Sequim’s Horton leads ‘Taming of the Shrew’

Jennifer Horton of Sequim plays the lead role of Kate in “The Taming of the Shrew,” this summer’s Shakespeare in the Woods production in Port Angeles.

Showtime is 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through August 4, in Webster’s Woods meadow, where there’s a brand-new stage, at the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd. Admission is free with donations welcome. Visitors encouraged to bring blankets, warm clothes, lawn chairs and picnic suppers, but no glass or pets. For information, visit PAFAC.org or call 360-457-3532.

Garden ponds, water features talk set

Roadhouse Nursery owner Jan Bahr will present information about water features, water gardens and fishponds at noon on Thursday, July 25, in the Clallam County Commissioners Meeting Room of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. Bahr will discuss the similarities and differences among the types of water features and provide tips on both construction and long-term maintenance. This presentation will provide the basic information about adding water as a design element in a home garden. It will also give current water feature owners tips on how to make the pond-owning experience a pleasure rather than a chore.

Bahr is a Certified Professional Horticulturist and has owned and operated Roadhouse Nursery in Poulsbo since 1985 where she has sold water garden plants and supplies.

This presentation is part of the “Green Thumb Garden Tips” education series sponsored by the WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners on the second and fourth Thursday of every month in Port Angeles. Attendees may bring a lunch. The presentations are free and open to the public. Donations help offset copying costs for handouts are accepted. For questions, call 360-417-2279.

Botanical Garden helps you approach weeds

The Sequim Botanical Garden’s volunteers invite participants to their “Work to Learn” presentation on “Approaching Weeds” with Bill Wrobel at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 27, at the Terrace Garden in Carrie Blake Community Park by the band shell. Wrobel will discuss a variety of approaches to dealing with weeds, including poisoning, preventing, and pulling. Visitors are encouraged to bring their favorite weed for “show and tell.”

Wrobel has been involved in county-wide gardening programs since 1984, and is a certified Master Gardener in three states. These “Work to Learn” Parties are an opportunity for novice and seasoned gardeners to volunteer together but participation is not required. The Sequim Botanical Garden Society (SBGS) is a volunteer partner with the City of Sequim and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Come see the significant renovation that is underway for the Terrace Garden and learn how you can contribute to the future SBGS Rose Garden construction. For more information, contact Dona Brock at BROCKDL88@gmail.com or 1-360-460-8865 and follow the Society online at fb.me/SequimBotanicalGarden or SequimBotanicalGarden.org.

Ventriloquist comes to Sequim Library

Award-winning ventriloquist Vikki Gasko Green visit the Olympic Peninsula to perform her Out of This World Ventriloquist Show at three NOLS locations including Sequim.

She first performs at 1 p.m. Monday, July 29, at the Clallam Bay Branch Library, followed by a show at 6:30pm at the Port Angeles Main Library. Her final performance will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 30 at the Sequim Branch Library, 630 North Sequim Avenue. Green brings her zany cast of characters as she uses magic, ventriloquism, and audience participation, to reach for the stars and planets.

The 2019 Summer Reading Program runs through August 17, and is supported by the Friends of the Library at all four NOLS libraries. For more information about the Summer Reading Program, visit www.nols.org/srp, call 360.417.8500, or email Discover@nols.org.

PA Players host auditions for ‘Pvt. Wars’

The Port Angeles Community Playhouse hosts auditions for its fall play “Pvt. Wars” by James McLure at 7 p.m. Monday, July 29, at 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd, Port Angeles.

Organizers seek three men ages 30-40 to play Woodruff Gately – a young southerner who is childlike, mentally slow but not stupid; Sylvio – an Italian American that is street-wise, tough but not cruel; and Natwick – a young man from Long Island that is intelligent and spoiled.

The play follows the three Vietnam veterans while in the psychiatric ward of an Army hospital as the three men tease, torment, entertain, exasperate and, on occasion, solace each other – maintaining throughout a hilarity which belies their deep concern about the uncertainties of the civilian world to which they will soon be returning. Pat Owens directs with production dates set for Sept 20-22, 24, 27-29, Oct 1, 4-6. A copy of the play is available at the Port Angeles Library.

Improv classes at OTA

Olympic Theatre Arts continues to work and prepare Improv students for performances and more. After 10 weeks of “Yes, and…” improv classes at OTA, instructor Nancy Peterson is excited and proud to hear some of the results that Improv has realized.

“One student who had never been on stage before came into class and announced that she had auditioned for ‘Mamma Mia!’ She had no expectations of being cast, that didn’t matter, but she just felt so good about herself getting over that barrier,” Peterson said.

OTA encourages anyone who is interested to join classes on the first and third Wednesdays of every month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Olympic Theatre Arts Center, 414 N. Sequim Avenue. Classes are $25 each, or $22 for OTA members. Punch cards are also available for five classes at $110.

For more information, call (360) 683-7326.

Woodturners to meet

The Strait Turners Woodturning Club meets at noon on Tuesday, July 30, at the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road. The meeting features demonstrations by John Elliott of systems and techniques for “bowl coring” as well as a wood auction. New turners welcome. Cost is a $5 door fee for non-members.