Oliver Parrish portraying Patrick Star, lifts Jackson Hooper as SpongeBob during a rehearsal of “SpongeBob SquarePants” on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

SpongeBob goes deep

Nikiski’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” musical more than just a cartoon

Oliver Parrish portraying Patrick Star, lifts Jackson Hooper as SpongeBob during a rehearsal of “SpongeBob SquarePants” on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Nikiski Middle/High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tyler Payment, as Vito Corleone, acts alongside Joe Spady as Johnny Fontane and Jamie Nelson as Tom Hagen during a rehearsal of “The Codfather” on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Kenai Catering in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Sleeping with the fishes

Triumvirate’s “The Codfather” puts Kenai Peninsula spin on Coppola classic

Tyler Payment, as Vito Corleone, acts alongside Joe Spady as Johnny Fontane and Jamie Nelson as Tom Hagen during a rehearsal of “The Codfather” on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Kenai Catering in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Daniel Sherrell’s “Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of our World” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Daniel Sherrell’s “Warmth: Coming of Age at the End of our World” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional image for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” shows Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and other major characters. (Photo courtesy Universal Studios)

On the Screen: ‘Super Mario’ is shallow, but so much fun

It lovingly realizes iconic characters and imbues them with more character than they’ve ever enjoyed in their video game appearances

Promotional image for “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” shows Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and other major characters. (Photo courtesy Universal Studios)
Josiah Burton portrays Sherlock Holmes during a rehearsal of “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

The play is afoot

SoHi puts new twists on iconic characters in a Sherlock Holmes adventure

Josiah Burton portrays Sherlock Holmes during a rehearsal of “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure” at Soldotna High School in Soldotna, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The plans for the Triumvirate Theater’s new building are seen in this mockup. (Courtesy of Joe Rizzo)
The plans for the Triumvirate Theater’s new building are seen in this mockup. (Courtesy of Joe Rizzo)
A copy of Samanta Schweblin’s “Fever Dream” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Horror novella rethinks presentation of environmental disasters

“Fever Dream” begs the question of what is the most effective way to communicate the implications of environmental harm

A copy of Samanta Schweblin’s “Fever Dream” sits on a desk in the Peninsula Clarion building on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
A sculpture of a guitarist is made entirely from kitchen utensils, standing on a plinth at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in preparation for the debut of the 32nd Annual Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Visual Feast. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A sculpture of a guitarist is made entirely from kitchen utensils, standing on a plinth at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in preparation for the debut of the 32nd Annual Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Visual Feast. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
John Messick’s “Compass Lines” is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula College Bookstore in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Messick reflects on path forward in ‘Compass Lines’

“Compass Lines,” a new book by John Messick, a local writer and Assistant Professor of Writing at Kenai Peninsula College, is something he describes as… Continue reading

John Messick’s “Compass Lines” is displayed at the Kenai Peninsula College Bookstore in Soldotna, Alaska on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Keanu Reeves portrays John Wick in "John Wick: Chapter 4." (Photo courtesy Lionsgate)

On the Screen: ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ goes out on top

In the showstopping, approximately 40-minute long, third-act action sequence of “John Wick: Chapter 4,” star Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski prove — for the… Continue reading

Keanu Reeves portrays John Wick in "John Wick: Chapter 4." (Photo courtesy Lionsgate)
Forever Dance performers rehearse “Storytellers” on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘Storytellers’ weave tales with their feet

Dance and literature intersect in latest Forever Dance showcase

Forever Dance performers rehearse “Storytellers” on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at the Renee C. Henderson Auditorium in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Promotional image via the Performing Arts Society
Promotional image via the Performing Arts Society
The author holds a copy of Greta Thunberg’s, “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” inside the Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Thunberg speeches pack a punch

“No One Is Too Small to Make A Difference” is a compilation of 16 essays given by the climate activist

The author holds a copy of Greta Thunberg’s, “No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference,” inside the Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Kenai, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
The members of Sankofa Dance Theater Alaska perform for a crowd of students during an opening performance at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science in Kenai, Alaska on Monday, March 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Uniting through movement

Kaleidoscope students learn about western African dances and music with in-residence artists

The members of Sankofa Dance Theater Alaska perform for a crowd of students during an opening performance at Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science in Kenai, Alaska on Monday, March 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in “The Last of Us.” (Photo courtesy HBO)

On the Screen: ‘The Last of Us’ perfectly adapts a masterpiece

HBO unquestionably knew they had a hit on their hands

Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel in “The Last of Us.” (Photo courtesy HBO)
Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
A copy of Marie Aubert’s “Grown Ups” sits on a desk in The Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday in Kenai.

Off the Shelf: Good for her

Marie Aubert’s “Grown Ups” caught my attention with a flashy cover and a review from Independent Ireland on the cover

Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion 
A copy of Marie Aubert’s “Grown Ups” sits on a desk in The Peninsula Clarion building on Wednesday in Kenai.
Kenai Peninsula Writers’ Contest logo (Homer Council on the Arts/courtesy)
Kenai Peninsula Writers’ Contest logo (Homer Council on the Arts/courtesy)
Soldotna Elementary students check out with their books on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at River City Books in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Building ‘personal libraries’

Soldotna Elementary students take home reading from River City Books

Soldotna Elementary students check out with their books on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at River City Books in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A painting of a small bird with a steely gaze is seen hanging on Feb. 28, 2023, at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, part of “Bird Call,” the center’s March show. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘All things Avian’ showcased at Kenai Art Center

The exhibition features paintings of birds, photos of birds and sculptures of birds

A painting of a small bird with a steely gaze is seen hanging on Feb. 28, 2023, at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai, Alaska, part of “Bird Call,” the center’s March show. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Keri Russell’s Sari hides from the Cocaine Bear in “Cocaine Bear.” (Photo courtesy Universal Pictures)

On the Screen: ‘Cocaine Bear’ is a simple, but fun, slasher

The film transforms the titular bear into something like an ‘80s slasher villain

Keri Russell’s Sari hides from the Cocaine Bear in “Cocaine Bear.” (Photo courtesy Universal Pictures)