Bellingham's iDiOm Theater, founded in 2001 by Glenn Hergenhahn, prides itself in creating theater that is "daring, vital, innovative, irreverent and evolving," according to its website (and I can attest it's true).
I recently ran into Sol Olmstead, artistic director of the iDiOM, and we chatted about some changes in staff coming with the theater's new season, which begins next weekend, Aug. 26-27, with the longtime favorite "48-Hour Theater Festival." Mike Mathieu and Carolyn McCarthy have left the theater for personal reasons; while Jaz Okura-Youtsey and Katie Rickard continue on as technical director and development director, respectively.
A season pass gets you in to all 17 productions for $120 if you buy it before Aug. 27; it's $150 after that. For more on the upcoming season, call 360-201-5464 or visit idiomtheater.com.
SINGER LINDA ALLEN CHANGES DUTIES, KEEPS BUSY
Linda Allen founded Bellingham Threshold Singers in 2007. A group of about 30 women who sing at the bedsides of people who are dying or seriously ill, it's part of a national movement known as threshold choirs. Allen recently announced that she's leaving her position as director, partially because of the bureaucratic overhead that was draining her, she says.
However, Allen is pleased to have been invited to participate in "Put My Shoes by the Door," a dance-theater piece on the theme of death and dying to be presented in September by choreographer Pam Kuntz. Allen's also touring the West Coast with British singer Frankie Armstrong, kicking off with a concert and workshop this weekend at the Fairhaven library.
As for the Threshold Singers, Mathilda Wheeler, president of the board, says the group is committed to continuing. The best number to call to make a referral for bedside singing is 360-927-4384, or go to bellinghamthresholdchoir.org.
CHALK ARTFEST WINNERS NAMED
The inaugural Heralding the Arts Festival, co-sponsored by The Bellingham Herald and Allied Arts of Whatcom County, and held Aug. 6 in the Herald's parking lot, was a successful event.
As a follow-up, Katy Bordon at Allied Arts recently announced the Chalk ArtFest winners. They are: Ben Holmgren (square no. 74), Cale Burr (square no. 13), Claire Enstad (square no. 49), Kelly Eggers (square no. 40) and Aubrey Schlect (square no. 59). Better hurry down to see their artistry before our summer rains wash them away.
Raffle winners were Shila Moa, Kari Wardrop, Laura Nelson, Richard Bulman, Theresa Winslow, Kate Clark, Emily Marsh, Alicia Dauber and Ken Fuller.
GREEN FROG TAVERN HOPS TO NEW HOME
Owner James Hardesty says he hopes to open the Green Frog Café Acoustic Tavern at its new space at 1015 N. State St., next to the Ridge Wine Bar, on Sept. 1. Shows are starting to take place there already (although Hardesty can't sell anything yet), and there will be a cover charge for the acts that he books. To keep up with Green Frog news, go to acoustictavern.com and sign up for email updates.
GET READY TO ROLL AT LYNDEN'S PUSH KART DERBY
One of the fun events taking place Labor Day weekend in our area is the Lyndé 4500 Push Kart Derby in Lynden. It's open to people 14 and older and there are several categories (and prizes), depending on the age of the driver, says nine-year track marshal Tom Entrikin. If you haven't built your kart and are interested in the rules of the race, call Troy Luginbill at Lynden Pioneer Museum, 360-354-3675, or go to lyndenpioneermuseum.com/lynde500. Proceeds from the event support the museum.
