Gerald Dickens, the great-great grandson of the British author, Charles Dickens, comes to Orcas Island to benefit the Orcas Arts Education Project
Gerald Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, will visit Orcas Island on Tuesday, November 9 for two special events. The contemporary Dickens, an actor, director and producer, will perform a one-man show, Mr. Dickens is Coming!, for school students during the day, and the same show in the evening to benefit the Orcas Arts Education Project.
A varied and entertaining look at the life of Charles Dickens, Mr. Dickens is Coming! features characters, diary extracts and observations from those who lived and worked with the author, as well as Gerald’s own 21st-century views. The performance is part of an intimate evening in Orcas Center’s Madrona Room to benefit the Orcas Arts Education Project. In addition to the performance, guests will enjoy a pub-style fireside dinner prepared by local culinary talents Karen Hedge and Mary Russell. The event is underwritten by the Orcas Island Education Foundation.
Gerald Dickens regularly performs in major theaters and arts centers as well as at hotels and stately homes. He has appeared at several arts and literary festivals in the United Kingdom and he regularly performs in major theatres and arts centers and festivals in the UK. He has worked as an actor, director and producer for many years. In 1993 he created his first one-man show, a theatrical performance of A Christmas Carol inspired by Charles’ own energetic readings of the 1860s.
A fascination with the life and works of his subject led him to write and direct further one-man shows including “Mr. Dickens is Coming!” “Nicholas Nickleby” and “Sketches by Boz.”
The fundraising event begins at 6 pm and a $50 per person donation is suggested. Seating is limited to 100 guests, and RSVPs are requested by November 4. For more information or tickets, please visit www.orcascenter.org or call or 360/376-2281 ext 1 or visit Orcas Center during box office hours, Thursday-Saturday, noon – 4 pm.
On behalf of the Orcas Island Education Foundation — we hope you will attend this wonderful event. Proceeds from the evening will go to fund arts in our public schools through the Arts Education Project. If you support arts in our schools — or you are just looking for a great way to spend the evening — please call the Orcas Center to purchase your tickets. Thank you!
Janet Brownell