I’m on vacation, folks. I’ll be back in the Sungeon Saturday morning, April 4.

Try to keep things on an even keel ’til I get back.

More later … — MM

The seventh edition of Changing Scene Theatre Northwest’s “Summerplay” festival of orginal one-act plays will expand into two sessions this May and June, according to a note from CSTN artistic director Pavlina Morris.

Two series, consisting of four plays each, have been selected from a field of more than 30 submissions, and will be produced at CSTN’s East Bremerton playhouse, 5889 Highway 303 (behind the Orowheat Bakery outlet).

Series I will run May 1 to 16, with curtains at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees May 3 and 10. Plays in Series I include:

“You Don’t Say,” by Miryam Gordon
“Sam and Dotty,” by John C. Davenport
“Tiny Little Gods and Big Giant Men,” by Michael C. Moore
“Doing Lunch,” by Ron Ford

Series II will run June 5 to 20, again with 8 p.m. starts on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sunday matinees June 7 and 14. Series II plays include:

“That’s What I Love About Art,” by Craig Abernethy
“Father and the Cell Phone,” by Flip Wingrove
“Kitchen Sink Drama,” by John C. Davenport
“Who’s Afraid of George and Alice,” by James C. Daly

The original field of submissions was winnowed down to 14 by CSTN board members. Those plays were performed “readers theater” style” in two sessions March 8 and 22, and actor and audience feedback helped select the eight plays to be produced.

Information: (360) 792-8601, changingscenenorthwest.org

More later … — MM

Bremerton Community Theatre will become a “Cabaret ” for part of its 2009-10 season, according to the venerable community theater’s latest newsletter.

“Cabaret” is one of five shows announced for BCT’s 65th season, which begins Sept. 11 with “The Seven Year Itch .” “Cabaret,” the always colorful, always thought-provoking musical, will be BCT’s spring offering.

The complete season:

Sept. 11 to Oct. 4: “The Seven Year Itch,” directed by Debra Bedient

Nov. 6 to 29: “Murder on the Nile ,” directed by Katrina Baxter Hodiak

Feb. 5 to 28: “Enchanted April ,” directed by Judy Nichols

April 2 to May 2: “Cabaret,” directed by Rana Tan

June 4 to 27: “Cactus Flower ,” director TBA

The Flamethrower will have updates on auditions and previews of all the shows as the season progresses.

In the meantime, BCT is set to open its Spring 2009 musical, “Once Upon a Mattress ” previews soon in The Flamethrower’s Kitsap A&E section and at kitsapsun.com/entertainment, and concludes Season No. 64 with “A Place at Forest Lawn ” in June.

Information: (360)373-5152, bremertoncommunitytheatre.org

More later … — MM

Here’s the review posted at kitsapsun.com/entertainment from the March 21 performance by the Bremerton Symphony:

I’ve not been in the habit of reviewing concerts or other events of a “one-off” nature — something that happens only once, and doesn’t afford another opportunity to be taken in, no matter how strongly I might endorse it.
However, the March 21 “Solostimmen” program was my first chance to see the Bremerton Symphony perform since the removal of music director Elizabeth Stoyanovich in January. So it bears a little rehash.
I passed on the Symphony’s February program — not because I didn’t want to go, but because I was floored by a case of the Crud (that actually should be spelled with a capital CRUD), and I didn’t think anyone would appreciate me showing up in that condition, even if I had been able to navigate my fevered self there.
It won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s followed the Symphony with any interest, but it’s still a great joy and a great relief to be able to relate:
The Symphony continues to be the usual great night out at the Bremerton Performing Arts Center.
In the case of the evening in question, that’s due in large part to the appearance by cello wunderkind Joshua Roman, whose performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Variations on a Rococo Theme” sounded rich and passionate, even though it looked effortless. It’ll be one of the highlights of my year to be able to say that I saw him play at all, let alone here, with our hometown heroes. If he’s not a one-of-a-kind talent, he’s as close as many of us are liable to see in our lifetimes, at least within a mighty stone’s throw of our own front porches.
But Roman’s presence was just part of the fun. The solid backing he received from guest conductor Alan Futterman and a cast of our local volunteers crowding the stage added tremendously. And when the Symphony returned apres intermission and sans Roman for a rock-solid run through Shostakovich’s wickedly, mischieviously difficult Ninth Symphony, eyebrows raised and smiles widened even farther.
I have to admit I was a little worried after the opening piece on the program, the second of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg concerti, which is scored for and was performed by a chamber-sized, Baroque-style unit, fronted by a quartet of soloists — Concertmaster Blanche Wynne, principal flute Anna Schroeder, principal oboe Amy Duerr-Day and principal trumpet Dean Wagner.
While the solo parts were performed anywhere from bravely to brilliantly (particular kudos to Mses. Schroeder and Duerr-Day), I thought the support sounded a bit thin, particularly in the strings. By no means unlistenable, just a bit thin.
Reinforcements arrived — lots of them, the onstage numbers nearly doubling — for the Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich, which both were pretty nearly redoubtable. Both afforded plenty more opportunities for Symphony members to show their talents, solo-style, with William Ferman’s clarinet, John Sullivan’s piccolo and Brian Rolette’s bassoon all leaving particularly favorable impressions.
Futterman presided effectively and affably, even taking up the microphone a couple times to revisit portions of his pre-concert chat prior to the Shostakovich. Even with his catechism, its abrupt climax caught many concert-goers by surprise, possibly because its five movements run together into what seems more like three.
Futterman also took time to explain the brief — and, to me at least — unnecessary encore, the finale of Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” I do appreciate the added effort to give the audience a little something extra, but the performance came off rather like the bottom of the ninth inning of a great baseball game. Sure, it’s a great three outs, but most of what made it a great game — and gave that big finish a context — came in the preceding eight and a half innings.
But here I am, bitching about a bonus. That’s just wrong.
Still, what I’ll remember from the March 21 program, aside from the work of the almost insanely gifted Roman, is the Symphony’s performances of the Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations, and the Shostakovich, which showed thorough preparation and wonderful musicianship throughout.
Roman was a splendid visitor for us to be able to welcome, and the Symphony proved themselves completely worthy of his visit.

More later … — MM

The University Orchestra of Bethel University will present a free
concert of chamber music at 7 p.m. March 20 at Sylvan Way Baptist Church, 900 Sylvan Way in Bremerton.
The concert by the St. Paul, Minnesota-based student orchestra, directed by founding conductor Lynda Bradley-Vacco, is part of a tour of the Pacific Northwest. The traveling chamber ensemble consists of 24 string players and featured piano soloist Anna Shepperd.
Information: (360) 373-5025.

More later … — MM

Veteran Seattle-area stand-up comic Jan Barrett , making a comeback from a hiatus of several years, will serve as host for a “Best of Seattle Comedy Competition” show March 21 at the Admiral Theatre .
Barrett joins headliner Ty Barnett and Duane Goad for the 8 p.m. show.
“She (Barrett) has been out of action for a few years,” said Ron Reid of Seattle’s Comedy Underground , which periodically sends a raft of comics across Puget Sound for a laugh-filled Admiral outing. “She’s had another business. But she’s getting back in the game.”
And Reid’s putting her to work. He said Barrett will do opening sets for both the other comics for the Bremerton show.
“She’ll do a set, and then Duane will come on and do about 40 minutes,” Reid said. “After the intermission, she’ll do some more and introduce Ty, and he’ll do, oh, an hourish-long set.
“What we’ve got (with Barrett and Goad) is almost a twin-headliner situation,” Reid said.

More later … — MM

A note from CSTOCK artistic director Trina Williamson :

CSTOCK’s Board of Directors and Artistic Director Trina Williamson are happy to announce our upcoming shows for the 2009-2010 season:

Sept/Oct 2009
"Little Women" directed by Carolyn Huebel

December 2009
"Christmas My Way" featuring the music of Frank Sinatra directed by Trina Williamson

February/March 2010
"The Music Man" directed by Trina Williamson

April/May 2010
"Our Town" directed by Albert Guerra (non musical)

Kids for Kids Shows:
"Cinderella" (June/July 2010)
"The Pajama Game" (July 2010)
both directed by Andrea Gonzales

Exact dates for auditions and performances will be available soon, and we’ll post ’em here.

More later … — MM

Duane Goad , a busy and popular stand-up guy from the Comedy Underground ranks, has been added to the March 21 "Best of Seattle Comedy Competition " show at the Admiral Theatre March 21.

Goad joins headliner Ty Barnett for the show, and a couple other performers should be announced by the time the doors open that evening for the 8 p.m. laugh-athon.

Tickets are $25 to $20, and there’s liable to be mature subject matter discussed. Ya think?

Information: (360) 373-6743, admiraltheatre.org

More later … — MM

PS — Enough with the snow already !!

A note from Seattle Opera about Jonathan Silvia , who was so wonderful in the title role of Kitsap Opera / Bremerton Symphony ‘s November production of "The Marriage of Figaro :"

"Bass-baritone Jonathan Silvia, a resident of Kent, will sing the role of Quince in Seattle Opera’s Young Artists presentation of Britten’s "Midsummer Night’s Dream." The performances are at the Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, on March 27, 28, 29, and April 3, 4, and 5, 2009. Silvia will sing at all six performances.

Silvia is one of nine guest artists joining the 10 members of the Young Artists Program for A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Recent performances for Silvia include Mozart’s "Marriage of Figaro" with Kitsap Opera … He is also a regular member of Seattle Opera’s chorus.

More later … — MM

Navy Band Northwest wind ensemble’s March 12 concert with musical groups from North Kitsap High School has moved across Hostmark Street from the North Kitsap Auditorium to the NKHS gymnasium.
The starting time for the free show remains 7 p.m.

More later … — MM