The Siuslaw news., May 27, 2017, Image 29

Center
Stage
J UNE 2017
Siuslaw Jam
‘Master Class’
International renown jazz and soul performer Clairdee will co-host the Siuslaw Jam which
debutes this July in Florence.
hree years ago, Florence resi-
dent and City Councilor
Joshua Greene was intro-
duced to the Siletz Bay Music
Festival — a small celebration of music
and education held each year in
Lincoln City.
“Each time I attended, I came away
impressed with the passion and spirit
on display with each performance,”
said Greene. “My relationship with the
festival grew and I thought about how
fantastic it would be to bring some of
these world-class musicians to the
Florence Events Center (FEC).”
Greene extended an invitation to
Siletz Bay Artistic Director Yaacov
Bergman and some members of the
organizing board.
“After a tour of the FEC, they
became excited by the possibility of
the musicians performing in a theater
setting,” Greene said, explaining how
the Siltez Bay Music Festival is on a flat
floor as opposed to a theater.
“The opportunity to play in a formal
T
ast Resort Players (LRP) has
assembled a “master cast”
for its upcoming production
of “Master Class.” The show
opens June 9 with additional per-
formances on June 10, 11, 16, 17
and 18 on the Florence Event
Center’s flat floor.
Cast members include: Annie
Schmidt (Maria Callas); Sheena
Moore (Sharon Graham); Joanie
Schmidt (Sophie De Palma); Patrick
Rawley (Tony Candolino); Mary
Conley (Stage Manager) and
Jennifer Weier (Accompanist).
In the play, opera diva Maria
Callas is holding a voice master class
at the Juilliard School. Alternately
dismayed and impressed by the stu-
dents who parade before her, she
L
Resident thespian Annie Schmidt will
play the lead role of ‘Maria Callas’ in
this month’s LRP production of ‘Master
Class’ at the FEC.
retreats into recollections about the
glories of her own life and career.
Included in her musings are her
younger years as an ugly duckling,
her fierce hatred of her rivals, the
unforgiving press that savaged her
early performances, her triumphs at
La Scala, and her affair with Aristotle
Onassis.
It culminates in a monologue
about sacrifice taken in the name of
art.
Master Class is a 1995 play by
American playwright Terrence
McNally, presented as a fictional
Gallery One (page 2)
theater with real acoustics became an
exciting prospect,” said Greene.
With the support of the Siletz Bay
Music Festival, Greene pursued the
creation of an annual event in
Florence. Taking advantage of the fact
Siuslaw Jam (Page 3)
Master Class (Page 3)
A LSO
Bassist and bass guitarist David Captein will
be among the many performers July 7 and 8.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
IF: Gathering (Page 4)
Festival of Books (Page 4)
715 Quince Street | www.eventcenter.org
541-997-1994 | 888-968-4086