JerryHarrison& AdrianBelew

“Keeping it funky,” Boyd said, noting they added, “Floozies, Orgone, then threw in something different like Dirtwire, a handful of some amazing local bands and the list goes on.”

Headlining the Golden Road Gathering event are The

Make Studio 81’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ part of your world

Odin Rasco Staff writer

After 24 years at the helm of Studio 81, director and drama teacher Paul Tomei is traversing uncharted waters by putting on the first Disney musical of his career, bringing “The Little Mermaid” to El Dorado High School’s Carl Borelli Amphitheater.

The narrative will be familiar for many in the audience, being based on the immensely popular animated film that follows the undersea princess Ariel who longs to know what life above the waves is like. With only her collection of thingamabobs and doodads to inform her knowledge of how life is like where the people are, Ariel makes a deal with the devious sea witch Ursula that gives her legs in exchange for her voice. The trade gives Ariel the chance to meet the noble Prince Eric, whom she had seen from afar, but she may have given up more than she bargained for Concerned with a young woman exploring the bounds of her world and learning to choose her own identity and path, “The Little Mermaid” is a poignant tale that mirrors the experience of many high schoolers on their way off to college — though maybe with more talking sea creatures than the average teen will encounter. The play’s themes of self-discovery and transformation, paired with the everpresent aquatic scenery, make it an unexpected but perfect partner to Studio 81’s previous play, “Metamorphoses.”

“‘Metamorphoses’ really paved this path to a water-themed season this year with themes of discovery and the symbolism of the water representing things like transformation,” Tomei explained. “I was looking for a musical that could tie into the community that would allow for a really big ensemble and all fingers were kind of pointing toward ‘The Little Mermaid’.”

The play is one of Tomei’s most ambitious in terms of scale, with more than 100 people involved in the show. The cast and crew are joined by a live band and local 6- to 12-yearold performers in the “Kelp Choir,” who received vocal direction from Crocker House Creative Arts Center instructor Caitlyn Miller.

The multitudinous individuals involved in the show reflect Tomei’s focus on reestablishing the community connections that Studio 81 had built for decades before COVID-19 hit the metaphorical reset button.

“After COVID, it’s basically been like starting all over,” Tomei said. “We’ve been lucky that people have been coming back to our shows, but to really get people back I wanted to do something big.”

Going big is something Tomei has proven more than willing to do in his career, taking on ambitious productions like “Les Miserables,” “Sweeney Todd” and multiple renditions of Shakespeare over the years, and delivering quality hardly ever seen at the high school level. This spring’s musical is poised to enter the annals as another high-water mark of his

Church takes blessings on the road

News release

The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour has been a mainstay of the Placerville community since it was founded in 1861. For more than a century and a half the church has worked to support the region’s spiritual, social and material needs. The church leadership and parishioners always seek ways to strengthen its relationship with the community.

Sunday, May 14, the Rev. Debra Sabino and members of the congregation will celebrate the church’s long and beneficial connection with a Rogation Procession. Rogation is an ancient church springtime festival that seeks blessings for the community and its sustenance.

The Church of Our Saviour’s Rogation Procession will begin at the 500 block of Main Street at 9 a.m., will travel west on Main Street to the pedestrian overpass by the parking garage and will end at the church, 2979 Coloma St. Along the way the procession will ask for blessings on the various businesses and offices on Main Street.

The regular worship service will be conducted at the church at 10:30 a.m. All members of the community are welcome to join the procession and/ or the worship service, irrespective of faith tradition.

In addition, owners and employees of downtown businesses are invited to request a specific blessing for their workplace. Requests and inquiries can be directed to Rev. Sabino at revdebra. oursaviour@gmail.com.

The Rogation celebration will continue beyond Sunday as the church visits local farms, ranches and vineyards to seek God’s blessing on an abundant harvest.

For more information visit oursaviourplacerville.org.

Grow for it!

Botanical gardens across the country and close to home

Visiting botanical gardens is a great way to experience various natural environments when traveling around our country. Many communities nurture plants in botanical gardens or arboretums, which showcase the beauty of both native and imported plants.

The U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington, D.C. is known as a living plant museum. The conservatory features all types of plants, including tropical forest natives, desert cacti and orchids. The Bartholdi Fountain and Outdoor Gardens are a great place to lunch, with delightful walkways around a variety of domestic plants. In addition to three floors of portraits, the National Portrait Gallery seasonally showcases orchids and other plants in the Kogard Courtyard. These free venues are part of the Smithsonian museums and the collections create an incredible experience with the diversity of plants exhibited.

In Boston, along Commonwealth Avenue and the Public Gardens, you can follow the path past seasonal flowers along a mile of elm trees interspersed with statues, ending at Boston Commons, which claims to be our country’s oldest public park. The tulips are amazing in spring and the statue of the duckling parade is a family favorite. The park is central to the city and visiting it is a great way to experience Boston’s character.

In New York’s Central Park the Conservatory Garden displays traditionally designed gardens with spectacular flowers. Situated in the northeast corner of the park, you can step out of the busy tourist traffic to enjoy a stroll along paths lined with peaceful gardens and fountains.

Phoenix, Ariz., is home to the Desert Botanical Gardens with more than 140 acres of desert plants, including cacti, succulents and desert wildflowers. They showcase diverse local habitats and host an annual spring Butterfly Exhibit.

California boasts several impressive botanical gardens besides the incredible San Francisco Botanical Garden. The Sonoma Botanical Garden, formerly called Quarryhill, contains one of the world’s most impressive collections of flowering Asian plants and recently added a concentration on native California flora. In north San Diego County the San Diego Botanical Gardens displays both desert and rainforest plants, with America’s largest bamboo collection.

In our local area don’t miss the Sacramento Rose Garden in Capitol Park, the UC Davis Arboretum along Putah Creek or the Amador Heritage Rose Garden with its rare and pioneer-era roses. Here in Placerville, the Master Gardeners maintain the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, featuring 16 areas of specialty plantings, from orchards and vegetables to succulents and ornamental grasses. It is open to the public for free, 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays through October and highlights pollinators and water conservation as well as plants that grow well in our area.

We live in an area that supports an incredible diversity of plants. Enjoy the flowers around you this spring, and look for chances to explore the world of plants as you travel around the state, or across the country.

Join Master Gardeners for a free public education class on Saturday, May 13, Making Worms Work for You, at the Sherwood Demonstration Garden, 6699 Campus Drive in Placerville.

Master Gardener classes are offered monthly throughout the county. Find the class schedule at mgeldorado. ucanr.edu/Public_Education_

Classes/?calendar=yes&g=56698 and recorded classes on many gardening topics at mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/ Public_Education/Classes.

Have a gardening question? Master Gardeners are working hard to answer your questions. Use the “Ask a Master Gardener” option on the website, mgeldorado.ucanr.edu, or leave a message on the office telephone at (530) 621-5512. To sign up for notices and newsletters visit ucanr. edu/master_gardener_e-news. Master Gardeners are also on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.