THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 2015
Keep Keith Clark
I
n response to the edito-
rial “Don’t keep us wait-
ing” (The Daily Astorian,
July 23): After reading the
editorial about the Astoria
Music Festival, I am sad to
say that the paper has pre-
sented a biased view of what
has been going on inside the
Festival’s 13th year. The ed-
itorial puts all the blame on
the Astoria Music Festival’s
artistic director and conduc-
tor, Keith Clark, and on the
boards, not just the current
one, but also the past boards
of directors.
The editorial, instead,
supports the paid staff,
which has been in position
just the current year; before
that, board members did
everything to support Ar-
tistic Director Keith Clark,
who devoted his time fully
to planning, organizing and
directing the programs and
musical content of the Festi-
val, which are of the highest
quality. Under his leadership
the Festival has reached rave
reviews, a great internation-
al reputation over the last
seven to eight years, and re-
ceived several awards.
Internal problems only
arose after the Festival hired
paid staff last year. Some
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different roles of the artistic
director and the managing
director and the consultant
came to light. This is basical-
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situation: Lack of direct and
honest communication, that
in the end resulted in Keith
Clark being pushed out as the
overall director of the Festi-
val he founded.
He never wanted to leave
the Astoria Music Festival,
as the editorial mistakenly
concludes. The current board
members kept him in the dark
about his, and the Festival’s,
future by not endorsing him
as the conductor and artistic
director beyond the 2015 Fes-
tival. Even worse, someone
behind the scenes is known to
have contacted another con-
ductor to take over the Festi-
YDO,QVSLWHRIWKHVHGLI¿FXO-
ties, Keith Clark continued to
put together another superb
program of professional clas-
sical music. He has done this
for a dozen years without any
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It is important to recog-
nize that Keith Clark, as the
co-founder of the Festival, has
been its key leader for the last
dozen years, ever since the
Festival’s beginning. Board
members change each year—
the one constant is the artistic
director. The previous boards
have supported his vision and
efforts fully until this year.
During my three years as
the president of the board of
directors, we never had any
problems in communication,
and with that, Maestro Clark
felt that he was free to lead
using his great talents and su-
perb persuasion. He has done
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out asking for money. He has
done it for the musicians who
want to perform under his
leadership, and to bring great
classical music to the North
Coast and Astoria.
If he is now forced to re-
sign because of inaccurate
reporting, the Astoria Music
Festival will never be what
it has been known as: a small
town festival with great talent,
world class performers and an
artistic director of internation-
al stature. The small commu-
nities of Astoria and the North
Coast cannot afford to lose an
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talented music director. He
is the one individual who can
keep the Festival alive and
well for another dozen years.
LEENA MELA RIKER
Past president, Astoria
Music Festival
Gearhart
‘Cinderella’ is great
I
want to encourage The Dai-
ly Astorian readers to catch
a performance of the musi-
cal “Cinderella” at Fort Co-
lumbia Theater in Chinook,
Wash. What a delightful way
to spend an evening. With the
sweeping score by Rodgers
and Hammerstein, and the im-
pressive vocal talents of the
cast, we left the theater with
that magical, musical lift in
our steps.
I’d say the vocal talents of
this cast rival any professional
company. My favorite scenes
were the step-family songs,
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
5A
As a resident of Seaside, I
have to say that I feel his ob-
servations are spot on. I have
no way of knowing the actual
statistics, but it seems to me on
stounded, I read the editorial by she’d been dreaming of, happily leav- dishonorable behavior they advised the
each of these incredibly traf-
the managing editor, whose many ing the Columbia River Maritime Mu- board that, without Clark, they would
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writings I’d previously assumed came seum position. He also recommended no longer grace the stage of any fu-
that a large portion (perhaps as
from some position of integrity (“Don’t Linda Magee as a management con- ture music festival in Astoria. I guess
much as 50 percent) of the traf-
keep us waiting,” The Daily Astorian, sultant to the festival. Hardly “hesitant Clark’s “backstage persona” couldn’t
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July 23). This attack on the man who and resistant” actions.
through, with no intention of
be all that “repellent” to his most valu-
stopping in Seaside.
gave Astoria the most beautiful music
These two women began months able players.
Why, oh why, are we forc-
festival, by one who obviously did not ago to undermine our maestro, subvert
So, with end of season books still
ing these folks (including Mr.
even interview the maestro, is alarm- his position as artistic director, and open, this “professional” board re-
Rolfe), who simply wish to go
ing.
control his every move with respect to signed, leaving all closing work un-
past Seaside, to endure these
Maestro Clark, for 13 years, has the musical operations and artistic op- done and unbalanced. And Shepherd
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brought marvelous international musi- erations of the festival. They both vied and Magee, and a “publicity chairper-
mention, of course, the resi-
cal brilliance to our little city, frequent- for absolute control of all functions; son” resigned, after pulling in the larg-
dents of Seaside (like myself)
ly at his own expense. He has engen- not the other way around, as this edi- est salaries this festival has ever paid in
who hunker down in their
dered loyalty, joy, and gratitude among torial implies.
its history.
homes during these periods to
hundreds of volunteers during these
The board, all season long, refused
Yes; the ball is in Maestro Clark’s
avoid getting caught up in this
festivals, and a tremendous sense of to discuss Clark’s position for the 2016 court, where it belongs. His detractors
for even a simple trip, say, to
community as Astorians have opened season, leaving him to produce this all deserted when their tactics came to
the library.
our hearts and homes to his performers year’s phenomenal music, all the while light. The Astoria Music Festival con-
Recently I was in Beaverton
and family. We have come to see the in limbo regarding his future position. tinues, with the love and support of
taking care of some business
month of June as “What we live for, :KRSXVKHGZKRPRXW"
Astorians, who appreciate the gift that
when, in learning that I live in
each year!”
Boards do not produce ticket sales; Maestro Clark and his phenomenal per-
Seaside, the proprietor’s wife
It was Clark who instigated the grant performers do. And, when the perenni- formers.
described to me how, on a re-
to fund Carol Shepherd’s position, and al stars of our festival, who bring in the
ELAINE BAUER
cent Saturday, she came out to
he encouraged her to apply for the job patrons, learned of the management’s
Astoria
the coast to drop of her daugh-
ter with her grandmother in
and the wicked stepsisters re- chanting musical evening of for more information, tickets
Service animals are not to Gearhart, when she came upon
ally steal the show with their theater entertainment.
and to volunteer.
be left unattended. Owners are VWRSDQGJR WUDI¿F VRPH GLV-
hilarious antics. I’m not really
SUZANNE KELMAN
PENNY RIPLEY responsible for harm, damage, tance out on U.S. Highway 26,
one for musicals, but this one
Langley
Ocean Park, Wash. disruption caused by their ani- caused, of course, by the back-
was just fabulous.
mal. If the dog is barking in the up from Seaside.
It’s being presented by
or the movie, it is grounds
Apparently, what should
Service animal facts mall
Peninsula Association of Enchanting show
for removal. Same with animal have been a relatively brief
n appreciation for the won-
ell ... The Health Depart- damage to lodging — lodging trip turned into one of some
Performing Artists (PAPA)
derful cast and crew of the
ment is in error (“Service may not charge a fee for a ser- extra hours. All I could do
through Sunday, Aug. 9. See
was to extend my condo-
www.papatheater.com
for Peninsula Association of Per- dogs only,” The Daily Astorian, vice animal.
forming Artists’ (PAPA) cur- July 31). One may not ask a dis-
tickets.
If you’re not a disabled lences and commiserate with
PAMELA CROMWELL rent production of Rogers and abled person what function the American, your pet is not al- her a bit on our city’s lack of
Long Beach, Wash. Hammerstein’s “Cinderella,” service animal performs. That lowed in stores, restaurants, or consideration for passersby,
I must say that it is truly an LV FRQ¿GHQWLDO PHGLFDO LQIRU- interior places where food is like herself, by not vigorously
pursuing a bypass.
enchanted show.
mation. Businesses may require served.
Play is delightful
I understand that projects
There are only three dates a person with a “service ani-
Fred Meyer is in error in
had the privilege of attend- remaining for you to also mal” to document that they are their statement that “only cer- of the magnitude of a bypass
ing a performance of Rodg- catch the magic at the Fort indeed a disabled American. WL¿HG VHUYLFH DQLPDOV´ DUH past Seaside take years from
ers and Hammerstein’s “Cin- Columbia Theater. Each actor The Americans with Disabil- SHUPLWWHG 1R FHUWL¿FDWLRQ LV WKH RQVHW WR IXO¿OOPHQW ZLWK
derella,” staged by the theater brings their own special touch ities Act (ADA) provides this required, but the owner must many players (the Oregon De-
company the Peninsula As- and talent to the event and optional inquiry, and disabled be disabled and able to prove partment of Transportation,
sociation of Performing Art- draws the audience into the $PHULFDQV KDYH LGHQWL¿FDWLRQ disability if so requested. Dis- the county, the city, and, per-
ists (PAPA). Having worked experience. We are so bless- to prove their status.
abled Americans can prove haps even the feds) involved.
in theater myself for over 40 ed in our area to have such a
Service animals are not li- who they are, without excep- However, if we, the residents
years, I had traveled from wealth of talent and Barbara FHQVHG FHUWL¿HG RU RWKHUZLVH tion.
of Seaside, and our elected
Whidbey Island, Wash., for a Poulshock has again encour- documented. This rationale is
GEORGE BERGERON RI¿FLDOVGRQRWVHHNWKLVDQG
vacation, and I was excited to aged the best from everyone intended to prevent disabled
Astoria plan for it, it will never hap-
SHQDQGWKHWUDI¿FZLOOVLPSO\
see a local show.
involved.
Americans from being required
get worse.
The show takes place in
It has been a personal jour- to jump through complicated
Pursue a bypass
Do we really want Seaside
a historic theatre in Fort Co- ney for me to be associated documentation hoops in order
have now read Cleve Rolfe’s ZHHNHQGWUDI¿FWREHOLNHUXVK
lumbia State Park. It’s rustic, with this dedicated group, and to have a service animal. These
open letter to the Seaside hour on the Interstate 5 bridge
and wild exposure sets you I encourage everyone to take days, service animals are pretty
up nicely for the delights of advantage of the opportuni- much limited to dogs, with some powers-that-be regarding the across the Columbia in Port-
this vibrant theatre company. ty to experience this theater VSHFL¿FDOO\ JUDQWHG H[FHSWLRQV Seaside bypass (or lack thereof) ODQG" *ULGORFN" 7KDW¶V ZKHUH
Greeted at the door by the cast ¿UVWKDQG &RPH SUHSDUHG WR 1RLGHQWL¿FDWLRQLVUHTXLUHGRQ WZLFH¿UVWLQThe Daily Astori- we are headed if we do not soon
in costume, you feel more like be entertained, surprised and the dog, although most service an, and secondly in the Seaside begin to pursue a bypass.
ROD DAWSON
family than audience mem- share the laughter and joy. animals wear ID, generally a Signal (“Need a bypass,” The
Daily Astorian, July 10).
Seaside
bers.
Check www.papatheater.org “service animal” vest.
As the show opens, lively
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godmother, played by Jane
Schussman, take to the stage
as ensemble actress Erin
Glenn gives a luminous invi-
tation beckoning the audience
to come along on this journey
with her.
As the story unfolds, I
was enchanted by the gentle
and innocent performance of
Hope Bellinger, whose beau-
tiful voice was perfect for the
role of Cinderella. She had
been well paired opposite Ron
Thompson, who conveyed
an earnest and sincere per-
formance as the prince, that
tugged hard on the audience’s
romantic heartstrings.
Added to the mix was just
the right amount of humor
from the stepmother, played
by Pam Cromwell, and her
two comedy sidekicks, played
masterfully by Grace Scarbor-
ough and Zoey Powers. All of
this nice casting made for the
perfect recipe for a very en-
joyable version of this long-
time family classic.
The other standout come-
dic performance was given by
Jonathan Cole, who played a
very lively version of Lionel
the Stewart. His comedic tim-
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with great facial comedy and
a faultless British accent he
kept the audience very en-
tertained. An exuberant king
and queen, played by Richard
Babhikoff and Christina Su-
kadorf, were very entertaining
too, and the rest of the cast
drew us in with their audience
participation and lively sing-
ing and dancing.
I would also like to give
Here in Oregon, thousands of businesses and individuals are saving money with
a nod not only to the director
help from Energy Trust of Oregon. With cash incentives for energy improvements,
Barbara Poulshock, who did a
we can help you get more from your energy.
amazing job of pulling all this
together, but also to the cos-
tumer and prop designer, who
explored some very innova-
tive ways to overcome some
RI WKH PRUH GLI¿FXOW FUHDWLYH
challenges of staging Cinder-
Are you ready to get more from your energy?
ella.
Visit www.energytrust.org/more or call us at 1.866.368.7878.
All in all this is a wonder-
ful wholesome entertainment
for the whole family. Helped
Serving customers of Portland General Electric,
along by the magical musical
Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas.
accompaniment of a Rodgers
and Hammerstein’s score, it is
just the right blend for an en-
Support the Astoria Music Festival
A
I
W
I
I
OREGON MANUFACTURERS.
LOCAL BUSINESSES.
YOUR NEIGHBORS.
ALL GETTING MORE FROM THEIR ENERGY.