Today we dropped in for the last hour of the open house at Center for the Arts. Well, that was a mistake! A mistake to come so late, that is. What we saw was rich and wonderful, and apparently what we missed was just as rich and wonderful.

We chatted with our neighbor Mona Matthias, who is also the Volunteer Coordinator and a board member of the Center, and she said that this was the first time they’ve done a “sampler” of talent, an idea she credited to Julie Baker, the Executive Director. The sampler was a terrific way to expose many of us to perfomances we might not otherwise have sought out. We came away determined now to sign up for a monthly stipend in support of the Center.

Here’s the lineup we caught at the end of the day:

Members of the Sierra Master Chorale 3:35 – 3:50
Accompanist, Ken Hardin
Ivan Najera 3:50 – 4:05
Molly Fisk 4:05 – 4:15
Reading from her forthcoming book “The More Difficult Beauty.”
Two Minds Working™ 4:15 – 4:25
Menlo Macfarlane & Mikail Graham presenting a short film: Breakfast In America
Jitterbugs Inc. 4:25 – 4:35
Break Dancers of SDI 4:35 – 4:45
Air Aligned 4:45 – 5:00
“Serenity” Featuring Grace Callaway, Marni Marshall and Tresa Honaker

Support this local theater. It’s so important.

As Mona said today, “So many problems in the world suck the soul right outta you. Today, the arts fed my soul, along with many many others!”

She’s got that right.

Oh, and don’t forget, the Smother’s Brothers are coming soon: