Arts and Entertainment

(Juneau Empire File)

Community calendar of upcoming events

This is a calendar updated daily of upcoming local events during the coming days provided by the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council, and other contributors.… Continue reading

 

Allison Gornik plays the lead role of Alice during a rehearsal Saturday of Juneau Dance Theatre’s production of “Alice in Wonderland,” which will be staged at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé for three days starting Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

An ‘Alice in Wonderland’ that requires quick thinking on and off your feet

Ballet that Juneau Dance Theatre calls its most elaborate production ever opens Friday at JDHS.

 

Cerys Hudson, winner of the Juneau Symphony’s Youth Solo Competition, rehearses for this weekend’s performance with the ensemble at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. (Mark Sabbatini/Juneau Empire)

Tchaikovsky, Mozart and Frankenstein join on stage for Juneau Symphony’s spring concert

Youth solo winner Cerys Hudson featured on cello concerto notable for its splicing of parts.

 

Artwork by Eric Bealer, seen here, and his wife, Pam, will be featured at Alaska Robotics Gallery as part of first Friday in April. (Sitka Conservation Society photo)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in April

Annual UAS student ceremics show, Folk Fest sneak peak and art exhibits in full bloom.

Artwork by Eric Bealer, seen here, and his wife, Pam, will be featured at Alaska Robotics Gallery as part of first Friday in April. (Sitka Conservation Society photo)
Mike Bucy, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School’s band teacher, conducts an ensemble of Taku Winds and DHMS band students during a rehearsal for a concert Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Community Bands)

Sundown showdown of the mild and Wild West featured in concert Saturday at TMHS

Performance by Taku Winds and local students promises brawls, cattle drives and classical concerto.

Mike Bucy, Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School’s band teacher, conducts an ensemble of Taku Winds and DHMS band students during a rehearsal for a concert Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Community Bands)
Steven Arends (left) feeds Joshua Midgett in Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical,” which is being staged through March 17 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Cam Byrnes/ Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)

“Bat Boy: The Musical” gets nuclear family treatment from Juneau Ghost Light Theatre

Production scheduled to debut Friday, continue through March 17, at TMHS auditorium.

Steven Arends (left) feeds Joshua Midgett in Juneau Ghost Light Theatre’s production of “Bat Boy: The Musical,” which is being staged through March 17 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Cam Byrnes/ Juneau Ghost Light Theatre)
Josh Fortenbery records a song from his debut album “No Such Thing as Forever” while sitting in an improvised sound isolation booth at the KTOO studios in early 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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Struggles of isolation and support of community come together for launch of debut album

Josh Fortenbery’s “No Such Thing As Forever” available Friday, with two-show release party Saturday.

Josh Fortenbery records a song from his debut album “No Such Thing as Forever” while sitting in an improvised sound isolation booth at the KTOO studios in early 2023. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
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A photo by Ben Huff being exhibited as part of his presentation at 6:30 p.m. at the Alaska State Museum. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Museum)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in March

Both the state and city museums are celebrating 20 years of artistic achievements, the state’s former budget director makes his debut showing of woodworkings, and… Continue reading

A photo by Ben Huff being exhibited as part of his presentation at 6:30 p.m. at the Alaska State Museum. (Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Museum)
The Juneau Symphony rehearses for a concert in October of 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)

Juneau Symphony cancels concerts for first time in known memory due to weather

Snow storm made rehearsing, access to instruments, arrival of guest artists doubtful, director says.

The Juneau Symphony rehearses for a concert in October of 2022. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
An image from Ashley Lohr’s “Layered Scapes” exhibit debuting Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo courtesy Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in January

Revisiting Juneau as the first Alaska city with an established telephone system and more.

An image from Ashley Lohr’s “Layered Scapes” exhibit debuting Friday at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center. (Photo courtesy Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
Indigenous celebrations took center stage in Juneau in 2023, including the debut of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail), launch of the Hōkūle‘a 47-month Polynesian canoe voyage and Áak’w Rock Indigenous music festival. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photos)

Juneau’s top 10 arts and culture stories of 2023

Indigenous events and celebrations took center stage throughout the year.

Indigenous celebrations took center stage in Juneau in 2023, including the debut of the Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail), launch of the Hōkūle‘a 47-month Polynesian canoe voyage and Áak’w Rock Indigenous music festival. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire file photos)
Marzena Whitmore (elf) and Dale Hudson (Santa), pose for a photo with Benny Orvin (partially obscured), 6, and his siblings Lilly, 4, and Remi, 2, taken by their mother Alex as their father Randy watches during Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Coming together as one giant community family at Gallery Walk

Thousands share an evening of entertainment in the outdoor chill, visiting shops and hot chocolate.

Marzena Whitmore (elf) and Dale Hudson (Santa), pose for a photo with Benny Orvin (partially obscured), 6, and his siblings Lilly, 4, and Remi, 2, taken by their mother Alex as their father Randy watches during Gallery Walk in downtown Juneau on Friday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Lylah Habeger (left) and Jaila Ramirez lead the Konfeta Corps during a rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” at Juneau Dance Theatre. The ballet will be performed in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.At.Kalé auditorium Friday through Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Dance Theatre)

‘Nutcracker’ tradition, with a twirl of new choreography

This year’s performances feature a cast of 93, ages 5 to 78

Lylah Habeger (left) and Jaila Ramirez lead the Konfeta Corps during a rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” at Juneau Dance Theatre. The ballet will be performed in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.At.Kalé auditorium Friday through Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Dance Theatre)
Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire The women of the Kit Kat Club in “Cabaret” take center stage during a rehearsal Monday night at McPhetres Hall for the production by Theatre in the Rough that opens Friday

Director says history is repeating itself, old chum

“Cabaret” kicks off at McPhetres Hall on Friday, with free previews Tuesday and Thursday

Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire The women of the Kit Kat Club in “Cabaret” take center stage during a rehearsal Monday night at McPhetres Hall for the production by Theatre in the Rough that opens Friday
A screenshot from “Juneau Thug Life” by Last Frontier Aerial LLC, which is among the films scheduled to be screened during the Juneau Underground Motion Picture Society’s Winter Film Festival at the Gold Town Theater starting Thursday. (Courtesy of the Juneau Underground Motion Picture Society)

Locals again get their moment on the quicksilver screen

“A real cross-section of the community” shown in 10 minutes or less at JUMP Society’s Film Festival.

A screenshot from “Juneau Thug Life” by Last Frontier Aerial LLC, which is among the films scheduled to be screened during the Juneau Underground Motion Picture Society’s Winter Film Festival at the Gold Town Theater starting Thursday. (Courtesy of the Juneau Underground Motion Picture Society)
Acrylic works by local artist Jessalyn Ward will be featured at Bustin Out Boutique as part of November’s First Friday in Juneau. (Courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday in November

An annual napkin art contest, a workshop for homemade dog treats, and art featuring end-of-an-age glaciers and end-of-life items revived in new forms are part… Continue reading

Acrylic works by local artist Jessalyn Ward will be featured at Bustin Out Boutique as part of November’s First Friday in Juneau. (Courtesy of the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council)
Marta Lastufka (left) plays the lead role of Nora while Becky Orford plays Anne Marie in a rehearsal of “A Doll’s House, Part 2” at the Filipino Community Hall on Thursday. The play is scheduled to debut at the hall at 7 p.m. next Wednesday, with 12 more performances at venues around Juneau through Nov. 19. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

A notorious woman’s challenging return home — on stage and in real life

Longtime actor Marta Lastufka returns after many years in Theater Alaska’s “In A Doll’s House, Part 2”

Marta Lastufka (left) plays the lead role of Nora while Becky Orford plays Anne Marie in a rehearsal of “A Doll’s House, Part 2” at the Filipino Community Hall on Thursday. The play is scheduled to debut at the hall at 7 p.m. next Wednesday, with 12 more performances at venues around Juneau through Nov. 19. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Tanner Johnson, playing the role of Candide, rehearses Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. The operetta “Candide” is based on Stephen Sondheim’s adaptation of the classic novella by Voltaire. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)

Juneau Symphony and Lyric Opera team up for ‘Candide’

Ensemble includes 60-chair symphony, 40-person chorus, seven actors.

Tanner Johnson, playing the role of Candide, rehearses Tuesday at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé. The operetta “Candide” is based on Stephen Sondheim’s adaptation of the classic novella by Voltaire. (Meredith Jordan/ Juneau Empire)
Half of the students in a clown class perform a hastily constructed song-and-dance routine for the other half of the students acting as the audience at Perseverance Theatre on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

Class clowns: Getting a lesson in constructive comedy from actor in Oscar-winning best picture

Locals learn to “to climb around in your own self” as Ketchikan native Tallie Medel comes to Juneau.

Half of the students in a clown class perform a hastily constructed song-and-dance routine for the other half of the students acting as the audience at Perseverance Theatre on Tuesday night. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Rhoda Walker, right, Sharon Early, and Audrey Kohler work on their improvisation as Mike Christenson, left, and Seth Caron prepare to enter during a rehearsal at Christenson’s house on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Kohler, now a Seattle resident, is returning as part of a nine-person group to perform an improv comedy show at Crystal Saloon on Friday. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)

Improv poet and performer returns home for a laugh

Former Juneau comic Audrey Kohler bringing members of Seattle troupe for show at Crystal Saloon.

Rhoda Walker, right, Sharon Early, and Audrey Kohler work on their improvisation as Mike Christenson, left, and Seth Caron prepare to enter during a rehearsal at Christenson’s house on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017. Kohler, now a Seattle resident, is returning as part of a nine-person group to perform an improv comedy show at Crystal Saloon on Friday. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)