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Poet Georgina Marie. Photo by Holly Green.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center’s Restore Project features a writers workshop with Georgina Marie this Saturday, Oct. 13, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Adults and children ages 12 and up are invited to write in the company of others in a safe a supportive environment. Writing exercises will include ancestor writing and an ode to Dia De Los Muertos, writing from objects, and visiting the MAC gallery to draw inspiration from the current exhibit, “A New Story.”

“A New Story” is the MAC’s Third Fire Anniversary exhibit. It includes work in response to the emergency, aftermath, living with fire, recovery, and rebuilding, and moving on to a new story – or new series of art works. A poignant show, participants will have opportunity to respond and express in words their own experience.

Please register in advance for all Restore classes at www.middletownartcenter.org/restore, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-809-8118. Space is limited and reservations are required.

Georgina Marie is Lakeport poet. She has been writing poetry for more than 15 years, is a regular contributor to the Record-Bee’s Creative Expression segment. She was one of three finalists for the 2018-2020 Lake County Poet Laureate term, and is a current member of the MAC Board of Directors. She is also facilitating the monthly Lakeport Writers circle for October, November and December of this year at the Main Street Gallery.

A participant in MAC’s Resilience writing and painting workshops in 2017-18 she co-curated the Resilience chapbook and reads regularly at MAC poetry readings.

During this fire anniversary season, she has participated in poetry readings in response to the North Bay 2017 fire in Mendocino and Napa counties and the 2018 Mendocino Complex fire that affected Lake and Mendocino counties.

Restore writing workshop participants will have opportunity to contribute to MAC’s second chapbook of writings and images, and to participate in quarterly readings readings or exhibition.

The first chapbook, “Resilience – a community reframes disaster through art,” is available for purchase at MAC or on the MAC Web site.

The Restore Project provides Lake County residents with low-cost art classes and the opportunity to learn or refine skills in a variety of materials techniques. Classes take place most Saturdays through May 2019. Fall and winter classes include clay, woodworking, metalworking, felting, concrete, dry point, block printing, and more. Late winter and spring classes will focus on personal and collaborative projects, studio time, mentoring and guidance to create personal and group work.

On Saturday, Oct. 20, Restore features pastel making from locally sourced natural materials with Channing Rudd, and on Oct. 27 Nicholas Hay will lead a dry point etching class. Please preregister at www.middletownartcenter.org/restore.

The Restore Project was made possible with support from the California Arts Council, a state agency, with additional support from local organizations, businesses and individuals.

Visit www.ca.arts.gov to learn more about the California Arts Council’s important work in communities and schools throughout California.

Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29. Be a part of the growing arts scene in south Lake County by becoming a MAC member, by joining MAC this Saturday and participating in Restore, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date with what’s happening at MAC.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The theatre company that brought you Shakespeare at the Lake, “Animal Farm” and “The Producers” is at it again, this time with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s first collaboration, “Oklahoma!”

The joint production between the Lake County Theatre Co. and Mendocino College Lake Center is directed by John Tomlinson, who most recently directed “As You Like It” (also a co-production).

That show, you may recall, was originally to be performed outside at Library Park until the smoke from the River and Ranch fires and the eventual evacuation of Lakeport delayed production. Ultimately the Soper Reese stepped in and donated its venue so that the show could go on.

This current production got off to a bit of a rocky start also due, in part, to the evacuation. Originally the company wanted to do an edgier musical but were turned down for the rights due to a Broadway revival and touring version of the show (which shall remain nameless in the hopes that they can secure the rights in the near future).

In addition to delaying “As You Like It,” the fires pushed out the audition dates for “Oklahoma!”, and also cut into the rehearsal time for the show.

That was followed by a change up in casting for a couple of roles, but the smoke has cleared and LCTC and the college promise a show that will have you singing on your way out the aisles.

The cast and crew include many of the members of The Divas, a well known a Capella group in Lake County, including music director Marie Schrader. She was also the music director for last year’s hit production of “The Producers.”

Other members of the group appearing in this production are former member Claudia Listman, current members Susan Yeagan, Jo Fay, Barbara Clark and Laura Sammel.

Sammel, who plays Laurey, the headstrong farm girl, hasn’t been on stage with LCTC for quite a while, but she is well known for her role as the Wicked Witch in the 2012 production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

Clark plays Ado Annie the gal who “Cain’t Say No” and most recently appeared as Rosalind in “As You Like It” and Nellie in “South Pacific.” She is also the new director of the Lake County Arts Council.

But, the men in this production are also not to be ignored.

Stepping into the role of Curly is Tim Barnes. You may recognize him from just about anywhere in Lakeport. He is a former Mr. Lake County, the mayor pro tem of Lakeport and former co-owner of Cheese’s Pizza in Lakeport.

He could have been your propane guy, or your DJ, or you may have seen him working around the fairgrounds or on stage as Franz Liebkind in “The Producers” as the Nazi turned author turned actor whose most memorable line was, “I brrroke my leg!” Either way, his portrayal of Curly is not to be missed.

And, speaking of Mr. Lake County, this show features three of them. Former Mr. Lake County (2015) and Dancing with the Stars and Stripes pro Larry Richardson taps his way across the stage in “Kansas City” as Will Parker, the guy who gives Ado Annie an ultimatum in “All ‘Er Nothin’.” He’s been choreographing shows for the company for years, and now he’s stepping into the spotlight once again.

And, what LCTC production would be complete without an appearance by the current Mr. Lake County, Gary Deas, the man with a perpetual smile. You’ve seen him sneaking his trademark green tutu into every production since his reign began, but it will be hard to work it into this production in which he plays a hired hand with a morose and vindictive temperament whose obsession with Laurey takes a dark turn. The only time you will see his smile in this production is when you see his photo in the program.

Don’t miss this groundbreaking and innovative musical that gave us “People Will Say We’re In Love,” “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’” and “Oklahoma,” and set the standards and established the rules of musical theatre that are still being followed today.

Oklahoma! runs Oct. 26, 27 and 28, and Nov. 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7 p.m. and Sunday performances are at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $22 and $17 in advance or $27 and $22 at the door and can be purchased at http://www.soperreesetheatre.com/ or via box office phone at 707-263-0577.

For more information please visit www.lctc.us .
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mark your calendar for a “Harmonica Slapdown” at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12.

This WWF wrestling style battle will include lots of audience participation in a mock World Championship boasting 4 master harmonica players.

Headliner Mitch Kashmar has shared the stage with some of the most influential rock and blues giants such as Albert Collins, Charlie Musselwhite, Pinetop Perkins, William Clarke, Kim Wilson and Roy Gaines. Kashmar also toured with the classic 70's funk-rock band “War,” and appeared with Eric Burdon & War for their reunion concert in 2008 at London's Royal Albert Hall.

Aki Kumar is a blues harmonica star and vocalist with a number of successful tours throughout the United States and Europe. Recently Kumar made a big splash in the blues world with his record Aki Goes To Bollywood , a fusion of Aki’s Hindi roots and Chicago and West Coast blues.

Gary Smith has been part of the blues tradition in the Bay Area since the 1970s, and is a featured guest at festivals and venues from Europe to Brazil. He is considered to be one of the rare "big tone" harmonica players delivering world class blues no matter whether in a smoky bar or a large festival.

Andy Santana is a Delta Groove recording artist known at most of the major blues and jazz festivals in California, as well as in Seattle and Belgium. This past week he was inducted into the Sacramento Blues Society Hall of Fame.

Get your tickets now at The Travel Center in Lakeport or online at www.soperreesetheatre.com.

Advance tickets cost $25. Tickets at the door cost $30.

Proceeds will be donated to survivors of the Mendocino Complex fires.
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The Psychedellos. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Psychedellos, along with The Fargo Brothers and other special guests, will perform at a special dance party on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Soper Reese Theatre.

The event begins at 7 p.m. Open seating tickets are $15 and the dance floor will be open.

The show is a fundraiser for the Jillian Billester Scholarship, established in 2015 and open to local area students showing a commitment to both the arts and their community.

The 2017 recipients were Gleb Kondratieb and Bianca Torres.

This year two more Lake County students will each receive a $1,000 scholarship which will be awarded at the concert.

The scholarship is in honor of the late Jillian Billester, one-time executive director of the Lake County Arts Council and the visionary behind the transformation of a shuttered 1947 movie theatre into what is today the Soper Reese Theatre, a renovated, vibrant performing arts center for the Lake County community.

Those wishing to make a contribution to the scholarship fund can contact Mike Adams at the Soper Reese at 263-0577 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tickets to the benefit concert are now available at www.soperreesetheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St., Lakeport, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The theater is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. For more information call 707-263-0577.

The Fargo Brothers. Courtesy photo.
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UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Theatre Department is excited to announce its first ever showing of a production written by the award winning American playwright Tina Howe.

Museum will run for two weekends only, Oct. 19 to 28 in Mendocino College’s Center Theatre at the Ukiah Campus.

Tina Howe’s delightful comedy takes place in a major American museum of art. Over the course of the play, 40 people walk through the closing day of a modern exhibit. These characters include art lovers, skeptics, tourists, students, lost souls, fellow artists, and a very frustrated museum guard.

The play is about the movement and yearning of the people it involves. According to director Reid Edelman, one of the many delights of this farcical play is seeing the talented cast of 22 students and local actors embody the huge and eclectic cast of characters.

The play examines the way people respond to art, often spinning into a wildly zany romp, though there are some serious and touching moments as well.

Edelman explained, “Howe is a playwright who loves quirky and unexpected moments; she creates worlds that are at once absurd and very authentic.”

Howe’s other plays include “The Art of Dining,” “Painting Churches,” “Coastal Disturbances,” “Approaching Zanzibar” and “Pride's Crossing.”

Howe is an Obie Award winner, and has also been nominated for a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize.

This Mendocino College production and preshow entertainment is a collaboration of the college art, theatre, and music departments and showcases the emerging talents of seven Mendocino College conservatory students as well as other college students and local community actors.

“This talented ensemble cast just bursts with creativity and energy,” said Edelman. “They have embraced Howe’s comedic landscape with gusto!”

The production’s impressive scenery, lighting, costumes, and sound design are also being created by Mendocino College students under the direction of faculty and staff members Steve Decker, Kathy Dingman-Katz, and David Wolf. The production stage manager is Gary Hudson.

Performances are Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 25, Friday Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m.

Preshow entertainment and activities begin 30 minutes prior to each show. Full of unexpected surprises, the preshow experience will lead audiences into the play in a refreshing manner.

Tickets ($20 general; $15 students and seniors) are available at the Mendocino Book Co., Mendocino College Bookstore and online at www.ArtsMendocino.org.

The performance on Thursday, Oct. 25, is a special discount night, with all tickets costing only $10. Attendees are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

For information, call 707-468-3172 or visit http://www.mendocino.edu/the-arts/theatre.

The Mendocino College Ukiah campus is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.
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Ted Kooser. Photo credit: UNL Publications and Photography.

In September of 2017 we had hundreds of thousands of Painted Lady butterflies passing through Nebraska, and at times the air was so full of them it looked as if all the leaves were falling at once.

Samuel Green is the former Washington State Poet Laureate, and a very fine writer whose most recent collection of poems is All That Might Be Done, (Carnegie-Mellon University Press, 2014).

He and his wife live on Waldron Island and pay close attention to the life around them.

This poem is a wealth of butterflies.

Butterflies

Some days her main job seems to be
to welcome back the Red Admiral
as it lights on a leaf of the yellow
forsythia. It is her duty to stop & lean
over to take in how it folds & opens
its wings. Then, too, there is the common
Tiger Swallowtail, which seems to her
entirely uncommon in how it moves
about the boundaries of this clearing
we made so many years ago. If she leaves
the compost bucket unwashed to rescue
a single tattered wing from under the winter
jasmine or the blue flowers of the periwinkle
& then spends a whole afternoon at our round
oak table surrounded by field guides
& tea until she is sure—yes—that it belongs to
a Lorquin's Admiral, or that singular
mark is one of the great cat's eyes
of a Milbert's Tortoiseshell, then she is
simply practicing her true vocation
learning the story behind the blue beads
of the Mourning Cloak, the silver commas
of the Satyr Anglewing, the complex shades
of the Spring Azure, moving through this life
letting her sweet, light attention land
on one luminous thing after another.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2017 by Samuel Green, "Butterflies." Poem reprinted by permission of Samuel Green. Introduction copyright ©2018 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.

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