PORT ANGELES — A new partnership, 200 cups of free hot chocolate, songs sung by a local choir: These converge at the Winter Ice Village on Saturday afternoon.
The Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts will do a “takeover” of the ice-skating rink starting at 3 p.m. to pour those free cups of cocoa for skaters and spectators, said Kyle LeMaire, the foundation’s executive director.
The ice village at 121 W. Front St. also will be the setting for a performance by the Port Angeles High School Choir at 6 p.m.
Between the chocolate and the singing, LeMaire will introduce JFFA’s new educational artist in residence, Shannon Cosgrove. A writer and the co-director of the interactive theater group PA Panto, Cosgrove also is known for her work with the Port Angeles Community Players, Nemesis Productions and Studio Bob’s Alle Stage.
When she joins JFFA next month, Cosgrove will work on creating Juan de Fuca Festival workshops, the summer youth camp and a couple of added workshops in the fall, LeMaire said.
“Shannon is volunteering her time as part of PA Panto coming under JFFA. However, I am looking into grants and/or possible underwriters so that the position could become a part-time staff position,” he added.
LeMaire said he and Cosgrove will look at developing workshops in writing, visual art, theater and music for adults and children.
Members of the JFFA staff and board of directors will come to the Winter Ice Village on Saturday to meet the public and, as administrative manager Kari Chance said, “fill people full of free hot cocoa. There will be no skimping on whipped cream and sprinkles.”
Chance added that she skates, though not at an Olympian level.
“I have never fallen down, but I’m not ashamed to push around one of those bright orange seals to help steady myself,” she said.
Cosgrove, for her part, said she won’t be going out on the rink.
“While I don’t ice skate for the safety of everyone around me, I love everything about the community magnet the ice rink has become,” she said.
Cosgrove has worked with local performing artist Naomi Alstrup on PA Panto events. They call their plays love letters to the community, comedies that revel in what makes Port Angeles unique.
“I write Panto because it is pure joy to create frivolity in a world that desperately needs it,” Cosgrove said, adding that this art form is “British theater with a Northwest flair.”
Panto shows are tilted versions of fairy tales and fables, with gender-crossing actors, local references and audience participation.
“I am committed to raising the bar for arts in our community, through collaboration and original creations,” Cosgrove added.
“Watching our young actors learn to trust themselves, on stage and off is the engine of my work. And I love the work.”
The Juan de Fuca Foundation for the Arts is planning for the 2022 Memorial Day weekend festival while starting its annual membership drive. For more information, see www.jffa.org, phone the office at 360-457-5411 or email contact@JFFA.org.
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Jefferson County senior reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-417-3509 or durbanidelapaz@peninsuladailynews.com.
Skaters make their way around the ice at the Port Angeles Winter Ice Village. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
