A&E briefs — Nov. 9, 2022

Fiddlers to meet Saturday

Members of the Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association meet for a jam session from 11:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Gathering Place, 135 Fairway Dr., in SunLand.

The group will play “old time” music — a genre of North American folk music played on acoustic instruments, generally centering on a combination of fiddle and plucked string instruments including the guitar, banjo and mandolin. Association jams often include dobros, dulcimers, auto-harps and ukuleles. Come to play or just to learn or enjoy this traditional style of music.

There is no charge to attend, but donations in support of the group’s scholarship program are welcome. Attendees are encouraged to bring a snack.

Improv group returns to Sequim

Enjoy a night of laughs as Imagined Reality takes the stage at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12. Each performance of Imagined Reality is completely different as they create never-before-seen sketches based on audience suggestions.

Tickets are $15 and are on sale online at olympictheatrearts.org or by calling the box office (360-683-7326) from 1-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

Since 2016, Imagined Reality Improv has been entertaining audiences throughout the Olympic Peninsula. While the four women and three men share a love of improv, they come from varied walks of life: a scientist, two lawyers, a classical musician, an HR guru, a marketing expert and a teenage student.

While all ages are welcome, show content is typically rated around PG-13.

Writer’s group to meet

Local writers are invited to attend Olympic Peninsula Christian Writers meeting, set for 6:30-8:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17, on Zoom.

This month’s guest speaker is George Crabb, author of “Road to Emmaus” and “Tola’at Shani.” Crabb also has a weekly YouTube channel,” The Whole Bible with George Crabb.” He will share how he uses YouTube videos to build his audience.

Join the meeting at tinyurl.com/2thsfuvn; no password is needed. For more information, call Sandy Frykholm at 360-461-6897 or visit facebook.com/groups/918277815360403.

Afternoon of poetry set at Blue Whole

At 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, poets Kate Reavey and John Victor Anderson will read their own works aloud at Blue Whole Art Gallery, 129 W. Washington St. This is a free event in the Writers Read series curated by Olympic Peninsula Authors (OPA).

Both Reavey and Anderson are long-time Olympic Peninsula residents and well-known teachers and authors at Peninsula College. Reavey will read from her new book “Curves,” published this October by Empty Bowl Press. Program organizers note that she and Anderson both create award-winning works that reveal their fascination with language and its ability to inspire. Both are seasoned performers capable of motivating and entertaining an audience either experienced with or new to readings.

Blue Whole Gallery brings together more than 35 Northwest artists in a creative celebration of fine art. For details, contact Jolene Sanborn at Bluewholegallery1@gmail.com.

OPA was founded to promote the many fine writers in the area. The organization hosts Fourth Friday Open Mic Readings on Zoom, curates readings at Port Angeles Fine Arts Center and publishes an annual anthology. For more information, email to olypenauthors@olypen.com.

‘Jane Austen Tea’ on tap in Port Angeles

The Port Angeles Community Playhouse hosts “The Jane Austen Tea — Cakes and Rakes” at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, in the Fellowship Hall of the First United Methodist Church, 110 E. Seventh St., Port Angeles. A classic formal tea of sandwiches, savories and sweets paired with various teas and a special program in advance of the Playhouse’s upcoming holiday production of “The Wickhams — Christmas at Pemberley,” the sequel to Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”

This year’s program will include period musical entertainment, a brief lecture by director Richard Stephens on the scandal of George and Lydia Wickham’s elopement, and a presentation by fashion historian Judith Smith, who will talk about clothing of the servant class during the Regency period. The community is invited to meet the cast and what else is happening at the Port Angeles Community Playhouse.

Seating space is limited and the deadline for purchasing tickets is Wednesday, Nov. 9; tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased at pacommunityplayers.org.

Holiday bazaar set in Gardiner

WA Peninsula/Sequim Chapter Project Linus is sponsoring the upcoming Gardiner Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road.

A community event for more than 25 years, it features local vendors who will be selling many handmade gifts including such things as leaf pottery, quilts, wrapped bracelets, painted feathers, placemats, infused glass art, photographic cards, woolen mittens, bottle cap art, chocolates and more.

A chili lunch will be served and all sale proceeds will go to WA Peninsula/Sequim Chapter of Project Linus, a nonprofit organization that provides blankets to kids in need from Brinnon to Neah Bay and East Bremerton to Spokane Sacred Hearts Children’s Hospital. This year, the group has a request from Sequim Community Aid for 200 blankets to children in need.

Flugelhornist to play at Peninsula College

Dmitri Matheny, an internationally-known jazz flugelhornist, will perform in Peninsula College’s Maier Performance Hall, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., backed by Craig Buhler and the David Jones Trio, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12.

“We welcome Dmitri back to Port Angeles for what has become a hotly anticipated concert event,” said Dr. David Jones, head of the PC music department. “He always brings interesting takes on a wide variety of tunes.”

The show will include jazz classics by Duke Ellington and Tadd Dameron; popular tunes by the likes of Patsy Cline and Stevie Wonder; music from “Game of Thrones,” and a generous selection of originals by Dmitri Matheny and David P. Jones.

Tickets will be available by cash or check at the door: $12 for general admission and $5 for students with a public school or college ID.

For more information, contact Jones at djones@pencol.edu or 360-417-6405. Or, visit dmitrimatheny.com.

Big band performance on tap

Stardust Big Band, the North Olympic Peninsula’s premier big band jazz orchestra featuring a 17-piece band, comes to the stage at Olympic Theatre Arts, 414 N. Sequim Ave., at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13.

Their repertoire spans the era of American popular music from 1935 to the present. A typical performance includes many beloved classics from swing era luminaries such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Glenn Miller, and many more.

Stardust Big Band members are excited to perform the contemporary jazz music of Daniel Barry, according to an OTA press release; the composer will conduct and perform his original compositions with the band at this concert.

Tickets are $20, $15 for students and $50 for VIP attendees, and are available online at olympictheatrearts.org or by calling the box office (360-683-7326) from 1-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

VIP tickets gets access to the best house seats, an exclusive meet-and-greet with the composer after the show, and a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drink.

Check out New Works at OTA

Running Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 17-20, Olympic Theatre Arts’ New Works Showcase features eight short, never-seen-before plays from local playwrights, on the OTA stage, 414 N. Sequim Ave.

Plays range from slapstick comedy to dark dramas.

“There is something for everyone to enjoy,” OTA representatives said. “The focus on the productions is the authors’ words. Everything is staged and outfitted to not distract from the work of these new playwrights to give their works the best format to shine.”

Event times are 7 p.m. Nov. 17-19 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 20.

Tickets are $20, $15 for students — and pay-what-you-will on Nov. 17 — and are available online at olympictheatrearts.org or by calling the box office (360-683-7326) from 1-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

DVLC sets annual Yuletide Bazaar

“Soup’s on!” reports the kitchen crew at Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church, whose members are celebrating the county health department’s okay to offer lunch at the Saturday, Nov. 19 Yuletide Bazaar, at the church, 925 N. Sequim Ave.

The bazaar runs from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sloppy Joes will be on the menu this year as well as the usual potato sausage soup, cinnamon rolls and an assortment of other pastries. Lefse, the traditional Norwegian treat best described as a potato flatbread, will be available for take-out on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Dinner rolls, pies, gingerbread and other baked goods, as well as fudge, are also being made by congregation members. New this year are candleholders and tableware turned by Sequim woodworker Jerry Enzenauer. There will also be knitwear, aprons, kitchen and table linens, holiday decorations and Advent calendars, vintage silver, crystal and pottery and more.

Besides the café and bake sale, merchandise includes both gift and household items. All are created locally.