Spotlight on the Center’s Resident Companies: Alaska Theatre of Youth

Young performers in the 2011-2012 season's production of Peter Pan

It is a gift to watch a child experience live performance for the first time. Whether they are attending an event at the Center, or participating on stage, it is amazing to see their minds and hearts expanded with the thrill and experience of live theatre. This is the gift that Alaska Theatre of Youth (ATY) has been giving local children for 29 years. Founded in 1983, John Goldring and a determined group of community members formed ATY as a means to empower youth through theatre. Local children make up the majority of the cast in each production and perform to many of their peers who come to see the shows. In those 29 years, many of the children who participated in the early productions have gone on to become successful theatre professionals and culturally-aware adults. Many alumni now work and volunteer with current youth participants, or bring their own children to productions, passing on the good work.

Executive Director, Jessica Jacob says this of ATY’s future at the Center: “Alaska Theatre of Youth is a gateway for families and school children to be introduced to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. For many of our young patrons, it is their first time visiting the facility to see or participate in a live performance.  It is our hope that we are building not only the next generation of performing artists and theatre technicians of the highest quality, but also building future generations of discerning and enthusiastic theatre audiences, ensuring the vitality of the performing arts in our community for years to come.”

Alaska Theatre of Youth fosters collaborations and partnerships with a variety of organizations such as McLaughlin Youth Center, UAA, Pacific Northern Academy, Service High School, Stellar High School and Theatre Artists United. ATY is also committed to ensure that youth from any background can participate regardless of ability to pay, and offers complimentary tickets and scholarships to social service agencies and families in need.

ATY presents a Mainstage Season of five productions in the Sydney Laurence Theatre every year. In addition to their regular season, they offer a Spring Break Camp and Summer Conservatory for children to study theatre arts a bit more intensively. In the 2012-2013 season, ATY will produce: Disney’s Little Mermaid Jr. (October 12-20, 2012), A Christmas Carol (December 7-15), The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (December 8-14), Honk, Jr. (February 15-23) and Wizard of Oz – The True Story written by local playwright Ron Holmstrom and students from the Ann Seaton School (February 15-23).

For more information about Alaska Theatre of Youth and their current offerings, visit their website at: http://alaskatheatreofyouth.org/.

For tickets to ATY performances, visit CenterTix at: http://www.myalaskacenter.com/events/promoters/promoter_aty.php.

A Ghost at the Center?

As is often the case with any building of cultural significance, the Center has its own ghost story. Since the Center opened in 1988, people working in the Sydney Laurence Theatre have experienced some peculiar happenings. These peculiarities have sometimes been attributed to a “friendly gremlin” or ghost, affectionately referred to by staff as “Syd” (nothing to do with Sydney Laurence himself).

 Some of the peculiarities that occur in the Sydney Laurence Theatre include theatrical lights flickering and house lights turning on and off when no one is near the light switches.  A drifting red haze has reportedly been seen in the follow spot light booth even though there is no red light in the booth. There have also been a mysterious set of dusty footprints found in a void area inside a wall where no one could have walked without literally going through the sheetrock.

Floating red orb in the Sydney Laurence Theatre- photo effect or Syd?

The Sydney Laurence Theatre Production Manager Wendy Odden points out that theatre people are a superstitious group. “We consider Syd a ghost with a sense of humor who likes to prank us.  Most theatre technicians will greet Syd coming in and say good night going out and attribute the lack of problems to those courtesies, because when a technician doesn’t greet Syd, he pranks them.” 

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, here at the Center we give our Syd his due respect. So, the next time you’re in the Sydney Laurence Theatre, give a nod and say hello to Syd and don’t forget to say goodbye as well!

Spotlight on the Center's Resident Companies: Anchorage Opera

Anchorage Opera (AO) has a long history as the center of opera in Alaska. Established from a common vision between opera singer Marita Farrell and philanthropist Evangeline Atwood (for whom the Atwood Concert Hall is named), Anchorage Opera endeavored from the beginning to create grand opera in Anchorage. Their venture was helped along by many of Anchorage’s “arts heroes” such as Elvera Voth who led the company to much growth in the mid-1960s.

Today, AO is one of the largest producers of the performing arts in Alaska, and one of America’s leading regional opera companies. They provide the finest operatic experiences to Anchorage residents and visitors, and are a leader in supporting and challenging local Alaskan artists, administrators and technical staff to refine their talent and perfect their craft. Each season, AO produces operas and musical events at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts for audiences of over 12,500. Additionally, their educational outreach programming for culturally and economically diverse audiences reach as many as 20,000 youth and adults annually in the Greater Anchorage Area, and in communities across the state including Fairbanks, Valdez, Dillingham, Kodiak and other outlying areas.

In July, 2012, Kevin Patterson took the helm as the new executive director of the Anchorage Opera. A veteran in the opera world having worked around the nation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Palm Beach, Florida, Chicago, Illinois and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Patterson is excited about the opportunities here in Anchorage, saying,  “ Anchorage Opera offers a unique experience for everyone in the community. Whether it is through our performances, educational offerings for adults and students in our area schools and universities or through our special events, we intend to deliver experiences that exceed expectations and move people to look at our community differently.”

Valerie Bernhardt as Victoria Woodhull and Scott Ramsay as Henry Ward Beecher in a preview of Mrs. President

Anchorage Opera’s 2012-2013 season begins with the world premiere of Mrs. President, which music critic and blogger Chris McGovern praised as the next American classic. According to Allan Kozinn of the New York Times, Composer Victoria Bond “…has struck gold in the story of Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for the American presidency, in 1872.” Victoria Woodhull and her political views were a hundred years before their time and continue to strike a chord on the American political scene. The opera is a classic story of political intrigue, betrayal and sex. Mrs. President opens this Friday, October 5 at 8pm and Sunday, October 7 at 4pm in the Discovery Theatre at the Center. For more information about this world premiere, visit www.mrspresidenttheopera.com.

AO will also be presenting the classic Puccini opera Tosca January 25-27, 2013 and My Fair Lady April 5-7, 2013.  Tickets can be purchased at www.CenterTix.net.

Read more about AO’s new executive director, Kevin Patterson, in this article from the Anchorage Press: http://www.anchoragepress.com/arts_and_entertainment/arts_article/kevin-patterson-takes-the-helm-of-anchorage-opera/article_858b8628-fdd7-11e1-99ae-001a4bcf887a.html.

Spotlight on the Center's Resident Companies: Anchorage Concert Association

Anchorage Concert Association (ACA) has a long history in Anchorage. Founded in 1950 by a group of classical music enthusiasts, ACA has grown into the largest performing arts organization in Alaska and acts as an anchor in the touring schedules of artists as they come through the Northwest. They have presented over 700 performances since their humble start, and will entertain nearly 90,000 people in the upcoming season from a variety of experiences and backgrounds.

Anchorage Concert Association has become known for the wide spectrum of performing artists they present every year, from Broadway hits like Shrek The Musical and Mary Poppins to exciting classical artists like Ahn Trio and Portland Cello Project, to international superstars like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, comedians like Larry Miller and Bill Cosby, to family favorites like the annual production of the Nutcracker Ballet. In addition to all these, ACA has partnered with the well-respected Perseverance Theatre, another of our Resident Companies, to showcase Perseverance Theatre’s Anchorage season of some of the theatre’s most classic and impactful plays. With a wide appeal to young and old, Anchorage residents turn time and again to ACA’s offerings to take a little of the chill out of the long, cold Alaska winters. 

In speaking about the upcoming 2012-2013 season, Jason Hodges enthused about their growth over the last several years: “We’re pretty proud of the recent success we’ve had. It has allowed us to present bigger and better shows, and reach more people than ever before. Each time we put on a show in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, we bring people together for a shared experience. That is what I love most about the work we do at the Anchorage Concert Association. The goal of our work is not to separate and find difference; the goal of our work is to connect and create audiences of people for unique and transformative experiences.”

Here are just a few of their offerings for the 2012-2013 Season:

The Ahn Trio – Tonight!

Riders in the Sky -- Tomorrow!

Shrek the Musical October 5 - 14

New York Polyphony October 12

In the Footsteps of Django October 19 & 20

Dreamgirls February 26 - March 3

Ladysmith Black Mambazo March 16

Larry Miller May 3 & 4

Mary Poppins May 21 – June 2

Spotlight on the Center’s Resident Companies: The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra

The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra (ASO) is an Alaska gem, with a vibrant, professional 80-member ensemble of some of Alaska’s most talented musicians. With a rich history of more than sixty years, the ASO has grown into a thriving, dedicated core of musicians who set the standard for symphonic music performance and education here in Anchorage and throughout the state.

With Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer’s guiding hand, the ASO has consistently won critical acclaim from the press and enthusiastic approval from audiences. Throughout the season, the Symphony proudly offers events for every age group, from a  five Classic Concerts series that feature breathtaking solo performances by world renowned artists, three Special Events and Young People’s Concerts to exciting Neighborhood Concerts. The ASO  is invested in spreading the love of music with their numerous educational and outreach programs for all ages and a conscious effort toward making the arts accessible to everyone.

The ASO is proud of its musical heritage and grateful to its pioneering founders who sought to enrich the splendor of the Last Frontier with the glorious sounds of live symphonic music.

Music Director, Randall Craig Fleischer expressed his excitement about the upcoming season, "Each season, in designing our program, I try to take you on a variety of colorful, engaging, emotional journeys. We strive to strike a balance between works we all know and love and new experiences. Join us for another season of amazing orchestral music. I'm looking forward to a great concert season and to seeing you in the Atwood Concert Hall."

This season The Anchorage Symphony Orchestra will perform a wide variety of concerts, sure to appeal to everyone. They open the season with Fiesta! on September 22. This Opening Night concert will sizzle with Hispanic and Latin American flair! Disco fans should get their tickets now for Dancing Queen: The Music of Abba on October 26 and 27. Broadway lovers should not miss Wicked Divas featuring Broadway alums Julia Murney and Emily Rozek on February 9. Bring the kids to see the silent film classic, The Mark of Zorro, December 1,  featuring the original 1920s score performed live by the Symphony! Exhilarating violinist Elmar Olveira joins the ASO for an Epic Evening on November 10. This concert earns its name with two symphonic giants on the program, Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7. Local favorite, Susan Wingrove will perform a piano concerto by Jennifer Higdon on January 19, for Sentimental Journey. The ASO weaves classic tales through music with Storytellers on February 23, and closes the season in a big way with Berlioz’ Damnation of Faust on April 20.