Download - MBT Presents Blast!
104 N. Commercial St. | Bellingham, WA | www.mountbakertheatre.com
Season Sponsor
Series Sponsor 4.5.12THURSDAY
2 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
©2012 Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of all traffic laws at all times. *Carrera S model with PDK and Sport Chrono Package.
Roger Jobs Porsche2200 Iowa St.Bellingham, WA 98229(360) 734-5230www.roger-jobs.porschedealer.comShowroom hours M – F 8:30AM – 7:00PM Sa 9:00AM– 5:00PM Closed Sun
90% new materials.But still cut from the same cloth.
The next Porsche 911.Forever the sports car.
When you set out to improve upon greatness, you leave no stone unturned. Or in this case, no component unimproved. Built from the ground up with 90% new or fundamentally revised materials, the next 911 redefines performance as we know it. Acceleration from 0 to 60 in an astounding 3.9 seconds* in the Carrera S. It's even shed almost 100 pounds for added agility and improved efficiency. The next 911 is the sports car that turns all we know into everything you desire. See for yourself with a test drive.
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 3
1904 Main Street, Ferndale (Exit 262)(360) 384-3388 • (800) 210-7143
www.samuelsfurniture.com
The LARGESTFurniture Storein NW Washington
Complimentary Interior Design Service Available
See store for details.
Where the best is affordable!
4 Spotlight Magazine — Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
You’re principled. You’re accomplished. You’re involved in the community.
You’re ready to invest with a brokerage that’s just like you.
At Saturna Brokerage Services, we cherish the Bellingham individual who’s just like us: local, independent, and principled.
Saturna Brokerage Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saturna Capital Corporation.
800/SATURNA 360-734-9900 1300 N. State St. Bellingham, WA 98225 www.saturna.com/sbs
My is at capital
www.saturna.com/bellingham
spotlight2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2 S e a S o n
You’re principled. You’re accomplished. You’re involved in the community.
You’re ready to invest with a brokerage that’s just like you.
At Saturna Brokerage Services, we cherish the Bellingham individual who’s just like us: local, independent, and principled.
Saturna Brokerage Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saturna Capital Corporation.
800/SATURNA 360-734-9900 1300 N. State St. Bellingham, WA 98225 www.saturna.com/sbs
My is at capital
www.saturna.com/bellingham
Thank you to our2011-2012 sponsors
The Alpha Group • CH2M HillGalbraith & Kimberley, Pediatric Dentistry
Life Rescue, Inc. • Moss Adams LLP • Peoples BankRH2 Engineering • RMC Architects
U.S. Bancorp Foundation Walton Magic • Whidbey Island Bank
Into The WoodsDavid & Cheryl Blair Steve & Margie KimberleyDavid & Shari Cummins John & Joyce PedlowFrank & Patti Imhof Chuck & Elsie Walter
Monty Python’s SpamalotRick & Ann Kaiser David Mauro
Frank King Family
Dawson ConstructionPuget Sound Energy Foundation • Union Bank
WECU-Whatcom Educational Credit UnionWilson Engineering
wade bennett king education series sponsor
education show sponsors
show sponsor partnerships
show sponsors
lead show sponsor
exclusive show sponsor
series sponsor
A Great NationDeserves Great Art
media sponsor
season sponsor
Blast!— Spotlight Magazine 5
editor Kim Laskey - [email protected]
advertisingJohn Schapiro - [email protected]
Mount Baker Theatre StaffExecutive Director: Brad BurdickDeputy Director: Kim LaskeyFinance Director: Sharon CassidyBusiness Partnerships Director: John SchapiroExecutive Assistant: Cindi PreeHouse Mgr & Ed Program Coord.: Maia Newell-LargeEvents Manager: Matt BeresAsst. Events Manager: Kari SevernsMarketing Manager: Beth McPeekDevelopment Manager: Emily WeinerTicketing Manager: Katharine ConradAsst. Ticketing Manager: Matt LesinskiTicketing Reps: Zoë Cohen, Mario Orallo-Molinaro and Jessica YoungTechnical Director: John BauerLead Technician: Jim ZoehrerAssistant Custodian: Stephanie Straight
Board of DirectorsDaniel Larner – President Matt Rose - Vice-PresidentWendy Bohlke – SecretaryJohn Pedlow - TreasurerJanice Butler – Past PresidentBrad Cornwell – Executive CommitteeJane CartenBrian FinneganWilliam (Bill) GerrieAnn Kaiser Jan MarchbanksJohn TempletonMark E. ThomaSusan Delana WalkerEdwin H. (Skip) WilliamsSeth Fleetwood -Ex-OfficioDaniel Guyette -Ex-Officio David Graham – Ex-Officio
Design/Production Copy editorJ. Richard Lawrence Melissa SchapiroBeth McPeek
Mount Baker Theatre 104 N. Commercial Street | Bellingham, WA 98225Admin.: (360) 733-5793 | Ticketing: (360) 734-6080www.mountbakertheatre.com
6 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Notes
Brad Burdick, Executive Director
The Mount Baker Theatre has developed a leadership position among other performing arts centers around the Northwest. Part of the reason for this success is the visionary advice and dedication we get from our board members. We have a broad variety of board members who represent many different aspects of the community we serve. And we’re always looking to add quality new board members.
To serve on the board, each member is expected to provide time, talent, financial resources, influence and critical thinking. We ask each board member to become a member at the director level or higher, attend at least six of our events annually, serve actively on one or more of our subcommittees, participate regularly in our monthly board meetings, secure other sponsorships and memberships when possible, and act as a representative of the organization to people throughout the community. We have several active committees that help guide different aspects of what we do:
Development Committee: Organizes, implements and evaluates the various annual fund-raising events and activities. Helps guide the rest of the Board in increasing financial support to the Theatre.
Finance Committee: Regularly reviews the financial status of the Theatre, develops recommendations for strategic planning related to all of our financial resources, and helps create and maintain the annual operations and capital budgets.
Building Committee: Studies and prioritizes all of the capital items and recommends purchase of all major new theatre assets like stage lighting, sound enhancements, video projectors, etc. Reviews and provides input on all maintenance issues of the facility.
Program Committee: Provides input on programming decisions.Futures Committee: Focuses on long range strategic planning and providing
direction how to implement those plans.Board Affairs Committee: Evaluates effectiveness of current board and secures
new board member nominations.Executive Committee: Handles all staffing issues and any short notice or sensitive
matters.If you are interested, or know someone who would
make a good board member, please contact any board member or me. We’re always looking for a few more great additions.
Enjoy the show!
MBT Board Members a Secret to our Success
Dia
ne P
adys
Pho
togr
aphy
(pad
ysey
e.co
m)
Spamalot— Spotlight Magazine 7
REALLY
GOOD SLEEPready for a second chance?
our experts can help you reclaim healthy, restful sleep
As the area’s leading sleep disorder experts, we’ve helped hundreds of people re-establish a healthy lifestyle. If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of a sleep disorder or daytime fatigue, a simple conversation with our sleep specialist is the right first step.
northstarmedicalspecialists.com (360) 676-1696 Insurance & Medicare Accepted
8 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 9
Prather entertainment GrouP mason entertainment GrouP
in association with tom ross and Deborah Z. Prather
Daniel Chilewich and todd Gershwin for Premiere media, LLC
anDrew BarLowamanDa BrisBeY
BraD BroomfieLDLauren CLement
CourtLon CoChranroque DiaZ
eDDY faLConmario GamBoaLinDseY GraY
JaCoB harPsterJeff harriGan
evan harris
Ben haYesJean heasLeY
GreGorio hernanDeZJessY hoDsonDouG hooker
Jennifer kearnsLanCe kinDLLisa LiZaneC
Joshua mcCLurGmeGGie maLLoY
Jason Leon monCrief
PauLa moniquesamia mooneY
BiLL muterDannY nGuYenJoeY oakLeY
meLissa PrimaveratYLer riCharDs
kaYseY LeiGh thomPson
aDrian vaLDerramaPhiLiP thomas
winGfieLD
executive Producer artistic Director william t. Prather James mason
Acting Director Musical Director Staging Director George Pinney Jefferson s. Lee Jonathan vanderkolff
Scene and Costume Design Scenery mark thompson tait towers, inc. and hudson scenic echo Park studios
Lighting Design Sound Design Charlie morrison David temby
Associate Producer Choreography Donnie vanDoren Jim moore, George Pinney, Jonathan vanderkolff
General Manager Production Stage Manager russell a. thompson molly Goodwin
10 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
aCt i
COLERO (F. Sullivan)
COLOR WHEEL (J. Lee)
SPLIT COMPLIMENTARIES (J. Talbott)
EVERYBODY LOVES THE BLUES (M. Ferguson//N. Lane)Solo Trumpet- Courtlon Cochran
LOSS (D.Ellis)
Solo Trumpet- Evan Harris
AMERICAN PLAINS CELEBRATION (arr. by F. Sullivan, J. Lee & J. Vanderkolff), Turkey In The Straw (Traditional)/
Shaker Song (E.J.Brackett)
BATTERY BATTLE (T. Hannum/J. Lee)Snare Drum Soloists- Lance Kindl, Brad Broomfield
MEDEA (S. Barber)
20 minute intermission
aCt ii
COLOR WHEEL TOO (J. Vanderkolff)
YELLAPALOOzA (Robert W. Smith)
LEMONTECH (J. Vanderkolff)
TANGERINAMADIDGE (J. Mason/J. Vanderkolff)
LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE (C. Mangione)Solo Flugelhorn- Evan Harris
Solo French Horn- Jennifer KearnsFeatured Tuba- Jason Leon Moncrief
SPIRITUAL OF THE EARTHMARIMBA SPIRITUAL (M. Miki)Marimba Soloist- Jacob Harpster
EARTH BEAT (M. Spiro)
MALAGUENA (E. Lecuona)Solo Flugelhorn- Evan Harris
Featured Dancers- Samia Mooney, Tyler RichardsSolo Trumpet- Courtlon Cochran
Solo Trombone- Jeff Harrigan
scenes & musical numbers
Blast! - Continued on page 13
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 11
12 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
When the Occasion Calls for
Real Magic
Affordable and UnforgettableBusiness and Family Entertainment
Call John Walton 360-380-1660 x 104
*$200 limit. One per magic package, Offer expires June 30, 2012.
My Magic Show packages start at $150 for 30 minutes and include this special offer: Figure out my signature illusion, Walton's Window, and I will buy you dinner for two and a bottle of wine.*
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 13
“Colero” is used courtesy of Inspire Music & Entertainment
Productions
“Color Wheel” copyright owner Star Publishing Inc.
“Split Complimentaries” copyright owner Star Publishing Inc.
“Everybody Loves the Blues” by arrangement with
Maynard Ferguson, U.S.A, Inc.
“Loss” written by Don Ellis, courtesy of Objective Music
Company (Ellis Music Enterprises, Inc/BMI)
“American Plains Celebration” is used courtesy of Inspire Music & Entertainment Productions and
Star Publishing Inc.
“Battery Battle” copyright owner Star Publishing Inc.
“Medea” by arrangement with G. Schirmer, Inc. publisher and
copyright owner
“Color Wheel Too” copyright owner Star Publishing Inc.
“Yellapalooza” (ASCAP)
Copyright 2011Ariana Productions Inc.
“Lemontech” copyright owner Star Publishing Inc.
“Tangerinamadidge” copyright owner Star Publishing Inc.
“Land Of Make Believe”Composed by Chuck Mangione© 1972 Gates Music Inc. (BMI)
All Rights Reserved
“Marimba Spiritual” by arrangement with Minorul Miki, publisher and copyright owner
“Earth Beat” copyright owner Star Publishing Inc.
“Malaguena” Written by Ernesto Lecuona
Used by permission of Edward B. Marks Music Company
ALL VIDEOTAPING, AUDIO RECORDING AND PHOTOGRAPHY
ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED
song Credits
BLAST! PLAYS
YAMAHA BRASSAND PERCUSSION
INSTRUMENTS
Blast! - Continued on page 15
14 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
aatt BBeellllwweetthheerr oonn tthhee BBaayy
aatt BBeellllwweetthheerr oonn tthhee BBaayy
Irresistibly fresh flowers
for life’s events
1201 N. State Street | Bellingham 360-734-8454
www.bellinghamflowershop.com
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 15
who’s who in the Cast(In alphabetical appearance)
anDrew BarLow- 26Morganton, NCUniversity of Massachusetts- AmherstPercussion Swing Manager
amanDa BrisBeY- 24Detroit, MIFlorida Community College- Jacksonville; Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor of Fine Arts (Dance/Social Work)Visual Ensemble
BraD BroomfieLD- 25New Orleans, LAUniversity of Louisiana- LafayetteBachelor of Music (Performance);Temple University, Master of Music (Percussion Performance)Snare Soloist/Percussion
Lauren CLement- 22Pembroke Pines, FLBroward CollegeAA in NursingVisual Ensemble
CourtLon CoChran- 31Miami, FLTrumpet (Feature)/Percussion Rack
roque DiaZ- 32Morehead City, NCEast Carolina University, Charter Oak State CollegeBachelor of Arts (Music/Sociology)Conductor
eDDY faLCon- 23New York, NY Trumpet/Piccolo Trumpet/Percussion Rack
mario GamBoa- 24Miami, FL Visual Ensemble
LinDseY GraY- 23Snellville, GAUniversity of GeorgiaBachelor of Music (Education)French Horn/Mellophone
JaCoB harPster- 23Topeka, KSIndiana University Bachelor of Music (Percussion Performance); University of North Texas pursuing Master of Music (Performance)Marimba Soloist/Percussion
Jeff harriGan- 26Ellicott City, MDTowson UniversityBachelor of Music (Performance)Trombone (Feature)/Baritone/Euphonium
evan harris- 21Colorado Springs, COTrumpet (Feature)/Flugelhorn (Feature)/ Mellophone
Ben haYes- 22Charlottesville, VAThe University of VirginiaMajors: Foreign Affairs and MusicTrumpet/Mellophone
Jean heasLeY- 32Freeport, NYHofstra University(Music Education)Low Brass Swing (Trombone/ Euphonium/ Baritone)/Visual Captain
GreGorio hernanDeZ- 28Fulton, NYSyracuse UniversityBachelor of Arts (Music Industry)Low Brass Swing (Trombone/Euphonium/Baritone)/Percussion Rack/Didgeridoo Soloist
JessY hoDson- 22Miami Springs, FLVisual Ensemble
Blast! - Continued on page 16
16 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
DouG hooker- 23Keizer, ORUniversity of OregonMajor: Dance Visual Ensemble
Jennifer kearns- 30Madisonville, KYUniversity of Kentucky Bachelor of Music(Performance);University of Southern CaliforniaMaster of Music (Performance)French Horn (Feature)/Mellophone
LanCe kinDL- 29Atlanta, GAUniversity of Georgia Bachelor of Arts(Music Education)Master of Music (Music Performance)Snare Soloist/Percussion
Lisa LiZaneC- 25Tempe, AZArizona State UniversityBachelor of Music (Education)Trombone/Baritone
meGGie maLLoY- 22Irvine, CAChapman UniversityBachelor of Fine Arts (Film Production)Trumpet/Mellophone
Joshua mcCLurG- 20Cape Coral, FL Visual Ensemble
Jason Leon monCrief- 32Youngstown, OHYoungstown State UniversityBachelor of Arts (Music Performance)Tuba (Feature)
PauLa monique- 27Ft. Lauderdale, FL Florida International UniversityHigh Brass Swing (Trumpet/Piccolo Trumpet/Flugelhorn/Mellophone)
samia mooneY- 25San Jose, CAIndiana UniversityMajor: Kinesiology- DanceVisual Ensemble (Feature)
BiLL muter- 27Boca Raton, FLUniversity of South FloridaTuba/Percussion Rack
DannY nGuYen- 23Palm Desert, CAUniversity of California- BerkeleyDance Performance StudiesVisual Ensemble
JoeY oakLeY- 30Oakland, CAFresno State UniversityMajor: Criminology Percussion (Feature)
meLissa Primavera- 26Las Cruces, NMNew Mexico State University Bachelor of Music (Education); Illinois State UniversityMasters of Music (Performance)Euphonium (Feature)/Trombone
tYLer riCharDs- 21Campbell, CASan Jose City CollegeVisual Ensemble (Feature)
kaYseY LeiGh thomPson- 29 Boston, MAVisual Ensemble Captain/ Swing
aDrian vaLDerrama- 25Plano, TXUniversity of North Texas Bachelor of Fine Arts (Graphic Design); Texas A&M University- CommercePursuing Bachelor of Arts (Music Education)Percussion
PhiLiP thomas winGfieLD- 21Roanoke Rapids, NCUniversity of North Carolina- GreensboroMajors: Music Education/Euphonium PerformanceBass Trombone/Baritone
Blast! - Continued on page 21
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 17
Fresh, Organica n d
Fair Trade
Coffee from the Co-op — you’re going to love it!
Served in the Co-op Deli and available in the Co-op Bulk Department
1220 N. Forest St. at Holly St.
Downtown
Cordata315 Westerly Rd. at Cordata Pkwy.
PRouDly s u p p o r t i n g
the artsand quality food!
www.communityfood.coop
Fresh. Local. Creative. Affordable.
Call 676-5288 for details.1319 Railroad Ave.
Open everyday for great organic coffee, breakfast, lunch, snacks and take out.
The Bagelry CateringWill Add the “Special”To Your Special Event La
isse
z le
s bo
ns vins verser! Let the good wines pour! Laissez les bon
s vins verser! Let th
e good w
ines p
our! Laissez les bons vins verser! Let the good wines pour! Lais
sez
les
bon
s vi
ns
vers
er!
Let
the
good
win
es p
our!
360.220.7072 2001 Iowa Street Suite FBellingham
www.masqueradewines.com
Introducing Masquerade Wine Company, makers of world-class, award-winning artisan wines from some of the finest vineyards in the Pacific Northwest. Our mission is to make wines that bring enjoyment and celebration to life. Guests are now invited to our new urban winery, tasting room and wine bar.
18 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Neil Goldberg is the crea-tive mastermind behind Cirque
Dreams, an American version of a European-style circus troupe and production company. Goldberg has designed and created productions for two Super Bowls, the NBA, Disney, Busch Gardens, Six Flags, Miss Universe, NBC, ABC, CBS & PBS as well as a wide range of Las Vegas casinos. In total, Cirque Dreams shows have reached more than 50 million people around the globe since starting in 1993. One way they can do this is by designing the shows to require only a bare stage; everything else they bring with and build on the spot. This may complicate their road planning, but it allows them to customize the equipment and acts to each venue.
All of Goldberg’s creations are designed, de-veloped, rehearsed and produced, including the
manufacturing of each and every costume, at his 30,000-square-foot Dream Studios produc-tion complex in Pompano Beach, Fla. His com-panies and shows engage hundreds of perform-ers as well as an endless array of creative staff and aspiring artists and dreamers.
Goldberg’s approach is a bit different than some cirque-styled shows. “I have said since day one that I’m a theater guy. My goal has always been theat-er blended with circus artistry. Other compa-nies are circuses and
claim to integrate elements of theater.”In order to take this approach, he has to re-
cruit the highest level of acrobatic performers. We asked him how he goes about finding them: “I just spent a month in France and I went to some of the [circus] schools and festivals there. There are many countries that support the arts
A scene from Cirque Dreams: Pop Goes The Rock
By Ramona Abbott
ream of Theatrical Circus Realized D
backstage
“Taking the emotion that is evoked from music and blending it with the
motion of a Cirque Dreams theatrical experience was our goal...
to blend emotion with motion!”
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 19
and specifically the circus arts — France, Russia, Mongolia. I work year-round with the Mongo-lian School of Contortion. We just started work-ing with the Ethiopian circus school, cultivat-ing and developing talent. We’ll bring those per-formers over in the fall.
“With the internet and social media today, it is so much easier to connect with these organ-
izations and governments. Sixteen years ago I had to fly to China and walk the Great Wall into Mongolia and watch 150 kids as their beacon of hope and opportunity to take their art form and earn a living and help support their families. That’s one of the things that is endearing and en-riching about this whole process.”
Giving back is important to Goldberg; he tells
20 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
us about his latest venture: “Last year I formed the Neil Goldberg Dream Foundation. What that foundation does is support the dreams and enrich the lives of the artists and families around the world that are looking for the opportunity to cultivate their talent and live out their dream.”
In addition, Goldberg believes in supporting American troops and this year put together an ambitious effort to entertain troops around the world. The Cirque Dreams 2012 World Tour for Armed Forces Entertainment launched from Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii, to en-tertain U.S. service members and their families in 17 military bases throughout 10 countries. Goldberg calls this his most satisfying project ever.
He gets asked a lot about the similarity of his name to Cirque du Soleil. “When I produced my first show in the late 1980s, I never even knew that Cirque du Soleil was in existence. I was a corporate meeting and event planner, and I was hired by IBM to create an entertainment concept for their launch of a new brand. I did cirque-style shows for IBM, General Electric, General Motors and other corporations. My first theat-er production was Cirque Ingenieux, in 1993, for Bally’s Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City.”
In the latest production, Pop Goes the Rock, which will be on our Main Stage on April 28, his inspiration was music: “The inspiration for this show was popular music. It is our belief that everyone has memories of different songs from different times in their life’s experiences. Tak-ing the emotion that is evoked from music and blending it with the motion of a Cirque Dreams theatrical experience was our goal…to blend emotion with motion!”
We asked him about another form of artistry his shows are known for: costuming. “The hun-dreds of costumes featured in the show comple-ment each song’s theme while at the same time telling a story of the show’s setting. Since the show begins with a traditional jack-in-the-box “Pop Goes the Weasel” tune it was only befitting to set the journey in a carnival funhouse where vibrant color, abstract shapes and optical illu-sions are the norm. All of these elements have been interpreted into the show’s costumes.”
So if you’re looking for a show that has it all: astonishing acrobatics, eclectic assortment of music with universal appeal, stunning costumes and a truly theatrical approach to a Europe-an-style circus for all ages, this is the one. Two shows, 3 and 8 p.m. April 28 on our Main Stage.
A dynamic law firm withexperience and integrity
360.671.9212412 North Commercial St. Bellingham
rhf-law.com
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 21
who’s who in the Creative teammason entertainment Group (meG) creates and produces innovative live spectacles and theatrical productions that defy all social barriers. MEG’s productions of BLAST! (winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Theatrical Event and 2001 Emmy Award for Best Choreography for a prime time television show), Shockwave, Cyberjam and M.I.X. (Music-In-Extreme) have entertained audiences on Broadway, London’s West End, domestic and foreign tours, as well as at Disney and Six Flags theme parks. In 2008 and 2009, MEG’s hit production of BLAST! completed a tour of the United States and Japan, while its new sensation M.I.X. performed throughout Japan. MEG also launched Blast Fever, which was featured at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and won the coveted IAAPA Award.James mason (President/Ceo of meG and artistic Director/Composer/arranger) Recipient of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Theatrical Event (BLAST!) and nominated for the 2002 National Broadway Theatre Award for Best Musical (BLAST!). He was also nominated in the Best Director category for the 2002 National Broadway Theatre Award (BLAST!). Mason has been the creative driving force behind the Star of Indiana/Blast Inc. since its founding in the fall of 1984 and served as its President/Executive Director. Mason has produced and created entertainment for Disney’s Epcot Center and California Adventure theme parks along with Six Flags Fiesta Texas where his show won a coveted IAAPA Award. He has also created for countless corporate and sporting events ranging from the NBA All- Star Game and US Open Tennis Championship to opening the Detroit Auto Show for Mercedes Benz. Donnie vanDoren (Coo of meG and Casting Director) has been involved
in the drum and bugle corps activity for more than 35 years, and the Star of Indiana/Blast organization for more than 20 years. Throughout his career, he has worked with numerous musical organizations. Under his leadership as a brass manager, he has developed several world championship brass programs and is noted for his relentless pursuit for perfection and his commitment to excellence in brass performance. Donnie came to the Star of Indiana organization as the brass manager in 1986, and has been a part of the organization’s evolution from what was a competitive drum and bugle corps to what is now theatrical stage productions (i.e. BLAST, Shockwave, Cyberjam, and M.I.X.- Music in Xtreme). He was inducted into Star of Indiana’s Wall of Fame in 1997, inducted into the Cadets of Bergen County’s Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2004, was inducted into Drum Corps International’s Hall of Fame. A native of Easton, Pennsylvania, Donnie relocated to Indiana in 1998 to fully commit to the BLAST project. In addition to being the Casting Director for BLAST and M.I.X.- Music in Xtreme, he is also the Chief Operating Officer for Mason Entertainment Group. He holds a bachelors degree in business administration from Villanova University.Jon vanderkolff (staging Director, Choreography, Composer) is an original member of the creative team for BLAST!, Shockwave, Brass Theatre, Cyberjam and M.I.X.- Music in Xtreme and has been a part of the MEG/Blast! organization for the past 14 years. Jonathan, along with the choreography team, received an Emmy Award for the PBS broadcast of Blast!. They were also nominated for the 2002 Tony Award and 2002 National Broadway Theatre Award in Choreography. Born in Kitchener,
Blast! - Continued on page 22
22 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Ontario, Canada, he has been the stage director and choreographer for many award-winning organizations throughout the world. Jonathan graduated with an honors degree in music theory and composition from the New England Conservatory in Boston.Jefferson s. Lee (music Director, Composer/arranger, and miDi programmer) Involvement with BLAST began in 1999 as a percussion and electronics arranger and composer. Jeff was then hired to compose new music for the show as well as become more involved in the overall music design. Jeff has been involved with many other MEG products including Shockwave, CyberJam and M.I.X.- Music in Xtreme. In 2003, Jeff relocated from the San Francisco area to work as the Music Director for Mason Entertainment Group. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jeff completed his Master of Arts degree in percussion performance from the studio of Steven Schick. Jeff’s musical career has evolved from that of performer to band director to freelance arranger, composer and clinician. Jeff is currently the electronics arranger and sound designer for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and the music director, arranger, and sound designer for the Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps. Jeff has composed /arranged for a number of WGI color guards and percussion ensembles and worked with groups such as The Woodlands, James Logan, Clovis West and Etiwanda High Schools, Riverside Community College, as well as the Renaissance Vanguard, Yamato, and the Yokohama Scouts drum and bugle corps in Japan. Jim moore (Choreographer/visual Coach) has served on the design team as choreographer for the BLAST!/MEG organization for the past 12 years. Jim has been the principal dancer/choreographer of
BLAST!, Shockwave, Cyberjam, and BlastII, M.I.X.- Music in Xtreme, as well as working extensively on training the casts of each in all movement technique. Jim, along with the choreography team, received an Emmy Award in 2001, for the PBS broadcast of BLAST!. They were also nominated for the 2001 Tony Award and the 2002 National Broadway Theatre Award for Choreography. Jim has been dancing professionally for 20 years, beginning his career as a principal dancer with the Georgia Ballet Company. Along with Jim’s ballet career, he has been the choreographer for many World Champion Winter Guard and Drum Corps organizations including the Pride of Cincinnati, Emerald Marquis, Santa Clara Vanguard, Cadets of Bergen County, Carolina Crown, Aimachi from Nagoya, Japan, and most recently the Madison Scouts.George Pinney (Choreographer/acting Coach) Nominated for a Tony Award and National Broadway Theatre Award in Choreography, George received an Emmy Award for outstanding choreography for the PBS broadcast of BLAST!. George, Professor of Theatre and Drama and Head of the B.F.A. in Musical Theatre program at Indiana University, has directed and/or choreographed over 150 musical theatre productions for national and international tours, regional and university theatres. He was a member of the creative team and contributing choreographer for the national tour of Shockwave and for Cyberjam which opened in the West End of London. Recognized as a master teacher, George was awarded the Friedrich Herman Lieber Award for Distinguished Teaching, five Indiana University Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence in Teaching, and membership in the Faculty Colloquium of Excellence in Teaching.
Blast! - Continued on page 32
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 23
The Mount Baker Theatre is very pleased to announce the purchase and installation of a new projection system. Why is this important? We asked Brad Burdick, Executive Director of the Theatre.
“Many of the events that happen at MBT have begun to incorporate all the latest technology to enhance their produc-tions. In many cases this means video projections on the back wall while actors are out front performing. To make ev-erything work we need to have a video projec-tor strong enough to go through the stage lights that are lighting up the actors and have them project images that are clear, crisp and bright on the back wall.”
So what does this take? John Bauer, Technical Director for MBT, walks us through the specifics. “Our older system, which was in-stalled about 2003, had 3,600 lumens.” (Lumens are very complicated. Your author began researching them in hopes of giving you a simple yet comprehensive synthesis
of how they work. She has retreated from this field of complexity into: lumens measure light.) “The new system has 8,000 lumens. In a nut-shell, over twice as much lighting power as the
previous system.”It also has a contrast ra-
tio of 7,500:1 instead of the previous 750:1. Bauer ex-plains further: “Contrast ratio is how many steps it takes to get from full black
to full white.” Obviously, then, the more steps, the more clear the image. Or, as Bauer puts it, “We can project in full HDTV with this sys-tem.” So if we think of it as going from an old, “regular” TV to an HDTV, we will be in the ball park.
I asked Bauer about installation. “We will
MBT purchases new HD Projection SystemBy Ramona Abbott
“Many of the events that happen at MBT have begun to incorporate all the latest
technology.”
Image projected behind Into the Woods actors
Projection System - Continued on page 26
24 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Theatre Members$2,500+ (Silver Circle)Lois & Bob Nicholl
$1,000+ (artists Circle)Linda & Kurt AndersonBP America Inc.Bob & Gwen BrimSteve & Vicki BurtonJanice* & Glenn ButlerTeresa Thornberg & Kenneth CarpenterDrs. Tiffaney & Andrew ColettiJoe & Judy Coons Community Fund of the Whatcom Community FoundationFrank & Patti ImhofSteve & Susan JoynerMichael Pietro & Christine KubotaDaniel* & Pandora LarnerGene & Peg LarsonSerge Lindner & Deborah OksenbergRick & Linda LukeD.C. Morse & Jan Marchbanks*Joseph E. & Anne V. McClainRon & Dottie MountSteven & Neelie NelsonPat & Mary PattersonJohn* & Joyce Pedlow Community Fund of the Whatcom Community FoundationJack & Yolanda PerramDavid & Carol RobinsonKenneth & Stephanie SalzmanPhyllis & Charles SelfKaren SlossLynn & Mike ThomasHelen TrottSusan* & Kris Walker2 anonymous donors
$750+ (Benefactors Circle)Brad & Sharie Burdick
Terry & Renee DawnEhlers FarmJoy EllisJack & Jean GardnerRondi & Craig JohnsonSteve Ness/Life Rescue Inc.Patrick & Marilee McKnightLinda Rae Gardner &Arlene MillsCheryl & Kelly PatrickRick & Ruth ShawRay & Jeanne StebnerHolly & Peter TelferJane VernerChuck & Elsie WalterMike & Marian WelshNicole Jenrich & Max Whipple
$500+ (Producers Club)Elmer & Chandra AndersonDennis & Charlotte Archer Kathleen & Stephen BarrettRoy & Roxie BentleyGerald & Grace BladiesDean & Sandra BlinnRoss & Barbara CraigieMatt & Brenda DennisJody & Brian* FinneganJames & Barbara FletcherBill Gerrie* & Irene WysockiJames & Kristen GinchereauGary & Nancy GoldfogelLiza GossettWendy Bohlke* & Brian HansenHoward & Bonnie HarringtonPercy & Linda HazelStan & Carol HeimburgerJames & Kathleen Hutchins Bobbie & Robb KahnAnn* & Rick KaiserMichael McGowan & Bette KishCharles & Marylee LeCocqIrwin & Frances LeCocqRobert & Margaret LindsayLinda & Randy LongerichDeborah M. Loober
George E. & David M. MasonTim & Marcia McEvoyCheryl Crooks & Michael PetryniFrank & Patricia ProctorMelody & Mark RhodeSanitary Service CompanyBeth & Herb SeilsBruce & Cyndie ShepardWendy K. SmithRick & Susan SuceeJohn & Loi WaltonMarv & Joan WayneWhatcom Waterfront Construction
$300+ (Directors Club)Ron & Gail AdderleyAdelstein, Sharpe & Serka Affordable Elegance Judy & Steve Allison Alfred & Harriet ArkleyDon & Judy ArntzenRon & Jeanne ArntzenSusan & Everett BabbittDr. David & Jennifer BakerFarrell & Louise BalonickJames BaremenGary & Jean BarnettEthel and Erwin BartolomeBob & Diane BeckerDale & Judy BedlingtonRick & Laura BeedeWendy & Clinton BellLydia Bennett & Ken ReinschmidtBirch Equipment & RentalTash BlackburnGary & Ann BlankenBrett & Kim Bonner Ben Bortner Leslie & PJ Boswell-McGuireBoundary Bay Brewing CompanyKristina Box Pauline BradleySarah & Aaron Brand Renee Brandstrom
David & Justin BronnKen & Marla BronsteinAudrey & Dennis BrownCharlie & Susan BrownJim & Gerry BrownCharles & Yvonne BryantJonathan CampbellDr. & Mrs. Randle T. CarrJane* & Terry CartenDonald ChakasLaura E. ChandlerLisa & Brad* CornwellShannon Skinner & Chris Crathorne Ken & Marcia CulverMargaret & Marc CurtisKevin DalrympleEdward DavidsonJeanette DavidsonChris Norman & Kate Davies Sheila DaviesJerry & Heidi DoornenbalKristina & Bill DriscollElaine & Michael DunnLeonard EbeBarbara EggertJoe EntrikinChris & Christy FankhauserJohn R. & Margo FerdonJenny & John FerlinPatty & Fred Fernandez Steve & Roxy ForbesAlaa El Din FoudaJonathan & Cynthia Franklin Elsie & Bruce GibsonJim & Jean GibsonPaul & Wendy Given Toffer Eriksen & Carol Ann Gleaves-Eriksen Donald & Nancy GolladayJean Gorton & Charles MontyDavid & Bonnie GossDavid Graham * & Serena Seid-GrahamDusty & Nancy GrahamRobert C. GrahamMallory GravingBrian & Marya Griffin
Mount Baker Theatre gratefully acknowledges the generous members, sponsors and donors who make our programming possible.
*MBT Board Member
coNtRibUtoRs
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 25
Daniel G.* & Charlotte GuyetteElan Engel & Ashley Hageman Martin & Gail HainesKalen & Melissa Hanna Karen HeggemMike HiltyEric & Susan HirstBarbara V. HowardIsland Mariner CruisesLisa Ray & Vinit JagdishJan Bowman & Associates Inc.Guy & Kathy JansenFumio Otsu & Mary JensenSteven & Barbara JohnsonCharles & Theresa JuliusNicholas & Deborah KaiserLinda & Jerry KatzJeff KentShirley KimmelKoester–Arenson FamilyAnne & Jim KohlerNancy & George KolakowskiTom & Cheryl KoonsmanJohannna & Mehran KrouzianMark & Pam KuntzChris and Elizabeth LangChip & Karen LauckhardtLinda LawsonCal & Bernetta LeenstraCarolyn LeeperJames LeySteve & Peggy LichCraig & Kathy LindDan & Catherine LowellMrs. Edna MastersJudith F. MaxwellDan McCorkleDiAnne & Robert McDonaldPhelps & Amy McIlvaine Phyllis McKeeBarry & Debby MeyersJulie MichelHolly MillerJessica MillerGeorge & Crystal MillsMarcy MjeldeJulie Johansen & Bob MolesKaren & Joesph MorseMartin & Kim MoskowitzTonja Myers
Gordon & Rosalie NastDick & Linda NelsonLaurie & Linc NesheimTed & Karen NeufeldCharles & Colleen NewtonPeter & Danica Nielsen Fred & Evy NitchyDr. Bob OlsonJohn & Rachelle Overturf John PoggiDr. Lessli & Mr. Ken PutneyJudy RanalloBilly Joe & Maria Reynolds Lee & Nancy ReynoldsRyan James Rickerts Kelsey Roberts Luke A. Robinson Gilbert & Neatha RobinsonTyson RomanickSteven & Meredith Ross Monem & Iman SalamMark & Kerry SandalJohn & Melissa SchapiroNoni SchultheissHarold & Maryanne ScottJohn ScottAnthony N. Senff & Catherine Ledray-SenffAlbert C. & Dolores A. ShawHarry & Melanie ShearerDavid Simms & Judy ReedClaudia & James SmithJennifer SonkerSean SpurginWilliam & Rosemary SteinkampJacob “Buck” Stewart Scott & Amy StrohSustainable Connections Rachel Lewis & Bacchus TaylorJohn Templeton*Mark* & Alma ThomaJeffrey TippieRoland & Bonnie TrenouthBob & Diane TrunekGordon E. TweitRobert Van FleetHoward & Maryann VandekieftRobin Vandermay Melissa & Joel Vanderyacht
Lee VanHornJulie ViereckLynn & Peggy WalterMatt and Tara WardWeight Law OfficesEmily Weiner & John McGarrityJane WhiteConstance WilliamsEdwin H. Williams* & Katherine DalenJames & BJ WinshipRochelle & Kevin Wolber Samuel WoodcockZoom Zoom Espresso 1 anonymous donor
$125+ (Patron’s Club)260 members
$50+ (Friends)529 members
Sponsors
’11-’12 Season SponsorSaturna Capital
Media SponsorThe Bellingham Herald
education Series SponsorFrank King Family
Series SponsorDIS Corp.
exclusive SponsorConoco Phillips Ferndale Refinery
Lead SponsorBrooks ManufacturingNational Endowment for the ArtsWashington State Arts Commission
SponsorsThe Alpha GroupCH2M HillGalbraith & Kimberley, Pediatric DentistryLife Rescue Inc.Moss Adams LLPPeoples BankRH2 Engineering
RMC ArchitectsU.S. Bancorp FoundationWalton MagicWhidbey Island Bank
education Program SponsorsDawson ConstructionFred MeyerUnion BankThe Unity GroupWECU-Whatcom Educational Credit UnionWells FargoWilson Engineering
Sponsor PartnershipsDavid & Cheryll BlairDavid & Shari CumminsFrank & Patti ImhofSteve & Margie KimberleyRick & Ann* KaiserDavid MauroJohn & Joyce PedlowChuck & Elsie Walter
Institutional DonorsCity of Bellingham
Matching GiftsAetna BPConocoPhillipsExxonMobilIBM RBC Dain Rauscher SonyThrivent Financial for LutheransUBS U.S. Bancorp Foundation
In-Kind ContributorsToolhouse
“Those trips to MBT always provide a personal pick-up in allowing us to shrug off the uncertainties of the time.”
—Rick Beede, MBT Member
26 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
permanently mount this projector off the bal-cony so that it is always easily available. Then all we have to do is begin the process of incor-porating it into our other technical systems.” When I asked how hard that was, John laughed. “Actually, the hardest part was finding just the right projector. It’s very easy to spend way too much money on projection systems. We were trying to balance quality and cost. Folding it into our systems won’t be hard at all by comparison.”
Let’s get back to what that means on stage, with images projected behind the actors. Burdick contin-ues: “When this is done effectively it gives the artistic directors another tool to work with. It makes it possible to do much more than a single painted scene (what we call a “drop”) to help
tell the story. It allows changing images, move-ment, animation, and vibrant color in addition to everything else that has been available for many years.“
If you were fortunate enough to attend Into the Woods, you may remember the images pro-jected behind the actors that were not just static images, but were an integral part of the show.
This is very similar. The bottom line for
you, our patrons, is qual-ity. Burdick adds, “As part of MBT’s ongoing efforts to enhance our capabili-ties and provide our pa-trons with the best perfor-
mances possible we felt it was a good investment to purchase this powerful, quiet projector at this time.”
This means that when you come to any of the
“From the Galapagos Islands to the top of Mt. everest, you will be seeing images that are as
good as being there.”
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 27
MBT Speaker Series, you will be completely blown away at the quality of the film and images you see. From the Galápagos Islands to the top of Mt. Everest, you will be seeing images that are as good as being there. (Better, actually, for those of us who wear glasses.)
Up next in our Speaker Series, on Wednesday, May 2, Mattias Klum together weaves his aston-ishing photographs and high-definition video (your author cannot wait to see this with the new projection) from his expeditions to many of the world’s last wild places. Klum, with hu-mor and passion, brings solutions for sustain-ability along with stunning images of why it’s so critical to care for this wonderful planet we call home.
Then, on Sunday, June 10, comes Mr. Everest himself, Peter Athans. He has climbed Everest seven times. (Let’s just stop and think about that for a moment, shall we? Your author may need to sit for a moment while that sinks in.) Seven times! And if that weren’t enough, he’s partici-pated in a total of 16 expeditions there and has received the American Alpine Club’s highest medal of recognition for a rescue featured in the bestselling book and feature film Into Thin Air.
Wow. These people are coming to the ‘Ham to share their stories, images, experiences and lives with you. All you have to do is get tickets. (Way easier than climbing Everest!) And with our new projection system, it’s a cinch that you will feel like you are there on top of that iconic mountain yourself.
Mattias Klum eyes meerkat Peter Athans, “Mr. Everest”
Ski the Deepest Snow on Earthwith Peregrine Expeditions
Rock Climbing, Back Country SkiingAlpine Ascents
Guided Ski Tours and Back Country
Ski Courses in The Mt Baker
and North Cascades regions
Joseph Anderson, Owner and Guide(360) 393-8098
www.PeregrineExpeditions.com
28 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Longtime MBT leader and theatre enthusiast
By Emily Weiner
Mount Baker Theatre’s current Board President, Daniel Larner, has been guiding MBT’s course almost continuously since 1983, soon af-ter a nonprofit organization formed to transform the historic building from a movie house to a publicly owned performing arts center.
Dan, 72, is a passionate advocate for live theatre. “From raising my children, I know the value of parents taking their
kids to the theatre and helping them understand that the theatre is like a window opening on the rest of the world. It’s a way of seeing things that you can’t directly experience, and a way of experiencing them in a social setting (very different from sitting in a dark movie theatre) with live actors transforming themselves into characters, doing their magic right in front of you.
“That fundamental act of creative imagination that the audience has to perform — to understand the transformation that’s taking place and to cooperate with it — is the same kind of active imagination which creates a new business plan, or creates a new piece of equipment to be manufactured, or creates a new software package. It’s being able to transform what is into something else. It is not only fundamental train-ing for kids, it’s fundamental practice for us adults — and it’s funda-mental fun, and excitement, and discovery which never stops no mat-ter how old you are.”
In addition to his enthusiasm about theatre, Dan brings profession-al expertise to the MBT Board of Directors, on which he has served for 22 of the past 28 years and as President since July 2011. He is a Pro-fessor of Theatre at Western Washington University’s Fairhaven Col-lege of Interdisciplinary Studies, as well as a produced playwright and consultant to theatre architects. For example, as the chair of MBT’s
occupation: Professor of Theatre at Western Washington University’s Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies
at Western since 1968; has served as Director of Graduate Study, acting Chair of Dept. of Theatre arts, Dean of Fairhaven College, and President of Faculty Senate 2009-10
Produced playwright and widely published theatre scholar
MBT Participation: President of Board of Directors
MBT Board 22 of the last 28 years
Many years chairing and serving on Building Committee
pRofile B o a R D P R e S I D e n T
Dan Larner
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 29
Building Committee in 2008, Dan presented research into the history of theatre marquees to the Bellingham Historical Preservation Com-mission. He persuaded the commission to al-low a programmable full-color marquee sign by citing the bright, showy, multi-colored chase lights and patterned flashing lights common on theatre marquees when Mount Baker Theatre opened in 1927.
As the first chair of the Facilities Committee (now the Building Committee), Dan had artic-ulated to the Board of Directors the possibil-ities of what MBT could become — and over the past 28 years has in fact become. Minutes from July 12, 1984, described his four-stage vi-sion: maintain movie house capability; pres-ent road shows that bring their own lights and sound; add enough equipment to present a va-riety of theatre; and create a fully equipped rep-ertory theatre.
It took 23 years, but in 2007 (one year af-ter Dan returned to the Board), MBT initiated Summer Rep with a rotation of three plays pro-duced and directed in-house.
By presenting a repertory series each sum-mer, we give our audiences what Dan says has become a rare opportunity to “watch the same troupe of actors transform themselves, night af-ter night, play after play, into different charac-ters.”
The MBT Rep program was expanded in 2010 to include a winter presentation of a sin-gle play — The Fantasticks is playing in the Wal-ton Theatre this February and March — and in 2011 we added our first professional Main Stage production, Into the Woods.
“I think it’s important to be making pro-
Dan Larner - Continued on next page
We don’t sing or dance.
Acumen. Agility. Answers.
Certified Public Accountants | Business Consultants
But a good performance always makes us smile, whether it’s on the stage or in your books. Thanks for coming out and joining us for a good show.
(360) 676-1920 www.mossadams.com
All stage and projection work at Mount Baker Theatre is performed by
I.A.T.S.E. Locals No. 15, 887.
30 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
fessional theatre here in town,” Dan says. Professional actors are able to create the art our audience wants to participate in. And when ac-tors and director can rehearse morning-through-evening, seven days a week as opening night approaches, a play can be produced in a reason-able amount of time that doesn’t cost too much money, he says.
Dan also sees MBT Rep as “terrifically important because it makes certain kinds of theatrical experiences available to us we wouldn’t have otherwise. There are wonderful plays being written nowadays that would not be toured professionally — they’re not musicals, but they would at-tract a local audience.” He looks forward to more plays by women play-wrights, as well as plays like Copenhagen about a 1941 meeting between the physicists Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg, or “wonderful com-
edies with stimulat-ing subject matters we haven’t done here that people would love to see.”
Dan hopes we can build an audience will-ing to take some risk on us because they re-gard us as being worth it, “that there’s a good chance that we’ll of-fer them something they’ll be glad they came to. Once you have an audience like that, then you have a real professional the-atre that is artistically alive, because it’s doing creative work of a kind that no one has quite done before, offering the community some-thing really fresh.”
MoRe To KnoW aBoUT Dan
Board Service Beyond MBT:Board of Directors of american Civil Liberties Union of Washington 1969-85 and 1990-present
Board of Directors of eugene o’neill Society since 1992
education:Harvard College: a.B.
University of Wisconsin: M.S. (History of Science) and Ph.D. (Speech/Theatre)
Honors: 2010: Western Washington University’s first Faculty outstanding Leadership award
2008: Liberty Bell award by Whatcom County Bar association for “lifetime achievement in civil rights education and advocacy”
Dan Larner’s goals for MBT during his Board
Presidency:
• Continue to improve our budget process so we can
keep expanding the kind of high quality programming
we’ve been offering under difficult economic
circumstances.
• expand MBT Rep program, one step at a time, with
next step another Main Stage show this fall, which we
hope will be My Fair Lady.
• Build the membership program and a new donor
program.
• Involve people in the theatre at higher levels
of commitment — whether that means emotional
involvement, working on the Board, volunteering,
donating more money, sponsoring or purchasing
advertising.
• Strengthen relationship with the city, which owns
the theatre.
• Reach out to other arts organizations — other local
nonprofit organizations, the university, and the K-12
schools — about their needs and how the theatre might
help meet those needs.
Dan Larner- from page 29
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 31Mount Baker Theatre | 360.734.6080 | www.mountbakertheatre.com
Season SponsorExclusive Show Sponsor
Friday, April 20 | 8pm | $29-$69Plus applicable fees
Get together with Lily Tomlin for an unforgettable night of fun and sidesplitting laugh-ter. Called “amazing” by The New York Times, Tomlin has been hailed as “always a rev-elation” by The New Yorker.
32 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Charlie morrison (Lighting Designer) Over the past 15 years, Charlie has created the lighting for over 100 projects. His lighting has been seen on four continents and in every state of the United States. Charlie is the recipient of the 2006 and 2007 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lighting Design for his productions of The Tempest at Shakespeare Theatre Company and The Elephant Man at Olney Theatre Center in Washington, DC. Recent and upcoming touring projects include the first national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, a new North American tour of Miss Saigon for producers Cameron MacKintosh and Big League Theatricals; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; the Japan and North American tours of 42nd Street, the North American and China tours of Disney’s Aida; European and Japanese tours of The Who’s Tommy; the North American tour of Susan Stroman’s The Music Man and tours of Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Titanic, Footloose, The King and I, Peter Pan and 1776. David temby (sound Designer) has designed productions and systems for Phoenix Theatre, The Fulton Opera House, Childsplay Theater, Actors Theatre of Phoenix, The White House Communications Agency, Coca-Cola, IBM, CNN, the NFL, and the United States Air Force. He is also the General Manager for Clearwing Productions, Arizona. David makes his home in Phoenix with his loving wife, Jenifer.russell a. thompson (General manager/Production manager) Recent lighting designs include the national tours of The Wedding Singer, All Shook Up, Footloose and Beehive the 60s Musical, the world premiere of Around the World in 80 Days at the Fulton Opera House and High School Musical, Peter Pan and All Shook Up for Prather Entertainment Group. Previous tours
include Tango X2, Moysiev and The Don Cassacks for ICM Artists. Other PEG designs include Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jekyll & Hyde, Swing, Ragtime, CATS and the regional premiere of The Civil War. His designs for West Side Story, Aida and Miss Saigon have earned him three AriZoni Awards. Originally from Luckey, Ohio he now resides with his wife, Alecia, in Cape Coral, Florida.Jennie hollander (Company manager) is delighted to be back on the road with BLAST!. She has toured with Prather Entertainment Group on the Footloose and All Shook Up tours as Head of Wardrobe. After retiring from 25 years in the New York television industry, she returned to the theatre as an actress and technician. Three years with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas as Head Wardrobe Attendant for KA at MGM Grand then led to the national touring circuit. She is honored to be a part of this amazing and talented company. Justin Gebhardt (asst. to General manager/Press) has had the pleasure of touring the country with All Shook Up, The Wedding Singer, Footloose 10th Anniversary Tour, Rogar Studios Pajama Party LIVE!, Honky Tonk Angels, and Nuncrackers the Nunsense Christmas Show directed by ‘Mr. Nunsense’, Danny Goggin. No stranger to the regional theatre circuit, Justin has also stage managed, designed, directed and choreographed across the United States. Love to the family and as always…OG!molly Goodwin (Production stage manager) is thrilled to be on the road with the 2011-2012 national tour of BLAST! She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre/Dance from Luther College (Decorah, IA) and a Master of Fine Arts in Stage Management from University Nevada- Las Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada). Some of her previous credits include: Legally Blonde: The
Blast! - Continued on page 34
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 33
Commercial Insurance
Employee Benefits
Personal Insurance
Big company results. From business to home and
everything in-between, we have the services and product
knowledge to insure the things that mean the most.
800.339.9270 www.theunitygroup.com Offices in Bellingham & Everett
Small company values. GROWINGCONFIDENT
Teen Adventure Summer CampFor students entering grades 6-9. Sign up for one week or all 10.BELLINGHAM ACTIVITY CENTER
WHATCOM FAMILY YMCA360 733 8630 www.whatcomymca.org
34 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Musical (national tour 2010-2011); cruising with Holland America Line (2008-2010); Céline Dion: A New Day (Live in Las Vegas); Regional: Nevada Conservatory Theatre (You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Laramie Project), UNLV Opera Theatre (La Bohème, The Magic Flute), Santa Fe Opera (Così fan tutte, Tea: A Mirror of Soul), Creede Repertory Theatre (Rumors, The Fantasticks). She is so proud to be working with these incredible musicians every night, and she would like to thank her friends and family for always being so lovely. oBB/off Broadway Booking (tour Booking and engagement management) is dedicated to the promotion and awareness of Broad-way and Off Broadway productions to audiences outside of New York City. With a unique focus on small and mid-size markets, OBB has built a loyal circuit of venues across the country seeking out the most inno-vative and successful new and re-vived productions for both large and small theaters. Recent tours include Footloose, Cirque Le Masque, Runt of the Litter, Assume the Position with Robert Wuhl, Irving Berlin’s I Love A Piano, Dixie’s Tupperware Party, Judy Gold’s 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, Beehive, The Great American Trailer Park Musi-cal and My Mother’s Italian, My Fa-ther’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy. For more information visit us online at www.obbnyc.com.awa touring (tour Booking and engagement management) is a full service live entertainment agen-cy, distributing musicals, plays, and variety attractions domestically and internationally. Current roster in-cludes: American Idiot, The Phan-tom of the Opera, A Chorus Line, A Christmas Story: The Musical, Dreamgirls, Cirque Dreams Hol-idaze, Cirque Dreams Broadway,
Love, Loss, & What I Wore, BLAST!, and Apassionata.tom and Debbie Prather (Pro-ducers) have been in the theatre business for more than 45 years, producing theatre in Pennsylvania at more than five theatres at one time. Together, they designed and created the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, PA., now in its 25th season and then continued to expand the business with oldest son, Will, by opening two Broadway Palm dinner theatres in Florida and Arizona. Each remain active in all three operations and PEG as con-sultants and partners. Premiere media LLC/ todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich (Producer) is a theatrical and entertainment production and management company. Premiere’s roster of properties includes a number of unique touring properties revolving around the iconic music and legacy of George and Ira Gershwin, including the multimedia Gershwin concert event Here to Stay and the new Gershwin musical ‘S Wonderful. Other Premiere productions include One Night with Janis Joplin, The Doors Symphonic Experience, and Through My Eyes, the new musical being developed with multi-Grammy award winning gospel recording artist BeBe Winans.
this tour of BLAST! is dedicated to the memory of
william a. Cook
BLAST! would like to thank Drum Corps World for all their support. For more information on the drum
corps activity go to www.drumcorpsworld.com
Blast! - Continued on page 39
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 35
© 2012 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.
3101 Newmarket Place #101Bellingham, WA 98226-3801
Scott Hume Sarah ArnoldFirst Vice President - Financial Advisor Senior Registered Client Associate(360) 756-3504 (360) [email protected] [email protected]
Growing DreamsLife is full of opportunities. Let us help you invest for your future.
Create your path forward.
36 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
a warm and fuzzy place to be
1401 Commercial Street • Bellingham, WA 360-738-0167
www.nwhandspunyarns.com
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 37
You can’t a� ord to miss it
• Local entertainment • Family events • Award winning local sports photography • Local news and information• Exclusive savings• High value coupons
Get 7 days of home delivery now:� eBellinghamHerald.com/delivery or call 676-2660
Your source for
• Award winning local sports photography
Get 7 days of home delivery now:
� e Bellingham Herald
Mount Baker Theatre also recognizes support from the following agencies:
The Mount Baker Theatre receives support from a Tourism Facilities Grant from the City of Bellingham.
38 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Thank You!Main Stage
Season Sponsor
Thank You!
Wade Bennett KingEducation Series Sponsor
Frank King Family
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 39
Prather entertainment Group/william t. Prather (executive Producer)- is a second generation theatre producer following in the footsteps of his very successful parents, Tom and Debbie Prather, who produced live theatre for over 45 years. He is a 1991 graduate of the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University and returned to the family business in 1993 after spending a couple of years in the corporate world. BLAST! is PEG’s fifth national tour, following Beehive, the 60s Musical in 2007, the 10th Anniversary tour of Footloose in 2008/2009, The Wedding Singer in 2010 and All Shook Up in 2011. Over the past 20 years, PEG has grown into the largest operator of dinner theatres in the United States. PEG currently owns and operates the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers, FL; the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, PA; and the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Mesa, AZ, producing more than 300 shows since it was created. Will and his wife of sixteen years, Andrea, live in Fort Myers, FL with the joy of their lives, their thirteen year old son, TJ.
staff for BLast!GeneraL manaGement
Prather entertainment GrouP
executive Directorwilliam t. Prather
Tour Direction byoBB/off BroaDwaY BookinG and
awa tourinG new York, nY www.oBBnYC.com
www.awa.com
General Managerrussell a. thompson
Company ManagerJennie hollander
Marketing/Press Denise s. trupe
Assistant to General Manager/PressJustin Gebhardt
CastingDonnie vanDoren
General Manager .................. Russell A. ThompsonHead Carpenter ............................................ James
“Cubbie” McCroryProduction Stage Manager ............... Molly GoodwinHead Props ............................................ Scott GrohAsst Carpenter/Asst Props ..................Kevin Riggall Wardrobe ..........................................Adelle Gresock Head Electrician ................................... Jeff A. Davis Assistant Electrician ........................Michael Hawley Electrician .............................................Matt WatsonHead Audio ..........................................Patrick AikenBooking Company ............... Off Broadway Booking/
AWA BookingWebsite Design ....................... The New York OfficeLegal Counsel............................Henderson/Franklin
Attorneys at LawBusiness Manager .......................Rachelle WinesettBanking......................................... Florida Gulf BankInsurance ................. BB&T Insurance Services, Inc. Payroll Services .................................................ADPProduction Photography ...................... Joan MarcusTour Travel and Logistics ...............Road ConciergeTrucking ................................................... Stage CallBussing ..............Four Seasons Coach Leasing, Inc.
Airbear Tour and Travel Sound Equipment ......... Clearwing Productions, Inc
Lighting Equipment ........................................... PRGScenic Construction......... Prather Productions, Inc.
BeCome a fan! find out more about meG & BLast!
www.megshows.comwww.blasttheshow.com
and visit BLast! on facebook:http://www.facebook.com/
blasttheshow
Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/user/
BlastOfficialSite
twitter:http://twitter.com/#!/Blasttheshow
myspace:http://www.myspace.com/564484445
40 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
SPOTLIGHT ON GRAND AVENUE ALEHOUSE
POP QUIZ
b) letter carrier and d)bartender
What was owner Pootie Powell’s occupationbefore buying GRAND AVENUE ALEHOUSE13 years ago?
a) race car driverb) letter carrierc) backup dancer for Paula Abduld) bartendere) rodeo clown
Before or after the show.OPEN UNTIL 11 pm Mon, Wed, Thurs
12 pm on Fri, Sat and 10 pm Sun
1232 N. State St.647-7547 • Free Delivery
Taste the Rudy's Difference.
113 Grand Ave. • Bellingham • 671-3080
After Tonight's Show Bring Your Ticket In For
Late Night
$150 PBRs $200 Wells $325 Pints (Happy Hour every day 4-6pm)
2400 Meridian Streetin the Fountain DistrictMon - Wed 6 am - 2 pm Thur - Fri 6 am - 8 pmWeekends 7 am - 8 pm
2 Cheese Burgers +2 Fries + 2 Pints = 20 Dollars
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 41
SPOTLIGHT ON GRAND AVENUE ALEHOUSE
POP QUIZ
b) letter carrier and d)bartender
What was owner Pootie Powell’s occupationbefore buying GRAND AVENUE ALEHOUSE13 years ago?
a) race car driverb) letter carrierc) backup dancer for Paula Abduld) bartendere) rodeo clown
Mount Baker Theatre | 360.734.6080 | www.mountbakertheatre.com
Opens April 12 - Ends May 13Tues-Sat 7:30pm
Sun 2:30pm
Our favorite sharp-tongued Sister returns to offer up hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and
the Last Rites, including her own wacky version of The Newlywed
Game. She’s proven to have Catholics and non-Catholics alike howling
with laughter in this entertaining mixture of catechism class, gleeful
satire, and interactive comedy.
Tickets: $29Plus applicable fees
42 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Whether it’s in the court room, the board room, or out in the field, we love a good performance. That’s why we are proud to support the arts in our community.
We’ve been here for over 90 years practicing our performance so it seemed only right to support someone else’s.
business enTiTies & TransacTionsliTigaTion | land use | real esTaTe | esTaTe
planning & probaTe
1700 D StreetBellingham, WA 98225
360 647 1500zenderthurston.com
OpenAccess Network Services
Get Connected. Stay Connected.
Providing internet services and local support for over 10 years.OpenAccess is committed to our community and proudly
supports the [email protected]
360-647-0785
adveRtiseRs
Randy Simpson Agency360-671-7500
204 N. Commercial St.Downtown Bellingham.
Just North of Mount Baker Theatre. www.allstateagencies.com/59397
Peace of Mind
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 43
Whatcom Community Foundation3 6 0 . 6 7 1 . 6 4 6 3 | w h a t c o m c f . o r g | w c f @ w h a t c o m c f . o r g
85 Years as an Icon | InspIratIon | escapeHappy Birthday, MBT!
Make your gift to the Whatcom Community Foundation’s Mount Baker Theatre Endowment today.
our advertising partners help make possible tonight’s show. Please join us in thanking them by patronizing these businesses:
12th Street Shoes ..................................................... 14Barron Smith Daugert ............................................ 36Bellair Charters/Airporter Shuttle ........................ 35Belle Flora ................................................................. 14Community Food Co-Op ....................................... 17Diamond Jim’s Grill ................................................. 40DIS Corp. .................................................................. 11Grand Avenue Alehouse ......................................... 40Hardware Sales ......................................................... 42Hecht Aesthetic Center ............................................. 8Highland Care Center ............................................. 43Klicks ......................................................................... 36Masquerade Wine Company ................................. 17Moss Adams LLP ..................................................... 29NorthStar Sleep Disorders Center ........................... 7NW Handspun Yarns .............................................. 36Open Access Network Services ............................. 42
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center ................ 38Peoples Bank ............................................................ 19Pepper Sisters ........................................................... 40Peregrine Expeditions ............................................. 21Quist Violins ............................................................ 33Randy Simpson Agency .......................................... 42RBC Wealth Management ...................................... 35Resick, Hansen & Fryer .......................................... 20Roger Jobs Porsche .................................................... 2Rudy's Pizzeria ......................................................... 40Samuel’s Furniture ..................................................... 3Saturna Capital .......................................................... 4Scotty Browns .......................................................... 12Spyglass Optik .......................................................... 14The Bagelry ............................................................... 17The Bellingham Herald ........................................... 37The Copper Hog Gastropub ................................... 40The Unity Group ...................................................... 33Walton Magic ........................................................... 12Whatcom Community Foundation ...................... 43Wilson’s Furniture ................................................... 48YMCA ....................................................................... 33Zender Thurston ...................................................... 42
adveRtiseRs
Living Is An Art
Call 734-4800for a tour, or drop by
2400 Samish Way, Bellingham
44 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
Get together with Lily Tomlin for an unforgettable night of fun and sidesplitting laughter. Known for her classic sketches from NBC’s hit Laugh-In, this unique comic artist takes her audience on a “wise and howlingly funny” (The Washington Post) trip with more than a dozen of her timeless characters – from Ernestine to Sister Boogie Woman, Mrs. Beasley to Edith Ann. New York Daily News says, “With astounding skill and energy, Tomlin zaps through the channels like a human remote control. Using a fantastic range of voices, gestures and movements, she conjures up the cast of characters with all the apparent ease of a magician pulling a whole menagerie of animals from a single hat.” Don’t miss this warm and uniquely affecting experience filled with comical insights and wildly, witty observations about the human condition.
april
Till Death Do Us Part: Late night Catechism 3 Dates/Times Vary | $29 Walton Theatre12-29
Our favorite sharp-tongued Sister returns in the latest class to be unveiled in the sinfully funny Late Nite Catechism series. After teaching countless students about the saints, venial sins, limbo, and more, Sister is now offering up hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and the Last Rites, including her own wacky version of The Newlywed Game. Proven to have Catholics and
non-Catholics alike howling with laughter, Till Death Do Us Part maintains that patented mixture of catechism class, gleeful satire, and interactive comedy. Classroom participation is a must, so bring along your sweetie and your sense of humor for a session with the country’s feistiest couples counselor!
Whatcom Symphony orchestra Family Concert 3:00pm $10 adults, Under 18 Free
SUn
15
andrew Skurka: Circling alaska & Yukon 7:00pm Walton Theatre | $10
TUe
17
LILY ToMLIn 8 p.m. Friday, april 20, 2012
aPR
20
UpcomiNg
FeaTUReD eVenT
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 45
andrew Skurka: Ultimate Hiking Gear & Skills Clinic 7:00pm encore Room | $10
THU
19
Mount Baker Theatre organ Society presents Don & Hannah Feely $10 suggested donation
SUn
22
Cirque Dreams – Pop Goes the Rock 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday | $20-55
SaT
28A combination of European cirque artistry with American music favorites and Broadway theatrics, this new event features unexpected sights and sounds that explode on stage like a rock n’ roll party set in a carnival funhouse. Created and directed by Neil Goldberg, founder of the famed Cirque Dreams entertainment, this one-of-a-kind variety show unites generations through a mash-up of celebrated pop
and rock tunes from across the decades, accompanied by a kaleidoscope of theatrical talent and mayhem. Join an international cast of singers, dancers, acrobats, and musicians as they inspire crazy feats and off-the-hook beats on the stage, in the air, and way off the charts.
May
Till Death Do Us Part: Late night Catechism 3 Dates/Times Vary | $29 Walton Theatre1-18
national Geographic Live! Mattias Klum Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. | $10-35
WeD
2Take an awe-inspiring journey around the world, featuring unique perspectives on some of Earth’s natural wonders: the Okavango Delta, Iceland’s glaciers, and the rainforests of Southeast Asia. Your guide? One of the most important natural history photographers of our time, and one of National Geographic Live’s most highly acclaimed speakers. Get an up-to-date report on the state of our planet while marveling at the beauty of the natural world in photographs and high-definition video from his most recent expeditions to the world’s last wild places. Through his trademark humor, passion, and optimism, Klum reaches audiences on an emotional level, combining astute observations with concrete solutions for sustainability.
Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin Thursday, 7:30 p.m. | $20-45
THU
10
All prices are subject to applicable fees. Orange dates are Mount Baker Theatre events. Shows are on the Main Stage unless otherwise noted. To order tickets, call (360) 734-6080. Order with Visa, MasterCard or American Express. Orders are taken by phone Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Satur-day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
46 Spotlight Magazine — Blast! Mount Baker Theatre | 360-734-6080 | mountbakertheatre.com
Sponsoredby
2011-2012
‘Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3Opens Apr 12 - Ends May 13 | In the Walton Theatre
Your favorite Sister is back, this time offering up hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and the Last Rites
Lily Tomlin | April 20
An unforgettable night of fun and sidesplitting laughter
Cirque Dreams: Pop Goes the Rock | April 28
A cirque show set in a carnival fun house with a live on-stage band performing pop and rock favorites! Mary Chapin Carpenter& Shawn Colvin | May 10
An intimate evening ofstorytelling and music
MBT SPEAKER SERIES
Mattias Klum - May 2 Peter Athans - June 10
Mount Baker Theatre | 360.734.6080 | www.mountbakertheatre.com
Season SponsorShow Sponsor
Saturday, April 28 | 3 & 8pm | $20-$55Plus applicable fees
The entire family will be thrilled by this cirque show set in a carnival fun house, with a live on-stage band performing pop and rock favorites!
RH2 Engineering
Save 20%
when you
purchase
4+ tickets in
SectionsA or B!
FAMILYPACK!
Blast! — Spotlight Magazine 47Mount Baker Theatre | 360-734-6080 | mountbakertheatre.com
Sponsoredby
2011-2012
‘Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3Opens Apr 12 - Ends May 13 | In the Walton Theatre
Your favorite Sister is back, this time offering up hilarious lessons on the Sacraments of Marriage and the Last Rites
Lily Tomlin | April 20
An unforgettable night of fun and sidesplitting laughter
Cirque Dreams: Pop Goes the Rock | April 28
A cirque show set in a carnival fun house with a live on-stage band performing pop and rock favorites! Mary Chapin Carpenter& Shawn Colvin | May 10
An intimate evening ofstorytelling and music
MBT SPEAKER SERIES
Mattias Klum - May 2 Peter Athans - June 10
48 Spotlight Magazine — Blast!
“WhatcomCounty’sLargest
Selectionof Patio
Furniture”
“Now InStock”
“Life Begins
Outdoors”
$1499as shown
$999as shown
excluding endtable
5080 Pacific Hwy360-384-8900
Between Bellingham & Ferndale
www.wilsonhomefurnishings.com