ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS

Schools present plays

The Churchill County High School Theatre 2 class will present “The Staggering Heartbreak of Jasmine Weatherford”by Don Zolidis on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The one-act play explores love from the viewpoint of a teenage girl. Admission is free.

The Churchill County Middle School Introduction to Theatre classes will present two one-act plays starting on June 5 at 7 p.m. in the CCHS Theatre. The sixth-period class will present “The Twelve Huntsman” adapted from the Brothers Grimm by Tracy Wells. Seventh period will present “The Thirteen Ghosts of the Gimme Mine” by Amy Green. Both plays showcase the talent of these up and coming actors. Admission is free.

One-woman show

Sometimes the smallest thing can set the career path of a child in motion. Such was the case for Fernley artist Sharri Lou Casey.

Casey’s original inspiration that led her to the arts, including multi-medium painting, clay and gourd sculpting and dance, was a simple tin cup from memories of many years ago.

The long-time local artist tells the charming childhood story in her Artist Statement posted at her one-woman show. The display is available for viewing throughout June at Grate Thyme Kitchen Art Gallery in the Skyridge Plaza, 150 E. Main Street, Suite 470, Fernley. The relating of the story in her Artist Statement and her vast body of work is meant to honor her father, Milton A. Stomsvik who passed away in 2004 at the age of 91.

“Tin Cup” was inspired by family outings. It is a second-generation original oil Casey painted after selling the first version. The image comes from her roots and, linked to her story, the “Tin Cup” is an inspiration that deserves to be repeated time and again.

Casey, who owned a Dance Studio for 20 years, began her successful artistic career with dancing as a young child.

“I studied dance from the age of three and was teaching little kids to dance when I was in the eighth grade,” Casey said.

She went on to take up oil painting, watercolor and acrylic painting as well as clay sculpture. Recently she added gourd sculpture to her diverse repertoire with the creation of Hawaiian War Masks whose bright colors, feathers and ribbons caught the attention of incoming Burners last Fall. Four of the masks will be on display at the show along with her paintings.

Casey studied fine art in California and New York. She has exhibited in many prestigious locations and her work has been published in a variety of magazines. She has belonged to The Art Group (TAG), The Art Guild of Fernley, The Sierra Watercolor Society, The Cottonwood Watercolor Society and is Past President of The Latimer Art Club of Reno.

When studying the beautiful artwork one must also read the Artist Statement for a grand view into some very interesting Nevada history. These personal childhood experiences led to one woman’s vision of sharing the vibrancies of color, creativity and imagination with others in her life-time of work.

For information, contact Sharri Lou Casey at 775-575-5579 or by email at shrrlghtchsr4@sbcglobal.net.

Story by Mary Jean Kelso

Annual Chautauqua festival

Nevada Humanities presents the 22nd Nevada Humanities Chautauqua festival June 24-27 at the Robert Z. Hawkins Amphitheater at Bartley Ranch Regional Park, 6000 Bartley Ranch Road in Reno.

Founded by Nevada Humanities in Reno in 1992, Nevada Humanities Chautauqua has inspired many Chautauqua events around the globe and is one of the longest-running Chautauqua festivals in the nation. Chautauqua is a living history program in which performers, in costume and in character, bring historical figures to life in theatrical monologues. Educational and entertaining, Chautauqua programs provide dramatic insights into the people and events that have shaped our nation, and also provide a historical lens for looking at contemporary issues.

Reno’s weeklong celebration features workshops, roundtable discussions, and other daytime events hosted by community partners throughout Northern Nevada, as well as ticketed evening theatrical performances.

This year’s evening performances explore the theme “No Dream Deferred,” and feature performances of legendary characters including Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Henry Ford, Langston Hughes and Julia Morgan.

The June 24 evening program is free and will feature performances by the Young Chautauquans who have participated in Nevada Humanities’ 2013 Great Basin Young Chautauqua program. All evening events June 24-27 begin with a musical performance by a local band followed by two theatrical Chautauqua presentations. Gates open at 5 p.m., music starts at 6 p.m., and Chautauqua presentations begin at 7 p.m.

Tickets for ticketed shows June 25-27 are $25 per night for seats; lawn tickets are $10 per night. Children ages 12 and under are free if seated in an adult’s lap or on the lawn.

Plenty of comfortable seats are available, as well as a lawn area for those who prefer to bring their own blanket or low-rise chair. Tickets are available for purchase online at http://www.nevadahumanities.org. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gate the evening of the performance if performances are not sold out in advance.

Audience members are encouraged to bring a picnic or enjoy barbecue meals provided by Men Wielding Fire, which will be available for purchase each evening at the entrance to the amphitheater. Parking is plentiful and free.

Free daytime events are scheduled throughout the Truckee Meadows area for the week of June 22-27, 2013, including an architectural walking tour, lectures, workshops and children’s activities. A complete schedule of daytime events is available at http://www.nevadahumanities.org