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The Bakersfield Californian Thursday, September 23, 2010
Eye Street
Index Ralphie May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Zombiewalk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Arts Alive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Book Signings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 The Lowdown with Matt Munoz . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Where Are They Now . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Nature Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27-29
Editor Jennifer Self | Phone 395-7434 | e-mail jself@bakersfield.com
River one beautiful backdrop Couple opening grounds of home on Kern for theater performances BY DIANNE HARDISTY Contributing writer dhardisty@bak.rr.com
I
t is so quiet and peaceful that you can hear the Kern River slapping against the shore, birds chirping in the trees and wildlife rustling in the bushes. A series of walkways and patios terrace the backyard as it slopes gently down to the water’s rushing edge. This picturesque northeast Bakersfield setting, at the home of Timothy and Margaret Lemucchi, will feature a unique afternoon of live theater from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Hosted by the Lemucchis and the Arts Council of Kern, the event will benefit five Bakersfield nonprofit theater companies. Admission is $25 per person, $20 for ACK members. Theater on the Kern will feature informal theatrical entertainment provided by Stars, Spotlight, The Empty Space, Bakersfield Music Theatre and Bakersfield Community Theatre. Guests will be treated to California wines, hors d’oeuvres and a spectacular Kern River sunset. The goal of the event is to “audience build,” explained Margaret Lemucchi, an Arts Council board member and a supporter of live theater. Performances by the theater companies will highlight the diversity and talent offered to audiences in Bakersfield. Proceeds from ticket sales will be used to purchase advertising in The Californian to support a six-month publicity campaign. On Fridays and Saturdays during the campaign, a listing of theater performances will appear in the newspaper’s entertainment sections. “We are so fortunate to have so much live theater in Bakersfield,” said Lemucchi, emphasizing the need to focus attention on the offerings. “We have so many talented people.” Laura Wolfe with the Arts Council explained that “with the number of entertainment options people have, we want them to put live theater at the top of their list.” The event also is an effort to encourage the five nonprofit theater companies to work together to “audience build.” “When you expose people to the arts, their interest grows,” said Alex Neal, marketing director for Spotlight Theater. Neal noted that it is unique for a community the size of Bakersfield to have five non-profit live theater companies. Most cities of similar size would have just two. “But we have a lot of talented people and they have a love of the arts.” Theater on the Kern is more than a fundraiser, Neal said, explaining the event
FELIX ADAMO / THE CALIFORNIAN
The backyard of Timothy and Margaret Lemucchi. The couple will be hosting an arts event benefitting local theater on Sunday.
Theater on the Kern When: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday Where: Timothy and Margaret Lemucchi home, 6501 Uplands of the Kern Drive (three miles east of Gordon’s Ferry Bridge, along Round Mountain Road) Admission: $25; $20 for Arts Council of Kern members Reservations: Call the Arts Council of Kern at 324-9000. Credit cards are accepted.
Performances by five live theater companies:
The river terrace in the Lemucchi garden offers a fantastic view of the Kern River.
is an opportunity for people to experience the wide range of entertainment they will find on local stages. Lemucchi likens the afternoon’s performances to a “theater in the round,” where actors from the five theater companies will entertain and mingle with the crowd. Guests will also be encouraged to wander the 2.5-acre grounds surrounding the
Lemucchi home in the gated Uplands of the Kern community, three miles east of Gordon’s Ferry Bridge, along Round Mountain Road. The Lemucchis purchased the 4,000square-foot home at 6501 Uplands of the Kern Drive four years ago. It was built in the late 1990s by Bakersfield builder Jack Jost. Before moving in, the Lemucchis spent two Please see PAGE 17
Stars: Hope and Bobby sing the love song from “Urinetown” Spotlight: The cast presents the finale from “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” The Empty Space: Selections from the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” Bakersfield Music Theatre: Billy Flynn gives you the old razzle from “Chicago” Bakersfield Community Theater: Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, and Emma and Lucy sing a medley from “Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical,” “What Streak of Madness,” “Alive,” and “In His Eyes”