Well it is finally spring!
It”s April. After what seems to have been a very long and wet winter, the flowers are blooming, the lake is almost full and the trees are beginning to bud, even the new trees we have planted at the south side of the Soper-Reese. We have put enough pear and crepe myrtle trees to eventually provide cooling shade for our outdoor events in the courtyard. It may take a few seasons before they actually grow big enough but they have started. And we have started to engage the community more and more with an ever-expanding offering of shows at the theatre.
On Friday and Saturday, we will welcome the first of what may become a series of concerts featuring Christian bands and other artists from around the nation. The local alternative Christian rock band Revolution will be headlining a concert playing music fit for the whole family. Blake Miller will be a featured guest, singing along with Sebrina Dolloso, lead singer of Revolution. The opening band is the Pneumati Band, a national touring family band from Oregon. Proceeds from this series will go to benefit Compassion 2 Help, a not-for-profit organization providing food, clothing and support for our own needy neighbors here in Lake County.
Triskela Celtic Harp Trio will be returning April 17 for a concert of traditional Celtic and original harp tunes. They were a near-sellout last time they appeared on stage and I am sure they will be well received this time. The new band Uncorked will be opening for Triskela. Uncorked has been assembled by Eleanor Cook and features the fine talents of Andi Skelton, Don Coffin, Dennis Hadley, Dan Harris, Teale Love and Greg Bushta. What a great lineup for the month of April.
The North Bay Realtor Association enjoyed its last conference so much that it has decided to use this venue for the next round of meetings on April 29. Using the Soper-Reese as a meeting place for both businesses and nonprofits helps to anchor it as a much-needed conference venue for Lakeport.
We are also excited to be hosting the 29th annual Spring Dance Festival this year. This major fundraiser for the Lake County Arts Council has longer legs than most of the dancers. This marks the first time that it has been held at the theater. All of the dance studios in the county are contributing to this display of almost 200 dancers and all participants are very busy rehearsing for this showcase of the Terpsichorean muse. The Dance Festival is the first weekend in May with a tech rehearsal on the last day of April.
You may have noticed on our posters and on our Web site that we are affiliated with the American Association of Community Theatre. AACT is a group of community theaters joined together from around the country sharing resources, experiences, directions and ideas about operating and maintaining performing art centers and theatres. We are proud members of this organization and rely upon its network of seasoned experts to help us bring a professional live stage experience to the entire community.
Visit our Web site for more details about the Soper-Reese and all of our upcoming shows at: www.SoperReeseTheatre.com.
Editor”s Note: Bert Hutt is artistic director for the Soper-Reese Community Theatre.
