THE TEAHOUSE OF THE AUGUST MOON, a Tony-award winning comedy from the ‘50s, is coming to the Nevada Theatre in Nevada City on April 12-May 5. It is being produced by the Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (CATS).

The play was adapted from the 1951 novel by Vern Sneider. It opened on Broadway in 1953, winning numerous awards, including the the Pulitzer Prize in drama. This comedy concerns the clash of cultures that results from the American occupation of Okinawa from 1945 to 1952 following World War II.

In the play, Captain Fisby is assigned to carry out “Plan B.” In a tiny Okinawan village, he is to begin the process of “Americanization” by instituting a local democratic government, establishing a capitalist economy and building a school for the children to learn English.

The play narrator is an islander named Sakini, who often speaks in verse. He serves as interpreter to Captain Fisby, informing him of island customs. His monologues encapsulate the underlying wisdom of the play: “We tell this little story to demonstrate a splendid example of benevolent assimilation of democracy by Okinawa.”

Visit catsweb.org for more information. Tickets at Nevada City Box Office at Miners Foundry (MinersFoundry.org or 265-5462) and BriarPatch in Grass Valley. For groups of 10 or more contact Jeannie (info@catsweb.org or 265-2990).

THE CAST
The show’s 19-member cast includes Dennis Yen (Sakini), Rodger Hoopman (Colonel Purdy), Danny McCammon (Captain Fisby) and Lyra Dominguez (Lotus Blossom)—who have all graced the Nevada Theatre stage. Dennis was last seen in Nevada City in 2006 as a member of Immortal Heart. Rodger Hoopman was in I Hate Hamlet (2011) with LeGacy Productions. Danny McCammon was in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (2010) and The Full Monty (2011). Lyra Dominguez was in CATS’ productions of Flower Drum Song (2009), Snow Falling on Cedars (2010) and The King and I (2010).

The gallery, in a newly renovated 19th-century building at 113 Mill Street, offers an eclectic collection of art: jewelry, ceramics, sculpture, furniture, wood, glass and mosaics, as well asphotography, collage, watercolors, drawings, acrylics and oil paintings.

Each artist offers a wide price range of items, from greeting cards to original paintings. All artists volunteer their time to staff the gallery, providing customers with a personal and educational experience.

The gallery spaces are rotated four times a year, and the windows facing Mill Street feature different artists monthly and also promote community events.

Art Works Gallery has a list of artists who have been waiting to join since it opened two years ago. A jury of seven artists interview applicants before they are accepted, ensuring that high-quality artwork is displayed.

This year several new artists have joined the gallery: Phil Bauer (wood), Eileen Blodgett (painting), Sheila Cameron (painting), David Mooney (painting), Jerianne Van Dijk (watercolor) and Katie Wolff (painting).

Art Works Gallery also supports community art. Last year they hosted events that sold work for Neighborhood Center for the Arts, the Bear River High School art program and the Kellerman Foundation to support the Batwa tribe in Africa.

The co-op’s artists also donate their work, and some of the proceeds have supported the Nevada County Food Bank.

Art Works Gallery
113 Mill St., Grass Valley, 530-477-1600
ArtWorksGalleryCo-op.com

(Photo credit: David Wong)

In January SYRCL’s Wild & Scenic Film Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary. It has grown into the largest film festival of its kind, drawing 4,000 people to historic Nevada City. The festival features 100 films, from all over the world, at seven venues in town, including the historic Nevada Theatre.

“The Wild & Scenic Film Festival has a remarkable impact on our community and beyond,” says longtime supporter and organic food entrepreneur Michael Funk. “Film has proven to be an effective medium for inspiring activism.”

The festival is named after SYRCL’s landmark victory to receive “wild & scenic” status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999.

“The festival has attracted new people who weren’t familiar with the organization—not just from Nevada County but from outside the area,” says Roger Hicks, a SYRCL founder. “This includes filmmakers, activists and celebrities.”

Over the years attendees have included actress Daryl Hannah, actor Sir Patrick Stewart, environmental activist Winona LaDuke and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, among others. “Wild & Scenic is the next Sundance,” says filmmaker Christopher Beaver.

This year’s festival will be Jan. 13-15. Films will include Green Fire, We Still Live Here, Foodstamped and Chimaera, among others.

The festival will spill into Grass Valley for the first time, with a school program led by aquatic ecologist/photographer Zeb Hogan at the landmark Del Oro Theatre.

Along with the films, a festival highlight is free workshops and question-and-answer sessions with the filmmakers and actors. There also are late-night events, live music, book signings, art shows and a wine stroll.

The film festival also kicks off a national tour. The tour started in 2007 and reached more than 100 venues in 2011. It has been to Australia as well.

“The reach of this small, grassroots watershed organization is remark- able,” sums up Funk. For more information, go to WildandScenicFilmFestival.org

New SYRCL Leader

SYRCL’s new executive director Caleb Dardick is “coming home.”

Dardick grew up on the San Juan Ridge in the late ‘70s. He has fond memories of the Yuba River: “A neighbor used to come by in his pickup truck, honking the horn. All the kids came running, and he’d take us down to the middle fork. It was a special time.”

Neighbors volunteered in the schools. Dardick’s teachers included poet Gary Snyder and writer Steve Sanfield. “We just knew Gary as ‘Kai’s dad,’” not a famous poet, he says. Dardick graduated from UC Santa Cruz and helped his father, Sam, a disability rights activist, get elected to Nevada County supervisor. He returned to “coastal” California and worked in Berkeley, for the Mayor and later at the UC campus.

This summer Dardick was selected as SYRCL’s new executive director. His goals include creating jobs related to river restoration projects, as well as keeping the South Yuba River State Park and Malakoff Diggins State Park from closing.

“It’s exciting to be part of a membership base that draws thousands of people from throughout the watershed to preserve and care for the river,” he says.

(Caleb Dardick photo: Georgette Aronow)

The resurgence is led by Sierra Stages, LeGacy Productions, the Community Asian Theatre of the Sierra (or CATS) and Placer Community Theater, among others. The shows make for a fun night out or part of a weekend getaway.

This fall, Sierra Stages won an Elly award for its production of Lend me a Tenor. Actor Robert Rossman also won an award for the performance—the latest honor bestowed on Nevada County community theater.

Last year, CATS won an Elly for Snow Falling on Cedars. This spring CATS will present The Teahouse of the August Moon and held auditions in November.

The annual Elly awards honor outstanding achievements of community theater and artists in the Sacramento area. “We are honored that two of our four productions over the past year were nominated for Elly awards,” says Peter Mason, board president of Sierra Stages.

This fall, Sierra Stages performed The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a musical comedy at Miners Foundry.

This winter, the theatre group will present Death of a Salesman, directed by Jeffrey Mason, Jan. 25-Feb. 12 at the Nevada Theatre.

LeGacy Productions also has been growing. After 15 years in local theater, Chris and Sue LeGate, along with their son Alvis, decided to start their own production company. LeGacy’s strength is in reaching out to
find unique scripts while casting local actors.

I Hate Hamlet has been showing this fall at Off Center Stage in Grass Valley.

For the holidays, LeGacy is presenting A Christmas Story, a stage play adaption of the classic comedy movie. The show is a fun family experience for Christmas. LeGacy also is presenting Santaland Diaries, starring Gary Wright and directed by Carolyn Howarth. It is aimed at adult audiences.

(photo credit: Tony Finnerty)

Each year the county hosts an eclectic mix of art, film and musical events, with support from more than 130 arts groups.

With its growing arts offerings, the county is becoming a major arts tourism destination in the region. To see a calendar listing of events—along with a new artist’s registry— go to NevadaCountyArts.org.

“Collaboration is at the core of our mission, vision and values,” says Jon Blinder, president of the group. Nevada County Arts, originally known as the Arts Collaborative of Nevada County, was formed more than two years ago to represent and advocate for the artists in the county. It is an arts liaison to local government, chambers of commerce and other regional groups.

Nevada County Arts also works to secure funding for projects that benefit artists. And it is a partner with the California Arts Council.

This fall, the group changed its name to Nevada County Arts. Artists submitted their visions, and Nevada City designer Kathy Dotson’s logo was selected.

“We felt it was a compelling image conveying a strong sense of place and reinforced the idea that ‘Nevada County is where art grows,’” says Blinder.

Aspen Grove by LeeAnn Brook

McKay has also published a book, Yuba Seasons: Images from the Wild & Scenic South Yuba River.

The book has won five national and four regional awards. “What Ansel Adams did for Yosemite, David McKay does for the Yuba River,” says art collector Julia Carol. Adds the Pulitzer Prize-winning Poet Gary Snyder— “Best photography I’ve ever seen of that sweet little river.”

McKay has been photographing the Yuba River and its surroundings for almost 40 years. “I’m always amazed by the patterns created from light passing through the surface tension of water,” he says.

His career had humble beginnings—photographing visitors dressed up in old-fashioned western garb with a polaroid camera in the ‘70s. The “while you wait,” sepia-toned images were a hit.

Later in his career, McKay put his silkscreen and graphic design talents to use for the likes of Lockheed and McDonald Douglas to portray famous aircraft. He created colorful images of Harleys, which were snapped up by the high-end motorcycle enthusiasts.

McKay also opened a private photography school in Grass Valley called Mountain Images. He’s been a teacher at Sierra College’s Nevada County campus for more than a decade.

“Photography has been the ‘carrot-on-a-stick’ that has motivated me to learn things I wouldn’t have otherwise, to explore places I had never been, to communicate with people I didn’t know, and to be a great observer,” he says.

David McKay Photography
530-265-2969
DavidMcKayPhotography.com

McKay’s book Yuba Seasons and 2012 calendar are available on his website and at local stores.

His photographs will be exhibited at ASIF Gallery and Center for the Arts, both in Grass Valley, and at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Nevada City.

Best of all, it’s a one-way ticket to the past and a glorious way of life, according to the sponsors of the 17th Annual Cowpoke Fall Gathering in Loomis.

The gathering, Nov. 10-13, is a weekend of cowboy heritage, poetry and singing at the historic Blue Goose Event Center.

It features nationally known performers such as Sourdough Slim, a “one man Western extravaganza” who has performed at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center. Others include cowboy singer Dave Stamey and poet and storyteller Chris Isaacs.

There are also cowboy activities such as a stagecoach ride, a western BBQ, cowboy and cowgirl shopping and real Texas longhorns. Youths get a chance to write and recite their own
cowboy poetry.

The popular event was launched by locals Bert and Carol Braun in 1995. They had attended cowboy performances in Elko, NV and wanted to start one here.

“We have donated funds since the very beginning to various charities,” according to the founders, including the renovation of the Blue Goose fruit shed.

This year all proceeds will be donated to the Blue Goose restoration project, the “Ride to Walk” program that helps children with disabilities; and “Tough Enough to Wear Pink,” a program for the western community to rally against breast cancer.

For more information, go to www.CowpokeFallGathering.com or call 916-652-6113

From November 11-13, it will present the 18th Annual Autumn Art Studios Tour. This year, 67 Placer County artists will show and demonstrate their work in 43 studio locations from Roseville to Colfax and from Lincoln to Foresthill.

Among them are longtime participants Rick and Janet Nicholson of Nicholson Blown Glass in Auburn. Their unique artwork involves figurative sculpture, sculptural lighting and wall and ceiling installations. Many of their works have been commissioned for hotels and private residences internationally.

“Each piece is a free-hand expression of the excitement and risk-taking found in an experimental glassblowing studio,” Rick explains. The Nicholsons have been participating in the Art Studios tour since its inception, says Janet.

Along with the Tour, PlacerArts’ other programs include the Auburn Art Walk, Jazz at 808, Poetry Out Loud, Old Library Art Studio, Outside the Box Exhibit and the Arts Building Gallery in Auburn.

In its role, PlacerArts (short for the Arts Council of Placer County) encourages excellence and expansion of visual, musical, theatrical, literary, media and dance art endeavors.

It serves as a clearing house for information on the arts in Placer County. The Council’s purpose is to create a forum for communication for artists and art organizations in Placer County and to build awareness of activities and programs related to arts and culture in the area.

All the Raj, a fundraiser for the Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation, will immerse you in that exotic era. It will include a spectacular feast, dancing to live band music, a silent auction and more.

“All The Raj is a re-creation of our traditional fall formal and promises to be one of our most exciting events to date,” says Alison Jones-Pomatto, SNMH Foundation board member and All the Raj event chair.

The event is on Saturday, Nov. 12 at the Grass Valley Veterans Hall. Come in your traditional formalwear, or have fun with the theme, and come in a sari or wrap a brightly colored scarf around your black dress. Men are encouraged to wear traditional British, Irish or Scottish formal attire.

All the Raj will include cocktails, gourmet dinner, dancing, silent auction and entertainment. Award-winning caterer/chef Antonio Ayestaran’s feast will include some traditional Indian dishes, as well as American cuisine with an ethnic flair.

Dance to music from the 1920s to more contemporary jazz with the George Souza Band. Bid on a trip to the French Quarter in New Orleans, spend the weekend in San Francisco, and find elegant jewelry and more during the silent auction.

Event proceeds help SNMH Foundation fund new equipment and advances in health care technology, says Executive Director Kimberly Parker.

Reservations are $150 per person ($75 tax deductible) and need to be ordered in advance, no later than November 4. For more information, or to place a reservation, call Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Foundation at 530-477-9700 or go to SupportSierraNevada.org.

Photo at The Magic Carpet in Nevada City, by Lisa Redfern

Built by Garfield Woods—the first man to go 100 m.p.h. on water—these elegant boats featured beautiful mahogany exteriors, luxurious appointments and powerful engines.

The “woodie” speedboats helped usher in a new era of boating on Lake Tahoe in the Roaring Twenties. Wealthy capitalists including Henry J. Kaiser, Leland Stanford Scott and R. Stanley Dollar were piloting speedsters with names such as Baby Skipalong, Short Snorter and Mercury.

In the summer of 1940, real-estate tycoon George Whittell introduced the largest and most elegant of all mahogany hulled “woodies” to Tahoe—Thunderbird.

“Fifty-six feet in length, the Thunderbird is quadruple mahogany planked, with her underside copper sheathed,” writes E.B. Scott in The Saga of Lake Tahoe. “This marine ‘futura’ reportedly cost $87,500 to complete and originally carried four engines totaling 1600 h.p.”

This summer, boating enthusiasts can see Thunderbird, Baby Skipalong and Mercury at the 39th annual Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance Boat Show on August 12-13 at the Sierra Boat Co. on Tahoe’s North Shore.

The event—the nation’s premier wooden boat show—is a compilation of more than 75 of the best vintage boats from North America. The Marquee Class for 2011 is “Gar Wood—the Gentleman’s Runabout.”

This year’s event returns to its traditional dates in August when the weather is glorious, the water warmer and the atmosphere bustling with summer activities for the entire family.

“After holding the show on Father’s Day weekend in 2009 and 2010, we are excited to return to our traditional August dates,” says Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation President Dave Olson. Also this summer, Obexer’s Boat Co. in Homewood celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Each “woodie” is a work of art. The boats are restored “as delivered from the factory standards.”

Boat entry classes for this year’s Concours include Lakers & Launches; Outboards & Canoes; Pre-War Runabouts; Blonde Deck Chris-Craft Runabouts; Century boats; Rivas & International Entries; Race Boats; and Sedans & Commuters.

In addition to the exquisite boats on display, the Concours offers sponsor displays, give-aways, live music, and a food and beverage court. For more information and tickets, visit the website at LakeTahoeConcours.com.

MARITIME MUSEUM
The Tahoe Maritime Museum in Homewood allows visitors to explore “woodies” and the history of boating on Lake Tahoe year-round.

Its boat collection rivals many maritime museums in the nation. There are more than 30 vessels, as well as a vast collection of photographs and memorabilia. The museum also is home to a large collection of outboard motors.

Aquaplanes and water skis also are on exhibit, showing the progression from the earliest models made of barn doors.

The museum is open every day except Wednesday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., during the summer.

(photo credit: Steven Lapkin, h20mark.com