(Ebr IJorttanh © bserher----------- June 20, 2001 Focus Page 3 Roberta Flack Sets the Night to Music Come and “ Set the Night to M u­ sic” with Roberta Flack when her show comes to Chinook Winds Ca- sino on June 22 and 23. She is a totally unique artist, a musical leg­ end and a stomp-down, no-doubt- about-it Diva. A peerless musical storyteller, skilled musician,and ac­ com plished performer, her true ge­ nius lies in her ability to get right inside a song and reach her listen­ ers, heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul. Flack, a native o f Asheville, N.C. began her recording career with the debut album, “ First Take” in 1969 and its 1970 follow-up “Chapter Two” that did not sell well until 1972, when the single “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” from “First Take” appeared on the soundtrack o f “Play Misty for Me,” and subsequently hit N o .l. Her collaboration w ith v o c a list D onny Hathaway produced No. 1 hits “Killing Me Softly with His Song” (1973) and “Feel Like M akin’ Love” (1974). This collaboration ended tragically, shortly after the 1978 release o f“Blue Lights in the Basement,” with the death o f Hathaway. Flack continued to work through­ out the 80s and 90s with such e n te rta in e rs as P eab o Bryson, Miles Davis and, most recently, Maxi Priest. She has influenced many con­ temporary artists, such as Anita Baker, Luther Vandross and Oleta Adams. Music lovers and critics the world over agree that when i t comes to genuine sensitivity and pure stan­ dards ranging from blues to pop. reggae and soul. Her ability to mold a song to suit the story she is telling makes her one o f the truly memo­ rable performers o f the last few de­ cades. Her career longevity with Atlantic Records reflects her ability and the appealing quality o f her music. Don’t miss the chance to hear this legendary musician in concert. For more information, or to obtain tickets, call l-888-MAIN-ACT(624- 6228)orFastixx, 1-800-992-TIXX (8499). — Advertise in The Focus The Art and Science of Theme Parks at OMSI M illions o f fun seekers scramble through the thrills and chills o f A merican theme parks every year. Now, thanks to an exciting new traveling exhibit entitled “Theme Park: The Art and Science ofUniversal Studios Islands o f A dventure,” sponsored by Kodak and Discover Card, we can all sneak a peek begin the scenes. This hands- on exhibit invites visitors tcrstep into a world where im agination becom es reality. This one-of-a-kind exhibit reveals the design, engineering, special effects, and artistry behind the multi- billion-dollar amusement park industry. From the physics o f the roller coaster to the “m agic” o f virtual reality, it’s all explored in “Theme Park: The Art and Science ofUniversal Studios Islands o f Adventure.” Six interactive areas within the 8,000-square-foot exhibit focus on specialized park concepts: Port o f Entry is the welcoming point for exhibit visitors. Each element in the Port o f Entry, from dazzling draw ing-board visuals to hands-on com puter programs, asks the question, “W hat elements make up your favorite amusement rides? What makes a visit to a theme park unforgettable?” Themeing (Seuss Landing) is just what “the Doctor” ordered. Seuss classics like “The Cat in the Hat” and “G reen Eggs and Ham” can provide unlimited theme park inspiration. W ant your them e park thrill to begin and end with a splash? Then check out the Splash area, featuring tidal w aves o f adventure. The Illusion area features an ar­ ray o f special effects that engage the m ind along with the physical senses to create a new, expanded range o f thrills. Showbotics, featuring the lifelike dinosaurs from Jurassic Paik, helps illus­ trate the remarkable theme park applica­ tion o f m ovie-magic robotic technology. Gone are the stop and start animatronics o f the ‘ 70s and ‘ 80s. In their place stand these wonders o f electronics, complete with fine- tuned m otions, visually impressive tex­ tures and shrieking sound effects that rival their cinem a counterparts. The Thrill area, featuring Uni ver- sals’ action adventure film “The Lost Con­ tinent” (starring a horde o f dragons, w iz­ ards and other m ythical creatures), exam ­ ines how state-of-the-art roller coasters are designed and built. The danger and tension o f these frantic attractions is no accident: I t’s finely honed science and technology. “Theme Park: The Art and Science o f Universal Studios Islands o f A dventure” runs through Septem ber 9 at OMSI. CLASS BEGINS W ITH A HEARTY BREAKFAST Monday through Saturday: 7am to 10:30am Sunday: 7am to 11:30am 5736 NE 53r