Catch the arts fever

By Rebecca Petersen | The Daily Journal

Published Saturday, May 31, 2008

How many of you are suffering from that heady aroma in the air? It’s the smell of apple blossoms and lilacs and maybe even the catalpa trees in bloom. They used to call it spring fever before they actually realized that the true precipitating factor is allergies. I believe it’s true. Allergies make you swoony and light-headed and maybe even a little bit spacey — all of those same characteristics of spring fever.

Spring fever around here at A Center for the Arts is consumed by lots of activity. That includes sprucing the place up these past two weeks with new paint and carpeting. It also includes multiple auditions for “Robin Hood,” and “The Wizard of Oz.”

Rehearsals are now underway for both productions and what wonderful shows they will be. The casts and crews are talented and dedicated and, thanks to Sommer Robles working as production assistant, things are getting organized.

Sommer is also helping us organize our Summer Arts Academy. Along with the Community College (this year’s site for Summer Arts Academy) and District 544 Community Education (one of this year’s partners) we are offering a theater/dance track and a music/visual arts track.

Last week’s column talked about both. If you missed it, visit our Web site at www.fergusarts.org where you’ll find class schedules, descriptions and a whole lot more.

Print out our online application there, as well, and register your kids and yourself for classes in June and July.

While you’re at the Web site you might want to check out our new newsletter. If you’re a member you already received a hard copy in the mail. If you’re not a member, consider joining today. You can find our membership application online as well.

There are more and more things that one can take care of online. However, it’s my belief that nothing will ever be able to replace a live performance — where you’re in the room with a fabulous musician, actor, artist, dancer or even film — and experiencing it together with the rest of the audience. It’s not just because I’m in the business. It’s because I can see what it does for people when they’re in the audience or on the stage.

I guess that’s why we continue to try to live up to our mission “Building The Connection Between Artist and Audience.”

This summer you’ll have opportunities to help us do that — either on the stage, in the audience at the theater, at the college or at the concerts in the park.

Two special return visits from Ann Reed (singer/songwriter) on June 18, and Kevin Kling (actor/storyteller) on July 25, will help us further test our abilities to connect the two to the community and their audiences.

Both will do workshops prior to their performances.

Now that we’ve done some spring cleaning to get ready for all of the upcoming activities and performances … we know that our cleaning, upgrading and spring fever will continue into the weeks ahead.

Another “facelift” next month will be focused on The Mighty WurliTzer Theatre Pipe Organ, which will be traveling to Fargo for a little bit of fine tuning. Mark your calendars for Lance Johnson’s Summerfest Concert on Saturday, June 14 at noon here at A Center for the Arts. It will be the last chance to hear the theater organ for a little while.

So, if you see me floating around the community on cloud nine either it’s the paint fumes, the allergy medicine or maybe, it’s just plain old spring fever.

Rebecca Petersen is the director of A Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls.