Festival of Trees 2006

COMMUNITY ARTS AND THEATRE SOCIETY

Festival of Trees ready to Razzle Dazzle Dec. 1

posted 11/14/2007
On Saturday, December 1, the Theatre¹s doors open at 5 p.m. for the 19th annual Festival of Trees, "A Razzle Dazzle Christmas". Guests will be treated to sumptuous appetizers by Roche Harbor chef Bill Shaw as well wines and sparkling cider. The Sweet Spot will top off the evening with luscious desserts.

From the very first year when only six trees were auctioned off in the lobby, Community Arts Theatre Society (CATS) recognized the potential for this gala event to be the cornerstone of the holiday season in Friday Harbor. 2007 marks the 19th annual Festival of Trees produced by CATS at San Juan Community Theatre. The celebration is part neighborhood gathering and part dress-up festivity.

"From the very beginning, there was a real sense of magic about it," said Ruth Fleming, who co-chaired the first Festival with Catherine Skinner. "People got very dressed up. It brought a lot of Christmas spirit into the Theatre and the whole community."

Always the first Saturday in December, the inaugural 1989 festival was held in the brand-new Community Theatre. CATS' members were thrilled when those early events netted about $10,000. The Festival has come a long way in 19 years. The gala event regularly sells out at 300 seats and raises nearly $50,000 annually for capital needs at the Theatre.

The evening always includes a sensational stage show. The first Festival-goers were treated to excerpts from the Nutcracker ballet performed by a Bellevue dance troupe. Many local performers have been featured as well, from the soulful bluegrass of Debbie Nash-Strasser to show-stopping dance numbers choreographed by Bill Ament, and in recent years, elaborate productions created by Ted Soares, this year's honoree.

The foundation of the event and indeed another aspect of the show is the auctioneering. In the early years, David Skinner played auctioneer. Later Trish Lehman managed the bidding, and she has become a Festival institution in that role.

Over the years lavish food has been added to the evening, and the auction items expanded to include fine art works by local artists, travel packages, cruises on private yachts, and generous local business contributions.

In recent years, the Festival's entertainment program has been offered separately on Friday night. This Preview Night, which will be held on November 30 this year at 7 pm, has become an event unto itself, a perfect evening for families to "kick-off" the holiday season. Tickets are only $4 and are available now at the Theatre box office.

Festival of Trees "It's a Wonderful Life...'Island Style'."

Photos by Sharon Kivisto

Friday Harbor High School Drama teacher Fred Yockers was moved to tears when presented with a plaque by Laura Westmiller.

posted 12/08/2006
The CATS 18th Annual Festival of Trees raised $62,755 for the San Juan Community Theatre and honored Friday Harbor High School drama teacher Fred Yockers. The video tribute, written and narrated by Festival chair Laura Westmiller, fit in with the night's theme - "It's a Wonderful Life...'Island Style'."

The audience viewed photos of Yockers as a young boy performing with his father; as a young man performing as a clown with Ringling Bros. Circus; and video clips of him rehearsing with Friday Harbor drama students. This year's plays will be the 35th and 36th since he joined the high school staff. His impact on the life of hundreds of students over the years was evident in the excerpts from former students.

"Those of us who are here (on the island) to stay know why we're here," he said. "Thank you, not because of me. But because of them." He indicated several drama students who were near the stage helping with the audience. They joined him in the next line. "If you think this is good, wait until next year."

The auction began after the tribute. Entertainment started and ended the evening. The program was produced and directed by Ted Soares. Choreography was done by Naoni Zervas and Bill Ament.

Auctioneer Trish Lehman began her 15th year of auctioning off items. This year the live auction items were cut back to 30 and the intermission was eliminated. Farhad Ghatan took over as auctioneer for the middle third of the items. He brought the bids for his donated "Fine Fishing in Masset, B.C." fishing trip up to $2,600. Then he donated two more trips.

One of the most amusing bidding contests was over former Friday Harbor High School Principal Ralph Hahn's donation of a rock wall. He will build a 50-foot-long dry stack rock wall. Lehman revved the crowd up with idea of the former principal in your backyard.

At the end of the auction, Paul LeBaron bid $500 in Yocker's name and wondered if there were others who would do the same. There was a flurry of bids and another $7,000 was raised.