Performing arts center would give the Clark County arts community a home
by Leslee Jaquette
The Southwest Washington Center for the Arts (SWCA) continues to circle the wagons around the Fort Vancouver National Site. After scouting several different locations, the non-profit group organizers are hopeful that the new Southwest Washington Center for the Arts can pitch its tent on the area called Central Park.
“Vancouver is one of the few cities of its size and with a rampant interest in the arts that does not have an appropriate venue,” observes Val Ogden, chairwoman of the board for SWCA.
“However, once the location has been settled, we can start building the board and once we have an option for the site, we can start the capital campaign. We need the money in hand before we can lease the land or break ground.”
A longtime arts champion, non-profit executive and former legislator, Ogden is impressed with the community’s commitment to building a center, even during these tough economic times. After several starts and setbacks, including serious looks at sites on the Vancouver waterfront and Vancouver’s downtown Block 10, the organization keeps working the options.
The latest option, a partnership with the Fort Vancouver National Site, appears to offer significant benefits to the community and the park. “The superintendent of the park sees added value in the center, including education and a focus on Vancouver’s major historical and tourist venue.”
Currently, the cost of the new center at the FVNS is estimated to run about $40 million. Of course, down the development trail of three to four years, cost increases may be inevitable.
Whatever the cost, Ogden will continue championing the center for the arts. “Most community arts centers are funded by municipalities and managed by a non-profit organization,” explains Ogden. “They add quality of life and serve as an economic engine, providing jobs, income and cultural opportunities for the whole community.”
Senior Messenger’s Performing Arts Guide
The region’s thriving performing arts scene provides music, dance and theater through dozens of companies and venues. Performances range from sophisticated symphonies and Broadway plays to children’s opera and puppetry. Here, we offer information about a number of groups and performances coming to the community this fall and early winter.
Bravo Vancouver:
PO Box 118, Vancouver,
WA 98666-0118; 360-906-0441;
tickets@bravoconcerts.com
Performance:
G.F. Handel’s Messiah (An Oratorio)
Date/Time: Sun. Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.
Cost: General admission $20
Description: Enjoy a full concert production, featuring the Bravo! Vancouver Chorale, the Wash- ington Chamber Orchestra and the best soloists in the Northwest.
Performance:
Beethoven, Brubeck
& The Blues
Date/Time:
Sun. Jan. 24, 2 p.m.
Cost: General admission $20
Description: This concert pairs Chris Brubeck’s Vignettes for Nonet with Beethoven’s Piano Quintet in Eb Major.
Camas Performing Arts Series:
26900 S.E. 15th St.,
Camas, WA 98607
(Camas High School)
For tickets and
information call 360-834-7807;
cpasconcerts@eccgas.org
Tickets are: adult $20, seniors $18, minors (ages 4-18) $10.
Performance:
Misty River Band
Date/Time: Sat. Sept. 19, 7 p.m.
Description: The four-woman band blends harmonic voices and unique combinations of stringed instruments that include guitar, banjo, mandolin and ukulele.
Performance:
Providence Hospital
Stage Band
Date/Time: Sat., Oct. 24,
7 p.m.
Description: An 18-piece ensemble of current and former Providence Hospital doctors and friends play Big Band music. Look for Camasonians Richard Schwary and daughters Karin Fakler and Alyssa Schwary.
Performance:
Mike Strickland Trio
Date/Time: Sun., Dec. 6
at 3 p.m.
Description: Enjoy the Mike Strickland Trio and guest vocalist Julianne R. Johnson as they play blues, classical and medley of holiday favorites.
Performance:
Vancouver USA Singers
Date/Time: Sat., Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Washburn Per-forming Arts Center and Sun., Feb. 14, 2010 at 3 pm at the Camas High School Theater
Description: The 80-member vocal choir will perform Broadway show tunes from the past 100 years. As a special feature, a student choir member from Camas and Washougal high schools will perform a solo during the concert.
Clark College Theatre Company:
1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd.,
Vancouver, WA 360-992-2815
Performance:
Looking for Olivia
Date/Time: Nov. 6, 7, 13,
14, 20
Cost: General admission $12
Description: He was looking for a story, she was looking for her keys everyone was looking for Olivia.
Performance:
The Producers
(Dinner Shows)
Date/Time: Feb. 19, 20, 26, 27 (Dinner at 6 p.m. and curtain at 7:30)
Cost: $33 with dinner; $15 without dinner
Description: This is the theater version of Mel Brooks’ zany hit movie.
Magenta Theater Company:
(Mail) 6400 N.E. Highway 99, Suite G, Box 160,
Vancouver, WA 98665;
(Theater) 606 Main Street,
Vancouver, WA 98660;
360-635-4358;
www.magentatheater.com
Performance:
Wait Until Dark
Dates/Times: Oct. 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17 at 7 p.m.; Oct. 17, 2 p.m.
Cost: $10-$14 in advance. $1 more at the door, Group and senior discounts available. Ask for details.
Description: A sinister con man and two ex-convicts pit their wits against a blind woman in this deadly game of cat and mouse. This is a mystery/thriller.
Performance:
Mystery on Main, the disappearance of D.B. Cooper and how Magenta was involved!
Dates/Times: Oct. 30, 31, 7 and 9 p.m.
Cost: $10. Reservations must be made in advance. No at-door tickets.
Description: A crime has been committed. A sharp detective is on the case but it can only be solved if YOU help. An interactive evening of mystery and intrigue.
Performance:
12 Angry Jurors
Dates/Times: Nov. 13, 7 p.m.
Cost: $25
Description: A reader’s theater presentation of 12 Angry Jurors. This tense courtroom drama will keep you on the edge of your seat. One performance only for Magenta’s fall fundraiser. Silent auction, live music, exceptional refreshments.
Performance:
Every Christmas Story
Ever Told
and Then Some
Dates/Times: Dec. 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 7 p.m., Dec. 19 at 2 p.m.
Cost: $10-$14 in advance. $1 more at the door, Group and senior discounts available. Ask for details.
Description: A madcap romp through the holiday season, three actors decide to perform every Christmas story ever told—plus Christmas traditions from around the world and every carol ever sung.
Slocum House Theatre Company:
605 Esther St.,
Vancouver, WA 98660
360-696-2427;
slocumhouse@comcast.net; reservations@slocumhouse.com
Performance:
A Sting in the Tail
Date/Time: Oct. 16-Nov. 8; Thurs-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. matinees
Cost: General Admission $10; Seniors (60 years or better) $8
Description: Max and Nigel, mystery playwrights, are desperately searching for a new idea for their next play. Their creative method is to create a victim and then fit the mystery plot around the dead body. Who will be the next victim?
Tears of Joy Puppet Theatre:
Winningstad Theatre,
1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 503-248-0557 or 360-695-3050
Performance:
Rumpelstiltskin,
by Sharon Whitney
Date/Time: Nov. 13-15, 21-22, 28-29 (check times at 503-248-0557)
Cost: $16 adult, $14 child
Description: What does a girl do when told she must spin straw into gold? Find out in this sparkling adaptation of the classic German fairy/folk tale by the brothers Grimm.
Performance:
There’s a Nightmare in
My Closet
by Mercer Mayer
Date/Time: Dec. 11-13, 19-20 (call for times)
Description: Get your head out from under the covers and meet the most lovable Nightmare you could ever dream up. The play also incorporates The Fat Cat, a Danish folktale, and Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll.
Performance:
Little One-Inch
by Leo Kominz
Date/Time: Feb. 5-7, 13-14
Cost: See above
Description: Learn about Jap-anese culture through this humorous folktale in which a small boy sets off to save Japan from a great ogre.
Performance:
Malika, Queen of the Cats
by Nancy Aldrich
Date/Time: April 9–11, 17-18
Cost: See above.
Description: Sitti, a kind and generous old woman, helps a cat and is rewarded with great wealth by Malika, Queen of the Cats.
Vancouver Children’s Opera:
Hough Elementary School
Auditorium, 1900 Daniels St.,
Vancouver
Performance:
Amahl and the Night Visitors
Date/Time: Oct. 23-Oct 24, 7 p.m.; and Oct. 25, 3 p.m.
Cost: Adults $7, Students & Seniors $5, Family package $15, children under 5 free
Description:
Michael Kissinger, guest conductor
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra:
P.O. Box 525,
Vancouver, WA 98666-0525;
360-735-7278;
www.vancouversymphony.org
Performance:
Concert #1 –
Pictures at an Exhibition
Date/Time: Sat., Oct 24, 3 p.m., and Sun., Oct. 25, 7 p.m.
Cost: General admission $29,
seniors $24
Description: Pictures at an Exhibition is a famous suite in 10 movements composed for piano by Modest Mussorgsky in 1874 and arranged by Maurice Ravel.
Vancouver Dance Theatre
P.O. Box 2901,
Vancouver,WA 98668
360-798-0670;
hulamama@comcast.net
Performance:
Nutcracker, performed at Fort Vancouver High School, 5700 E. 18th St., Vancouver
Date/Time: Dec. 4-6
Cost: Adults $12; Children and seniors (65+) $10
Description: Holiday classic danced to the music of Tchaikovsky.
Longview, Washington
Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts
Administration Office,
1544 12th Ave., Suite B,
Longview, WA 98632
1-888-575-8499,
www.columbiatheatre.com
Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts is a 1,000-seat regional theatre in Longview. The historical theatre is currently undergoing an $11 million renovation, with a grand opening set for February 4, 2010.
PERFORMANCE:
Coming Back Home-An Evening with the Smothers Brothers
Date/Time: 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Description: Modern day vaudevillians Tom and Dick Smothers re-open the Columbia Theatre with their unique blend of comedy and musical talent.
PERFORMANCE:
Curtis Adams Adrenaline-A fusion of dance and illusion
Date/Time: 7:30 p.m., Thurs-day, March 25, 2010
Description: Curtis Adams performs magic, dancing and comedy accompanied by three beautiful and talented dances.
PERFORMANCE:
Cabaret
Date/Time: 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 15
Description: Set in 1030’s Berlin, Cabaret follows the romance of an English cabaret performer and an American writer.
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