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Camille Gavin: It's a Pooh party at Bakersfield Community Theatre

The Bakersfield Californian | Tuesday, May 11 2010 05:29 PM

Last Updated Tuesday, May 11 2010 05:29 PM

Director Amy Hall says she's keeping the BCT Youth Theatre production of "Winnie the Pooh" true to British author A.A. Milne's original tale without any gimmicks or updating.

"I grew up on these stories and in turn raised my daughter with these stories," Hall said.

"Everyone has a good memory or a place in their heart for these characters; I don't want to change that."

The main part of the play involves the reaction of the other animals when Kanga and Roo, played by Kayleigh Peaker and Lexie Watkins, move to the Hundred Acre Wood and start to make changes, such as bringing in a bathtub.

Tyler Skidmore portrays Pooh and most of the action takes place in the forest. Only a small area of the stage is set off as Christopher Robin's room. And that, Hall added, looks like a giant book that leads into the wood and Rabbit's house.

Other lead actors are Riley Thompson as Piglet; Lorenzo Salazar, Rabbit; Corey Skaggs, Tigger; Adam Jackson, Eeyore; and Alex Romero, Owl.

In all, there are 20 in the cast which includes both young people and adults. Final performances are May 21 to 23.

Metro jazz concert series

Percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani, who gave a memorable solo performance at Metro Galleries two years ago, will be back again Thursday evening at the same venue.

This time he will be joined by Los Angeles electric guitarist Jeremy Drake and local trumpeter and Bakersfield College music professor Kris Tiner for a set that will be recorded live.

Nakatani, said Tiner, has developed a dramatic and intensely moving approach to improvisedmusic that incorporates drum set, bowed gongs, cymbals, singing bowls, metal objects, bells and various sticks and bows.

Also on the bill are Tetuzi Akiyama and Toshimaru Nakamura, two musicians known for their experimental improvisation and a style of music that has been called "Zen Impressionism."

This evening's event is part of Metro Galleries ongoing jazz concert series.

Aliza McCracken art auction

Contemporary artist and author Aliza McCracken has come up with a unique idea for marketing her creations in a way that will benefit two local organizations --namely, a silent auction at Russo's Books.

A selection of her books and artwork is displayed in one area of the bookstore. Current bids are listed on individual pieces. New bids are accepted at the front counter and names will be held anonymously until the auction ends on June 30.

Part of the proceeds, she said, will be given to the Arts Council of Kern and the Bakersfield Museum of Art.

McCracken, who was born in Vietnam and was adopted by an American couple when she was 4, attended the Purchase School of Performing Arts in New York then transferred to UC Santa Barbara where she graduated with a degree in fine art and a certificate in visual communications.

She now divides her time between Bakersfield and Santa Barbara.

Bakersfield expatriates in New York

In the past week I've heard from, or about, a number of former Bakersfield residents who are now living in New York and pursuing careers in the various areas of the arts.

John Patrick Wells, who was involved with both improvisational comedy and staged shows here and in New York, has decided to devote himself to visual art for the present.

"I'll be doing a professional residency at SVA (School of Visual Arts) during the month of July and some of August," he said in an e-mail. "Basically they are providing me the space and the time to focus on my art."

Wells has a distinctive textured style that is both unique and intriguing. To me, his brush strokes lie somewhere between Van Gogh and Seurat. I wish him well.

Still doing improv -- but in a slightly different way -- is Jeff Lepine. Seven months ago he landed a management position with the Peoples Improv Theater, or the PIT, in New York.

"I'm very happy at my new job," he said in an e-mail. "Being the artistic director at the PIT is exactly the type of job I was hoping to land. Improv has always been a huge part of my life and now I get to, in a way, steer this ship how I see fit. And it's great to be employed by one of the biggest improv stages in the country -- very thrilled with the gig."

Lepine, who left here five years ago, was one of the founders of The Empty Space and said, in an e-mail that he's glad it's still doing shows.

"I think that place is so important to the acting community in Bakersfield," he said. "I hope it doesn't get used and overlooked. But sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone."

His wife, Elisabeth Lepine, has what sounds like a fascinating job. As Jeff describes it, "she is a personal teacher/assistant/nanny for a wonderful family and one little boy. She travels all around the world with the family and is working on her first book as well."

Also, during an interview last week, singer Emily Nicholas mentioned several other ex-pats who are doing well. Among them are actors Doug Cheesman and Garrett Willingham; singer Janae Frank, a fellow classmate at the Manhattan School of Music; and Sonia Arriola, who's a writer and public relations consultant focusing on the fashion industry.