Footloose, the Musical opened last weekend and has three more weekends to go. Michael Moore of the Kitsap Sun quoted director Ken Michels in his recent preview of the show: ". . . the strengths of Footloose are its heart and its balance of music and dance with drama and comedy." "It's got everything," he said. "It's a great show, and it adds to the experience of coming to this special place." You can read the entire preview here.

We have some excellent talent in this show and a nice combination of new and returning Players. Don't miss out on a great summer adventure - get your tickets here.

Here is a perspective from new Player Carol Stanley about her experiences being involved for the first time in a Mountaineers Players show:

"When I first decided to audition for Footloose I thought I was crazy to be driving all over Seattle just for a show. However after the first weekend at the theater I instantly knew why so many people come back year after year. The theater is so beautiful and it is amazing to be a part of such a great history of shows."

"What I have enjoyed most about Footloose is the talented and dedicated cast. Most weekends after a long rehearsal we all agree to put in extra hours [practicing] in the yurt. We practice until the late hours without any complaint. We are all invested deeply in the show. I know I've only known these people for a few months but I feel I have made some amazing friends. I guess it takes living, working, and most importantly playing with others that makes for an amazing cast. I can't wait to share all of our hard work with the rest of the world."

Leave your comments and let us know how you enjoyed the show and the "forest experience."

The Mountaineers Players' production of Fiddler on the Roof opened to rave reviews on Memorial Day weekend. Here are some of Michael Moore's comments from his Kitsap Sun review after watching the show this weekend:

"I enjoyed the innovative ways director Craig Schieber's production dealt with the limitations presented by doing the show outdoors, in broad daylight, without any special-effects bells and whistles. I also liked a number of the performances, many of which were by first-time Mountaineers filling the iconic roles of Tevye the milkman, his family and his neighbors in workaday little Anatevka, a borrowed-time little burg about to be ground under by the expulsion of Russia's Jews in the early years of the 20th Century. And much of the singing — both by soloists in the beloved songs and by the nearly choirlike ensemble pieces — was everything I could've asked for."

". . . the Mountaineers' "Fiddler" made good on the promise of those key numbers . . .  They were helped immeasurably by the costumes supplied by Barbara Klingberg, which were the special effects in the "Tevye's Dream" sequence, which featured blue-clad "ghosts" coming out of the woodwork and the richly upholstered Fruma Sarah (Marlene Anderson) "soaring" above the host, simply by standing on a chair on the KFT stage's shelf, behind all the deceased."

"The famed "bottle dance" was altered, and at least one of the more difficult stunts omitted, but the piece was still considerably powerful, thanks to what the dancers were able to do, and to the backing they received from music director Amy Beth Nolte's little band of musicians, headed up by keyboardist Debbie Valenta."

"Schieber found some unexpected dramatic kick in places I didn't expect. The wedding of Tzeitel (the wonderful Sarah Walsh) and Motel (the equally charming Buddy Todd), and the subsequent trashing of the festivities by the Constable (Jerry Dreessen) and his Czarist henchmen, has seemed trite and melodramatic in other productions I've seen, but were emotional and effective in their forest incarnation. Schieber and Caridi also upped the ante in the "Chava" sequence ("Little Bird") by having Tevye's daughters (Walsh, Lani Smith as Hodel and Amberlee Williams as Chava) alongside their younger selves, portrayed in a lovely dance sequence by Layla and Maya Markovich and Jasmine Harrick)."

"Stephen Wall, as Tevye, handled most of the acting, and all of the singing, with aplomb, and was especially effective in his more emotionally demanding moments, but also cranked up the comedy at times, especially in his exchanges with the jilted Lazar Wolf (a fine Tod Harrick)."

"His was probably one of the two best voices in the show, along with Jenny Dreessen as Tevye's wife, Golde. Their duet, "Do You Love Me?", was perfectly wrought, with just the right balance of heartiness and humor. All three daughters sang beautifully, as well, as did Todd (in "Miracle of Miracles"). And the whole company made the show's two most reflective numbers, "Sabbath Prayer" and "Anatevka," particular favorites of mine."

Congratulations to the production staff, musicians, sound, cast and crew for a terrific opening weekend.

Get your tickets now and make your plans to attend this powerful show. Performances are every Saturday and Sunday through Father's Day on June 17th.

How do you find an affordable floor to finish the unique yurt when you are on a budget? We solved that problem by finding some beautiful oak flooring on craigslist that was being removed from a house set for demolition. With a lot of volunteer labor, time, and sweat, plus one talented craftsman – we went from the picture on the left to the picture on the right. To see more pictures of this journey, please go to our photo gallery, click on "Yurt at Kitsap" and go to photos #55-#64.

Thanks to Craig McCoy for providing the truck and volunteer time to help load the flooring, transport it to Kitsap, and start grinding off the nails. Josh Brown, Brian Lindvall, Trey Morgan, Gail Foster, Nancy Estill and Gala Lindvall all helped with the grinding, wiping and stacking of the wood. It took three days of work to go from the flooring at the original house to the flooring stacked in the shed ready for installation.

Special thanks to Chris Greyell from Milllwork Installations for providing the expertise and spending an entire weekend from dawn to dusk laying the floor. He was helped by Trey Morgan, son of Angela Morgan, a cast member of our spring show, Fiddler on the Roof. 

One of the joys of working on shows at the Kitsap Forest Theater is meeting new people – and finding actors and their family members who immediately start jumping in to help with roofing projects, felling trees, cleaning up, cooking and keeping this place humming. We thank everyone who helped with the yurt, and who help all around the property. You are all continuing a Mountaineers tradtion that started in 1923, and hopefully will continue for many more generations.