HIPFiSHmonthly

theater & performancePirates & Cowboys & Frogs... Oh My!FROGTOWN show features new songs & cast members Sunday, June 5, 2pmFROGTOWN, an All Ages Musical (WithFrogs!) will be performing on Sunday June5th at 2pm at the Liberty Theater in the 3rdAnnual FROGTOWN event. Returning toAstoria after performing in venues acrossthe country, this new FROGTOWN productionfeatures a whole new first half withall new music from FROGTOWN’s upcomingreleases “Frogtown Folk”, “Bedtime ForTadpoles”, and”Frogatronic!” The stellar castincludes the coast’s own Heather Christie,Oregon Music Hall of Famer Andy Stokes,Shannon Day, saxophonist Andy Warr andthe musical frogs of Frogtown, with directionby writer/composer Philip Pelletier. The showwill mark the Liberty debut of country starTHE ERUPTIONMarco Davis is talking about hisinspiration for a show coming up, itscalled THE ERUPTION. Have you heardabout? If it’s after May 14 – and you didn’ttake in the performance, I hope you get asecond chance.Something new. Can there be anythingnew? Always. Like this; last couplemonths, Wednesday and Thursday nightsat about 10pm, 17 people come togetherto rehearse dance numbers, cabaretvignettes, pull themselves together, findthe mojo, the steps, and probably “someballs” to boot.A small percentage of this troupe mightbe packing some dance background, butfor the most part, no. But what they doshare is a common desire for expression.Davis choreographs the numbers, and thetop, inside expectation is . . . get your ownand give it out. It works. Beautifully.Many know Mark (Marco) Davis as thecharming and talented #2 Chef at theColumbian Café. Second only to the master,Uriah Hulsey who is now spending timeDavid Miottel, as “Froggy Cash”, and will alsofeature special guests Kim Angelis on fiddle,the Seaside High School Choir (led by PhilWhite), and Encore Dance Studio (led DeneleSweet).The new show features seafaring frogs,dream dancing fairies, and an up-beat danceparty! Tickets are $10, with a Family Rate of 4tickets for $35, and are available at the Libertybox office, and online at www.ticketswest.com. For more info call 503-325-5922 ext 55.Students from Encore Dance Studio andSeaside High School will be appearing in theJune 5th Community Show along with theall-star cast. Author/Composer Philip Pelletierand the cast will be signing copies of theaward-winning book/CD afterthe show, which will be availablefor purchase. Proceedsgo to support Frogtown’s “Diversitythrough Music” Anti-Bullying program. One NightIn Frogtown was recentlyawarded the National GoldIPPY(Independent PublisherBook Award), and the NationalGold Moonbeam Children’sAward, marking the the firsttime an Northwest author haswon these prestigious children’sawards.Mr. Pelletier andvocalist HeatherChristie havepresented FROG-TOWN’s “DiversityThroughMusic”Programin over 50 Oregonschools.“One Night InFrogtown” hasbeen nominatedfor the OregonBook Award, THEGRAMMYS “Education Watch”,and is receiving rave nationalreviews. Frogtown was featuredrecently on national TV, and hasbeen touring theaters throughoutthe country on their “DiversityThrough Music” tour. Theprolific author/composer isalready working on the nextFROGTOWN book, as well asthe upcoming educationalDVD, “Learn to Read with Frogtown”,and a series of originalmusic CDs.“Lets blow the lid off. People don’t want to talk about [it]. There is so much going on in worldtoday. Its time for more expression. And we have to get it out.” – Marco.outside the café – putting Davis in the roleas “the go to chef.”Native Astorian, Davis is also an icon inanother realm – that of theater and dance.For years he’s been inspiring people to giveit their all, involved in many projects.A generously hearted teacher, Davisteaches jazz, tap, and that extra somethingthat puts the bounce in your shoe.Davis left the area for a number of years,completing a master in dance at U of O, andteaching dance in NYC. He came back to thehome roots not so long ago. On his 40thBirthday – he threw an outrageous, stagedkaraoke party at the Columbian Theater,using film, lip sync, asking friends to comeup and perform. It was so much fun, peopleasked, “When are you doing it again?”Thus, THE EVENT was spawned. This lastJanuary, Davis got a little more serious, addingdance numbers with lots of people inthem. It was campy, energetic, sexy, and thecrowds had a helluva good time.Come THE ERUPTION. More developed.The dancers, more confident. The dancenumbers, complex yet performed with ease,with ooze, with spice and dice. More campyvignettes, guaranteed to entertain. That’s allI’m sayin’. It’s late night entertainment.We’ve missed the Rocky Horror PictureShow since it’s run at the River. Relax, andget ready to do the time warp again.Saturday, May 14. Doors open 9:30. Showat 10pm. Grab a cocktail at the VoodooLounge. $5 bucks at the door. 21 & Over.Columbian Theater in Astoria.- Dinah UrellNeil Simon’s Star-Spangled GirlLook for TAPA’s production of Neil Simln’s timely favoritecoming in June. The Star-Spangled Girl tells the storyof two struggling writers, portrayed by Sam Kuzma andSteele Fleisher, who are trying to keep their undergroundpolitical protest newspaper afloat. While trying to exposegovernment conspiracies and wrongdoings, they meetan all-American girl, portrayed by Chey Kuzma, who hasjust moved into their building. Love and politics dancetogether in this clever and witty play.The Star-Spangled Girl kicks off TAPA’s summer seasonon June 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, and July 1 and 2. Following TheStar-Spangled Girl is The Starlite Academy Children’s WorkshopJuly 19–23 directed by Wally and Diane Nelson. Thenrounding out the summer season is The Chicken CreekDiaries written by Marilyn Allen and directed by WallyNelson. For information please visit www.tillamooktheater.com or contact info@tillamooktheater.com.Photo: Caption: Sam Kuzma, Chey Kuzma, SteeleFleisher.The Dixie Swim Clubat the CoasterFive Southern women, whose friendships beganmany years ago on their college swim team, set aside along weekend every August to recharge those relationships.Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet atthe same beach cottage on North Carolina’s Outer Banksto catch up, laugh and meddle in each other’s lives. “TheDixie Swim Club” focuses on four of those weekends andspans a period of thirty-three years.As their lives unfold and the years pass, these womenincreasingly rely on one another, through advice andraucous repartee, to get through the challenges (men,sex, marriage, parenting, divorce, aging) that life flings atthem. And when fate throws a wrench into one of theirlives in the second act, these friends, proving the enduringpower of ‘teamwork’, rally ‘round their own with thestrength and love that takes this comedy in a poignantand surprising direction.Performances: May 6 - May 29. Friday & Saturdayevenings at 8pm. Sunday matinees at 3pm May 8, 22, &29.Thursday, May 26 at 8pmTickets: $20 & $15.TalkbackThursday: May 12 at 7:30. Informal Q & A with cast anddirector following the performance (special ticket price:adults: $14; students: $8.) Call the Coaster Theater toreserve, 108 N. Hemlock, 503.436.1242.may11 hipfishmonthly.com18