Arts programs worth the drive

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, May 17, 2008

“Worth The Drive — Or The Bike Ride,” seems to be catching on as our summer slogan here at A Center for the Arts. Whether you’re at the lake, hanging out in town, passing through town or reading this from afar — the arts in Fergus Falls are definitely worth the drive — or an invigorating bike ride.

Can’t you see it now? People arriving via the Central Lakes Trail or hopping on their bikes and heading out to the Community College or downtown Fergus Falls to A Center for the Arts or over to Roosevelt Park for a concert in the park? We’ll be offering many opportunities around town and they’re all worth the drive or the bike ride.

Concerts every Thursday night at Roosevelt Park are always worth it because they’re free. (Thanks to many sponsors in the community).

It’s a great place to kick back with a picnic basket, lawn chairs, and friends and family. Plus, there will also be food vendors on site at each concert. The music changes every week and offers a variety of jazz, calypso, folk, country and bluegrass.

Join hosts A Center for the Arts and the city of Fergus Falls and all of the concert sponsors every Thursday night from 5 to 7 p.m. starting June 12 and running through August 14.

Roosevelt Park is located on Randolph Avenue right across from the Fergus Falls Middle School.

The Fergus Falls Summer Arts Academy offers a wide variety of arts classes on the college campus for two weeks in June (June 16-June 27) and two weeks in July (July 14-25) — there are many classes for kids and adults — including painting, drawing, ceramics, theater classes in acting and directing and set design, music classes, dance classes and even some unique one-day opportunities with some guest artists.

Among our summer guest artists, who will also be performing at A Center for the Arts, as well as offering workshops in their areas of expertise are singer/songwriter Ann Reed and storyteller/author Kevin Kling.

Ann Reed will be offering workshop opportunities in song writing on June 17 and a concert on June 18. She’s just finished writing the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Song and will have lots of ideas to share from that experience.

Kevin Kling, who has just published his book, “The Dog Says How,” will be offering story telling workshop opportunities and a unique performance — both on July 25.

By the way, Fergus Falls Reads’ Summer Program has chosen Kevin’s book as the community’s summer book. Get yours today, bring it with you wherever you go — wouldn’t it be fun if everyone showed up at this summer’s concerts in the park with their summer book.

Finally, our two summer theater productions will definitely be worth the drive or the bike ride. Since the Fergus Falls Middle School will be under construction for the next two summers, we’ll be producing theater downtown at A Center for the Arts and at the college’s Waage Theater.

“Wizard of Oz” has already been cast (with more than 100 people auditioning) and will be performed Aug. 2 through 4 and Aug. 13 through 16, at A Center for the Arts. If you didn’t get a part in “Wizard of Oz,” maybe you’d like to be in “Robin Hood.” Those auditions are scheduled for Monday through Wednesday, May 19-21 from 4 to 6 p.m., downtown at A Center for the Arts (or across the street at The Kaddatz Hotel if we’re painting the floor). Production dates for Robin Hood are July 11-13 and July 18-20.

Cheers to the arts in Fergus Falls — Always worth the drive, or the bike ride.

Rebecca Petersen is the director of A Center for the Arts.