Moulin Rouge: the Excitement is Building!

Thursday, May 8 and Friday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. on Orcas Center Stage. Dinner at New Leaf Cafe on Friday, May 9 at 5 p.m.

— by Margie Doyle, updated April 28 at 7:30 a.m. —

“Moulin Rouge” coming in May with numerous Orcas creative artists

Orcas Center is the crossroads of the arts on Orcas Island, its Executive Director Kara O’Toole says, and this weekend, a local cast of thousands, well, almost 100, will bring An Evening at the Moulin Rouge to its Center Stage on Thursday and Friday nights.

Uniquely, the production, headlined by Grace McCune’s two choirs, is a benefit to raise funds FOR Orcas Center. After the steady growth and popular acclaim of McCune’s choirs, Rock on the Rock for adults and Youth Troupe for kids, she was ready to bring onstage the songs of Baz Luhrmann’s stylish musical Moulin Rouge.

Grace said recently, “It’s strange that for all the benefits held at Orcas Center, there hasn’t been a benefit concert FOR Orcas Center.” She approached O’Toole about building on the concept. O’Toole and Laura Ludwig quickly took up the challenge and linked their intensive dance classes to the staging of the musical’s songs. Enter Jake Perrine to mastermind the staging, the musical artistry of Ron Meyers, the creative genius of Deborah Sparks and–voila! An evening at Paris’ famed club for the demi-monde, the Moulin Rouge, right here on Orcas.

The cast of 94 includes 34 in the adult choir, 12 adult dancers, 21 kid dancers, 26 in the youth choir.

Kara O’Toole says, “It’s been a wonderful ride — so fun! Whenever our creative team gets together we play the game, ‘What else can we do?'”

Stage Director Jake Perrine says, “The musical numbers give rise to a lot of staging, and fit into the economies and scheduling of an island production.” Every singer auditioned for a solo part, and the directors picked different soloists for the separate numbers: for example, seven soloists play the part of Satine, the main character made famous by Nicole Kidman. Staging also gives the cast opportunities to learn some acting and performance singing techniques, such as using a microphone or employing gestures.

“We turned the model of a musical on its head, and have brought a lot of people onto the stage for their first taste of theater production and onstage performance,” says O’Toole. In the process of rehearsing (once a week for five months for most of the performers), a number of “stars” have been born:

• Kaleena McGarry: “I talked her into it,” says Grace McCune, “and she was just waiting for that moment to dive into theater – she has such a voice on her!”
• Kevin Dickey: “He runs sound around here all the time and is always behind the scenes,” says Perrine. “now he’s dancing and singing and having the time of his life;
• Corey Wiscomb “has never done theater before, although he’s a blues musician and guitar player .“

Corey also engaged his Orcas High School art students last fall in coming up with a design for the artwork. The result is Kaya Osborne’s stunning graphic reprinted here and used in all show promotion materials.

The “Star is Born” scenario also played out for the dancers. “When we opened registration for the dance intensive class, we were amazed: there was only one student that we already knew from previous dance classes or performances,” says O’Toole.

“It’s a big commitment for the performers, involving practice on their own and getting over fears of public performance and working in a group, she says. “The creative process is playing out right in front of their eyes – and it’s awesome!”

“A full house on both nights will support all the performers who’ve worked so hard,” O’Toole says, and advises theater-goers to get their tickets in advance. The choir concerts have been free for the past five years. As a fundraiser, ticket prices for “Moulin Rouge” are low, just $10for adults and $5 for students, to keep within modest island budgets. However, donations above that amount from those who are able, are most welcome! O’Toole says.

A special add-on is Dinner at the New Leaf Cafe at the Outlook Inn before the Friday night performance. It will be limited to 50 people at $50 per person for dinner and show.

“It all builds the awareness of the arts on Orcas, and the ways we can help further that.” O’Toole looks forward to the community coming out to this local production and returning often to Orcas Center “to see what else comes form local creative folks.”

Beyond that, the Orcas Center is featuring touring artists so that the community can be inspired by them and continue to invest in the value of arts on Orcas Island. “We want all the artists to call Orcas Center their home. A real exchange is happening. Orcas Center’s creative base is building,” O’Toole says.

“The artists are here, they’re consistent; they have a lot to share. They’re doing what they want to do, right now. It’s happening, and I want to maximize on that and build on it. It’s my favorite part of my job.” says O’Toole.

An Evening at the Moulin Rouge, a benefit concert for Orcas Center will be performed May 8 & 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: orcascenter.org/MoulinRouge.