Arts

Dancers rehearse the all-company jazz routine “Steamed Heat,” from the Broadway musical “The Pajama Game.” (Photo provided by Forever Dance Alaska)

Forever Classical

‘A Night with the Classics’ channels old Hollywood with a ‘red carpet awards night’ vibe

 

Sara DeVolld works on “Towards the Sun,” a dress she designed that was featured in February’s Trend Alaska 2024 Fashion Show. (Photo provided by Shona DeVolld)

Fashioning with light

Soldotna student’s designs featured in statewide fashion shows

 

Sandra Hüller portrays Sandra Voyter in “Anatomy of a Fall.” (Promotional photo courtesy Neon)

On the Screen: ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ is dense, rapturous

I’m disappointed I had to wait so long to get the opportunity to see this film

 

Rory Funk and Oshie Broussard rehearse “Marion, or the True Tale of Robin Hood” at the Kenai Art Center on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Shooting through the status quo

Treefort Theatre retells Robin Hood tale with a twist

Rory Funk and Oshie Broussard rehearse “Marion, or the True Tale of Robin Hood” at the Kenai Art Center on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Poster for 2nd Annual Indigenous Language Film Festival. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Indigenous Education Progam)

Indigenous language film fest returns with 16 submissions

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Indigenous Education Program hosted its Second Annual Indigenous Language Film Festival on Thursday

Poster for 2nd Annual Indigenous Language Film Festival. (Provided by Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Indigenous Education Progam)
A copy of Tom Kizzia’s “Cold Mountain Path” rests on a table on Thursday in Juneau. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Ghosts come alive in Kizzia’s ‘Cold Mountain Path’

From boomtown to abandoned, the town of McCarthy sets the stage for a compelling narrative

A copy of Tom Kizzia’s “Cold Mountain Path” rests on a table on Thursday in Juneau. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
People identifying as Democrats and people identifying as Republicans sit face to face during a workshop put on by Braver Angels in this screenshot from “Braver Angels: Reuniting America.” (Screenshot courtesy Braver Angels)

KPC lecture series to feature film and discussion about connecting across political divide

“Braver Angels: Reuniting America” is a nonpartisan documentary about a workshop held in the aftermath of the 2016 election of Donald Trump

People identifying as Democrats and people identifying as Republicans sit face to face during a workshop put on by Braver Angels in this screenshot from “Braver Angels: Reuniting America.” (Screenshot courtesy Braver Angels)
Orion (Jacob Tremblay) and Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) in “Orion and the Dark.” (Promotional photo provided by Dreamworks Animation)

On the Screen: ‘Orion and the Dark’ is resonant, weird

Fear of the dark is natural, not some problem that Orion has to go on adventure to overcome

Orion (Jacob Tremblay) and Dark (Paul Walter Hauser) in “Orion and the Dark.” (Promotional photo provided by Dreamworks Animation)
Dancers rehearse a hula routine at Diamond Dance Project near Soldotna on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Moving into magic

Diamond Dance Project all-studio concert puts original spin on familiar stories

Dancers rehearse a hula routine at Diamond Dance Project near Soldotna on Thursday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
A copy of Jennifer Brice’s “Another North: Essays” rests on a desk inside the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 in Kenai, AK. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Meditations on middle age

“Another North” shares lifetime of experiences through personal narratives

A copy of Jennifer Brice’s “Another North: Essays” rests on a desk inside the Peninsula Clarion offices on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 in Kenai, AK. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Sam Rockwell portrays Aidan and Bryce Dallas Howard portrays Elly Conway in “Argylle.” (Promotional photo courtesy Apple Original Films)

On the screen: Anticipated spy flick falls flat in unmemorable ‘Argylle’

Overlong and a little jumbled, the film fails to play to its own strengths

Sam Rockwell portrays Aidan and Bryce Dallas Howard portrays Elly Conway in “Argylle.” (Promotional photo courtesy Apple Original Films)
“Will it Work?,” by Chris Jenness, is included as part of the People’s Choice Judged Exhibition at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

‘People’s Choice’ show makes attendees the judges at Kenai Art Center

A voting box will be present at the center all month, with each person getting one vote

“Will it Work?,” by Chris Jenness, is included as part of the People’s Choice Judged Exhibition at the Kenai Art Center on Wednesday. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
The 2022 lineup of John Damberg’s Latin Jazz Quintet stand for a photo in 2022. John Damberg plays marimba and vibes, Mark Manners plays classical guitar, Bob Andrews plays bass guitar and Eiden Pospisil plays drums. Laura Koenig, pictured here with a flute, will not be playing with the quintet this weekend — the group will instead feature Karl Pasch on clarinet. (Photo courtesy John Damberg)

Latin jazz swings into town

Anchorage quintet to bring ‘fun and accessible’ music to Soldotna

The 2022 lineup of John Damberg’s Latin Jazz Quintet stand for a photo in 2022. John Damberg plays marimba and vibes, Mark Manners plays classical guitar, Bob Andrews plays bass guitar and Eiden Pospisil plays drums. Laura Koenig, pictured here with a flute, will not be playing with the quintet this weekend — the group will instead feature Karl Pasch on clarinet. (Photo courtesy John Damberg)
"The Boys" by Katie Hafner. (Photo via Amazon)

Off the Shelf: A quirky pandemic love story that hits close to home

Hafner portrays the toll forced isolation can take on the human psyche within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

"The Boys" by Katie Hafner. (Photo via Amazon)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
John Walsh, Rose Flanagan and Pat Broaders perform during “An Evening of Traditional Irish Music” on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna.

KDLL hosts Irish music at Kenai Peninsula College

The annual Irish music performance has been staged on the peninsula by a trio of performers almost every year since 2018

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
John Walsh, Rose Flanagan and Pat Broaders perform during “An Evening of Traditional Irish Music” on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, at Kenai Peninsula College in Soldotna.
Jaquel Spivey is Damian, Angourie Rice is Cady and Auli’i Cravalho is Janis in “Mean Girls.” (Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures)

On the screen: ‘Mean Girls’ is a special, musical, spectacle

The adaptation of the 2017 Broadway musical is a surprising early-year hit

Jaquel Spivey is Damian, Angourie Rice is Cady and Auli’i Cravalho is Janis in “Mean Girls.” (Promotional photo courtesy Paramount Pictures)
A copy of Judy Johnson’s “Alaskan Pioneer Girl” rests in the snow on Sunday, December 24, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)

Off the Shelf: Small town girl weaves tales of home

Local memoir is an engaging window into what life on the central peninsula looked like in the second half of the 20th century

A copy of Judy Johnson’s “Alaskan Pioneer Girl” rests in the snow on Sunday, December 24, 2023 near Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork by Lynne O’Connor set for exhibition in the Kenai Art Center’s January show, “Feels Like Home,” awaits hanging at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai on Dec. 22.

Kenai Art Center looks to 2024, wants to make more people into artists

The lineup includes open call shows, a fundraiser, artist features, an exhibition for tattoo artists and the annual mural show

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Artwork by Lynne O’Connor set for exhibition in the Kenai Art Center’s January show, “Feels Like Home,” awaits hanging at the Kenai Art Center in Kenai on Dec. 22.
The Kenai Fine Art Centery as seen on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion file)

Kenai Art Center accepting submissions for January show

“Feels Like Home” is set to open on Jan. 5, and will benefit the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Students in Transition program

The Kenai Fine Art Centery as seen on Sunday, May 9, 2021. (Camille Botello / Peninsula Clarion file)
Elena Corey and Jim Pate perform during Music by the Fire at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

An evening of books and song

Musicians give fireside serenades to librarygoers

Elena Corey and Jim Pate perform during Music by the Fire at the Soldotna Public Library in Soldotna, Alaska, on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)