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The Kentucky Project.
The Kentucky Project combines the songs and stories of American history and offers opportunities for complex and inclusive civic dialogue. The music and drama, at times vivid and revealing, provide direct links to our national heritage and to the social and political struggles we have overcome or continue to face. The goals of The Project are to produce great art and to engage community members about the interconnectedness between themselves, their collective stories, and the ongoing struggles of our society.

The Kentucky Project is comprised of three productions: Simple Gifts: The Music of America , a WICA Conservatory Choir concert; Play Party: Songs and Stories of Appalachia, a Family Series presentation; and the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama The Kentucky Cycle.

The Project also features Special Events and Community Partnerships such as Ties that Bind: The Biggs, Rowen, and Talbert Families, Our Lives, Our Land: The Kentucky Cycle Stories in the Good Cheer Garden and A Conversation with Robert Schenkkan.



Learn more.

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Special Events and Community Partnerships.

Our Lives, Our Land: The Kentucky Cycle Stories in the Good Cheer Garden.
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and Good Cheer invite community members to Our Lives, Our Land: The Kentucky Cycle Stories in the Good Cheer Garden.

The event will feature a Prologue for "The Kentucky Cycle": a 30-minute presentation with extensive audience participation. Attendees will be invited to read Narrator and character roles from the play. The Prologue will walk the audience through the entire nine-part cycle with an explanation of the different characters and the action in each.

In addition to the Prologue, a Community Discussion will be led by AmeriCorps members Caitlin Goldbaum (WICA) and Molly Zeiger (Good Cheer) about three of the major themes in the cycle: the quest for the American dream, the dark side of American history, and nature and the environment. Other activities include a sampling of food from Good Cheer Garden, and a performance by the WICA Chamber Singers.

All proceeds are to benefit the Good Cheer Food Bank.

Apr 17, 2010 @ 2.00pm
admission is free

A Conversation with Robert Schenkkan.
Please join us for the rare opportunity to meet the author of "The Kentucky Cycle", discuss his masterwork, and to continue our dialogue about our community's collective stories.

Apr 18, 2010 @ 11.00am
admission is free
with your "The Kentucky Cycle" ticket stub or reservation

Ties that Bind: The Biggs, Rowen, and Talbert Families
This exhibition will explore the ancestry and relationship of the fictional Biggs, Rowen, and Talbert families, and the real events that shaped lives of the people of Appalachia – and our nation.

The study of family histories provides a window into the past that provides understanding of the present-day, and how individuals, nations, and the global community might develop in the future. Genealogy informs how societies came to be and examines cultural, political, social, and economic influences across time and space. It also builds the personal understanding of how we as individuals are the sum of a vast range of past experiences and actors ourselves in the process of historical change. The study of our genetic past helps lead to greater personal insight and comprehension of each person’s place in the grand sweep of the human story.

Presented in partnership with with the Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island.

Apr 09 - 24, 2010





A Special Appeal from The Kentucky Project artists.



Excuse me... WICA patron... yes, I’m talking to you... no, not the other guy -- YOU. Do you have ANY idea how important you are? You are the one we sweat bullets over; worry about; wonder if we’re doing right by. You are the one that our actors, musicians, designers, directors, and artists are working so hard for. When you laugh or cry or tell us we’ve made you think or feel or dream... for us, that’s IT!  But you are also the one who is key to getting all those wonderful corporate grants and business sponsorships, because without YOUR support, they won’t even look at us. Without your bodies in the seats and your dollars in our coffers, we are literally NOTHING.

We have come so far. And the future -- despite all the economic woes -- CAN be bright -- but only if you are with us. From all of us -- THANK YOU for your continuing support.

-- Jill Johnson, Writer/Performer
Play Party: Songs and Stories of Appalachia



We are so fortunate to have you participate in our artistic creations. We hope that you understand the importance of the arts in each of our lives. This is the reason that we create our projects for you -- everything from choral events to our Family and Theatre Series. Each production is meant to enrich the lives of each participant. That is our goal. We hope that your goal is to continue to support the creative work. If you have friends who do not know WICA and the quality productions that we provide, please invite them to participate. We invite you to give back to WICA in whatever amount that you are able. Our combined goals of supporting and providing quality arts for not only our community, but our region, will only give each of us a greater understanding of our life, circumstances, and finally hope for all that we do together. Nothing communicates to our whole being like the arts. Please consider how you might support this honorable gift to not only yourself but to everyone that experiences Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

-- Robert W. Prosch, Conductor
Simple Gifts: The Music of America



WICA is here because of you. The many talented perfoming artisans of Whidbey are blessed to a have such an incredible  and growing facility. We give our life blood to perform for the community. Whidbey Island Center for the Arts is a creative haven for us. I ask you to continue to support WICA with a little extra so we can contine to give back to you.

I am so lucky to live and create on Whidbey.

-- Michael Barker, Director
The Kentucky Cycle



special thanks
Ron Atlee; The Barker Family; Gay Bitts; Patrick Bitts; Todd Bitts; The Everett Daily Herald; FightDesigner.com; Fine Balance Imaging Studios; Gemkow Construction; Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island and Maureen MacDonald; David Gignac; Caitlin Goldbaum; Jerry Hill; The Inn at Langley, Paul and Pam Schell; Lawrene Kovalenko; Langley United Methodist Church; Nymbol’s Secret Garden; Robert Schekkan; Sound Publishing; Star Store; Weapons of Choice; Whidbey Children’s Theatre; The Whidbey Daily; Whidbey Institute; Whidbey Playhouse; Larry Woolworth; Denis Zimmerman