When a group of artists works together for a common goal, it tends to be a good thing. The more times that can happen, the better, in my view.
On Sunday afternoon, a group of north state singers, dancers and actors came together to launch a new performing arts venture called the Westside Performing Arts Company. The group’s members performed some ensemble show tunes, solos and a comedy skit before a small audience at the Old City Hall Art Center in Redding.
Area vocalist (and voice instructor) Trish Spinner is the artistic director of the company, and she has surrounded herself with a variety of talented individuals. Performers in the showcase Sunday included Spinner, Adam Ferris, Kim Norden, Lisa Redden, Dean Williams, Mike Powell, Brian Bisetti and Bill Collins. That’s quite a list of talented prominent performers in our area.
The company, an auxiliary of the Shasta County Arts Council, will serve as both a teaching academy and a professional performance group. The group’s long-term goal is to build a black-box theater and a rehearsal/teaching facility somewhere in downtown Redding. For now, the company is available for private parties, fundraisers, murder mystery performances and school shows. It also plans more public performances.
Company members will sing Christmas carols prior to evening performances of “A Cascade Christmas” at the Cascade Theatre. They’ll also sing to kick off the 2nd Saturday Art Hop at Old City Hall on Dec. 13.
As an educational program, the company will conduct a one-week spring break theater academy for kids, and a five-week summer theater academy for all ages.
In short, Spinner and her fellow artists want to provide high-quality performing arts training and also get themselves in front of audiences more. I’m of the strong opinion that the more times people like Spinner, Ferris, Williams and the others can be out there performing, the better.
“We’re just trying to provide more options,” said Spinner, mentioning that she believes there’s room alongside established programs like James Santos’ The Dance Project, The Riverfront Playhouse and The Redding City Musical Theater Company. “As we expand, we hope to draw (performers) out of the community. There certainly are some talented people around here.”
For more information on the group, e-mail Trish Spinner at westsideperformingarts.com or call 515-7151.
