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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 4, 2015)
ENTERTAINMENT Saturday, April 4, 2015 BRIEFLY ‘Evil Dead’ brings cult classics to life WALLA WALLA — Five college students go to an abandoned cabin in the woods and accidentally unleash an evil force that turns them into demons. %lood Àies, limbs dismember, demons tell bad joke — all set to music during “Evil Dead: The Musical.” The hilarious stage musical that combines elements from the cult classic ¿lms “Evil Dead,” “Evil Dead 2” and “Army of Darkness” will be staged at the Power House Theatre. The event is Saturday, April 11 at 6 p.m. or 9:15 p.m. at 111 N. Sixth Ave., Walla Walla. Tickets are $34 in the splatter zone and $29 in the non-splatter zone. Purchase tickets at www. EvilDeadNW.com. For more information, visit www.phtww. com. Page 3C THEATER: Spent two hours of rehearsal on a single song Continued from 1C wide dance in the middle of the show. The ¿rst time through was an absolute mess. The second time wasn’t any better. By the ¿fth time, how- ever, the dancers were start- ing to ¿nd their rhythm. And on the ninth time ev- erything clicked into place. “See, all you needed was practice,” Mercer told the students before they re- peated the process with the second half of the routine. Bobby Crane, who sings the song, repeated his own routine outside the circle of townsfolk, eventually getting so bored he threw in some breakdance moves when no one was looking. But spending two hours on a single song was worth it, Mercer said, for the mo- ment the last note of the ¿rst Àawless rendition rang out and the students broke into cheers. “That’s it,” she said. “That’s when they bought into the show.” Parsons and Wyse agreed, noting that as tough as the repetition had been, the rehearsal had been a breakthrough. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Choir director Josh Rist, left, works with cast members on the opening number “Rock Island” while rehearsing “The Music Man” on Tuesday in Hermiston. “Once you know the stuff and you’re in the groove, it’s just really sat- isfying,” Parsons said. Fiddlers perform 50th anniversary concert RICKREALL — State and national ¿ddling champions are featured in the Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers’ Association 50th Year Anniversary Concert. The event is one of the highlights of the organization’s state convention. The concert is Friday, April 10 from 7-10 p.m. at the Polk County Fairgrounds, 520 S. Paci¿c Highway, Rickreall. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. The convention runs from April -11 and includes ¿ddle workshops, non-stop jamming and opportunities to meet ¿ddle players. For more information, visit http:oregonoldtime¿ddling.org. East Oregonian 9 days until opening night Staff photo by E.J. Harris Beckie Wyse, right, performs the duet "Goodnight My Someone" with Ben Parsons on Tuesday in Hermiston. The ¿rst dress rehearsal was supposed to happen a week and a half before opening night, giving ac- tors a chance to adjust their performances around long skirts, slippery props and bulky set pieces. The rented costumes are still in the mail, however, and the set isn’t done. Despite that, the show is coming together. There are a few rough spots to be worked out (Nicolas Carter, playing Tommy Djilas, got slapped in the face by Wyse six or seven times before Mercer was satis¿ed with the timing), but the actors also shine in their share of endearing, humorous moments. Whatever happens in the next week, the show must go on. ——— Contact Jade McDow- ell at jmcdowell@eastore- gonian.com or 541-564- 4536. Don Rickles replica brings tribute show to Pendleton I Sufjan Stevens’ latest album worth the time (AP) — Sufjan Stevens, “Carrie & Lowell” (Asthmatic Kitty) Plucked strings and pulsing keyboards dominate the dis- tinctive arrangements on Sufjan Stevens’ latest album, and in the absence of a rhythm section, they serve to keep time. But time’s not for keeping, and that’s the message. “We’re all going to die,” Ste- vens sings, putting perhaps too ¿ne a point on the matter. “Carrie & Lowell” is named for Stevens’ mother and stepfa- ther, and Carrie’s death in 2012 inspired the intimate 11-song cycle. Along with mortality, Stevens contemplates love and longing, ghosts and grieving, re- membrance and regret, forgive- ness and faith and even fossils. “What’s the use of singing songs?” he asks, and the album answers with music that ¿nds beauty in sadness. His wispy vocals are an ideal match for the delicate melodies, and there’s a dreamy ache to simple arrange- ments that turn otherworldly, as if alternating between the here and hereafter. It’s not so funny how time slips away. But amid the tick- tock rhythms of “Carrie & Low- ell,” there’s comfort to be found. n 2007, John Landis produced the HBO documentary “Mr Warmth: The Don Rickles Project.” This loving and reverent portrait of America’s preeminent insult comic featured interviews with a parade of comics (from Chris Rock to Ed McMahon) praising Rickles’ insulting yet good-natured style of comedy as well as his genial personality. J.D. When veteran Kindle Olympia, Entertainment Washington- based comic Mike Wally Walter watched the documentary he couldn’t help but feel inspired by the man himself. A light bulb went on in his head. He had always been told by friends that he looked like Don Rickles (as well as Johnathan Winters) due to his waning hair and had always admired Rickles’ rapid-¿re delivery, which was not unlike his own. With that he decided to start performing a Don Rickles tribute act. It’s not that he copies Don Rickles’ jokes verbatim, but rather emulates his style of joke delivery (i.e. singling out audience members to insult but in the most loving way possible). Couple that with a Vegas act dress code (tuxedo and bow tie) and Walter makes for a passable replica of Rickles. Although Walter’s website bears an explicit disclaimer that his tribute act is not sanctioned by Don Rickles or his management, he claims that Don and his Photo contributed by Mike Wally Walter Mike Wally Walter will bring his Don Rickles tribute show to the Pendleton Elks Lodge on April 10th. management like what he is doing. He spent a year at Harrah’s in Laughlin, Nevada, performing his Rickles tribute as part of the Showgirls. Now he is bringing that act to the Pendleton Elks Lodge. Walter made his start in comedy 35 years ago by entering a local comedy competition in Seattle. He came in second place and the emcee encouraged him to continue developing his craft. Steadily Walter made his way through the open mic scene before landing a few paid gigs. Up to that point he had been working at Georgia- Paci¿c but an on-the-job injury forced him into early retirement. Since he had no other job skills, Walter took up performing stand up full time. When asked about how becoming a full-time professional comic changed his life, Walter says, “Talk about travel I have ¿ve ex-wives, at the time (I became a comic) I only had two!” Although Walter claims Las Vegas as his favorite place to perform (“They get me there. I’m a Vegas-style act.”), his most memorable performances took place in the Middle East in the midst of the Iraq War. “I went overseas to Iraq, and Bahrain in 2006 to entertain the troops,” say Walter of his time there. “It was kinda like a USO show. I went there for 20 days. Five days in Kuwait, 15 days in Iraq. There were three comedians and we stayed at Saddam (Hussein)’s palace. They would pick us up from Saddam’s in a helicopter and Ày us to three different bases in one day.” When asked if he was caught up in any hairy situations in Iraq, Walter recounts, “One day our C130 was caught in a dust storm and we had to land. We ended up getting shelled by Iraqis.” Walter’s Pendleton appearance also marks a reunion of sorts with him and Pendleton Elks Club manager Billy Turner. Says Walter, “We used to have shows in Pendleton. They had a club here. Billy was the emcee.” Turner recalls an evening when a man wandered in to the Red Lion selling rafÀe tickets for a TV. The proceeds were to bene¿t the man’s son who had cerebral palsy and was in need of a surgery that would cost over $30,000. Turner decided that a charity comedy show would be a more effective means of fundraising. The said charity comedy show featured Walter as the headliner and quickly oversold with the ¿re marshal kicking people out of the building. All in all, the event raised over $13,000. Walter’s reappearance in Pendleton also has a similarly charitable bent. According to Turner, “The net proceeds from the evening will bene¿t Meadowood Springs Speech and Hearing Camp, a longtime cause for the Pendleton Elks.” Just like Mr. Warmth himself, there’s a soft side to Mr. Walter beneath that brusque exterior. Mike Wally Walter performs at the Pendleton Elks Lodge on Friday, April 10. Dinner at 6 p.m., entertainment at 8 p.m. Ŷ James Dean Kindle is a singer- songwriter and musician and part- time Pendleton resident. You can contact him at jamesdeankindle@ gmail.com. WHAT TO DO Festivals Pendleton Home & Outdoor Show •Friday, April 10, noon-6 p.m. •Saturday, April 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. •Sunday, April 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. •Pendleton Convention Center, 1601 Westgate www.facebook.com/pdthome- andoutdoorshow Free admission. Includes door prizes and giveaways. State of Change- BMCC Arts & Culture Festival •April 13-15, Pendleton campus •April 15-16, Hermiston cam- pus www.bluecc.edu Most activities free of charge. Art First Saturday Spin-In •Saturday, April 4, noon-4 p.m. •Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St. Fiber-obsessed folks can drop in and bring a project to work on. Coffee, tea and work space pro- vided. BMCC Student Art Show •Monday-Thursdays; 11 a.m.-2 p.m •Betty Feves Memorial Gallery, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave., Pendleton. Free. Gallery hours by appoint- ment by calling 541-278-5952. Visitors may vote for the people’s choice award. The exhibit runs through April 22. Ramp It Up: Skateboard Culture in Native America •Monday - Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. •Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, near Wildhorse Resort & Casino. www.tamastslikt.org Regular admission is $10/ adults, $9/senior citizens, $6/ youths, free/5 and under or $25/ family of four. Smithsonian Institu- tion Traveling Exhibition Service celebrate the vibrancy, creativity and history of the American Indian skateboarding culture. Open Regional call for entries •Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. •Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St. www.pendletonarts.org Entry fee $10/adults, $5/teens. Artists may enter up to two works of art in any medium except pho- tography. Cash prizes, show runs April 9-May 29 Deadline to enter is April 4. Music Decade X •Saturday, April 4, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar at Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off High- way 331, Mission. John MacBeth & Nick Berg •Saturday, April 4; 9 p.m.-mid- night. No cover •Hamley Saloon, 8 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton Funk Factory •Friday, April 10; Saturday, April 11, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar at Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off High- way 331, Mission. Celebrate Oregon Tour •Saturday, April 11; 7 p.m. •Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton www.pdxgmc.org $15/adults, $10/seniors, $5/ students. The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus performs “I Am Harvey Milk” and “A Brighter Day.” Tickets available at Armchair Books or at the door; no one will be turned away due to lack of funds. Miss Lonely Hearts •Wednesday, April. 15, 7 p.m. All ages. No cover. *UHDW 3DFL¿F :LQH &RIIHH Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton Peter Krebs Trio & The Delines •Friday, April. 17, 7 p.m. All ages. No cover. *UHDW 3DFL¿F :LQH &RIIHH Co., 403 S. Main St., Pendleton 24/7 •Friday, April 17; Saturday, April 18, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar at Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off High- way 331, Mission. Martin Gerschwitz •Saturday, April 18; 6 p.m. •Sno Road Winery, 111 W. Main St., Echo Single/$20, couple/$30. Key- boards and vocals with Iron Butter- À\IRUPHUO\ZLWK(ULF%XUGRQ7KH Animals, Meat Loaf and others. Call 541-376-0421. Queen Anne’s Revenge •Friday, April 24; Saturday, April 25, 9 p.m.-1 a.m. No cover •Wildhorse Sports Bar at Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off High- way 331, Mission. Night life Martini Night •Wednesday, April 15, 5:30- 7:30 p.m. •Plateau, Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off Highway 331, Mission. $18. Plateau Manager Jeff Hammond offers tableside service showcasing three inspired cre- ations. Reservations recommend- ed (541-966-1610). Thursday Night Comedy •Thursdays, 8 p.m. •Wildhorse Sports Bar, Wild- horse Resort & Casino, off High- way 331, Mission. Digital Karaoke •Thursdays and Saturdays, 8 p.m. •The Pheasant, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston Mac’s Trivia Night •Thursdays, 8 p.m. No cover •Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton 21 and older. Teams of 2-8 compete in trivia contest with other teams. Live host and prizes. Don Rickles Tribute & dinner •Friday, April 10; 6 p.m. •Pendleton Elks Lodge, 14 S.E. Third St. $25/single, $45/couple. Mike Wally Walter performs a tribute to actor/comedian Don Rickles (8 p.m.; preceded by a dinner featur- ing steak and pan-fried oysters (6 p.m.) Wine tasting •Fridays, 4-8 p.m. •Sno Road Winery, 111 W. Main St., Echo. Open Mic •First/third Friday each month, 8 p.m.-midnight •The Packard Tavern, 118 S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton www.facebook.com/groups/ pendletonopenmic Karaoke on) •Fridays 8 p.m. (9 p.m. if game •Riverside Sports Bar, 1501 Sixth St., Umatilla DJ and dancing •Fridays, 8 p.m. •The Pheasant, 149 E. Main St., Hermiston Theater, stage, film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” •April 4; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. •Elgin Opera House, 104 N. Eighth St. www.elginoperahouse.com Reserved $17/$8. Take a mu- sical adventure with an out-of-this- ZRUOGFDUWKDWÀLHVWKURXJKWKHDLU and sails the seas. “Our Town” •Thursday, April 16; 7 p.m. •Bob Clapp Theatre, BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave., Pendle- ton Reader’s theater presentation by the College Community Theatre. Hot tickets •Garth Brooks. April 12-13, Moda Center, Portland. Reserved seats ($74.89) via www.ticketmas- ter.com. •Umatilla County Fair con- certs: Dustin Lynch (Aug. 11), John Michael Montgomery (Aug. 12), Latino Night (Aug. 13), Hinder (Aug. 14) and Warrant (Aug. 15). Reserved seats ($12) via 541- 567-6121 or 515 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston www.umatillacounty.net/ fair •Sasquatch Music Festival. Memorial Day weekend, Gorge Amphitheater, George, Wash. Reserved seats ($325 and up for 4-day pass) via www.livenation. com. •Gentlemen of the Road Stop- over featuring Mumford & Sons, Foo Fighters, Flaming Lips and other national, regional and local bands. Aug. 13-15, Walla Walla. Reserved seats ($199) via www. mumfordandsons.com. ——— Want to get your event listed in our calendar? Send information to tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com, or c/o Tammy Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street, Hermiston, OR, 97838.
