PORT ANGELES — Patterned after National Public Radio’s variety show “A Prairie Home Companion,” this year’s Jingle Jazz holiday production, “Home for the Holidays,” offers jazz, comedy and live interviews with a variety of North Olympic Peninsula performers.
The show is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, in Peninsula College’s Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
General admission tickets can be purchased online for $15 at www.Brown PaperTickets.com or at the door on a space-available basis.
A no-host chocolate and wine reception (with cider and cookies for those younger than 21) is set for 6 p.m. in PC’s Pirate Union Building.
Chris Lee and Colleen O’Brien of PoetryMusic, jazz singer Jessie Lee and the Peninsula College Jazz Singers and Vocal Harmony will be interviewed briefly by Todd Ortloff of KONP radio between sets.
Humorist Laura O’Neal will provide a comical twist as stage manager.
“I’m looking forward to presenting a true, live radio show,” Ortloff said. “I think the audience both in the theater and on the radio will experience a warm nostalgia reminiscent of the radio’s golden era. It’s a perfect fit for the holiday season.”
Jazz standards such as “Deedle’s Blues” along with traditional holiday fare, including “Let It Snow” and “Christmastime Is Here,” are planned.
As in years past, the show will include a variety of jazz styles, harmonies and modern arrangements of classic jazz literature.
The evening’s music features the addition of PoetryMusic, with Chris Lee on percussion and vibes, and Colleen O’Brien on cello and vocals.
PoetryMusic features the chamber jazz duo performing poetry that has been set to music. Their multimedia performance includes an accompanying slide presentation with each poem projected on the screen along with photographic images so the audience can follow the written word while the poem is being sung.
The concert will be broadcast live on 1450 AM and 101.7 FM on KONP radio. Folks tuning in at home also can listen live at www.konp.com.
“We’ve had this format in mind since the first Jingle Jazz concert, and now that the community has become so fond of the event, it made sense to finally present it as more of a variety show featuring local talent, which we have an abundance of,” vocal jazz director Elaine Gardner Morales said.
“We’re very excited to feature PC Vocal Jazz alum Jessie Lee. What a joy to see former students do so well.”
PC Jazz Singers include Evelyn Leigh and Cheryl Bell of Sequim; Claire Wegener, Kylea Tucker and Randall Gonzales of Port Angeles; and Alan Susnow of Port Townsend.
Featured for the first time this year will be the new select ensemble, Vocal Harmony, whose members include Alexis Haman and Samuel Hegarty of Sequim, Tiara Delatorre, Brandi Larson, Joshua Lewis, Nitasha Lewis, Brittney Sofie and Marissa Wilson from Port Angeles, and Joyce’s Robbin Eaves. The group will be accompanied by Mark Schecter on piano, Terry Smith on drums, Ted Enderle on bass and Chuck Easton on guitar.
Vocal Harmony will travel to Ireland in March, and part of the proceeds from this event will help offset costs for this trip. Additional support for concert will be provided by Wilder Auto.
The Olympus Group at D.A. Davidson will sponsor the Peninsula College Foundation event, which has become a holiday tradition on the North Olympic Peninsula.
“This benefit is for students, by students,” said Gretta Rogers Workman, Peninsula College Foundation executive director.
For more information about Jingle Jazz or the Peninsula College Foundation, contact Rogers Workman at grogers@pencol.edu or 360-417-6400.
