Performing arts fans are invited to join friends and community members in the Sprague Community Theater’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. Bandon Showcase and the Bandon Arts Council are pleased to present this unforgettable dinner and concert gala, featuring new and returning Sprague Theater alumni performers, on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Celebrate with Lachlan Miller and friends in a lively concert of classic and contemporary music theater selections, with opera, art songs and chamber music. Classically trained vocalists and instrumentalists include Bandon native Lachlan Miller, baritone; Nicole Stover, soprano; Redfish Music Festival Ensemble members Fritz Gearhart on violin, Zachary Deak on piano, and Noah Seitz on cello; along with intergenerational Sprague Theater alumni in the Anniversary Community Chorus.

“Those who’ve had the experience of participating in Sprague Community Theater events, as performers or audience members, know what a treasure the venue is for Bandon and the South Coast region,” said Geneva Miller, event co-producer.

“The 25th anniversary is a terrific chance to invite our performing arts supporters to celebrate the space, to honor the many people who have contributed over the first two decades and envision the next two decades’ worth of opportunities at the theater,” Miller added. “Our performers and production team have had fun creating a lineup of repertoire that highlights the performers’ talents and the acoustic quality of the space.”

Before the show, enjoy a delicious dinner catered by Black Market Gourmet with beverage service courtesy of 2 Mile Bistro, featuring wines from Oregon’s Foris Vineyards. During intermission, indulge in delectable sweets from Coastal Mist Fine Chocolates and Desserts.

The celebration kicks off at 5 p.m. with dinner at the Bandon Community Center, followed by the concert at 7 p.m. next door at the Sprague Community Theater. Both venues are located on 11th St. SW in Bandon City Park.

Admission

Event details and tickets are available at BandonShowcase.org. Dinner and concert admission is $100 per person or register a group of eight for $750. Dinner and concert reservations have been extended through Thursday, Sept. 18. This anniversary event is proudly presented by Bandon Showcase and the Bandon Arts Council with support from George and Darcy Cardas, the City of Bandon, 2 Mile Bistro, Foris Vineyards, and Coastal Mist.

“Leap!” (Spyglass Media Group 2016) is an animated action adventure movie about a young heroine who dreams of becoming a prima ballerina with the Paris Opera Ballet company. At the show, enjoy a cameo appearance by MarLo dancers, and learn about fundraising opportunities to benefit the dance studio scholarship program.

Shows are 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18. The event is sponsored by Easlon Construction and Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Visit our Events section for details and ticket information.

Leaping into the Fall Season

After six months of class limitations and interruptions, MarLo Dance Studio is back in session. MarLo students commute from as far as Powers, Brookings, and Coos Bay. The studio’s unique program focuses on a classical ballet foundation with jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop, and ballroom genres. In keeping with COVID restrictions, classes are smaller than average this fall with priority for returning students.

MarLo instructors and dancers made a quick shift in March from in-person instruction to online stretches, tendues and pirouettes. Zoom meetings were a great way to stay connected but no replacement for studio rehearsal, noted studio director Maria Merriam. The annual MarLo spring show was postponed, then cancelled, as pandemic restrictions continue to limit group rehearsals and performances. (The studio’s semi-annual “Nutcracker” production is tentatively rescheduled for the 2021 holiday season.)

Cancelling the “Cinderella” production was a two-fold disappointment for dancers and instructors. Community members look forward to productions as an artful showcase of student achievement. And, theatrical productions are the primary source of funding for the studio’s scholarship program. Scholarships are made available to aspiring dancers who need assistance with the cost of class tuition.

“The need is greater than ever this year,” said Merriam.

Eager to get back into the theater, Merriam took inspiration from New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, where movies were historically paired with live performances by the Rockettes. In Bandon, the “Leap!” movie will be followed by a live performance by a small group of upper level MarLo ballet students.

Those who are inspired can contribute to the studio scholarship fund two ways. Make a donation or purchase a 2021 calendar featuring MarLo dance production photos by local photographers Annetta Adams and Eric Wyatt. Donations and calendar orders can be made online though the MarLo ticket shopping cart or in person at the Sprague Community Theater.

Patrons interested in supporting local performing arts and youth programs and those with general questions may contact Maria Merriam by phone, 541-252-1394.

MarLo Dance Studio 2019 “Pinocchio” production photo by Eric Wyatt, courtesy of MarLo Dance Studio.