Review: Yes, it’s happily ever after, at least until reality bites. That’s also when the Cottage Theatre’s production of Into the Woods shifts from a whimsical journey through the heroes of Grimm’s fairy tales to a dark and twisted story of hopes, dreams and, most importantly, wishes. Cue the musical’s[Read More…]
Scene and Heard
You be the judge
Mayor’s Art Show exhibits imagination, reflection SPRINGFIELD – Art is one of those subjective experiences—not everyone can agree on what makes art the best or how to scientifically, factually determine why it might resonate with one person and not another. Sometimes we examine a juried show, and we completely disagree[Read More…]
Diverse musical styles meld in Bielanski performance
COTTAGE GROVE – Many longtime rock ’n’ roll fans – particularly here in the Pacific Northwest – would rank the Beatles and Nirvana as two of the greatest – if not the greatest – bands of all time. They certainly represent two extremely diverse musical styles and two completely different[Read More…]
Difficult to top
COTTAGE GROVE – David Jones and Blaze Birge, a married couple who founded the Flynn Creek Circus 20 years ago in Anderson Valley, Calif., had their own international trapeze act, but recently put that aside for something less dangerous – they throw knives at each other, and Blaze even throws[Read More…]
Thibodeaux gets yuks at Oktoberfest
COTTAGE GROVE – The German beer was flowing, people were mingling and dancing, and everybody was chuckling as Kelly Thibodeaux played “Ain’t No Crocodile” during Saturday’s annual Oktoberfest celebration co-hosted by the Axe & Fiddle and the Brewstation. “A lot of people come up and ask, ‘Do you really have[Read More…]
Art from the heart
When a viewer looks at art, it is often the subject matter, colors, or ability to capture a flower or landscape realistically that fill one with wonder and awe. We find this art beautiful, and we hang it on our walls. It is easy to find pretty paintings that made[Read More…]
Everybody’s gone surfin’, Surfin’ USA.
COTTAGE GROVE – It was 1963 and the Beach Boys had just released their first big hit, Surfin’ USA. Dick Dale is largely credited with creating surf music, which was especially popular from 1958-64, just before the Beatles came to America. Jan and Dean were immensely popular, and just about[Read More…]
Creative, chaotic and ‘Little bit of this and that’
Last weekend, Creative Chaos debuted their latest production “A Little Bit of This and a Little Bit of That.” The program brings actors with disabilities into the limelight. “It gives me great pleasure to help my athlete/actors’ dreams come true,” said Carmen Dowell, founder of Creative Chaos. “I have come[Read More…]
Localizing Titanic history, brewmasters, historians fundraise for Grove museum
Marion Wright wore this heavy, wool coat on her voyage to marry Grove fruit farmer Arthur Woolcot. After she survived the titanic’s famous collision course, this coat was known among friends and family as “The Lucky Coat.” COTTAGE GROVE – It’s easy to wonder, rummaging through your great-grandmother’s closet, where[Read More…]
Column: ‘Shaking it with style,’ class at Springfield Art Walk
PHOENIX BRIGHT/ PHOTO- Bellydancers Natalia Hayes (bottom) and Sara Reid (top) pose in dance troupe, Fusion Fascination, at the Emerald Art Center Springfield Art Walk on July 8. One of the fun and festive performances during the July Springfield Second Friday Art Walk was belly dancing at the Emerald Art[Read More…]