ON THE UPBEAT SINGIN’ THE BLUES ‘ALMOST, MAINE’ ALMOST ON STAGE

held their own casting auditions and made all creative choices for their scenes; each one also assisted other directors or took charge of a design element of the show.

By Kris Lahd

Seattle-born Darnell Scott moved to Eastern Washington when he was a teenager. Darnell cut his teeth as a musician in his school’s orchestra, playing the cello. Soon, he realized the girls he liked winked more at the guitar players, so he picked up a guitar at his friend’s house and taught himself to play. It came very naturally to him and he soon joined a band playing what is today considered “classic rock.” Wanting to delve into his roots, Wenatchee resident Darnell soon discovered his love for blues music.

What was the first blues song you ever learned to play?

There’s a song called “How Long Blues” written by Leroy Carr. Here’s a story. Back in the day when my grandfather had cancer, my grandma called me to come over and watch him for a little while, and if you know anything about the African American community, blues was considered like a voodoo-type music, and the older generations didn’t want it around. Grandma does not want to hear songs like “Hellhounds on my Trail.”

Well, I had bought a brand new guitar and I walked in the house with it and the first thing my grandma said was, “Don’t you be playing that blues music in here.” I said, “OK.” So, Grandma takes off to the store and my grandfather says, “Grandson.” I said “Ya Pops?” He said, “Play me a blues song.” So I played the song “How Long Blues,” and he just laid back with a big smile on his face, and to this day I call it my Grandpa Song.

Where does your songwriting inspiration come from?

Every one of them are things that have happened in my life or things that I relate to. Somebody else might be going through that same thing so my songs can be inspirational songs; you know, don’t give up, songs that help people find strength.

Who are you most influenced by as a guitarist?

Well, at first it was guys like Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton. Then I started moving to less mainstream guys like Keb’ Mo’ and the guitarist from the Lawrence Welk Show. That guy could play anything! There’s so many! I even get influenced by going to a winery to see somebody else play.

5 Question Lightning Round Blues or Funk? Blues

Jimi Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn?

Ugh… Jimi?

Buddy Guy or B.B. King? B.B. Fender or Gibson (electric guitars)? Fender

Taylor or Martin (acoustic guitars)? Martin

Upcoming Shows

July 1: Sigillo Cellars from 6 to 9 p.m.

July 4: George WA Fest from 1 to 2 p.m.

July 7: Badger Mountain Brewing from 6 to 9 p.m.

July 8: Milepost 111 from 6 to 8 p.m.

July 16: Rio Vista Wines from 1 to 3 p.m .

July 21: Icicle Ridge Winery from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Members of Music Theater of Wenatchee’s (MToW) introductory directing workshop have been working at the Riverside Playhouse since May 23 to learn the craft of turning a written script into a live-action onstage production.

The result of their collaborative venture is “Almost, Maine,” a romantic comedy written by John Cariani, comprising nine short plays that explore love and loss in a remote, mythical New England town.

Local theatrical directors Cynthia Brown, John Mausser, Peter Kappler and Dave Williams turned teacher and mentor for the summer, instructing their adult students in stage direction, artistic design and stage management. Their apprentices then

The student directors are Alee McGee, Rachel Powers, Aaron Mitchell, Christy Kimmel, Carrie Grosch, Josey Meats, Haily Jo Kelly-Raymond and Sara Solano. In their casts are actors Jeff Anderson, Marissa Collins, Terra Sokol, Seth Gamble, John Merritt, Lauren Loebsack, Rachel Powers, Laura Clifton, Aaron Mitchell, Caleb Seims, Mike Magnotti, Cynthia Brown, Clint Barke, Kaitlynn Barrett-Ashbaugh and J. Woody Lotts.

The six-week workshop, the most extensive since 1990, was free to the participants and created to provide a (relatively) stress-free space for potential directors to try their skills on a full production. Correspondingly, it will also help create for MToW and other theaters in the region a volunteer base of people with fresh new directorial vision for future productions.

“Almost, Maine” is onstage July 6, 7, and 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Riverside Playhouse, 2333 B North Wenatchee Avenue. Tickets $18 at numericapac.org