Here's another catchup post. This was the Sept. 16, 2010 Season Preview at Out North Theater. They are housed in the old Grandview Gardens Library building. The evening began with a silent auction in the art gallery. The exhibit was touchable art.
This bowl even has braille!
People were milling around the auction items, keeping an eye out for other bidders marking up the bid.
Republican House candidate from Spenard, Thomas Higgins was there.
One of the auction items was this collection of Sarah Palin pins.
Then the event began. Out North has brought a lot of - I'm struggling here for the right adjective, like edgy, but that isn't enough cause it is generally provocative in a very substantive way raising important issues other venues aren't willing to touch - performances. After tumultuous beginnings, Out North has managed after 25 years to become established as an important part of the Anchorage arts and theater scene without losing its daring. Gene and Jay should be pleased that their baby is in good hands and growing up well now that the parents have left home.
I was impressed with the line up of coming events as well as how it was all presented. It began with local Hmong kids dancing and playing the khaen - a wind instrument I came to appreciate while living in rural Thailand long ago. But at first it had the same noise quotient as bagpipes have. And there was a good deal of genuine and funny clowning around. Just about at the end of the event, Scott pointed out that what he was reading his notes from was an Out North I Pad.
Here's a bit I caught on video - unfortunately it only includes Scott Schofield, the new Executive Artistic Director whose abundant energy and enthusiasm and imagination suggest an exciting year. Two types of events he mentioned were particularly intriguing to me. He's scheduling some new, even unfinished films and plays, that will include Skype linkups with the directors and playwrights so the audience can give them feedback. All this technology allows Anchorage to be both far away and right in the middle of things.
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