LAST DAY of the Great Backyard Bird Count is Feb. 20 BONUS: Snowy Owl Video

The goldfinches, flickers, thrushes, robins, downy woodpeckers, chickadees and other birds in my back yard were not the only things that flew by this past week. So did the days. That's my excuse for just now letting you know this news: the 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count, ends today.

Fortunately, there is still time to participate. As the GBBC website says, "It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!" Please read on.

Downy Woodpecker                                                 photo credit: Jerry Acton of New York  2012

This annual event always takes place over a period of four days (Feb. 17-20 this year) but you can spend as little as 15 minutes today to still be included in this fun and important project. As the website says, by counting the birds in your own backyard you can help the cause of creating a "real-time snapshot" of bird populations across America. You have until March 5 to report your observations. It's really quite exciting and easy. Click here to learn how to participate (and here for downloadable instructions.)

Just by spending that 15 minutes and submitting your findings, you will be eligible to win a wonderful PRIZE in a random drawing. And be sure to have your camera  handy. Enter your photos in the Great Backyard Bird Count Photo Contest. Click here for the rules. The photo you see below won't win any prizes because I took it through a window and it isn't very sharp. But it gives you some idea of what we enjoy every day. Before putting up a finch feeder, I didn't know that in winter, goldfinches don't look as gold  as they do at other times.

Goldfinches at Tacoma backyard feeder in fall of 2011  Photo taken through window glass. 

All over America people look forward to this event and you can follow it online. You can see the results coming in through this link to the Map Room, Top 10 List, State Tallies, and Detailed Reports. Kids love it too, and this is the perfect activity on this Monday holiday. The special page for kids includes activities, jigsaw puzzles to do right on the computer, downloadable bird pictures to color, and more.

This winter's biggest birding news across the nation, including here in the Pacific Northwest, is the unusual occurance of Snowy Owl sightings. The opportunities to see them will probably end in March when these magnificent creatures are expected to leave the area. Although I've been lucky enough to see many interesting birds in my own Tacoma backyard, I doubt if a snowy owl will be among them. For that reason, I enjoyed this video about snowies from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and hope you will too. This high definition video is best enjoyed in the full-screen view which can be accessed by clicking on the symbol of arrows in the lower right corner.




Enjoy your Monday and remember to donate a little of it toward the Great Backyard Bird Count.
You might be surprised by what you discover.

5th Avenue Theater Responds to Controversy Over Musical "Oklahoma!"

Eric Ankrim as Curly McLain in Rodgers and  

Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!" at The 5th Avenue Theatre. Photo credit Curt

Doughty.

When Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre produced their new version of the Rodger and Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" they probably didn't expect to see a good old Oklahoma twister brewing on the horizon. In an official press release, Artistic Director David Armstrong is quoted as saying they wanted to "honor the great tradition while keeping the show fresh and exciting." But while innovation is important in art, it seems the particular types of innovations used have some audiences members calling out "Yippee-i-ay!" while others mount up to ride with a posse. Many of my fellow citizens of Tacoma have seen, or plan to see, the show, and have shared their opinions with me after reading my blog post. The musical runs from Feb. 3 - March 4.

Note: If you haven't already read my previous post (A Review of "Oklahoma!" at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre -- Oh, Not Such a "Beautiful Mornin'" ) please do. It has received plenty of attention and a variety of comments.

On Wednesday I received an e-mail and new press release from the 5th Avenue's Public Relations Manager Bridget Summers to let me know that because of the strong responses to the way race was handled in the production of "Oklahoma!" the theater plans to host four panel discussions and a town meeting to provide a forum for the public. The press release included the following:

"The choice to cast African American actor Kyle Scatliffe as the farm hand Jud Fry has been earning strong reactions.  While Scatliffe has been applauded for his nuanced portrayal of the character, there are some audiences who are concerned that having the only African American performer among the principals play the villain reinforces negative stereotypes about African American men." 

So, dear readers, you are officially invited to attend and participate.

Here are the dates and times, from the most recent press release:

Panel discussions will take place between the matinee performance and evening performance on February 18 and 25 at 5:00 PM and February 19 and 26 at 4:30 PM, and will feature Spectrum Dance Theater Artistic Director and Oklahoma! Choreographer Donald Byrd and The 5th Avenue’s David Armstrong.  A Town Hall Meeting featuring the executive team at The 5th Avenue Theatre and members of the creative team for Oklahoma! will take place on Monday, March 5, at 7:00 PM. 

WHERE:   The 5th Avenue Theatre (1308 5th Avenue, Seattle)

INFO:  For more information, please visit http://www.5thavenue.org/education/adult-programs#show-talk   

I close with a statement from Artistic Director David Armstrong:

“While we never intended to evoke such strong responses, I am in many ways heartened that this production has people talking about these important issues. The idea that musicals could, and should, tackle big themes and significant subjects largely began with Oklahoma! and I am not unhappy to see that legacy continue.
 

“We did believe that this casting would amplify the inherent drama in the story.  I’ve seen dozens of productions of Oklahoma!, but never before have I felt such empathy for Jud, and never before have I felt so sad when he dies.

“I never would have imaged that in 2012 a production of this almost 70-year-old musical could cause such a stir. I am a firm believer that great theater inspires dialogue, and I look forward to engaging our audiences on this difficult subject and hearing their reactions to this unorthodox casting choice.”

A Review of "Oklahoma!" at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre — Oh, Not Such a "Beautiful Mornin'"

The atmosphere of anticipation at the press opening for“Oklahoma!” at Seattle’s 5^th Avenue Theater rivaled that of any other evening I've spent in this beloved 86-year-old venue, where the musical runs from Feb. 3 to March 4. With a $60,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the talents of Tony Award-nominated choreographer Donald Byrd and his dancers from the Spectrum Dance Theater, plus months of work and planning, this remake of the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical would be full of fresh appeal. Right?

Maybe not, in spite of the applause. Afterward, outside the theater, a multi-racial group of four young friends, who had come to see the show together, stood around talking. The topic of their conversation was how this new version of “Oklahoma!” had confused and disturbed them. One of them, a beautiful young woman with light brown skin, said she had “a lot of questions” she would like to ask the show’s creators, about the casting. It clearly bothered her a great deal and for valid reasons.



Laurey (Alexandra Zorn) and Curly (Eric Ankrim) in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at The 5th Avenue Theatre.
Photo: Chris Bennion

The setting is Oklahoma Territory in 1906, a year before statehood, a time when opposing interests (plowing and fencing versus open range) created bitter, sometimes fatal, tensions between farmers and cowboys.  In addition to a slice of Americana, it is a story about a love triangle in a small community, between the female protagonist Laurey (played by Alexandra Zorn), her would-be beau Curly (played by Eric Ankrim), and the hired hand, Jud, (played by Kyle Scatliffe).

Producing Director Bill Berry told me in an interview,“We’re bringing forward the tradition, but at the same time making sure an audience can relate today.” The word “relate” could mean relating to conflicts over land use, politics, the environment, and race relations, all current issues in this country just as they were in 1906, when Oklahoma Territory had become home to a large number of freed slaves. 

I applaud the creators of this version for observing this truth by choosing people of color for the cast, including Scatliffe. But they ignored the near certainty that in 1906 there would not have been a black man in the position of the fictional character Jud. This casting decision created controversy in the minds of many theatergoers I spoke with, because it seemed to play into negative stereotypes.

In this review in the Seattle Times, theater critic Misha Berson quotes Director Peter Rothstein as saying, “We also want it to be a more authentic kind of Americana, a more diverse Americana.”

People I spoke with did NOT think that an authentic portrayal of 1906 Americana would include a black man courting—and escorting to a box social—a young, white female in a small community in territorial Oklahoma. And even when Laurey expresses fear of Jud, her Aunt Eller (played by Anne Allgood) has no qualms. None of this is believable. If the casting choice reflected the idea that any cast member should be eligible to play any part, why not cast a black woman in the role of Laurey, or have a black Curly or a black Aunt Eller? And if he wanted it more diverse, why not include the Native Americans and Mexicans who also lived there in 1906?

The cast of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at The 5th Avenue Theatre.
Photo: Chris Bennion

To cast a black man in the role of Jud, offended some viewers who saw that choice as the perpetuation of the ugly and insulting stereotype of the angry black male, dangerous and menacing.  Jud has weapons and plans to kill. He clearly presents a threat to both Laurey and her virginity.  Jud is also the only character, out of all those farmers and cowboys, purported to have been seen drunk.

One of the most disturbing scenes takes place in the farm’s gloomy smokehouse, where Jud lives. Thinking Jud is taking Laurey to the box social, the jealous Curly shows up. He tries to intimidate Jud by playing with a rope, and he suggests how easily Jud could hang himself.  Several audience members near me shifted in their seats as if uncomfortable and whispered to each other.

I’m sure many people did love the show for its numerous positive attributes. It is worth the price of a ticket to experience the singing, dancing, and usual components of musicals at this landmark theater where I’ve enjoyed many great productions. The entire cast deserves a generous amount of praise. Conductor Ian Eisendrath should feel proud of the orchestra. You should go just to see the breathtaking sets designed by Matthew Smucker, the lighting by Tom Sturge, and the costumes by Lynda L. Salsbury. I hated to blink. I loved the warm yellow of fresh-churned butter or corn on the cob, the spring green of a new crop coming up in a field, the blue of a summer sky, and the brown of the earth. 

Will Parker (Matt Owen) and ensemble member Shadou Mintrone in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! at The 5th Avenue Theatre.
Photo: Chris Bennion

Rothstein  told Berson, for the Seattle Times, “I want people to leave the show exalted, but I don’t want to put a pretty bow on it . . . We’re asking, can America pursue the radical optimism of a nation that believes in freedom and equality?”  One might ask how the role of Jud reflects that statement.

I’m afraid this musical left many audiences members feeling the opposite of exalted, even though the package did have elements of prettiness.  There was nothing exalting about what happened at the end, after Laurey and Curly celebrate their wedding.  The two rival men get into a fight and Jud ends up stabbed with his own knife.  As the crowd stands around outside the farmhouse, Curly is informally charged with the crime but claims self-defense. No one wants to see him go to jail on his wedding night, and since the local judge is among the guests, a so-called “trial” is held right there.  Curly goes free.  And the death of the tragic character Jud does nothing to slow down the singing and dancing.

Observing this form of “justice,” I couldn’t help but think of Curly singing “Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’” in the opening scene, especially that part about “Everything’s goin’ my way.”


Copyright 2012 Candace J. Brown. May not be reprinted without permission.

Not Quite Stonehenge, But Nearly as Strange

I first spied the oddly convoluted landscape, now known as Chambers Creek Properties, from the deck of the tall ship Adventuress, several years ago. I had no idea what it was. Shortly after we sailed south of Point Defiance in Tacoma and under the Narrows Bridge, I noticed the bare acreage off the ship's port side. Wide open and sculpted, it stretched from the waters of Chambers Bay to the top of a long hill, between the wooded residential area of University Place  and the historic town of Steilacoom, Washington's oldest incorporated community. Here and there at the base of the hill stood the unidentifiable remains of massive concrete structures. I could tell that some serious alteration of the earth's surface had taken place there, and not by the hand of Mother Nature.

From Gravel to Golf

Later, I learned the history of this strange place, a saga going back over 200 years, to a time when the local Native Americans from the Steilacoom tribe lived in the area. The first non-native settlers arrived in 1832, with the Hudson Bay Company, and built Fort Steilacoom just south of the property. By the 1850s, as more forts were being erected around Puget Sound, the site already had a primitive gravel mining operation and soon became home to other industries to do with milling, timber, and gravel. Now, this expanse of well over 900 acres is owned by Pierce County and the former gravel pits have been reshaped to become a world class designation for golfers, selected as the site of the 2015 U. S. Open Championship tournament.

Even though I'm not a golfer, I wrote a previous blog post about this place after visiting the Chambers Bay Grill, and admiring both the view and the excellent food. That visit took place during the heat of summer, when the long walk down to the bay sounded fine but the prospect of walking all the way back up did not. So it wasn't until the first weekend in February 2012 that I actually took the time to walk the paved trails that wind through the grassy fields and past what remains of the mining operations, all the way to the beach via a lovely bridge that arches over the railroad tracks. Sunday morning, my husband and I arrived early at the grill and enjoyed a breakfast I'm still thinking about, perfectly prepared and generous. Then we drove (yes you can drive) down the long curving road to a parking lot below, where walkers had just begun showing up, many with their dogs.

Come along with me as I visit this interesting place once again, through my photos.

FREE EVENT: Community Day at the 5th Avenue Theatre Celebrates Opening of "Oklahoma"

When I hear the word "Oklahoma" the first thing I think of is the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical by that name, its theme song swelling up in my imagination until I feel like dancing "where the wind comes sweepin' down the plain," even though I'm still in Tacoma. I doubt if any other musical has ever seemed so quintessentially American  or remained so relevant and stirring for seven decades. Now America is about to discover it in a newer, even more relevant form. 

Eric Ankrim stars as Curly in the 5th Avenue Theatre's Production of "Oklahoma!"
photo by Curt Doughty     courtesy of the 5th Avenue Theatre

The nation's love affair with this musical began back in 1943 when it caused a sensation, viewed as groundbreaking in that it had a serious story instead of simply offering lighthearted entertainment. It was also the first Broadway musical choreographed by Agnes de Mille. At that time, few would have imagined that all these years later, Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre would bring back "Oklahoma!" with a fresh burst of  vitality.

It opens on Feb. 3, 2012 and runs until March 4, and is bound to captivate audiences all over again. To celebrate, the theater is holding a Community Day, on Saturday, Feb. 4, and YOU are invited. Learn to line dance, sing a song, take a tour of the theater. There will be fun activities for the whole family, and all are FREE. (see schedule below)

I spoke with Producing Director Bill Berry, who described this production as "a traditional version of  'Oklahoma!' with some surprises along the way."  Some of those surprises will be the result of a $60,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, that helped make it possible for the 5th Avenue to hire famed choreographer Donald Byrd, and Spectrum, his dance company.

I will be going to see the show, so watch for my review in an upcoming blog post. But in the meantime, you can learn all about it at the Community Day celebration. There is plenty to celebrate. How lucky we are, here in the Pacific Northwest, to have the 5th Avenue Theatre and all the talented people involved with it. The arts matter to all of us, enriching our lives. If you haven't already discovered the magical world of the 5th Avenue Theatre, the Community Day offers you the opportunity, and it won't cost you a dime.

COMMUNITY DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

10:00 AM

· Learn a song from Oklahoma! with Chris DiStefano, professional vocal director for The Oklahoma! Project. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

· Tour the Historic 5th Avenue Theatre. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

10:30 AM

· In honor of The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Chinese-inspired heritage, come watch the Lions Dance under The 5th Avenue Theatre Marquee! The Lieu Quan Lion Dance Team will perform a Cai Qing ceremony blessing the theatre, celebrating the Year of the Dragon, a magical creature prominently featured in the theatre’s design. Appropriate for ALL ages.

11:00 AM

· Show Talk: “The Downtown Historic Theatre District” – A panel discussion hosted by our own Managing Director Bernadine Griffin about our Downtown Historic Theater District and the impact of the arts on our community. Best suited for adults and kids ages 16 and up.

· At “Sing-a-Story” with Amber Flame, kids will get hands-on with music, learning new songs and playing with instruments. Appropriate for kids ages 1-5.

· Learn a Country Line Dance with our popular Broadway Fit instructor Troy Wageman. Best suited for adults and kids ages 12 and up.

· The first sneak peek of an original musical: Klondike!, a story about Gold Rush pioneers presented by our Adventure Music Theatre Touring Company. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

· Tour the Historic 5th Avenue Theatre. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

11:30 AM

· Tour the Historic 5th Avenue Theatre. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

12:00 PM

· Show Talk: “The Music of Richard Rodgers” – A family friendly exploration of the music of Richard Rodgers with our beloved 5th Avenue Theatre Dramaturg Albert Evans. Best suited for adults and kids ages 11 and up.

· At “Sing-a-Story” with Amber Flame, kids will get hands-on with music, learning new songs and playing with instruments. Appropriate for kids ages 1-5.

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

12:45 PM

· The first sneak peek of an original musical: Klondike!, a story about Gold Rush pioneers presented by our Adventure Music Theatre Touring Company. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

1:00 PM

· Show Talk: “Oklahoma! The Ground Breaking Musical” with local Richard Rodgers scholar Geoffrey Block, an award-winning history professor from the University of Puget Sound. Best suited for adults and kids ages 16 and up.

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

1:45 PM

· Learn a Country Line Dance with our popular Broadway Fit instructor Troy Wageman. Best suited for adults and kids ages 12 and up.

2:00 PM

· Show Talk: “Students of The Oklahoma! Project” – Hear this fascinating panel discussion featuring the students in The Oklahoma! Project – our exciting program that puts Seattle teens directly on The 5th Avenue stage. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

2:30 PM

· Learn a song from Oklahoma! with Chris DiStefano, professional vocal director for The Oklahoma! Project. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up

33:00 PM

· Show Talk: “The Music of Richard Rodgers” ” – A family friendly exploration of the music of Richard Rodgers with our beloved 5th Avenue Theatre Dramaturg Albert Evans. Best suited for adults and kids ages 11 and up.

· Learn a Country Line Dance with our popular Broadway Fit instructor Troy Wageman. Best suited for adults and kids ages 12 and up.

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

3:45 PM

· Learn a song from Oklahoma! with Chris DiStefano, professional vocal director for The Oklahoma! Project. Best suited for adults and kids ages 6 and up.

4:00 PM

· Create your own bandana! Appropriate for ALL ages.

4:15 PM

· Learn a Country Line Dance with our popular Broadway Fit instructor Troy Wageman. Best suited for adults and kids ages 12 and up.

5:00 PM

· Show Talk: “Our Great Indigenous Art Form: The Musical” – The 5th Avenue’s Executive Producer and Artistic Director David Armstrong leads a special Oklahoma! Panel Discussion with local musical theater experts and authors Larry Starr (University of Washington) and Geoffrey Block (University of Puget Sound), along with all-around musical scholar Albert Evans (The 5th Avenue Theatre Resident Dramaturg). Best suited for adults and kids ages 11 and up.