by Colleen Smith Armstrong

Editor/Publisher

Grace McCune is presenting a musical tapestry alongside beloved island performers with her Orcas Center benefit concert “On This Island” during the second weekend of May. It will be an evening of song, spoken word and dance all centered around the theme of living in a small town.

In addition to professional musicians, McCune is including an ensemble component, in honor of her popular Rock on the Rock community choirs that have performed at previous benefit concerts.

Broadway performer and part-time Orcas resident Noah Racey will be returning to the island to perform in the show as well as teach a choir intensive workshop with McCune at Orcas Center. Racey is an award-winning, New York-based performer, writer, director, choreographer and educator.

“I like to wake people up and get them connected to the finite appreciation of what you have to offer when you step out on stage,” Racey said.

Participants in the kids’ workshop will get the opportunity to work on a song that will be staged with both dance and vocals with Racey. In the adult class, participants will work on vocal techniques and learn three songs with movement. Everyone will perform their pieces during On This Island. The workshops will be held May 6 (kids: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., adults: 6:30-8:30 p.m.) and May 7-8 (kids: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., adults: 3 to 7 p.m.) Concert dates are May 13, 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Racey hopes to express how powerful it is to be onstage and convey an idea. He says there is nothing better than singing. He calls it “a release of the soul.”

There is room left in the kids’ workshop and a few spaces remaining for the adults. Contact McCune at grace@gracemccune.com to sign up. Tickets for the benefit concert are at www.orcascenter.org. Watch the May 4 edition of the Sounder for a full story on the performances.

Orcas throwback photos needed

Part of On This Island includes island memory photos to use as projections as a backdrop of the stage while musicians are playing. McCune is looking for the following kinds of images:

• Pictures of Orcas

• People getting married

• People with their kids

• Parties, gatherings, events

• Residents who have passed away

• Childhood on Orcas

To share them, email grace@gracemccune.com or search for “Orcas throwback photos needed!” on Facebook.