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HONOR | Juanita High School’s Gary Moed named Principal of the Year [11]
Hospital | EvergreenHealth, Valley Medical FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2014 sign agreement [15]
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Street | Kirkland opens new extension in Totem Lake [8]
Kirklander to star in NBC’s live Peter Pan production Show to air on Dec. 4, will be Alanna Saunders’ first role since college BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
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f you’re planning on watching NBC’s production “Peter Pan Live!” Dec. 4 keep an eye out for Kirkland native Alanna Saunders, who will
play Tiger Lily. It’s her biggest role to date, though by no means is it her first, with her first acting role coming at the age of four in Johnny Appleseed with her four siblings, all of whom are also active in the arts. A graduate of Juanita High
School and a University of Miami alumnus, the role of Tiger Lily is the first role for the 22-year-old since she graduated from college. Ironically, Peter Pan was the second performance she participated in at the age of 10, playing the twin lost boys along with her real-life twin sister, Claire, in addition to her three brothers, Heath, Trent and Blake.
“It was probably one of Currently, Trent Saunthe most amazing experiders is on Broadway in ences I’d ever had Disney’s “Aladdin,” at that point in my Blake Saunders is life,” she wrote in the choir teacher an email interview. at Washington “Yes, because of Middle School my siblings, but in Seattle, Heath also because it was Saunders made the first emotional Alanna Saunders his off-Broadway attachment I’d ever debut in “Lennon: had to a show, and Through A Glass to an experience.” Onion” and Claire Saunders
Kirkland Winterfest is this Sunday
IBT’s Nutcracker returns to KPC
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Dedicates performances to former mayor Bill Woods and “Mr. Kirkland” BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
The International Ballet Theater (IBT) in Kirkland is dedicating their upcoming performances of The Nutcracker at the Kirkland Performance Center (KPC) to two of the most influential men in the city’s history. One of them, former Kirkland mayor Bill Woods, will also be performing in the ballet in the role of the grandfather. The other man is Chuck Morgan, who died in 2009 at age 98. He was simply known
as “Mr. Kirkland” and performed the role of the Godfather into his 90s. Morgan was also the former publisher of the Journal-American and Kirkland Courier, which is now the Kirkland Reporter. Vera Altunina, a choreographer at IBT, said their take on the ballet is based on the traditional version first choreographed in 1892. “I tried to keep on the original version,” she said. “It’s very warm.” The performances, set for Dec. 5-7, signal a [ more WOODS page 3 ]
recently had a feature role in “The Intern” that starred Robert de Niro and Anne Hathaway. Growing up in a family that she also performed with was an experience like no other. “Like all families we had our differences,” she wrote, “But growing up all loving music and the arts allowed [ more SAUNDERS page 6 ]
“Mr. Kirkland” Chuck Morgan playing the role of the Godfather in “The Nutcracker.” Morgan performed the role for four years, stepping down in 2008. Former Kirkland mayor Bill Woods will be playing the part Dec. 5-7 at the Kirkland Performance Center with the International Ballet Academy. CONTRIBUTED
Kirkland Winterfest will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 in downtown Kirkland. Celebrate the coming of the winter season with an afternoon of Kirkland traditions thanks to the Kirkland Downtown Association. The annual tree lighting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. The event also includes the Argosy Christmas Ships, carriage rides, caroling, kids’ activities, games, refreshments and food. Kids of all ages will enjoy greeting Santa’s arrival in Kirkland. For more information visit www.kirklanddowntown.org/winterfest/
Similarities don’t end with Division I basketball
Rebel, Kang girls sign to play in college BY TJ MARTINELL tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com
Lake Washington High School senior Sydney Shepard will attend the University of San Diego next year. CONTRIBUTED
Two girls from Kirkland have signed on to play Division I basketball. Sydney Shepard, a senior at Lake Washington High school, received a full ride scholarship, the first LWH girls basketball player to do so since around 2000, with the University of San Diego Torreros. Jaisa Nunn, a senior
at Juanita High, has agreed to play for the University of New Mexico Lobos. There are quite a few similarities between the two. Both started out playing soccer, volleyball and basketball as kids. Both had fathers who played college basketball and helped guide them as they pursued their passion. While Shepard said she continued to play volleyball
in high school, basketball was her primary focus throughout the year. “I was never tempted to give up basketball,” Shepard said. “I liked it because you can score a lot of points and a lot of other sports don’t, and you can work on your individual game. But I just felt like everybody can contribute in a way in basketball, and when someone doesn’t, it affects everything.” “I wanted to play everything as a kid,” Nunn said of
her involvement in athletics. By fifth grade, her parents told her she could only pick one sport. The choice, she said, was easy. “I loved playing it,” she said. “I loved hanging around kids with a sport that was very interesting to me. It was an energy burner.”
Going the distance As far back as she could [ more COLLEGE page 11 ]
Juanita High senior Jaisa Nunn has signed to play basketball for the University of New Miexco on a scholarship. CONTRIBUTED