LIVE THEATER AND MUSICAL
PRODUCTIONS AROUND EASTERN OREGON
3
CURTAIN CALL
DECEMBER 8�15, 2021
Grant County youth present two holiday plays
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
J
OHN DAY — Young actors
are busy rehearsing for two
holiday plays this month thanks to
the performing arts department
at Painted Sky Center for the Arts.
The younger group of actors,
ages 4-12, will present “Santa
and the Naughty Gnomes.” The
older kids, ages 12-18, will per-
form “Our Miss Brooks and the
Christmas Carol.”
Performances are at 7 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 10, and 2 p.m. Sat-
urday, Dec. 11. Both are at the
Elks Lodge, 140 NE Dayton St. in
John Day. Admission is $5.
Painted Sky, located in
Canyon City, opened in 2019
and provides art programs after
school and on Fridays.
“It fi lled so quickly,” Alicia Grif-
fi n, director of performing arts
at the center, said of the after
school slots.
After the center was estab-
lished, Griffi n said retired teacher
Julie Reynolds approached the
center about off ering a the-
Western
Feed,
LLC
Pendleton, OR 97801
HOLIDAY PLAYS
Presented by youth from the
Painted Sky Center for the
Arts
7 p.m. Dec. 10
2 p.m. Dec. 11
Elks Lodge, 140 NE Dayton
St., John Day
Admission: $5
ater program. The answer was
positive. Ever since, Reynolds has
directed the plays, with Griffi n as
the co-director.
“The youth programs and
performing arts have been my
passion,” Griffi n said.
The fi rst play was “The Best
Christmas Pageant Ever.”
“We had such a good commu-
nity turnout,” Griffi n said. “People
talked about it all year.”
The play for 2020, “A Christ-
mas Carol,” was rehearsed on
Zoom.
“That was a big hurdle,” Griffi n
said.
Then, as COVID cases rose in
the county, they delayed the live
performance until January 2021.
Griffi n said the the audience
didn’t mind.
“We were able to bring a little
light to the community,” she said.
“The community adores these
Cheryl Hoefl er/Go! Magazine
Performing in “Santa and the Naughty Gnomes” are, from left, Agnes Bailey, Christina Manitsas, Tori Holland (Santa),
Sam Bailey (behind Santa), Teaghan Gibson, Ivy LaFramboise and Kenneth Hollowell.
children and is so supportive.
They look forward to it every year.”
ABOUT PAINTED SKY
In addition to the youth pro-
grams, Painted Sky off ers a full
roster of art classes for adults.
To see a schedule and register,
visit www.paintedskycenter.com
or check the center’s Facebook
page.
Cheryl Hoefl er/Go! Magazine
Painted Sky Center for the
Arts will present two holiday
plays this weekend. Here,
Sam Bailey, Teaghan Gibson,
Kenneth Hollowell, and Tori
Holland rehearse “Santa and
the Naughty Gnomes.”
(503) 317-3145
jon.westernfeedllc@gmail.com
A unique boutique featuring local
artisans from Grant County
Featured Artist
Gourmet Provisions,
Majestic Pizza,
Wine & Beer Bottle Wonderland,
Dedicated Tap House,
Craft Cocktails,
Espresso Bar, Local & Far-Out Deli
403 S. Main Street Pendleton • 541.276.1350
• Over 25 local artisans
• Handmade in Grant County
• One of a kind, unique items
• Artisan owned
• Wood, textiles, jewelry, glass, soaps
and lotions
133 W. Main, John Day, OR
(541) 620-2638
facebook: etc.auniqueboutique
email: etc.handmade@yahoo.com
Paul Smith