SJCT Up To Date

SJCT’s volunteer extraordinaire, Lori Stokes, is featured in a national magazine in an article about San Juan Island.  Lori is quoted in the November/December issue of Where to Retire.  The article, titled “Treasured Islands for Serene Living,” includes a section on San Juan Island and describes how Lori ended up on the island: “Once we arrived on San Juan Island, it only took me 15 minutes of walking along the little main street to decide that I was going to move here,” Lori Says.  “My son looked at me and said, ‘Are you nuts?’” 

Lori also did a great job of making sure that San Juan Community Theatre was mentioned…thanks for the publicity, Lori!

This just in…That funny romantic comedy,The Owl and The Pussycat (remember the movie with Barbara Streisand and George Segal?), is coming to the Gubelman in March!   It had been set for this past October, but due to some medical issues was postponed.

Now, all are healthy and the show can go on!  It’s scheduled for seven performances in March.  We’ll have the full schedule and info on the website soon.  It features island actors Dorian Oliver and Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso and is directed by Ernest Pugh.

Friday’s family event, The Curious Comedy Tour, seemed to be more than just a very successful night of comedy, magic and juggling.  Julie, our Front of House Manager, says a dad and daughter (probably around 10 years old) carrying their free popcorn and sodas, came up to tell her before the show how much they’d been looking forward to the event.  The dad, Julie says, was very emotional about how much the evening out with his daughter meant to him.  “It was very moving,” said Julie.  “People thank me all the time…but his appreciation was really touching.”  Julie called his words, a “gift” and says they reminded her of how what the Theatre does really can make a difference.  Our motto for the past few years has been Touching Lives—it’s nice to know it’s not just words.

Got to work early this morning, before 8 and things were rocking in the Whittier Theatre.  The Friday Harbor High School Jazz Band was practicing for tonight’s free concert at 7 pm.  The question is, will parents get up and dance tonight and embarrass their kids?

Today is SJCT’s Merritt Olsen’s big day—he turned ????

It doesn’t really matter what age he is, however.  He’s so young at heart and spirit and that’s all that counts.  Folks have been in and out of the Theatre today and the phone has been ringing with good wishes for Merritt.  He even got to go out to lunch with his biggest fan (wife, Janet, above).  Merritt’s been with the Theatre now for more than 11 years and hopefully he’ll stay on for another 11—we couldn’t do this without him!

Wow!  The Holiday Festival really worked last night.  We raised money for the Theatre, laughed a lot with John Curley (and no, he didn’t split his pants this time), ate some really good food from Roche Harbor Resort and got to watch many of our friends get down on the dance floor with the Chameleons.

One of the cool things about the Festival has always been getting to see islanders all dressed up in their finest.  It was interesting this year…there seemed like more tuxedos (lookin’ good, guys) but at the same time there seemed more casual dresses.  There weren’t as many long, flowing gowns as in the past—shorter was in and so were less sparkles and bling.  That’s your report from the “red” carpet.

Changes in the flow inside the Theatre seemed to give people more breathing room—although the Gubelman still got cozy even without the tables that we used to have in the middle of the room.  The spread out of dinner stations help too—reports were that while there were lines for food, especially at the beginning right after the auction, they moved fairly fast and it was okay anyway, because it gave folks another chance to talk to their friends.

So, so far, at least from our sides of things, the Festival was another rousing success and just showed once again, that this community not only knows how to party in style but really, truly cares about the Theatre and the arts on our little island.  BRAVO! to all who supported this incredible evening.

We had the “Donor Party” last night at the Theatre.  It’s to honor the more than 130 donors who have given something…anything from money to gift certificates to vacation packages…to make Saturday’s Holiday Festival such a success.

A new cool thing last night was the projection of the live auction items on the wall in the lobby.  Steve had to put a hole in the wall upstairs to get all the tech and computer equipment stationed, but it’s not really noticeable.  (Next time you’re here, look up and see what you can see). The projection really makes it fun to check out all the incredible things up for auction.

CATS made lots of great appetizers last night.  Chance says there’s one that she and others were particularly taken by…it was a flat, cheesey one that almost looked like a cookie but had a more roll-like consistancy (it was on the table closer to the lobby doors).  There was no card next to it to say who made it…anyone know?  Want to share the recipe?