Checking in…

Popeye keeps an eye on things, down at the marina...

Let’s look around a bit:

• Maude from the School District office says there’s a change:

Joe Landerman has withdrawn as a candidate for the FHES principal position.  He cited personal reasons, in particular his doctorate work.  San Juan Island School District will continue with candidate Denise Wheeler’s visitation on Wednesday, May 11.  Please join us for the community forum from 6:00-7:00 pm in the Friday Harbor Elementary School library.

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• FHHS social studies teacher Greg Sawyer‘s kidney transplant is set for Monday, May 9th. I’m guessing he’ll feel a whole island cheering for him (and his donor) to get well soon! That kind of energy helps with the healing…

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• It’s Open Mike at the Rumor Mill tonight, and Uncle Otto on Saturday!

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Summertime orchids....

• Check ’em out this weekend – here’s more from Leslie:

Ian…would you mind reminding everyone on the Update about the APS Mother’s Day Orchid & Bake Sale being hosted at Bailer Hill Farm on Saturday, May 7th between 9am and 2pm.  There will be many beautiful orchids and delicious fresh baked goodies available.  Bailer Hill Farm will also be donating 20% of all their sales this season to the animal shelter!  We have beautiful hanging baskets, colorful annuals and unusual sedum and sedum gardens.  Bailer Hill Farm is open each Sat & Sun thru June and is located at 1863 Bailer Hill Rd.

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• The San Juan Island Garden Club loved Barb’s presentation this week – here’s more from Dot Vandaveer:

Wow!  Ian, those who attended the San Juan Island Garden Club today received
a very nice presentation by Barb Jensen relative to the Western Bluebird
Reintroduction Project which is in its fifth year of progression. Barb, thank you! I cannot say enough about her talk today.  It was absolutely fantastic!

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• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown! opens next week at the Community Theatre, and Jan Bollwinkel-Smith has background on the show:

SPRING MUSICAL opens NEXT Thursday!

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown
Written by Clark Gesner
Directed by Margaret Hall
Thursdays-Sundays, May 12-22

Featuring: Jim “Shu” Carroll, Scott Mapstead, Doug Schirmer, Amanda Lee Smith, Jill Urbach, Nicholas Zervas

NEWS!  BEHIND-THE-SCENES

Snoopy sez....

What may look like a simple, cartoon-like set hides exciting, professional, high-tech gadgetry.  Let’s peak behind the scenes of SJCT’s spring musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Featuring island adults as the comic strip youngsters (you remember Charlie, Lucy, Schroeder, Linus, Sally and Snoopy, of course), the play shines not only with the acting and vocal talents of the cast but with professional touring technology new to the Theatre.

SJCT Production Manager Steve Judson (who has worked backstage for many big productions, including Broadway’s The Lion King), says the smaller scale Charlie Brown musical provides a perfect opportunity for the Theatre to employ some of the set changing and lighting technology that larger professional theaters have been using, only toned down to meet SJCT’s needs and budget.

“We’re trying some things we’ve never done before,” said Steve.

Under the doghouse....

Take a look at this revealing picture (right)….

The new technology includes a show deck–a floor with tracks and a complicated rigging system (it takes a crew of six to work it!)–that will move scenery and props like Snoopy’s dog house and fire hydrant to the stage and back.  Then there’s a newly built second rear projection screen that enhances cartoon backgrounds and color images.  That projection system forces a completely new way of lighting from extreme angles to make sure the actors don’t get lost (or look scary) in the screen’s images.

Steve says the Theatre is fortunate to have the quality of volunteer help to make these new additions work and enhance the quality of the production.  “What we’re doing here is challenging, but it’s going to have a very nice effect. This is going to be a great show!”

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