a celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Photo by Joe Floren.

More brass is scheduled, starting with The Five Bells Quintet – composed of Steve Alboucq, Molly Johnson, Ginni Keith, Bruce Kelley and Dimitri Stankevich – on Sunday, Feb. 7.  In March, the Dallas Brass comes to Orcas for “An American Musical Journey,” which will feature Orcas musicians, hopefully including school kids, Courtney says. In October, the Orcas Horns, with Steve Alboucq, Dimitri Stankevich, Al Bentley, Emily Miner, Greg Books, Gene Nery, Martin Lund, Tony Morales and Bruce Russell will bring their version of “clean, funky” jazz.

And on May 5, jazzman Willie Thomas showcases his young students from the Funhouse who have taken part in a 10-week “Jazz Experience” class.

Dance is richly represented: in February the Global Dance Party will rock the house, in a performance that will bring 60 teens from around the Seattle area, with their own dance groups performing hiphop, tap, African and Irish step, Mexican folk and Indian dance, plus R&B vocals. There will be two performances on Saturday, Feb. 27, and two teachers from the group will be in the elementary and middle schools on Friday. A Master Class for the community is planned for Friday night as well. “Gypsy” will have its share of dance numbers, choreagraphed by Susan Babcock.

Alpha YaYa Diallo, his band and dancers will thrill Orcas audiences with a fusion of contemporary pop and traditional song and rhythm late in July, and in the late fall, Flamenco Rosario, a Vancouver BC dance group, will bring passionate and sensual dances to the Center.

Returning favorites, starting with the Common Market this Saturday, Jan. 20, will be welcomed back. The Chiara String Quartet, scheduled for June, will perform a mini-set at the Lower Tavern, in keeping with their mission to take Chamber Music to non-traditional venues such as bars and clubs. The Summer Theatre Camp will work with the Missoua Children’s Theatere in an adaptation of “Robinson Crusoe.”

David Linley, Marley’s Ghost, Seattle Opera Young Artists and Asleep at the Wheel are more familiar acts returning to the Orcas Center this year. Asleep at the Wheel’s Oct. 23 appearance will include a 6 p.m. show preceded by a Texas BBQ in the afternoon, and another show at 9 p.m.

Legendary performer Leon Redbone will come to the Center in May, and tickets are selling fast already. “He must have played a significant part in people’s lives, he left a lasting impression,” Courtney says.

The fall’s theater production will be an adaptation of “Little Women,” directed by Robert Hall in the Off-Center Stage. Interested islanders are asked to call Sparks, or email sparks@orcascenter.org. Also in the fall, the Celtic Fiddle Fest comes to Orcas – “The island loves fiddles and anything Celtic,” says Courtney.

The Community Partners – the Orcas a Cappella, Crossroads Lectures, Orcas Choral Society, Islands Sinfonia, Orcas Island Community Band, Martin Lund’s One World Music Festival, Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, Orcas Rec’s Whale of a Show, Duets for DVSAS, and Olga Symphony – will all be back this year.

While details of the Summer Gala have yet to be fleshed out, Courtney says, “We plan to cook up a real fun party/show” with “The Coats,” a Seattle a cappella group. Last summer’s gala, arranged by Nanae Fralick with an auction organized by Candy Ver Brugghen, was essential to the healthy finances of the Orcas Center this year, Courtney said. “They did a tremendous amount of work and did a stellar job.

“Last year was a tough year. We had to cut back to the bare bones, with salary freezes, hours cut, and deferred maintenance on projects that weren’t essential.  But I’m happy to report we ended the year with a healthy financial stand.”

Courtney is also pleased to announce the new, online ticketing system that will allow audiences to order and print tickets online. She explains that Center members should be careful to order tickets using the email address on their membership information, as the system identifies their membership in that way. If they purchase tickets using another email address, the system hasn’t yet been configured to recognize their membership.

On Wednesday night, Sneak Preview visitors to the Center will be asked to weigh in on their ideas and suggestions for Orcas Center events as Courtney begins planning for next year. Sponsorship opportunities for this year’s  upcoming events will be presented.

Looking at the year ahead, Courtney says, “The feedback has been really good, with a mix of genres, familiar and new performers, culturally diverse and specific dance troupes that will appeal to teens and youth as well as to older, more cultivated theater-goers. I’m so excited I can hardly stand it.”