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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2020)
SIUSLAW NEWS | SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2020 | 3B Broadway Costume Challenge winner Landon Peck (above) and Tutu Dads member Mike Smith (above right) CROW from 1B but as time went by, that became less and less fea- sible. The annual spring show, held at the Florence Events Center, is performed on the main stage of the 455- seat theater. Current restrictions continue to limit large gatherings. “Because of that, we pushed ‘Mary Poppins’ back to 2021,” Heard said. “I couldn’t bear the idea of not doing it. The kids put in so much work, and we were less than a month from opening. We just had to polish up the show and get it ready. Then every- thing happened.” “Over quarantine, I tried to read through my lines before I went to bed, until I found out that it had been moved to next year,” Waggoner said. The CROW Board of Directors decided to honor the hard work of the cast and crew and save the show for later. While it might create difficulty with some graduating seniors, Heard hopes to maintain the bulk of the cast. For Owen Harklerode, playing the role of Mr. Love the library? We're looking for a new library board member! Applicants must reside in the district. Go to siuslawlibrary.info/board for details and application packet. Applications due June 11 at 4 PM. Siuslaw Public Library We're here to help you get through this. All departments are open by appointment. Thank you for your understanding as we slowly start to provide services. We will keep you updated as we progress through getting our business hours back to normal. For the safety of our community we are following measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. (541) 997-3475 • 2150 Hwy. 101, Florence www.johnstonmotorcompany.com Banks, “When the econ- omy reopens, I’d like to be able to finally per- form Mary Poppins. It should’ve happened in April, but I’m willing to wait.” Delaying “Mary Poppins” a full season has caused some further challenges. Heard said CROW had to work with the show’s licensing group to move dates of the show, as well as resched- uling backdrop rentals and an aerial flying com- pany. “We already picked our 2021 show, and already placed a deposit, so we had to move that one to 2022,” she said. “It was a paperwork issue and a bit of a headache, but it was doable. Everyone has been so understanding and real- ly supportive.” Similar changes are taking place across the theater industry, where “there’s a lot of money invested,” according to Heard. People everywhere are losing deposits, wasting unused marketing and advertising materials and facing reduced income. “At CROW Center for the Performing Arts, we can’t hold any classes. We can’t lead workshops or summer camps. That funding has evaporated for us. Plus, Wildflower Montessori can’t operate (on our property),” said Heard. To fill in some of the gaps, Heard continues to write grants, but compe- tition is stiff with so many arts nonprofits facing similar circum- stances. “It’s a big challenge trying to stay alive. We will, because we’re stub- born, but it’s hard,” she FINAL UPDATE OUNDS LOST TO D AL P ATE TOT 791+ Contestant Name said. “If there’s any com- fort, it’s that we’re all going through the same hard stuff.” As the governor con- tinues to release details for gatherings of more than 25, Heard isn’t opposed to creating some outdoor theater opportunities for CROW. The board also decid- ed not to do structured online classes for now. “Our board discussed it and feel strongly that online is not the most beneficial for our kids in the arts,” Heard said. “It just feels impersonal. It’s not as inspiring. And it’s hard to connect and for us to give them what they need. … Kids, espe- cially little kids, just need you. They need to be in the same room, they need to feel your energy, and they need to know that they are safe and can be expressive. “Theater is an expres- sive art form. In order for art to be successful, you need to be in an environment where you can express yourself.” For the time being, that may be hard to do with online platforms. So, what CROW has been doing is engaging with CROW kids and families, and the greater community, through social media. From humorous Tutu Dads posts about new “tulles of the trade” under COVID-19 to fun contests, CROW is find- ing ways to connect. The cast of “Mary Poppins” got together virtually to sing and dance to “Super-cali-fragilistic- expialidocious,” which aired on regional TV stations. In addition, Oregon Arts Commission shared a CROW collage of local kids being creative while on lockdown. CROW also held a Broadway Costume Challenge, with Landon Peck winning for his portrayal of Ursula the Sea Witch from “The Little Mermaid.” Other winners were Eryn Morgan, Kya Hobin and Grace Dotson depicting characters from “Beetlejuice,” “ Wa i t r e s s” a n d “Hairspray.” Lasting for one more day is the “Dress Up Your Pet” Challenge, where people are encouraged to dress up their dog, cat or other pets as characters from any of the shows CROW has performed. “There’s all these fun things we’re doing to keep the kids connected to us as much as we can,” Heard said. While many people have been home on lockdown, they have been watching TV shows, listening to pod- casts and reading books. “There’s been a lot of rallying from people in the arts. I see it not just here in Florence, but I see it across the nation. I see a lot of resilience,” Heard said. “The idea that the arts matter —” she paused to repeat CROW’s motto, “The Arts Really Do Matter” — “and we need them. I hope that when all the dust settles and the virus goes away, that maybe people will show that new appreciation.” CROW kids, too, are keeping the arts alive at home. Both Harklerode and Norton performed in Jason Wood’s virtual “Sleepy Time Showcase.” Waggoner sang with the school choir and plays guitar. Norton practices piano, and she and Fuller keep up stretching and strength training for dance. “I still dance like crazy at home,” Fuller said. Heard also expressed regret for the dance classes CROW held for all ages, the canceled Spring Dance Showcase and the Flight Dance Team. “All my Flight kids are so sad. For dancers, it’s how they express them- selves, it’s how they get their emotions out, their frustration and joy, and how they become com- fortable with their bod- Buying or Selling? I can help. Season %Lost RESULTS Patricia Ann Timothy* Nancy Robinson* Guadalupe Galvan* Samantha Milbrett* Robyn Barrett* Vickie Hunt* Matt Danielsson* James McKinney* Tyrell Hunt* Brad Koehn* Dustin Williams* Jim Hecker* Ed Wasco* 17.63% 11.69% 9.19% 7.86% 5.07% 3.63% 18.43% 12.15% 9.21% 7.75% 7.49% 5.05% -2.52% Patricia Ann Timothy* TOTAL loss 17.63% First Place Nancy Robinson* TOTAL loss 11.69% Second Place Matt Danielsson* TOTAL loss 18.43% First Place James McKinney* TOTAL loss 12.15% Second Place CONGRATULATIONS to our winners and THANK YOU to all of our participants! * Th ese winners may claim their prizes at Siuslaw News 148 Maple Street, Old Town Florence Brian Jagoe Principal Broker 541 999-1314 88307 Hwy 101 – Great opportunity to own this 3 bdrm, 1 bath home on 1/4 acre. Two-car garage with lots of room to park your RV or boat. New roof in 2016 and new septic in 2020. Great stick- built home for only $249,900. #3073-20120130 1749 Highway 101 • 541-997-1200 ies,” she said. “And the teenagers especially need that.” According to Heard, dance falls under sports requirements, so any practices or future try- outs will wait on regula- tions released from the government. “Dance is such a con- tact support. It involves lifting and getting all sweaty, and dancers are such athletes,” she said. “I look forward to when we can get back to work.” CROW also has plans to bring some choreog- raphy to the community with future challenges. “We hope to just uplift the community,” Heard said. She acknowledged the difficult times that everyone is facing now and the complicated emotions that can bring up. “Not only is COVID- 19 not gone, we don’t know when it will be gone. For me personally, as an artist, that’s the scariest thing. I’m very project oriented and I like to work on one proj- ect and think about the next project. We plan a year and a half ahead of time — and right now, it’s like everything has been erased. We just don’t have any concept of when we can get back to work,” she said. However, that’s not to say that CROW has dimmed the stage lights. The board is still plan- ning future shows, mov- ing storage units and making plans to contin- ue supporting the arts for youth in Florence. This could include some outdoor classes, get togethers or perfor- mances for CROW, all of which would be easier with an amphitheater or other outdoor perfor- mance space. “I am still optimistic about the future, because I know that the families, the community, the audiences all love what we do and are going to be there when we come back,” Heard said. “I think it’s going to estab- lish a new appreciation for the arts. Those are good things. When you don’t have something, it’s the whole ‘absence makes the heart fonder’ concept. We’re hoping the community will come back and go, ‘Oh, I really missed that.’ And maybe they’ll buy a ticket, send in a dona- tion or come in and volunteer.” For more informa- tion about CROW, or to donate go to crowk- ids.com.