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Voices of the Theatre

4/5/2012

Kathy Windrem joins executive director Mike Adams in the Soper Reese newsletter.

VOICES OF THE THEATRE

April 5, 2012 By: Kathy Windrem & Mike Adams

Starting last month, Kathy Windrem has joined me to help bring you this column and the latest in happenings at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre. Kathy has been helping me edit this column for some time, and I felt it was time to recognize that the “Voice of the Theatre,” is actually “Voices of the Theatre.” This month, we offer the following review of the most recent event at the theatre, “The Professional Pianists Concert,” a fundraiser to jointly benefit the newly formed Lake County Friends of Mendocino College, an affiliate of the Mendocino College Foundation, and the Soper-Reese Community Theatre.

A young (Hana Consterdine) walks into her living room, sits down some time, and I felt it was time to recognize that the “Voice of the Theatre,” is actually “Voices of the Theatre.” This month, we offer the following review of the most recent event at the theatre, “The Professional Pianists Concert,” a fundraiser to jointly benefit the newly formed Lake County Friends of Mendocino at the piano and starts to practice her scales. She then plays a piece she is practicing for her recital. But Hana isn’t in her living room. She is playing before the audience at the Professional Pianists Concert this past Saturday evening at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre. Master of Ceremonies Doug Rhoades, in acknowledging Hana, reminds the audience that this is where each of the pianists who will entertain began. Thus began the second annual Professional Pianists Concert at the Soper-Reese Theatre. Six incredibly talented and enthusiastic pianists performed music, from Beethoven and Bach, to Rogers and Hammerstein and Thelonious Monk. Several of the pianists performed their own original works as well. The stage setting was the living room of a group of pianists who shared stories and insights into their musical training, experience and preferences. Then they each performed - not only for the audience but for each other. The audience was enthralled, offering standing ovations several times throughout the evening. Lake County’s own Tom Ganoung, David Neft and Tom Aiken joined Mendocino County pianists Spencer Brewer, Elizabeth MacDougall and Elena Casanova for an evening that “rivaled any music performed in cities around the country.” The pianists were gratified at the enthusiastic response, offering their appreciation for the fine venue of the Soper-Reese and the incredible work that has gone into restoring the theatre. Their greatest praise was reserved for the grand piano, owned by the Clear Lake Performing Arts and housed by agreement at the theatre. Spencer Brewer commented the piano is like “driving a Ferrari.” The pianists each “took the piano for a test drive” during the evening, to the delight of the audience.

One of the highlights was Lake County’s own David Neft. It just happened to be his birthday, so he demonstrated his incredible versatility by playing Happy Birthday in over a dozen different musical styles, changing keys for each one in a medley celebrating his birthday, and his talent. David is known by musicians all over the North Coast as someone with an encyclopedia of songs at his fingertips. David will be featured on this month’s Lake County Live program broadcast on KPFZ 88.1 FM on April 29, starting at 6pm.

Coming up this month: Second Tuesday Classic Movie Series features Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” – April 10, 6pm; Chamber of Commerce Third Annual “Celebrity Lip Sync” – Saturday, April 14, 5pm and 8:30pm, and Sunday, April 15, 2pm; Third Friday Live featuring “Andre Williams” and “Andy Kong” – April 20, 7pm; “Lake County Live” – April 29, 6pm.

Tickets are available at The Travel Center in the Shoreline Shopping Center, Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm, at the Theatre box office on Fridays from 10:30am to 5:30pm and 2 hours before show time on the day of an event. Tickets can also be purchased on line at www.soperreesetheatre.com.

For all the latest in information, tickets and more go to www.soperreesetheatre.com, and we’ll see you at the theatre.


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