A couple of nights ago I slipped into the College of the Albemarle's Manteo Auditorium to get a sneak peak (and take a few surreptitious photos) of Dearly Departed, Theatre of Dare's latest production. If the rehearsal was any indication, Theatre of Dare has another hit on its hands...and a hilariously funny hit at that.
Fueled by snappy, laugh-out-loud-inducing dialogue, Dearly Departed (directed by Don Bridge), revolves around the eccentricities of the Turpins, a colorful and completely dysfunctional Southern family, as they struggle to plan a funeral for the family patriarch who keels over dead in the first scene. Along the way we meet the whole tumultuous clan: the not-so-grieving widow who wants to put "Mean and Surly" on the tombstone; first-born son Ray-Bud who becomes increasingly inebriated as the funeral bills mount; well-intentioned but bumbling younger son, Junior, simultaneously juggling the prospect of financial ruin, a wife who suspects him of infidelity, and two monster children; and their junk food-devouring spinster sister, Delightful. As chaos reigns and the mishaps multiply, the family and their community of misfits must pull together to support one another and avert disaster at the funeral.
Performances will be held at College of the Albemarle's Manteo Auditorium, Friday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 24. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with a Sunday matinee performance at 2 p.m. Subsequent performances run Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 3 with Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Gray's Department Store in Kitty Hawk or at the door prior to each performance. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students. All seating is general admission.
Theatre of Dare is a non-profit, volunteer community theater group. All proceeds from shows help offset the costs of future productions and fund annual scholarships awarded to Dare County students. Join your friends, neighbors and co-workers, both onstage and off, for a great night of community theater!
Need a creative outlet this winter? A perfect opportunity is waiting for you at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island with its "Seaweed Marbling" class Thursday, Feb. 21 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. This technique uses a seaweed extract to produce beautiful marbleized designs. Make your own unique assortment of colorful papers decorated with naturalistic patterns and swirls. Bring a T-shirt and make a fashion print shirt perfect for summer! Class fee is $18/person; $16.20 for NC Aquarium Members. The class is appropriate for ages 6 and older; children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For a complete list of other creative or educational opportunities offered by the Aquarium visit their website.
Many of us have enjoyed the visitor's perspective at the Aquarium. But have you ever wondered what it's like to see the Aquarium as staff do? Join an Aquarium educator for the "Behind the Scenes Tour" on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and get a sneak peek "behind the curtain" at the Aquarium's exhibits and the systems that keep them operating. Admission is $15/person, $13.50 for NC Aquarium Members, and is for ages 8 and older. Children 12 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult. Closed-toe shoes are required.
Here's a great activity for the wee ones. The NC Aquarium's "Woodland Tots" program on Tuesday, Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. is a combination of stories, play and a short hike through Nags Head Woods, our protected maritime forest in Kill Devil Hills. Learn all about the critters and plants that call the Woods home! Pre-registration is required. The price is $7 per child (ages 2-5 years); $6.30 per person for NC Aquarium Members. Accompanying adults are free. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather.
CALLING ALL LOCALS...for The Lost Colony's 2013 local auditions! Open to adults and children, registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 23 in the College of the Albemarle Roanoke Island Campus' Manteo Auditorium. Auditions for Colonist Children (ages 6 to 17) will be at 9 a.m. Parents must accompany children. Technician interviews will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dancer auditions will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Actors and singers will audition from 1:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. A resume and headshot are required for all performers. For additional details and specific audition requirements please visit The Lost Colony's website.
Resumes are also being accepted for Production Staff positions, such as stage manager, artisan or technician. Submit a resume and cover letter identifying the position for which you are applying. Include references and photos of your work. Apply by March 15 to {encode="lculpepper@thelostcolony.org" title="lculpepper@thelostcolony.org"}, Subject: 2013 Application.
It's not easy keeping fit and flexible in the wintertime, but this might help. The Roanoke Island Maritime Museum is offering yoga classes every Tuesday from 5:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. inside the heated boathouse. The next session is scheduled for Feb. 26. The class, led by Jess Moody, co-owner of Village Yoga, will help deepen your yoga practice, catering to all levels of experience, from beginners to advanced. For registration information, call (252) 475-1750 or email {encode="sailing@townofmanteo.com" title="sailing@townofmanteo.com"}. The class fee is $50 per month or $15 per class on a drop-in basis.
Celebrate the 75th birthday of the March of Dimes and partake of some fabulous food at the 2013 Outer Banks Signature Chefs Auction on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn on the Beach Road in Kitty Hawk. Each year local chefs combine their creativity and culinary talent to prepare their best dishes for this event. In addition to fabulous food, the event features silent and live auctions, live local entertainment and local celebrity judges. Among the restaurants represented are Ocean Boulevard, The Hilton, The Black Pelican, The Bad Bean, The Beachside Bistro, Coastal Provisions and Red Sky Café! All proceeds support the March of Dimes' mission to prevent birth defects, reduce the number of premature births and lower infant mortality. Tickets are $50 per person; contact Kelly Nettnin at (252) 216-0300. Don't miss out on this very special Outer Banks culinary event!
Monday is Movie Night at Outer Banks Brewing Station and the feature on Monday, Feb. 25 will be Derby Baby, a hard-hitting documentary about roller derby, the fastest-growing sport in America. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the movie begins at 8 p.m. Members of the Outer Banks' own Kill Devil Derby Brigade will be on hand (and on skates) to host this fundraiser for Outer Banks Hotline. Derby Baby crackles with footage of national and international competition and captures the adrenalin rush that draws thousands of women to this fast-paced contact sport. The evening includes the Dance Party/Disco Costume Contest (with cash prizes), a silent auction and raffles! Tickets are $5/person and can be purchased at TLC Insurance in Kitty Hawk, Seaside Wellness in Southern Shores or by contacting any Kill Devil Derby Brigade Team member.
Looking ahead to next week, mark your calendars for Friday, March 1 to attend the opening of "Dare County in the 1930s: Decade of Determination," the Outer Banks History Center's 2013 exhibit. Coinciding with First Friday festivities, live music at Poor Richard's, an art opening at the Dare County Arts Council gallery and the opening of the annual quilt show at Roanoke Island Festival Park, the night promises something for nearly everyone. Check back next week for more details.
This week you have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to Duck's Cottage Downtown Bookstore and a $35 gift certificate to Ortega'z Southwestern Grill & Wine Bar!
For more information about Duck's Cottage Downtown, check out their website.
For more information about Ortega'z Southwestern Grill & Wine Bar, check out their website.
Last Week's Winner
Congratulations to Kelly Arehart!!!
You won a two-night stay at the Colonial Inn and a pair of tickets to the Taste of The Beach Wells Fargo BBQ Showdown!
For more information about Colonial Inn, check out their website.
For more information about OBX Taste of the Beach, check out their website.
About the Author Michael Lay
Michael Lay is a local graphic designer, artist, photographer and writer. He lives in picturesque downtown Manteo, NC, and is the manservant of two beautiful and willful feline princesses, Sophie and Sassy. You can contact Michael at mike.lay@oneboat.com.
