The Next Two Weeks

I'll be away watching opera at La Scala for the next two weeks, but be sure you don't miss:

• Mastersingers auditions this weekend - the next season of concerts will be amazing!
• Ye Merrie Players Greenwood Faire June 26-27
• Kennewick First Thursday Art Walk July 1 and Richland First Friday Art Walk July 2
• The Mary Lou and Stevie Show practically everywhere, all the time

G&S Are Coming to Tri-Cities!

Hey! Richland Light Opera is presenting a 60th anniversary show featuring Gilbert and Sullivan IN PERSON! They will host an afternoon of music from the four G&S shows RLOC has done: The Mikado, HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and Trial By Jury. It will be Sunday, August 8 - more info here: www.rloc.org.

In other G&S news, RLOC has scheduled Gondoliers for March 2011. Woohoo!

Congrats Hanford Drama!

The 5th Avenue Theatre Awards were tonight - congratulations to Hanford High School's Matt Leggett, Outstanding Direction for Lucky Stiff and Spencer Brame, Outstanding Male Actor in a Featured Ensemble Role! So cool!

Hanford High received 12 nominations for their shows Lucky Stiff and The Secret Garden, more than any of the other 80 schools participating throughout the state. Students at Richland HS were nominated, too, for their production of The Sound of Music. We have such amazing student productions here!

Don't we ALL want to be better sight-readers?

Justin and Reg are presenting a 3-session sight-singing course this summer. It should be a lot of fun - they are both great teachers, and the classes are intended for anyone who wants to improve their basic sight-singing skills for singing in church or community choir. Beginners are very welcome!

The classes will be Tuesdays June 15, 22 and 29, 7-9pm at Shalom UCC in Richland. The cost is $75 per person. Space is limited, so contact Justin at justraffa@aol.com to register.

Mastersingers Auditions

Mid-Columbia Mastersingers is holding the first round of auditions for the 2010-11 season June 18 and 19 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Richland - see the listing on the calendar to the right for more details, and email Justin at justin@midcolumbiamastersingers.org to schedule an audition time.

Help Buy a Theatre

Valley Theatre Company in Prosser is trying to buy the Princess Theatre, which it currently manages and occupies - they need $200,000 by July 31, 2010 - break open the piggy bank!

Epworth Chorale on Monday

Hold the phone! What?! The Epworth Chorale is performing at Shalom UCC on Monday night at 7pm?! They are a youth choir and bell choir. I LOVE bells! And Shalom has excellent music always. I have rehearsal Monday, but YOU should go!

Kennewick and Richland Art Walks

Take advantage of the break in the rain to get down to the Kennewick First Thursday Art Walk tonight starting at 5pm. Justin is planning to go, and we're especially excited about the performers playing at Tri-City Music - pianists Peggy McNeill, Onnie Adams, Gulnura Brown, Tara Swanson and Ben Fowler will play pieces for five pianos on some gorgeous grand pianos. I'm sorry to miss it - be sure and tell me about it!

And then tomorrow night is the awesome First Friday Art Walk on the Parkway in Richland, hosted by some of the coolest stores in the area, including Cheese Louise (my personal favorite!), Birthmarx Tattoo, Greenies, Fringe Salon, and Smoovies. They will feature the works of local artists - Cheese Louise is showing art by Cameron Mills. We'll definitely be there! Cheeeeeeesse!!!

CBC Summer Shows

Hey! From the CBC Arts Center:

"Tickets are now on sale for "RENT" and "The Drowsy Chaperone!" All shows are reserved seating, they will go fast . . .so get yours today! Adventures Underground in Richland, Shelby's Floral in Kennewick and our office here on the Pasco Campus."

Justin and I have the inside scoop on these shows - I'm in Drowsy, and he's music directing Rent - much more on these coming up. In the meantime, get your tickets!

Summer Preview

You might think things slow down here in the summertime, but there are still lots of opportunities to get out and see live performances:

• Academy of Children's Theatre wraps up their season with Storybook Players performances this weekend


• During the first part of June, the CBC music program presents three spring concerts: Instrumental, Jazz and Choral/Orchestral


• The Sacajawea Bluegrass Festival is June 11-13


• Hie thee to Ye Merrie Greenwood Renaissance Faire June 26-27


• The CBC Summer Showcase heats up in July and August with two radically different musicals: Rent plays July 16-31 and The Drowsy Chaperone will run August 13-22


• Check out local artists at the Downtown Kennewick's First Thursday Art Walk and on the Parkway in Richland for the First Friday Art Walk


• Your chances of catching the Mary Lou and Stevie Show will skyrocket if you stop for dinner at the Emerald of Siam any Wednesday, have a Friday night glass of wine at Barrel House Cafe, or shop the Richland Farmer's Market on a Friday morning


• Watch for more information soon about Stevie's Volunteer Jam and RLOC's Gilbert & Sullivan showcase, both coming up in early August

No excuses! In the words of the great Mary Lou Gnoza, if you don't support live performance, it won't be there!