Sights!  Smells! Tastes! Sounds! Yes…..even touch!

Imagine a gorgeous country location just a moment’s drive off of Highway 42, south of Egg Harbor. Pulling into the driveway a magnificent, towering, gray-weathered barn appears before you, beckoning you to park and stay awhile. Have you got that picture in your head? It’s not a dream, it’s reality — and it’s here in Door County for you to enjoy.

Have you had a chance to visit Woodwalk Gallery? If you haven’t, you truly don’t know what you are missing. It is so much more than “just” a gallery! Phil, Hadley and I have had numerous chances to stop in to visit Allin and Margaret. We’ve enjoyed music, strolled around outside and made a purchase (or more) over the years.

Sure, you can view beautiful, original artwork — paintings, jewelry, pottery, and more (sight).  You can also wander through the paths outdoors and experience some unique sculptures along the way, taking in the indescribable scent of fresh air (smell).

This property is used for so much more, too — weddings are held here regularly, with amazing food and drink catered in for the newlyweds and their guests to enjoy (taste). Another popular event that takes place at Woodwalk is their concert series — I can’t tell you how much fun has happened inside the walls of the weathered barn while live music was being performed (sound)!

In fact, Labor Day weekend offers you the opportunity to see, hear and sing along with Eli Mattson, when he brings his baritone vocals and passionate piano playing to perform three separate shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You can learn more about these shows by visiting www.woodwalkgallery.com or by calling (920) 868-2912.

Now, I’m sure that you’ve been keeping track of those five senses, and you’ve noticed that I’ve only mentioned four of them so far. Beyond the tangible sense of touch (which you can experience indoors and out), it’s the feeling of having been touched by the beauty of this place that you’ll remember most.

Enjoy yourself.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: there is ALWAYS something going on in Door County! The middle of February offers live music, performances at theatres and galleries every day. But WOW, summer 2012 seems to have exploded with things to do and places to go to completely immerse yourself in the arts. In some cases, you don’t even have to plan for your memorable encounter.

In just 10 days’ time, between the last week of June and the first week of July, I was wonderfully inundated with things to do, music to enjoy and laughter to behold at the expense of an outrageous “Nerd!”

So, well start with “The Nerd” — currently showing at Peninsula Players Theatre until July 22. My best friend, Karen, is my reliable date when Phil or Hadley aren’t available. We met at the Players’ beer garden for a Pimm’s and lemonade, and to sit and enjoy the sun sinking lower on the horizon over the water. Who would have known that our peaceful beginning would be shattered as we laughed our way through the performance for the next two hours?

Honestly, the hilarity of the main character, Rick (played by Sean Fortunato), had me convinced throughout the show that this must be the most fun he’s EVER had on stage. He was so annoying that I couldn’t help but give myself a headache from laughing so much!

There are still three other shows to see this year at Peninsula Players — the musical “Chicago,” Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Nile” and “Lombardi.” I strongly encourage you to find time to visit Peninsula Players this year, and create a lasting tradition for the future.

Two days later, I was lucky enough to attend the opening concert of the 2012 season at Birch Creek Music Performance Center, located just outside of Egg Harbor. Again, I was accompanied by Karen, who had never been to Birch Creek before (I know, I gasped too — the horror of knowing someone who lives in Door County still hadn’t experienced a concert in The Barn!).

If you’ve never been to Birch Creek before, it’s a very unique place — offering advanced learning opportunities for (mostly) high school-aged music students who want to improve their skills and possibly make a career out of performing. During the winter months, applications are submitted by students hoping for a spot in one of the four separate two-week camps. Birch Creek has a full campus, where students and faculty all live on-site, dining in a shared hall, learning, rehearsing and finally performing multiple times for appreciative ticket-holders. The students comes from 15-20 different states (depending on the year) to learn from faculty members who have resumes that are impressive, to say the least.

The first session of each season is dedicated to symphonic music, where strings and brass work together to create amazing sounds. Close your eyes and you could be anywhere, listening to professionals perform — instead, you are inside a magnificent, 100-year-old barn filled with performing teenagers and their teachers.

We thoroughly enjoyed our evening and are trying to find a date when we can attend a concert during the percussion session, which runs July 12 through July 21. Two separate two-week jazz sessions begin July 25 and run through August 18, when the season comes to an end (with the exception of some special events that they hold throughout the year). Be sure to plan a visit Birch Creek, where you can enjoy an evening of music that you won’t soon forget!

Before I knew it, the 4th of July arrived, along with my sister, Michelle, and her two youngest kids, Collin and Mikayla — both teenagers. I’m never quite sure what to do with “big-city” kids when they hang out in the country with me, but I can say that those two loved every minute of their visit and announced that they would move to Door County in a heartbeat! They couldn’t believe all of the things that they had available to do, and so much more that there wasn’t time for.

We headed into Baileys Harbor for their 4th of July celebration, which included plenty of live music. After a quick stop for a beverage and a bite to eat from one of the food stands, we carried our goodies to a picnic table set up on the town hall lawn and were immediately swept away by the amazing voice of Eli Mattson. Eli is a local Door County “boy” who made it big as the second-place winner of NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent” in 2008. Hadley, Phil and I have been big fans of his for years, and it was great introducing his talent to the rest of my family members. The weather was perfect, Eli’s voice and keyboard skills were top-notch and the audience enjoyed every minute of his performance. Eli does a great job of introducing his songs by telling a story, which makes you feel like you’re one of the family — sitting in his living room, sharing secrets. After he finished performing for the day, he took as much time as was needed to talk to every fan who wanted to meet him and have a picture taken with him, or to autograph CDs. Hadley, Collin and Mikayla all posed for photos with Eli — what a memory!

Audiences don’t just have one “look” — there are young children dancing and whirling, middle-aged groups of friends singing along, and the more mature audience members sitting hand-in-hand and smiling at the beauty of the moment. My sister decided that she wanted to experience this again during her three-day visit, so we made plans to attend Live Music on the Lawn in Baileys Harbor again on Friday evening.

There are six different communities that offer free outdoor concerts during the summer: Ephraim, Fish Creek, Sister Bay, Sturgeon Bay, Egg Harbor and Baileys Harbor. Details on dates and times for each event can be found here.

On Friday, July 6, we were treated to some incredible blues, courtesy of the Baileys Harbor Community Association and the group Mighty Mouth, led by nationally-acclaimed Baileys Harbor resident and blues man, Pete Thelen. We brought our camp chairs along (blankets spread out were popular, too) and grabbed a drink from the Baileys Harbor Cornerstone Pub, conveniently located across the street. People sang and danced, and it was much too soon when the final song was being played. It was another wonderful memory — this one for just my sister and myself.

Speaking of making memories, I just have to share with you this very special video from American Folklore Theatre, with a little description to tease your first:

American Folklore Theatre has been performing original musical comedies under the stars at Peninsula State Park in Door County for more than 20 years. Their unique brand of family-friendly theatre allows them to create lifelong fans who return year after year. On July 6, 2012, one lifelong fan could think of no better place to propose to his girlfriend than at the very place that holds some of his happiest childhood memories.

The performance that night was “Belgians in Heaven” — a fan favorite. Two characters from the show, Roger and Henry, were in on the surprise and helped things along.

Watch the video here.

That’s one great thing about our arts scene — whenever possible, our performers and artists will help you to create the memory that you want to have of your time in Door County.

What would you like YOUR Door County memory to be?

One of the most common questions we get here in Door County is “what do you do in the winter?” Not too many years ago, we did have a period of “shut down” in the winter when we caught up with friends and neighbors after working non-stop from May to October.  While we are still able to play catch up, it often takes place at a wide variety of events held nearly every day and/or night of the week. Because Door County has been enjoying a fast-growing arts community in recent years, there is no shortage of satisfying your creative cravings.

I couldn`t think of any better way to illustrate that fact than to tell you what I am missing this week while I am out of the county visiting my parents.  Phil, Hadley and I left Door County on Friday, February 17 in the middle of a snowstorm.  Let`s face it – no matter how much you love where you live, you still need a vacation every so often.  Taking a vacation away from Door County in the summer makes no sense; this is where millions of people flock to every year!  We know that we have a special place here, and leaving it for any reason makes very little sense sometimes.

However, my parents have retired to Florida. If that’s where we must go, that’s where we shall go.  The biggest problem, though, is that we are missing a lot of great arts events at home in beautiful Door County.  Starting with Friday night – when we left home, all that white stuff was falling from the sky, which made our departure even more difficult.  Fortunately, we were able to enjoy a performance by the Four Freshmen while we were in Punta Gorda, so I got my “fix” while we were away.

If we had stayed home, we would have had to choose between Isadoora’s production of “Striking 12” at Birch Creek Performance Center in Egg Harbor, “Arsenic and Old Lace” at the Trueblood Performing Arts Center on Washington Island, “The Music of Jane Austen” at February Fest in Ephraim, Brian Pertl playing didgeridoo during a coffeehouse concert at Door Community Auditorium in Fish Creek, Open Mic Night at Mojo Rosa’s in Egg Harbor and live music at Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay.  Did anything on that list catch your attention?  I think I would have HAD to go to the DC Auditorium, mainly because I have no idea what didgeridoo is (I’ll have to Google that…).  Did I mention that these were the choices available on only one of the days that we were gone?  This was a list of things to do on Friday alone!

Saturday, I most likely would have wandered the streets of Sturgeon Bay to watch amateur and professional ice carvers create amazing artwork from blocks of ice.  This happens during the annual Fire & Ice festival, where shoppers and others have the opportunity to view sculptures in the making.  There were still plenty of other things to choose from, including salsa dance lessons at Cheese Cake, Etc. in Sister Bay (who says you can’t become part of the process of creating art?  Why let the artists have all the fun?), an art exhibit at the Fairfield Building in Sturgeon Bay as part of Fire & Ice, Family Art Day at Peninsula School of Art in Fish Creek (again… creating your own art!), plus karaoke at Carrington Pub at the Landmark Resort AND Shower-oke at the Peninsula Pub between Egg Harbor and Baileys Harbor.  (What is “Shower-oke,” you ask?  You have to see it to believe it!  Every Saturday from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.)

I think I’ve made my point by mentioning just two of the seven nights we were gone!  There was still plenty to choose from Sunday through Thursday, including performances at Third Avenue Playhouse, Open Mic at Waterfront Mary’s, a Great Books Discussion at the Sturgeon Bay Library and a presentation at Crossroads at Big Creek about bringing color into your garden (beauty inside and out in our humble abode).  A lot of these events and arts opportunities were free – Free is always good!

Nothing to do in the winter?  Come to Door County – we’ve got more than enough to satisfy your arts and entertainment cravings.  In fact, it is often my complaint that we have TOO MUCH to choose from!  When will they be able to clone human beings so that I can do everything that I want?

I hope to see you sometime soon, enjoying the arts scene in Door County!

In my November post “Pottery 101,” I introduced you to Renee Schwaller, resident owner and potter at Off the Wheel Pottery in Egg Harbor.  Renee helped ease the intimidation I have for pottery.  There is no doubt that I have a deep appreciation for the beauty of Door County pottery, but I get so nervous when I’m surrounded by it in a gallery, as if it’s going to break just by having me look at it!  I’m afraid to touch it but I really, really want to!

On New Year’s Day, Phil, Hadley and I ventured out early to enjoy a pancake breakfast fundraiser at Mink River Basin in Ellison Bay and then swung by Ellison Bay Pottery after filling our bellies.  John Dietrich and Diane McNeil were so gracious and offered to open their door to us an hour earlier than they were scheduled to be open for business that day.  One thing that was made clear is that they will do this for anyone, anytime, if they are around to accommodate your request.  This is one of the things I truly love about Door County and our community of business owners – you are NOT inconveniencing them by asking if they can open outside their scheduled hours.  They want to meet you, talk with you, educate you and, hopefully, make you a loyal customer.  They “get it.”

It wasn’t long into my conversation with John about his pottery and the process of creating his art before I was openly admitting my internal conflict of appreciation and intimidation for his work.  He nearly thrust piece after piece at me, forcing me to touch it.

“How can you fully appreciate pottery if you don’t touch it?” he asked.  “The beauty of art can’t be completely enjoyed unless you use ALL your senses – including, and especially, touch.”

Of course, he was right.  As he explained a number of pottery-related terms and expressions to me, he reached for another piece of his work to fully demonstrate what he was saying.

One piece he handled during his explanation of pit firing was so intriguing to me that I just had to touch it!  So, I reached for it.  I held it.  I even smelled it – which I kind of liked!  It had a deep, earthy smell to it and reminded me of the smell of a fast rain after a hot, dry stretch in the summer. I didn’t use all five senses, though – tasting it didn’t have even the slightest appeal to me!  However, I had planned to buy Phil one of John’s coffee mugs to go along with the Keurig coffeemaker my parents gave us for Christmas, so Phil has been able to taste something served in one of John’s creations!  Okay, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but you get my point.

While John and I chatted on and on, Diane spent the entire time walking around with Phil and Hadley, pointing things out and providing great conversation.  This extra time gave Phil the opportunity to pick out a great-looking coffee mug, and Hadley took pictures of every nook and cranny of the gallery – including the resident four-legged creatures!  Diane has a number of her own pieces of art available for sale at the gallery as well.  Diane and John certainly make a great team!

My conversation with John took paths that I didn’t expect.  Pottery = science?  Really? It was eye opening to listen to him discuss different glazes and temperatures, and how they are affected by something as simple as air (or lack thereof)!  He talked about the very beginnings of pit firing, when early man dug a pit in the earth and started a fire to cook his meal.  If the pit was dug in an area with a substantial amount of clay, the day after the fire was out they realized that the clay was hard.  One thing led to another, and they started making shapes out of the clay to form dishes and utensils.  Fascinating!

There is so much more to a vase or a pitcher, or even Phil’s coffee cup, than meets the eye.  There’s a story behind each piece, and it can become a reflection of how the artist was feeling when it was being created.  Even an unexpected “glitch” in the firing process can result in a look or feel that wasn’t planned.  John taught me that to expect perfection in the end product is to expect disappointment.  The imperfections are what makes each piece unique and gives it character.  So, imperfect = beautiful!

After two separate visits to two different potters’ galleries, I am no longer intimidated by reaching out and touching a piece of art that interests me.  Please take my advice and employ all your available senses when you experience art – you will enjoy it so much more than you could have ever imagined!

There really is nothing better than being home for the holidays – and millions of people consider Door County “home”, even though our population is no more than 30,000.  Let’s be honest – home truly is where the heart is.  I’ll never forget those early years of driving between college in Chicago and home in Fish Creek.  Sunday night would arrive and as the car was heading south on the highway, I cried.  Sure, at that time I was “living” in Chicago while I was in school, but “home” was in Door County, because that’s where my heart was.  And my heart always led me back.

When the Christmas & New Year’s holidays roll around every year, the county has that magical feel about it… Long-time visitors return to enjoy a traditional American Christmas: where people from near and far gather to sing carols and light the community Christmas tree in towns all over Door County.  The early setting sun allows us to view light displays at businesses and private residences on main highways and country roads.

On this Wednesday between Christmas and New Year’s, I’m downright giddy with anticipation about driving to the Old Gibraltar Town Hall, a quaint wooden structure on the waterfront in Fish Creek.  This building was the site of old-fashioned Christmas celebrations that marked the beginning of my life in Northern Door County.  Today, I’m going to do my best to extend the warm feelings that the winter holidays bring, by attending American Folklore Theatre’s “Home for the Holidays”.

Now, just to make something perfectly clear – I am so excited about going to see a show that showcases three of my favorite entertainers, which is set in one of my most nostalgic buildings in Door County, that I literally woke up several times during the night thinking about it.  This, truly is my “Christmas Day”.  One of the things about being an adult with a young(ish) child is that December 25 loses its magic.  The focus is on the kids, so much so that, between all the shopping and wrapping and cooking and planning, there is simply no time to build up the anticipation of the wonders of Christmas Day.  So this year, my Christmas Day is December 28.

Fast-forward now to Thursday, December 29… I wrote the beginning of this blog prior to going to the show, so now I’ll share with you what I love about the arts in Door County.

It all begins when you pull into Fish Creek and see dozens of shoppers strolling along the sidewalks of Main Street.  Cars parked everywhere – it could have been June, except that everyone was bundled up with their winter hats, coats and gloves.  Seeing all these people smiling and enjoying a relaxing, peaceful day in our beautiful county will bring a smile to your face.

Almost immediately after parking, I started spotting some familiar faces – the amazing Amy Ensign, who I first met when she was the stage manager for a show I performed in at Third Avenue Playhouse – Amy is an accomplished actor and I’m honored to call her a friend.  She introduced me to Jeff Herbst, another incredible Door County talent who is memorable as he is an actor and director (“Bone Dance”, anyone?), and now I’ve actually shaken his hand (I’ll never wash it again! Tee hee).  Another friend and Door County talent, Jacinda Duffin (co-writer of “Loose Lips Sink Ships”), was also in attendance.  It was a veritable “who’s who” of local celebrity sightings!

There’s no doubt that my experience has the added benefits of seeing some familiar faces, but the truth is that at a show that was nearly sold out – there were less than half a dozen empty seats – there were many, many people who were not familiar to me.  Within the first 10 minutes of the show, the strangers who were seated near me became friends – at least for the duration of the show as we sang songs side-by-side along with the musicians on stage, and shared laughs at some of the performer’s antics.  You may enter this building as a newcomer, but you will leave as a member of the extended Door County family.

AFT’s “Home for the Holidays” features three well-known, professional performers: Katie Dahl, Karen Mal & James Valcq.  If you have attended AFT or Door Shakespeare shows in the past, it is very likely that you have seen them already.  They aren’t just Door County talents, though – their accomplishments have taken them to locations in and out of the United States.  The truly interesting thing about this trio is that, despite the hundreds of times they have been on stage in the county, this show is the first time that they have performed together.  As Katie puts it, they are “together again – for the first time!”

Oh, what a wonderful show!  They were funny and sweet, silly and nostalgic.  Their songs ranged from traditional Christmas carols to international favorites – at least 4 different languages were represented.  They shared personal stories of their own family’s Christmastime traditions and memories of holidays gone by.  There were some original songs (I loved “Woody’s Place” by Karen Mal) and one of my all-time favorites “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”  Katie even shared a taste of AFT’s newest original show for 2012 by singing a song from “Victory Farm.”  They sing a cappella for a while, then showcased their incredible talents on a variety of instruments, including the mandolin, guitar and – believe it or not – the accordion!  For several songs, they encouraged all of us to join them in singing some holiday favorites.

When it was over, the standing ovation completely captured what I was thinking: “Thank you, Katie, Karen, James and everyone at AFT… for staying Home for the Holidays.”  I encourage everyone to take time to see this show if you’re able.  It’s a short run, with shows on Thursday, Friday & Saturday evening, plus a Saturday matinee.  When 2011 ends, so ends this rare opportunity to create your own “Christmas Day”.  Please call (920) 854-6117 or visit www.FolkloreTheatre.com for details on extending that feeling of Christmas.

(Oh, by the way… Here’s my little “insider tip” for you: Stick around after the performance and introduce yourself to them!  They didn’t know me at all, but they were incredibly gracious by taking a little time to chat with me – and posed for photos, too.  You’ll be glad you took the time to do it – the autographs on your program will be a memory to take home with you!  “Insider tip” #2 – There are yummy treats and CDs available for purchase, too!)

Pottery.  What do you think of when you hear that word?  Pottery.  There are so many different visions that “pottery” can invoke.  Big and small, multi-purpose or just pretty, colorful or natural.

Remember my last blog entitled “Accessible Art” when I felt like I was stepping outside my comfort zone?  I promised myself (and I may have promised you) that I would do it more often.  Well, this article has its moments of being familiar, yet a little bit on the side of the unknown.

I have always had a love affair with antique Red Wing crocks.  Large and small, with and without handles.  I have a fairly decent collection of them scattered around – some serving as plant containers, some decorating a table top, and some sitting in the garage waiting to have some purpose in my life.  The fact that I love these creations helps me feel more comfortable exploring the wonderful world of pottery in Door County.

In my first year of college I took a ceramics course and learned the basics of throwing a pot on the wheel and forming an object that I would later put in a kiln with other students’ various objects (some a little more lop-sided than mine and most that were so much better than I could ever have hoped!).  It was an interesting class, and the most important thing that it taught me was that I am more of an appreciator of art than a creator of it.

That was many years ago, and in the 20+ years that I have made Door County my home, I have also come to learn that we have some incredibly talented potters whose work should be appreciated.  Each gallery has its own specialty and each artist has their own style.  In my one-semester college class, I learned that I shouldn’t be a potter, but for those who clearly have a talent, and a love for pottery, their style is developed over time.

And so I visited Off the Wheel Pottery, just outside of Egg Harbor, and spent some time chatting with Renee Schwaller, the resident potter.  It was a sunny afternoon, mid-week in early October so she only had a few other customers exploring her buildings.  There’s a large barn and 2 smaller outbuildings that she makes good use of, displaying her work and the work of a couple of other local artists, and the setting has a quaint, comfortable country feel to it.

Renee has developed a style called “sgraffito”.  It’s actually more of a technique, where she scratches her designs on the unfired piece.  Most of her designs feature objects found in nature: trees, birds, flowers, dragonflies, etc.  Many of her colors are soft and soothing.  Renee was patient while answering all of my questions – I was truly a novice and she assured me that she answers basic questions like mine all the time.  She enjoys helping people learn about her craft!  I learned that she uses an electric kiln (gas is the other option) and when she is doing a bisque firing and a glaze firing, she fires each piece 2 times.

My time spent with Renee was too short and I would like to understand her process better, so I’ll head back to Off the Wheel again soon.  I hope to see you there!

Just as no 2 painters are alike, neither is the work of 2 potters the same.  Not necessarily at the opposite spectrum of Renee’s art, but certainly different, is the work of John Dietrich at Ellison Bay Pottery.  Next month, I would like to dedicate my blog to the work of John (and Diane McNeil).

Until then, have a Happy Thanksgiving!  Be sure to include some time to talk with a local potter during your next visit to Door County.

Summertime in Door County.  For those of you who have experienced it, just saying those first four words seems to force your eyes to close, and you sigh deeply as you reminisce about the incredible things you did when you were in Door County.  You have a few precious moments when you block out the ringing of the phone, the screaming kids or the sounds of traffic around you.  You can think about what summertime in Door County means to you.

For me, summertime means endless opportunities to see plays.  We are very fortunate to have many venues for the performing arts, and especially the theatres that perform “under the stars”.  American Folklore Theatre, Door Shakespeare and Peninsula Players are 3 of these in Door County.

Too often I find myself in the middle of August and realizing that I haven’t been to all three of these star-worshiping places and I have to scramble to make time to see a show.  This year has been quite different from most in the past: I’ve made a commitment to myself to get out and play tourist in my own town on a regular basis.  Of course, that means that our house and the gardens have suffered so that I can play, but so far I have no regrets (Phil hasn’t fully embraced my 2011 carefree attitude… yet.  I’ll do the laundry tomorrow.  Yeah, tomorrow.  Definitely.)!

My first outdoor performance for the summer of 2011 was AFT’s “Bing! The Cherry Musical”, with Phil and Hadley.  Driving off the highway in Fish Creek and slowing down to enjoy the winding roads of Peninsula State Park helped to put us in the mood to sit back, relax and enjoy after a day of work.  After parking the car in the designated field, we casually strolled along a path in the woods before we arrived at the outdoor theatre.  AFT has upgraded from the split logs that once served as seats and they now have rows and rows of wood benches with backs to enjoy their shows.  This year, they are offering 3 different musical comedies during the summer, and 2 for the fall season – all their shows are family-friendly and SO enjoyable!  The opening act for “Bing! The Cherry Musical” is a cherry pit spitting contest with volunteers from the audience.  Hadley’s hand shot in the air so fast and she was selected as a contestant along with 2 others.  It’s a great warm-up for those of us in the audience – we were already laughing before the play itself began!

A couple of weeks later we had the opportunity to attend Door Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”.  Their theatre is set up at Bjorklunden, south of Baileys Harbor.  Again, after a long day of work, Hadley and 3 of our friends set out to see what a “roaming performance” was all about.  Door Shakespeare is experimenting with something new this year at 2 performances a week for “Twelfth Night”.  After we were seated, we were given the option of roaming the grounds to see some of the opening scenes, or staying in our seats.  We opted to roam and set off towards the shore of Lake Michigan to watch as Viola appeared after having been shipwrecked.  After that, we followed along to the next scene where we were introduced to Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Maria.  One more scene helped to lay the groundwork for the story that was about to unfold back at the main theatre setting.  We fully enjoyed the roaming option and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Door Shakespeare also takes audience participation and interaction to a new level: handing various items to audience members, talking directly to others, and once even pulling a woman from the crowd to be part of a scene.  Well done!!  Seating for Door Shakespeare is individual folding chairs set on risers……. Or, treat yourself to seating in the Queen’s Box which offers the only overhead cover with royal tenting.  Door Shakespeare is also performing “Pride & Prejudice” this summer on alternating nights from “Twelfth Night”.

Both AFT and Door Shakespeare use their outdoor setting to their advantage: At AFT, on especially windy or slightly rainy nights, you feel more a part of the play – especially with “Bing!”, which has the majority of their scenes in an outdoor setting.  As the massive trees around you sway and leaves twitter, the cherry orchard is within reach.  Door Shakespeare uses a natural hill as their stage, with the only set being a gate at the rear of the “stage”, an open doorway at stage-left, and a bench or two.  Actors pull branches from trees around them as disguises and run across the open area surrounding the seats, appearing and disappearing from all directions.

At Peninsula Players, their beginnings were every bit as humble: starting in 1935 in the open-air, later improvements included draping canvas over the audience, and today a magnificent roofed, open-sided structure has been so beautifully placed in the wooded surroundings that it still feels like the trees are unobstructed overhead… and the occasional theatre-loving bat still flies through.

Solid performances and impressive set designs are assured at Peninsula Players.  Somehow they manage to put together 5 shows each summer between mid-June and mid-October, each one with about a 2-1/2 week run.  This summer, my sister Pamela drove up from Green Bay after work one day and after a tasty dinner in Egg Harbor, we were treated to a performance of “The Importance of Being Earnest” that still has me shaking my head and chuckling.  I just love that English humor and the nonsense that always surrounds mistaken (and false) identities!!  We loved the entire night – from the delicious drink in the beer garden, watching the sun drop lower in the sky over the Bay, striking up conversations with some of our county’s visitors and taking pictures of groups who needed an amateur photographer “on-the-spot”.

Seeing a play at these theatres isn’t just about the show – it’s about the memories you create that surround the play.  It’s about the appreciation for the actors who strive for perfection with an intensely shortened rehearsal period.  It’s about the surroundings of the theatre that have everything to do with nature.  It’s about closing your eyes and enjoying the moment that you’re in, so when that phone starts ringing and the kids are screaming and the traffic noise is unrelenting………. You have something incredible to remember about your time in Door County.

One day, more than a month ago, on my drive back home to Baileys Harbor from work in Sturgeon Bay, I noticed a very large and very colorful square stuck to the side of a barn on Highway 57, just south of Sevastopol Schools.  It was one of those things that just caught my attention for a tiny moment as I was zooming by (but completely obeying the speed limit, mind you).  Who knows how many more times I went past before I noticed it again.  And then, yet again.  So I started wondering “what’s with that…. ‘thing’?”

Lucky for me, I happen to know that the people at the Door County Visitor Bureau can point anyone in the right direction!  It turns out that there is an organized project in Door County that is putting these colorful objects on our rural landscape.  They are known as Barn Quilts.  Of course, keeping things simple (at least initially) I wanted to know where I could see more of them!  So, I picked up a brochure had just been printed and distributed this month – it provides the locations for 23 different Barn Quilts in Door County.

It doesn’t take much to convince me to get behind the wheel of my car and drive.  Somehow, I manage to put on more than 30,000 miles a year without leaving Door County very often!!  According to the Barn Quilts of Door County Location Guide, there’s another one on my drive home that I had never noticed, and another that I had passed on one of my occasional trips to Green Bay.  Within a week, I had seen 5 of them without much effort.  Actually, I saw 6 of them:  Kewaunee County has the same project and there is one right down the road from my brother-in-law’s place just south of the Door-Kewaunee county line.

They’re beautiful.  Simply beautiful.  Each has its own individual design and colors, with descriptions like “Apple Tree”, “Crazy Quilt”, “North Star” and “Storm at Sea”.  I know that I’m not doing them justice to only view them as I’m cruising past, traveling at highway speeds.  They deserve my attention, to allow myself time to really see the pattern within each quilt.  But, now I’m getting more curious and I want to know more about them and how they came to be.

The brochure explains that the Door County Barn Quilt Program started in 2010 and the driving force behind it is the Door County UW-Extension office.  This project has successfully combined history, agriculture, architecture and art and is encouraging education and economic development, as well.  Wow!  So much for keeping it simple!  The majority of them are in the Southern part of our county and I’m always looking for a reason to explore my old “stomping grounds” again.

These Barn Quilts are wooden blocks that are anywhere from 6 – 8 square feet and are painted a variety of colors – vibrant, beautiful colors that jump off the side of the host barns.  I wonder how I could have ever missed them!!  There must have been dozens, if not hundreds, of volunteers who helped create them – 4-H & FFA members, adult leaders and volunteers, other youth helpers.  It’s more than a beautiful addition to our remarkable landscape – it’s another example of what an incredible community Door County is.  All these people, coming together to create something that they believe in: without pay, without fanfare.  And, we’re the ones who benefit from their hard work, skill, talent, and passion.

It’s so easy to wander into a gallery in one of our lovely downtown areas and to gaze upon the beauty that is perfectly displayed and maintained.  We are so fortunate to have that opportunity.  But, to have our rural landscape transformed into a random, unexpected display of art…. well, it sure makes you realize that you just never know where you’re going to find art.  So, as you’re driving around Door County, turn off the highway, slow down and enjoy the scenery of the back roads.  You just might be rewarded with one of 23 Barn Quilts!  Or – keep it simple and pick up a Barn Quilt brochure and follow the map.  Whatever you decide, enjoy yourself.

I’ll admit it: I’m a Facebook junkie.  I rely on it to get my “fix”.  Sure, I watch the local news every morning before I leave for work, but that just doesn’t give me what I really need!  I need to know what my friends did yesterday, what they’re doing today and planning for the weekend.  It’s a more reliable recommendation than any other media – my friends tell me that I “absolutely must see this show” or that the music “brought me to tears”.  So, of course, I go!  I must!  My friends told me to!

Now, I am not usually a follower, but my friends are very reliable.  So, when I was invited (personally, not just through one of those invite-everyone-you-know messages) by Lizz Thomas, an incredibly talented woman on-and-off stage, to attend Gibraltar High School’s performance of “Fiddler on the Roof”, I knew I needed to find time in my schedule to attend one of the few shows of the weekend.  Lizz is consistent in her ability to create beauty on stage.  Whether she’s directing a bunch of adult community-theatre wannabes, or creating an award-winning high school musical (ala GHS’ 2010 “Suessical the Musical”), or just opening her mouth to sing, Lizz was born to provide quality entertainment.  How lucky am I to have a friend like her!

The Sunday matinee of “Fiddler” seemed to be the best time for Hadley and I to attend and, although Phil often enjoys taking in a show, the timing of this performance was going to cause a conflict – The Masters golf tournament was on tv and they needed him home to watch. Cue: eye-rolling.

“Fiddler on the Roof” is a story that isn’t light and fluffy, so I wondered if taking my 12-year-old daughter to it might prove to be a little too much for her.  It was an unnecessary worry: within 5 minutes of arriving at the Door Community Auditorium we found 2 of Hadley’s classmates and sat with them and their families in the fourth and fifth rows, center.

You may be thinking that a high school performance could only be mildly entertaining, especially with something as challenging as “Fiddler”.  In the case of Gibraltar High School, you couldn’t be more wrong!  They take all their performances seriously – the set was magnificent and the costumes……. Well, we do have the benefit of having an amazing costume designer living right here on the Door Peninsula (and her daughter just happened to be on stage).

The individual actors were captivating.  They transformed themselves from high school kids to grownups (with children!) to the extent that during the performance, I had forgotten that they were only teenagers.  Who would have expected that a high school boy could take the role of Tevye to the same heights as the 50-something professional I watched in Illinois last year?  And that a young woman could portray Golde as though she were actually the mother of five daughters, but in reality those “daughters” are her classmates.  And, they made me laugh!  More than once!

In the end and for days afterward, I’d catch myself singing “All day long I’d biddy biddy bum” and my 12-year-old?  I caught her more than once singing “Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match.” … should I be worried?

Ultimately, I realized that we expect great performances from our professional and semi-professional actors here in Door County.  And we have huge talents on many stages to revel in their craft.  But with our youth – we’ve learned to expect the unexpected!  And we are always pleasantly rewarded.  Do yourself a small favor: challenge yourself to find a school production, or a youth-based performance of some kind while you travel our beautiful peninsula.  Even the awkward silences and slip-ups are refreshingly entertaining!

Photo credit to Suzi Hass.