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.