The Olympic swimming champion Johnny Weissmuller, who went on to fame as Tarzan of the Jungle in the movies, was born on this date in 1904. Gavin and Wyatt are posed at the side of the pool with Weissmuller before a swim meet as John is sitting in the studio with music prior to the show. You are invited to swing by the celebration on Crosscurrents, 6/2 at 8 a.m.
Planners hope to begin architectural design of the proposed Willoughby Arts Complex this summer. The multiuse performance space would include, or take the place of, the existing Juneau Arts and Culture Center. In 2012, Juneau voters approved spending $1 million from sales tax revenue to support the project. Earlier this week, interested groups heard the latest on the project.
If you’re unfamiliar with the project, here’s a summary. Both Perseverance Theatre and the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council have needed new spaces for years. About a year ago, says Perseverance Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director Art Roach, the organizations came to a realization:
“Instead of building two buildings, let’s build one. Makes sense. And let’s share in the design of it, and the operating of it, and the fundraising for it, and selling it to the community–all of those tasks are going to have to get done to make this real. Let’s do it together because if we work together we can do it more efficiently, and we can get more for the money.”
They formed a nonprofit entity called “The pARTnership” that will own and operate the building. The city, which owns the land, gave the group until 2019 to break ground. That’s where consultant Tony Forman of the international firm Theatre Projects Consultants comes in.
“We are not architects. We are a resource for architects to help them design a very unique building type, which is a performing arts space that has very specific and unique requirements to be successful,” says Forman.
That includes planning the general environment, the spaces that allow for the best interaction between actor and audience, the specialized equipment like lighting and rigging, and the question of the night: the size and number of rooms and theaters. In addition to the JACC space, a 275-seat, multiuse or community theater, a 170-seat theater for Perseverance, a smaller 30- to 45-seat performance space, a rehearsal room, a classroom, offices, a café, and more. It’s going to be bigger than the JACC is now. And speaking of the old building, will it stay or will it go? Forman says it’s tricky.
“Renovation is 95- to 115-percent of new construction. You can save a little money, and it can also be more expensive. You have things like asbestos abatement and lead paint and underground tanks that you may not even know are there when you start the project.”
While the renovation versus new construction question is not unique, Forman says that two non-profits joining forces is.
“In the past, communities have done that on a civic level where the city, town, or municipality has undertaken the project and owns and runs a building. That’s a model that has been successful for many years but it’s starting to change. I think the way Juneau is approaching this with these two organizations taking the lead is the wave of the future and very exciting.”
Juneau Arts and Humanities Council Executive Director Nancy DeCherny says there is still a lot of work to do, including fundraising.
“People are worried that we will build something that we cannot afford—we will not do that. We realize that this is a huge philanthropic stretch for this community. We have a target in mind and we are going to build what we can afford.”
DeCherny hesitates to give an estimate, but knows it will be difficult. Still, she’s enthusiastic.
“It’s been a dream in this community since I moved here in 1975 and it’s exciting to be part of seeing it though. And I think the whole community should be excited about this. We’ve got the SLAM Building being completed, we have the Walter Sobeloff Center, we’ve got this. Juneau’s going to be a hot place pretty soon.”
To raise the funds, The pARTnership has begun formation of a capital campaign committee that will be coordinated by Charlotte Fox of the Alaska State Council on the Arts.
The actor James Arness, best known for his portrayal of the stalwart Marshal Matt Dillon on the television series “Gunsmoke”, was born on this date in 1923. Gavin and Wyatt join Marshall Dillon as they patrol the streets of Dodge City while John pays tribute to the Arness role of Marshall Dillon with a lawman – gunslinger – outlaw soundtrack. There is no need to “get out of Dodge” when you celebrate the James Arness birthday on Crosscurrents, 5/26 at 8 a.m.
Today is the birthday in 1480 of Ferdinand Magellan who in 1519-1522 led the first expedition to sail around the world. Gavin and Wyatt ponder Magellan’s idea of a globe with his ship at the dock while John gathers music to inspire a “circle around” rather than an “over the edge” journey. You are invited to celebrate Magellan without falling off the edge the earth on Crosscurrents, 5/19 at 8 a.m.
From halfway down the block, you can hear the drums, a thumping bass and a piano tinkling a jazz riff. The sound is coming from the Lucky Lady Pub, which isn’t really known for its jazz activity.
It’s Monday night and Juneau Jazz and Classics is on its 11th straight day of performances. While the festival is known for bringing their musicians to unlikely venues like churches and classrooms, sometimes they take their audiences to places that are really off the traditional music circuit. The festival transformed the South Franklin pub into a full-on jazz club during an evening jam hosted by the Anton Schwartz Quartet.
Inside the bar it’s standing room only. People are lined up halfway out the door and the Seattle-based Anton Schwartz leads his four piece in a lively jazz number. Spectators hoot and holler, talking over the music and enjoying themselves. At the end of the song the tenor saxophone player does something different, he opens the floor to the audience, inviting any local musicians to join the band.
Bobby Reynolds, 75, is ready to play with his velvet red fedora and brass cornet, an instrument that looks like a misshaped trumpet. Schwartz and Reynolds conspire in whispered voices. Before tonight, the pair had never met. Schwartz says it’s exciting because he doesn’t know where the jam will go.
“That’s part of the fun, you never know what’s going to happen and one of the nice things about jazz is that you have this shared body of knowledge. And you can just put it to work to play with people you’ve never worked with before, ” said Schwartz.
People like Reynolds, whose main gig is at the Red Dog Saloon where he plays Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and Sinatra. Back in town for his sixth summer, Reynolds was eager to show off his chops he’s picked up after years of playing on cruise ships and touring.
“In a town like Juneau to hear this kind of music, wow, ya’know that’s really great. This is a really great band in here. Holy jeez, there’s not this kinda stuff going on in lots of places,” said Reynolds.
For the new owner of the Lucky Lady, Mark Erickson, this show has introduced a new crowd to his bar he hopes will come back.
“That’s what I’m designing the bar for. I want this type of crowd to come to my bar,” said Erickson.
See the Anton Schwartz Quartet on Friday before the Juneau Jazz and Classics grand finale Saturday night.
The 28th annual Juneau Jazz and Classics festival is now in its seventh day. On Monday, I attended one of the festival’s brown bag lunches at the SOB.
The festival continues tonight with the Nikki Hill Band at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. The next brown bag lunch is on Monday at noon at the SOB.
Photos by Annie Bartholomew
