The Spirit of Celtic Music Comes to WICA

Bagpipes echoed in the halls of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) and the sound of fiddle music floated through the air. Toe-tapping melodies and entertaining ballads created a transformational experience for audience members who took part in WICA’s inaugural Celtic Festival, November 10-12.

Even the rain didn’t dampen the mood, as the three-day festival drew hundreds of attendees to Langley, filling WICA’s mainstage theatre for each performance. Opening with a sold-out Friday show with the Tannahill Weavers, one of Scotland’s premier traditional bands, the weekend’s line-up featured a performance by Irish button accordion player John Whelan on Saturday as well as a matinee performance by Native Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson and pianist Neil Pearlman on Sunday.

“We were honored to have such talented artists at our first ever Celtic Festival,” says WICA Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan. “At WICA, part of our mission is to bring world-renowned artists to Whidbey Island and to share with our community diverse programming that enriches lives and connects us all. This inaugural event was a beautiful example of these efforts, and we can’t wait to see how this festival continues to grow.”

To learn more about this festival, as well as WICA’s other heritage festivals, visit www.wicaonline.org.

Falstaff in Love Preparations Begin at WICA

Excitement and anticipation emanate from the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) mainstage. Under the warm glow of the house lights, the cast of the upcoming production Falstaff in Love meet for the first time—reading through the play that takes William Shakespeare’s beloved character Sir John Falstaff and imagines the life before he was known as “a lazy, gluttonous, boastful, selfish, lying, and debauched old knight.”

“One of the most challenging aspects of being a playwright is finding a performing arts organization willing to assume the risks of producing new work,” says playwright Scott Kaiser. “WICA took a chance on my play Falstaff in Love, committing to a full production rather than waiting for another institution to prove the commercial viability of the work. For this reason, I am forever grateful to my colleagues at WICA, whose bold artistic engagement provides invaluable resources—both to professional theatre artists like me and to the Whidbey Island community.”

Premiering on Friday, December 8 with a ten-show run, the play is the hilarious prequel to Shakespeare's Henry IV plays, commissioned by the highly respected Oregon Shakespeare Festival and premiering in full production at WICA. A play by Scott Kaiser and directed by WICA Executive Artistic Director Deana Duncan, it features local and national artists in a beautiful homage to Shakespearean charm, posing the questions of “who was Falstaff” and “was he ever truly in love.”

The cast for the WICA production is as follows:

Jeff Natter, Host, Guard
James Hinkley, Corporal Bardolf, Gardener
David Mayer, Duke of Aumerle, King Henry the Fourth
Andrew Yabroff, Jack Falstaff
Jameson Cook, Boy
Rosaletta Curry, Nell
Sommer Harris, Queen Mary
Shelley Hartle, Lady Katherine
Aleah Stacey, Faith, The Earl of Kent
Tom Harris, The Earl of Salisbury, Crew

With rehearsals beginning, set design underway, and a steady hum of activity at WICA as preparations move forward, Falstaff in Love’s December premiere and performance run is less than a month away. Tickets for the play are on sale now! Visit www.wicaonline.org to purchase your tickets today.

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts Receives People's Choice Award for North Puget Sound

Art, community, and connection have been at the heart of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) mission since 1996, when a grassroots movement established the nonprofit in Langley, Washington. Support for this mission was on full display on October 23 when WICA received the Theatre Puget Sound People's Choice Award for North Puget Sound.

“We are honored to receive this award,” says Deana Duncan, WICA executive artistic director. “For nearly three decades, WICA has served the Whidbey Island community—bringing world-renowned artists, lecturers, performers, and productions to the island. We firmly believe art connects us all, inspiring empathy and creating powerful shared experiences.”

As Island County’s largest arts organization, WICA employs 600 regional, national, and international artists annually and offers 15,000 patrons more than 120 days of arts, educational, and cultural programming each year. With support for local youth through scholarship opportunities and expanded accessibility through pay-what-you-will initiatives, WICA is working to ensure that the arts are available to all. In addition to this, WICA’s four heritage festivals, which include internationally-renowned DjangoFest Northwest, bring in audience members from around the world and add more than $500K directly to the local economy.

“It is so exciting to be recognized for our commitment to the arts as we work to ensure that WICA remains a relevant and vital part of our island identity,” says Duncan. “We want to thank Theatre Puget Sound for this award as well as our dedicated volunteers, patrons, artists, staff, board, and supporters who have made this all possible.”

To learn more about WICA, please visit wicaonline.org.

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts Honored by Theatre Puget Sound

For nearly three decades, the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA) has been bringing world-renowned artists, lecturers, performers, and productions to its campus in Langley, WA. Today, WICA is excited to announce it has been named as one of the People’s Choice finalists for the Northern Region of the Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) Gregory Awards. With more than 1,000 people voting, WICA was chosen as a Top 5 nominee, with final honorees announced during the October 23, 2023 virtual award celebration.

“We are honored to be considered for this prestigious award,” says Deana Duncan, WICA executive artistic director. “Art is at the heart of our endeavors and to be recognized for this work means so much to us and to our community. We firmly believe the stories we bring to Whidbey Island inspire empathy within all of us and we continue to work to make sure WICA is truly embedded in this community we all love.”

A producing organization with over 120 days of arts, cultural, and educational programming, WICA has more than 250 community volunteers and employs approximately 600 regional, national, and international artists annually. The organization’s two heritage festivals—DjangoFest Northwest and the Whidbey Island Film Festival—bring in more than $325,000 to the local economy. Through Pay-What-You-Will performances and outreach to youth through scholarships, partnerships, programming, and free access to patrons under 18 years old, the organization works to ensure the arts are inclusive and accessible for everyone.

As WICA looks ahead in its 28th season—from launching its Celtic Festival in November to the first Bluegrass Festival in January—the organization is thrilled to be considered for the prestigious TPS award and is committed to continuing to bring world-class programming to Whidbey Island.

To learn more about WICA, please visit wicaonline.org. 

To learn more about the Theatre Puget Sound (TPS) Gregory Awards or to register for the virtual event, please visit theatrepugetsound.org/2023-gregory-awards.

Music from DjangoFest Northwest Fills Whidbey Community

Once again, Langley’s streets are alive with Django music. From September 20-24, visitors and residents will be treated to the toe-tapping, enthralling music that is Gypsy Jazz. Produced by the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA), DjangoFest Northwest (DFNW) is a five-day heritage festival that brings together performers from around the world. This year’s festival will feature eight concerts, more than ten workshops, and countless Djam sessions—all in the spirit of music pioneered by Django Reinhardt.

“The festival is the most fun we have all year,” says Deana Duncan, WICA’s executive artistic director. “Whidbey Island and Langley specifically are very similar to the small town in France where the festival was born; Samois-sur-Seine. Our festival combines an amazing musical program…with many creative, fun and artistic activities like jazz workshops, outdoor ‘Djam’ sessions, and even craft cocktails at the local restaurants. Our DFNW lounge is open every day from noon to midnight with custom merchandise, food and drink and a chance to meet and hear artists in a casual atmosphere.”

This is the festival’s 23rd year, and features local performers like the Hot Club of Troy as well as international artists like Duved Dunayevsky. Each year, WICA and DjangoFest Northwest Artistic Director Simon Planting work with artists from around the world to curate the festival, which involves months of planning—from coordinating visas to booking travel and local accommodations. Made even more difficult this year due to the increase in the number of travelers worldwide, getting artists to Whidbey Island is a feat in and of itself.

For some, the visa process is one such hurdle, as Duncan witnessed this year in coordinating with embassies and officials. “Our European artists just needed a case number to get their embassy appointment and paperwork,” says Duncan. “But the Brazilian performers needed to have their paperwork in hand, which they didn’t. The line was so long, they decided to stay overnight in the embassy, hire a courier service by phone to print and pick up the forms, and then hand the forms through a gate the following morning.”

It is this hard work and a commitment to the festival, as well as the effort by both performers and the producers to make DjangoFest Northwest a memorable experience each year, that ensures it remains well-known and beloved around the world. And, after months of preparation, WICA is excited to welcome guests back for the first full festival with international artists since the start of the pandemic, making this a can’t-miss event.

For those looking to experience DjangoFest Northwest, visit www.djangofest.com for the performance lineup, workshop schedule, and more ways to enjoy all that the festival has to offer.