Returning Focus
Orcas Center - Black Box 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesEmbark on a journey of grief, self-discovery, and womanhood in “Returning Focus,” a new play written and directed by Ellie Wright. Following the loss of her mother, a woman and her daughter grapple not only with their individual relationships with the late matriarch, but their relationship with one another. In a blend of dialogue and dance, “Returning Focus” explores the complexities of grief as the duo navigate the tumultuous path of disconnection, re-connection, and ultimately, understanding.
Tangled in Vow and Beseech
Orcas Center - Black Box 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesTangled in Vow and Beseech - An evening of poetry, conversations, and artwork with Jill McCabe Johnson and guests Martha Farish and Kate Geddes. Presented by the Orcas Island Library.
Inspire Washington – Community Discussion
During this time of rebuild, cultural organizations are in dire need of funding for financial recovery and to restart programming. You are invited to join your local partners for in-person Cultural Futures! At the Cultural Futures, we aim to provide you with news you can use. From funding sources to advocacy opportunities, Inspire Washington staff will share all the information you need to know right now.
Into the Woods
Into the Woods follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.
AOK and High School Art Show
To celebrate our island youth, a six-week student art exhibit is being hosted at the Orcas Center from May 3-June 12, 2024, with an art opening on Friday, May 3rd at 5:30pm. The show features art created in A*OK classes, Kindergarten through 8th grade, as well as pieces from the Orcas Island High School.
Summer Concert Series – GiveOrcas Fundraiser!
Help fund Orcas Center's free outdoor Summer Concert Series! Orcas Center's Summer Concert Series returns to the Village Green! Give the gift of entertainment to our community and help fund this incredible program. This year features 11 FREE outdoor concerts on Eastsound's Village Green stage - with touring artists and local music makers, offering world class music from all kinds of genres at zero cost to you and your families.
SJC Free Legal Clinic 2024
For the third year in a row, Skagit Legal Aid and the San Juan County Bar Association are jointly hosting a Law Day Legal Clinic where anyone from San Juan County can meet with an attorney about a variety of civil legal issues.
On Screen: Carmen (Met Opera)
Bizet’s masterpiece of the gypsy seductress who lives by her own rules has had an impact far beyond the opera house. The opera’s melodic sweep is as irresistible as the title character herself, a force of nature who has become a defining female cultural figure.
OCS: Songs of Shadow and Light
From the sublime to the downright silly, Orcas Choral Society’s spring concert, Songs of Shadow and Light, features works of contemporary English composer John Rutter. The program begins with Rutter’s Requiem, a fervent arc of prayers for all humanity. The second half turns to sweetness, light, and all manner of fun, with spirituals, a jazz madrigal, songs that rejoice in the beauty of spring, and a new OCS ensemble of tenors and basses. Under the lively baton of Artistic Director Bruce Langford, Songs of Shadow and Light will leave your heart singing.
On Screen: La Forza Del Destino (Met Opera)
Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Verdi’s grand tale of ill-fated love, deadly vendettas, and family strife, with stellar soprano Lise Davidsen as the noble Leonora, one of the repertory’s most tormented—and thrilling—heroines. Director Mariusz Treliński delivers the company’s first new Forza in nearly 30 years, setting the scene in a contemporary world and making extensive use of the Met’s turntable to represent the unstoppable advance of destiny that drives the opera’s chain of calamitous events.
Disaster Preparedness Forum
Join Brendan Cowan with the Department of Emergency Management, Russell Guerry from OPALCO and Chief vanSchaick from Orcas Island Fire & Rescue for a community disaster preparedness forum on Wednesday May 22nd from 5:30 - 7:30pm at Orcas Center.
On Screen: La Rondine (Met Opera)
Initially conceived as an operetta before receiving the full operatic treatment, this bittersweet love story is the least-known work of the mature Giacomo Puccini, largely due to the circumstances of its premiere: Italy and Austria became enemies during World War I, precluding a Vienna premiere, and the opera quietly opened in neutral Monte Carlo, never finding a permanent place in the repertoire. That loss is scandalous, since La Rondine, judged on its own merits rather than compared to other operas with similar themes, is a fascinating work—featuring an abundance of exuberant waltzes, a lightness of tone (particularly in the intoxicating first two acts), and a romantic vision of Paris and the south of France.
All-District Strings Concert 2024
This concert showcases the growth of the public school string program on Orcas. From our 5th grade strings through our graduating seniors. Telemann to LeRoy Anderson to Robert Plant. Come and support our young string musicians!
Peace by Piece
An all ages showcase featuring everyone involved in Orcas dance! Peace begins in the family home and spreads into our community where we can collectively shine out an example of inclusion and unity. Please come join your family, friends and neighbors as we gather, dance and strengthen our vision of what Peace looks like together!
On Screen: Madama Butterfly (Met Opera)
The title character of Madama Butterfly—a young Japanese geisha who clings to the belief that her arrangement with a visiting American naval officer is a loving and permanent marriage—is one of the defining roles in opera. The story triggers ideas about cultural and sexual imperialism for people far removed from the opera house, and film, Broadway, and popular culture in general have riffed endlessly on it. The lyric beauty of Puccini’s score, especially the music for the thoroughly believable lead role, has made Butterfly timeless.
Bloodworks Northwest: Blood Drive
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIt takes 1,000 blood donors each day to save lives across the Pacific Northwest. This spring, Bloodworks Northwest is touring together, from Bellingham, WA, to Eugene, OR, with one message: thank you. Hear the stories, feel the need, and discover the reasons why people choose to be 1 in 1,000. Join us in being a donor!
On Screen: When Backwards is Forwards
A story of overcoming our deepest fear with faith and self-love. Orcas High School alum Ella James BigBee co-directs and captures the cinematography of the wilderness in Western America. In her debut experimental film, Ella shadows her father's journey, silently documenting and filming the process.
Melodies, Marches, and Memories
Please join your friends and neighbors in the OI Community Band for its first formal concert since the pandemic! Our music presents something for all tastes. Enjoy a concert of lively marches, touching beloved melodies and some tunes which will evoke memories of years past.
Paul Winter Consort
Seven-time Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Paul Winter will perform at Orcas Center on Saturday, June 8th at 7 pm. A journey through Paul Winter’s world of “living music,” the concert will feature Winter’s soprano sax and the virtuosic piano playing of Henrique Eisenmann.
Spring Cleaning Help Needed!
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIt’s Spring Cleaning Time! For three days (June 11-13), we are looking for volunteers to help us tame the wilds of our warehouse! Over the course of a season it can get pretty squirrelly in there, so it needs pruning! Come to any / all of the days - There will be food for the crew!
Art Exhibit: Terry Johnson & Friends
Terry Johnson and his students are pleased to present an exhibition of their works at Orcas Center through July 22. Exhibiting artists include: Avi Shmueli, Barbara Gourley, Barbara Wixom, Betsy Nelson, Christa Smith, Mimi Peters, Pearl Mudd, Peter Carlson, Shawna Franklin, and Willie Williams.
Luca Stricagnoli
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesLuca Stricagnoli is a world-renowned guitarist known for his innovative fingerstyle techniques and genre-blending musical arrangements. Hailing from Italy, but now based in Nashville, Luca's mesmerizing performances have earned him a massive social media following and critical acclaim from fellow musicians and critics alike worldwide.
Dirty Cello
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesDirty Cello - cello like you've never heard before! Combine the virtuosic wail of Jimi Hendrix, the soul of BB King, and the fire of Bill Monroe, and add a whole lot of cello, and you get the Dirty Cello band.
Improv workshop
Brian James O'Connell's three-day workshop aims to help you not just on stage, but with any artistic endeavor you do. Through his decades of award-winning stagecraft, filmmaking, and producing, he has created the curriculum ALL IMPROV—a way of looking at everything you create and unlocking its maximum potential.
Laughs by the Pound – Improv Showcase!
Join us for a fun and unscripted evening in the Blackbox with Brian James O'Connell and Kyle Duncan Graham! We don't know what's going to happen - That's the beauty of improv - Join us and find out!
Beethoven’s Five Beloved Piano Concertos
World-renowned pianist Jon Kimura Parker’s mastery of the complete Beethoven Piano Concertos will be center stage for this epic two-night event. With acclaimed Scott Holshouser on orchestral piano, Parker will perform all five of the inimitable composer’s piano concertos over the course of two concerts, an extraordinary artistic feat not to be missed!
Roy Rogers & The Delta Rhythm Kings
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesRoy Rogers is considered one of the world’s preeminent master Delta slide guitarists. With over 20 recordings to his credit, Rogers has garnered 8 Grammy nominations for producing, as a recording artist, and as a songwriter. His collaborations have garnered major media accolades globally for producing critically acclaimed Grammy nominated recordings for John Lee Hooker and Ramblin' Jack Elliott, as well as collaborations with Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, Allan Toussaint & Sammy Hagar, among others.
Summer Theatre Camp 2024!
Orcas Center Presents: Summer Theatre Camp 2024: Theater 360! Theatre 360 is a deep dive into what theatre is, how it works,
Jens Lindemann
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesAs the first classical brass soloist to ever receive the Order of Canada, Jens Lindemann is hailed as one of the most celebrated artists in his instrument’s history and was recently named “International Brass Personality of the Year” (Brass Herald). Jens has played both jazz and classical in every major concert venue in the world: from the Philharmonics of New York, Los Angeles, London, Berlin, Moscow and Tokyo to Carnegie Hall and even the Great Wall of China.
Adrian Xavier and Ska Island
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesAdrian Xavier has been spreading his uplifting message music for two decades, performing at festivals, colleges and events of all kinds. Adrian Xavier has been a part of Seattle's thriving music scene his entire life, with over 50 performances with original members of RNR Hall Fame band Heart and a regular featured guest with Marmalade, Seattle's longest running funk collective. Reggae music has always been a part of his journey and his role in cultivating the scene has led to exposer and development for many artist from Jamaica to Hawaii, Prezident Brown, Rocker T., Ras Michael, Clinton Fearon and Marty Dread are among the many artists Adrian Xavier has supported, toured and collaborated with extensivley on events and in the studio.
Heroines of History: Portrayals of Asian Women
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThree Asian-American storytellers portray the lives of pioneering women who have impacted history. Roopa Mohan will re-create the life of Kasturba Gandhi. Bowen Lee will embody the pioneering woman mountain climber, first woman to climb Mt. Everest. Nancy Wang will enact the life of Quock Mui, a pioneering Chinese American from the Chinese fishing villages of the Monterey Bay area.
Fantasy Island Masquerade Gala
Orcas Center's Fantasy Island Masquerade Gala Saturday, July 20th Starting at 5pm Join us for a gala like no other!
Up Up Up
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesUP UP UP Inc. is a touring crane truck circus ensemble! Our goal is to do socially distant shows for outdoor gatherings, small farms, immigrant communities, dinner parties, nursing homes, women's shelters, etc. to bring joy and levity into the air!
Art Exhibit: 2024 Orcas Artist Studio Tour
Take a look at the Orcas Artist Studio Tour on display at Orcas Center until August 20.
Thurmond Russell Recital
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThurmond Russell is pleased to invite the community to his first solo piano and voice recital. The program will feature Robert Schumann‘s Kinderszenen, Johannes Brahms’ Op. 10 Ballades, select Franz Schubert lieder, and an original composition. Born and raised on Orcas Island, Thurmond began his piano studies in 2020 and vocal training this year. He hopes to continue improving his skills with a future goal of composing and playing his own works.
Alice di Micele
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThe first thing you ‘ll notice about Alice Di Micele is her voice. With a five-octave range that is intense, sensual, rich and soulful, Di Micele has been known to turn a noisy bar silent within a few notes. Her warm presence and humor disarm and create a rare intimacy between audience and performer. Whether singing a jazzy-folk number, belting a sassy blues, crooning a hushed ballad, or rocking out on one of her trademark rhythmic earthy grooves, Alice is a vocalist that moves people. A kick-ass guitarist as well, whether playing solo or with a band “Force of Nature” her acoustic guitar conjures percussive poly-rhythms, bass lines, and melodies that perfectly frame her vocals.
OICMF – Gryphon Trio Returns
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesGryphon Trio: Annalee Patipatanakoon, Roman Borys, Jamie Parker, Aloysia Friedmann, Illia Ovcharenko
Songwriters in the Round
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesJoin local songwriters, Melody Funk, Carolyn Cruso, Madison West and Lisa Legros for this intimate musical experience. The In the Round format allows for artists to share their songs as well as the stories and inspiration behind writing them. Each artist is inspired by the piece that went before and can adjust their set list accordingly. Themes arise, running jokes emerge, harmonies are offered. It promises to be an evening of magic, lyrics and melody.
OICMF – Virtuoso Violins!
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesMargaret Batjer, Robyn Bollinger, Robert deMaine, Aloysia Friedmann, David Grossman, Gryphon Trio, Cho-Liang Lin, Illia Ovcharenko, Jon Kimura Parker, Eileen Swanson, Jeff Thayer
OICMF – Children’s Concert
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival Presents: The Children's Concert. Join us for The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant, and lots of other musical fun!
OICMF – Orcas~trations: Twos and Tangos
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesMargaret Batjer, Robyn Bollinger, Robert deMaine, Aloysia Friedmann, Mak Grgić, David Grossman, Gryphon Trio, Cho-Liang Lin, Illia Ovcharenko, Jon Kimura Parker, Eileen Swanson, Jeff Thayer
Caleb & Reeb and the Cali Cutups
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesDust off your boots and gather around for some true and original modern honky tonk music. An all-star cast of master musicians backs these two soul singers of country music, Caleb Klauder and Reeb Willms. These two are known to roots music fans across the globe for their soulful harmonies, driving dance tunes, classic original songs, and commitment to the raw truth of rural American music.
OICMF – Sizzling Strings and Killer Keys
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesRobert deMaine, Aloysia Friedmann, Mak Grgić, David Grossman, Cho-Liang Lin, Miró Quartet, Illia Ovcharenko, Jon Kimura Parker, Eileen Swanson, Jeff Thayer
OICMF – Teenage Genius
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesRoman Borys, Daniel Ching, Robert deMaine, William Fedkenheuer, Aloysia Friedmann, Joshua Gindele, Mak Grgić, John Largess, Miró Quartet, Jon Kimura Parker, Annalee Patipatanakoon, Jeff Thayer
OICMF – Open Rehearsal for Seniors
Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival Presents: Open Rehearsal for Seniors Orcas Center Main Stage Friday, August 16, 1:00pm FREE (no tickets required)
New Primitives
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesNew Primitives was founded in Minneapolis in 2003 by drummer, singer, songwriter Stanley Kipper. They are four-time Minnesota Music Award recipients and have played with Taj Mahal, Ziggy Marley, Mickey Hart, and the Neville Brothers, among others. New Primitives musicians come from a variety of strong musical backgrounds. Stan is on drums, Chico Perez on congas and percussion, Patrick Nelson on bass, Andrew Wozniak on lead guitar, “Lightnin” Joe Peterson on B3 and Brian “Snowman” Powers on saxophone. The music is Funky R& B/American Reggae with world music influences.
Art Exhibit: Julia Summers / Abstracts
This exhibit celebrates Featured Artist Julia Summers and our community show theme is Abstracts - On display through September 24th.
Acrobatic Conundrum
With all the passion and purpose that only eighteen months of solitudinous circus training can evoke, the performers of Acrobatic Conundrum are ready to channel the dancing, flipping sublime once again. This evening length, open air show is a one of a kind, not to be missed smorgasbord of aerial dance, hand to hand pas de deux, tumbling and clownery, always delivered in inimitable, authentic style.
Tanya Leigh Hutchins Memorial
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesPlease join us for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Tanya Leigh Hutchins. We will gather together on Saturday, August 24 at 1pm in the Madrona Room to remember our wonderful Tanya, and her partner Hans, who will be greatly missed.
Audio Brunch Workshop at Orcas Center
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesJake Perrine will present a Live Sound Basics workshop over TEN Sunday mornings at Orcas Center Center Stage from 11am-12pm. The workshop is open to the public, and designed for audio hobbyists who want to improve their understanding of how audio works, how to work with it, and improve their live audio chops for weddings, live events, live recording, etc. Tuition is a WORK TRADE! Anyone present at 11am for the each workshop will learn for an hour, and then head down to the Village Green Stage at noon and put their learning into practice by helping set up for the weekly Summer Concert Series show for an hour (and / or promise to return at the end of the show and help break the gear down for an hour). You will learn as much by doing as you did in the workshop, and are welcome to ask questions throughout!
Duende Libre
The Village Green - Outdoors 203 N Beach Rd, Eastsound, WA, United StatesDuende Libre is an award-winning jazz ensamble which combines jazz virtuosity with roots rhythms from Cuba, Brazil, and West Africa into a “strikingly authentic blend.” Each having apprenticed with direct descendants and master musicians of these traditions, they consider themselves disciples of their teachers. The result: A euphoric new jazz that honors its historical roots, pushing open the boundaries of genre to invoke a powerful sonic freedom.
Jazz Fest 24-Edmar Castañeda & Andrea Tierra
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesEdmar Castañeda nominated for a Latin Grammy in the category "Best Latin Jazz Album" with his album Family. In fall 2021, Castañeda's performance will be heard in Disney's latest film, Encanto (Release date: November 24, 2021), which features original songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Castañeda acts on the soundtrack and serves as music consultant on Encanto; Hailing from Medellín, Colombia, singer-songwriter Andrea Tierra crafts an innovative fusion of popular Latin-American rhythms, seamlessly blending them with the poignant essence of her own poetry. Each performance becomes a stage for her lyrical creations. While her songs often carry progressive themes and political stances against global injustices, Andrea's contralto voice equally resonates in contemporary love ballads and new-age compositions.
Jazz Fest 24 – Oliver Groenewald NewNet
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThe roots of the "NewNet" stretch back to the early 1990s in Austria when band leader, Oliver Groenewald, assembled a unique lineup consisting of two trumpets, a trombone, three saxophones, and a rhythm section to give life to his musical vision. Groenewald's intricate compositions and the band's ability to evoke the volume of a Big Band while maintaining the intimacy of a smaller ensemble quickly drew attention, including that of the legendary American jazz vocalist Mark Murphy.In 1992, Murphy commissioned Oliver to arrange and produce an album together. The fruit of their collaboration, "Very Early," was released in 1993 and received critical acclaim, earning the title of Vocal CD of the Year from the New Yorker Cadence magazine.
Jazz Fest 2024 – Martin Lund & The Off-Island All-Stars
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesMartin Lund, one of the most diverse musicians in the universe, lives and breathes music in many different colors and cultures. He has played with some of the great blues artists of our time and worked in the studios of LA as a composer, arranger, and musician. He is well known for bringing great artists to this island and providing some of the best shows at Orcas Center.
Film: S/he is Still Her/e
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesS/he is Still Her/e is a comprehensive, enthralling and aptly provocative portrait of the singer-songwriter, musician, poet, performance artist, visual artist and occultist known as Genesis P-Orridge. Join us for this one-night event including a post-film discussion with the director, David Charles Rodriguez!
West My Friend
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIn the modern musical landscape, it’s rare to hear something as put-together as Cascadian folk duo West My Friend - something so layered, deeply symphonic, baroque, and mysterious in its own winking way while still courting an edge of disaster. Simple is safe, but complex is fiery, intricate, and ultimately more rewarding.
Ladies of Hip Hop: Woman in the Woods Productions
Woman in the Woods Productions, presents: Ladies of Hip Hop! Join us at 5pm for appetizers from The Kitchen (including vegan options) as well as Steve Alboucq and Oliver Groenewald Quintet in the Madrona Room. Performance starts at 7pm
Good Lovelies
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesWith nine critically acclaimed releases, a #1 single, a JUNO Award, and a devoted fanbase blanketing the globe, roots-pop combo The Good Lovelies are among Canada’s brightest musical lights. The hardworking trio of Caroline Brooks, Kerri Ough, and Susan Passmore — guitar-wielding songwriters all, and queens of the goose bump–raising three-part harmony.
On Display: Robert Dash / Drawings
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThis exhibit celebrates Featured Artist Robert Dash and our community show theme is Drawing and Prints. The show will be on display until October 22nd. Join us for the Art Opening on September 27th at 5:30pm!
Adey Bell
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThe multi-talented Adey Bell is an American vocalist, pianist, film composer, and actor. Born under the “Big Sky” of Montana, her music reflects this expanse. As singer/songwriter she joins the ranks of such poignant solo female virtuosos as Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Joni Mitchell, blending classically influenced piano composition with raw lyrical reflective intimacy.
Auditions – Kids Got Talent
Auditions for Orcas Center’s youth talent show will take place on Wednesday 10/2 and Thursday 10/3 from 3-5pm on both days on Center Stage. Bring your talent and show us your act! We will select the most appropriate acts for the two shows which will take place on Saturday 10/12 at 6pm, and Sunday 10/13 at 2pm.
Kids Got Talent!
Kids Got Talent - A Show for Kids by Kids! Co-hosted by Maddie Olson Saturday, October 12th at 6pm Sunday, October 13th
Orcas Island Film Festival 2024
October 15-20, we will screen incredible films over the course of five days in three venues that boast state-of-the-art cinema projection systems. Films at the Orcas Island Film Festival are, "the crème de la crème of the first-tier festival circuit," says Charles Mudede, Film/Art critic from The Stranger. Attendees will see these films before their official theatrical release and the festival provides a unique opportunity for filmmakers and film lovers to connect and share the cinematic experience as well as parties, panels and special events.
On Display: Ponch Immel / Ceramics & Watercolors
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesThis exhibit celebrates Featured Artist Ponch Immel and our community show theme is Ceramics and watercolors. The show will be on display until November 19th.
OI Library Adult Spelling Bee
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesHave you ever wanted to enter a Spelling Bee contest? Or are you a former Spelling Bee champ and crave another opportunity? Here’s your chance! The Orcas Island Library is hosting an Adult Spelling Bee on Friday, Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be prizes and refreshments.
Andrew Collins Trio
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United States7x CFMA winner/5x JUNO nominee mando-maestro Andrew Collins is joined by fellow Trio string-meisters Mike Mezzatesta and James McEleney to showcase a popular collision of folk, new acoustic roots, chambergrass and jazz, not to mention a dizzying number and energetic interplay of instruments on stage. This dynamic genre-hopping show is propelled even further by Andrew’s captivating lead vocals and James’ soaring harmonies.
Bloodworks Northwest: Blood Drive
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIt takes 1,000 blood donors each day to save lives across the Pacific Northwest. Schedule your appointment to donate at Orcas Center on November 6th!
Film: Fish War
Join us for a screening of the documentary film FISH WAR follows the tribes’ fight to exercise their treaty-reserved fishing rights in Washington State. A landmark court case in 1974 would affirm the tribes’ treaty rights and establish them as co-managers of the resource, but the fate of salmon in the Pacific Northwest still hangs in the balance. Join us for a free screening of the film followed by a discussion.
She Rose
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesAn exquisite and evocative multi-modality experience of sacred song, dance, ritual theater, puppeteering, and visuals, ‘The She Rose Show’ entices the hearts of the witness to bloom in reverence of the power & wisdom of the emergent divine feminine.
Orcas Center Annual Meeting: Public Welcome!
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesOrcas Center's annual meeting is on Sunday, November 10th at 3pm. The event is open to the public! Orcas Center Members will vote prior to the meeting via online ballot.
Dancing in the Brass Ring
Turtleback Brass and The Orcas Dance Collective unite with community artists to celebrate our successes while enduring life’s trying transitions. Finding balance and bounty through brass and dance is one way can come together and express thankfulness. A concert of all ages for all ages!
Auditions – Puffs
Auditions for Orcas Center’s production of "Puffs" to be performed in February-March 2025. Seeking actors 14+
VAC Art Exhibit: Animals in Art
The Visual Arts Committee (VAC) of Orcas Center, is excited to host an exhibit celebrating our furry and feathered island friends! Fifty-four (54!) artists of all genres have submitted over 125 pieces of art for this fantastic community show, on display through December 20th.
Memorial: Jim Shaffer-Bauck
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Orcas Center on his birthday—Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 2 PM. Please join us for shared music and stories followed by light appetizers and beverages—as Jim could not be convinced to show up for anything without the promise of a morsel to tickle his palate and libations to wash it down.
Handmade Craft Market 2024
Celebrate the holiday season and all the incredible talent this island has to offer! The Visual Arts Committee (VAC) of Orcas Center is excited to host a Handmade Craft Market on November 30th (Small Business Saturday) from 11am-4pm
OCS: Ceremony of Carols
Join us for a wondrous Holiday Concert! Orcas Choral Society will be singing Benjamin Britten’s beloved Ceremony of Carols arranged for men’s and women’s voices, plus a wide array of well-known carols. Bruce Langford, Artistic Director, said “The mix gives us great harmonies. It is music that will stay with you long after the concert is done.”
Orcas Island High School Strings and Band Concert
Orcas Island High School Strings and Band will be performing some holiday favorites and some other non holiday pieces. Come and join us. Orcas Center 7:00 PM.
Alias Brass – Holiday Gifts
Get into the holiday spirit with the Alias Brass Company on Friday, December 13 at 7pm! "Holiday Gifts" combines holiday standards, interactive audience carols, and exciting arrangements, for an exciting evening of holiday entertainment at Orcas Center!
On Screen: Sea Island Nutcracker
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesJoin us for an encore video presentation of 2023's Sea Island Nutcracker - By donation! Proceeds go towards supporting Orcas Dance Collective's Spring production of Alice in Wonderland, and Orcas Center's Help Us Thrive in '25 fundraising campaigns.
Orcas Island Community Band Holiday Concert
Orcas Center 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesYour musical friends and neighbors in the Orcas Island Community Band would love to have you join us for a stirring holiday concert at Orcas Center. Under the direction of Karen Key Speck, the Community Band plays musical selections from the past which will stir up beautiful memories and new arrangements of Hannukah and Christmas tunes to welcome in the winter season. Admission by donation. Everyone is welcome.
On Screen: Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Met Opera)
An ensemble of leading lights takes the stage for Offenbach’s fantastical final work, headlined by tenor Benjamin Bernheim in the title role of the tormented poet. Hoffmann’s trio of lovers are sung by soprano Erin Morley as the mechanical doll Olympia, soprano Pretty Yende as the plagued diva Antonia, and mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as the Venetian seductress Giulietta.
On Display: VAC Committee Show 2025
Join us in celebrating the work of Kathleen Youngren, Leon Rosenblatt, Mary Jane Elgin, Julia Summers, Sarah Crigger, Zoe Osenbach, Carol Ann Anderson, Kirk Nozaki, Marjorie Taylor, Julie Rusby, Brook Meinhardt, and Avi Shmueli - Our current Visual Arts Committee. On display January 17th - February 11th.
Memorial: Artha Freya Kass
Artha Kass, our beloved friend, dedicated volunteer, and tireless advocate for the arts, left our world on November 27th. Our hearts are heavy as we mourn this great loss to our community. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Orcas Center on Saturday, January 18th at 2pm.
On Screen: Grounded (Met Opera)
Two-time Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori’s powerful new opera Grounded, commissioned by the Met and based on librettist George Brant’s acclaimed play, wrestles with the ethical quandaries and psychological toll of 21st-century warfare. Mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo, one of opera’s most compelling young stars, portrays Jess, a hot-shot fighter pilot whose unplanned pregnancy takes her out of the cockpit and lands her in Las Vegas, operating a Reaper drone halfway around the world. As she struggles to adjust to this new way of doing battle, she fights to maintain her sanity, and her soul, as she is called to rain down death by remote control. Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin oversees the Met premiere of Tesori’s kaleidoscopic score and a cast that also features tenor Ben Bliss as the Wyoming rancher who becomes Jess’s husband. Michael Mayer’s high-tech staging, using a vast array of LED screens, presents a variety of perspectives on the action, including the drone’s predatory view from high above.
WOLFCHILD
At the heart of WOLFCHILD is Gabriel Wolfchild and his brother Elion TruthHeart. Gabriel’s emotive lyricism, enchanting vocals, and unique guitar work quickly won over Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, and Christina Aguilera on NBC’s The Voice with his soulful rendition of Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright”, culminating in a national tour. Elion is a virtuoso multi-instrumentalist who effortlessly flows between drums and a variety of exotic string and woodwind accompaniment. He contributes to a rich vocal harmony that only brothers can create.
On Screen: Tosca (Met Opera)
Extraordinary soprano Lise Davidsen stars as the volatile diva Floria Tosca for her first time at the Met. David McVicar’s thrilling production also features tenor Freddie De Tommaso in his eagerly anticipated company debut as Tosca’s revolutionary lover, Cavaradossi, and powerhouse baritone Quinn Kelsey as the sadistic chief of police Scarpia. Maestro Xian Zhang conducts the electrifying score, which features some of Puccini’s most memorable melodies.
Frank Vignola and Pasquale Grasso
Join us on January 31st to witness the incredibly versatile guitarist Frank Vignola team up with rising jazz guitar star Pasquale Grasso to create an unique and intimate musical experience unlike any other!
On Screen: Aida (Met Opera)
This grandest of grand operas features an epic backdrop for what is in essence an intimate love story. Set in ancient Egypt and packed with magnificent choruses, complex ensembles, and elaborate ballets, Aida never loses sight of its three protagonists. Few operas have matched Aida in its exploration of the conflict of private emotion and public duty, and perhaps no other has remained to the present day so unanimously appreciated by audiences and critics alike.
Lysistrata – in the Black Box
Follow Lysistrata and her band of Renegades as the salvation of war-torn Greece lies in the hands of the matriarchy. This 45 minute dance theater piece incorporates burlesque and cabaret stylings to reinterpret the classical comedy by Aristophanes for a contemporary audience. Featuring a powerhouse soundtrack and all-local cast. Performance is for mature audiences ages 18+. This is a Valentine's Double Feature, with two shows slotted for 7PM and 9PM on both Friday and Saturday. There will be a DJ and dance party open to the public on Saturday 2/15 at 10PM after the show. Free admission to the dance party with Saturday night ticket purchase, or by cash donation at the door.
Art Exhibit: Textiles and Fiber Arts
Calling all textile and fiber artists - This show is for you! Bring your works in weaving, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, quilting, felting, and other textile works, and join us for the art opening on Friday, Feburary 14th!
The Fire of Love – 2nd Annual Valentine’s Day Event at Orcas Center
"If the world is to be saved, this is how we do it." Please join local artist / writer Debra Lee Babcock and poet Jill McCabe Johnson to cozy up in the Madrona Room around the fireplace and listen to local readers reading their own and other’s words on the subject. There will be lots of open-mike slots as well, so if you’ve got a favorite of your own or someone else’s, please sign up!
Puffs
Puffs is a theatrical spoof of a certain story about a certain wizard boy with a forehead scar who went to a certain Wizard School and battled a certain evil wizard for seven years. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs... a group of students who love badgers and just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.
Bloodworks Northwest: Blood Drive
Orcas Center - Madrona Room 917 Mount Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesIt takes 1,000 blood donors each day to save lives across the Pacific Northwest. Schedule your appointment to donate at Orcas Center!
On Screen: Prima Facie (NT Live)
Jodie Comer’s (Killing Eve) Olivier and Tony Award-winning performance in Suzie Miller’s gripping one-woman play returns to cinemas. Tessa is a young, brilliant barrister. She has worked her way up from working class origins to be at the top of her game; defending; cross examining and winning. An unexpected event forces her to confront the lines where the patriarchal power of the law, burden of proof and morals diverge. Prima Facie takes us to the heart of where emotion and experience collide with the rules of the game.
On Screen: Motive and the Cue (NT Live)
Sam Mendes (The Lehman Trilogy) directs Mark Gatiss as John Gielgud and Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton in this fierce and funny new play. 1964: Richard Burton, newly married to Elizabeth Taylor, is to play the title role in an experimental new Broadway production of Hamlet under John Gielgud’s exacting direction. But as rehearsals progress, two ages of theatre collide and the collaboration between actor and director soon threatens to unravel.
Kraken Comedy – Live Stand Up!
Join us for an evening of comedy with Mike Wally Walter, Chris Kemper, and a surprise local! Hosted by Jamey Moriarty, and presented by Kraken Comedy.
Asleep at the Wheel
Orcas Center - Center Stage 917 Mt. Baker Road, Eastsound, WA, United StatesFounded in 1970, Asleep at the Wheel has been part of the American roots music landscape for more than 50 years. Although the band got its start on a farm in Paw Paw, West Virginia, Asleep at the Wheel became a cornerstone of the Austin, Texas, scene upon its arrival in 1973. Inspired by Western swing and honky-tonk country, the band has accrued 10 Grammy Awards. In the fall, a career retrospective recorded with the current lineup -- and a few special guests -- will carry the band back onto the road, where they’ve remained a staple for five decades.
On Screen: Nye (NT Live)
Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state and created the NHS.
Marty Isenberg’s Wes Anderson Playlist
“I’ve always resonated deeply with Wes Anderson’s movies,” muses Isenberg. “There was something so familiar about the way he captured the ache of adolescence.” So he set out to put his own spin on songs by artists like David Bowie, Nick Drake and the Velvet Underground but through the lexicon of jazz orchestration and improvisation.
On Screen: Vanya (NT Live)
Andrew Scott (Fleabag) brings multiple characters to life in Simon Stephens’ (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) radical new version of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya. Hopes, dreams, and regrets are thrust into sharp focus in this one-man adaptation which explores the complexities of human emotions.