Friday, June 16-Sunday, July 9 Wild Ride Imagine this scenario: Six teens from a Canadian choir die in a tragic amusement park accident. We know what you’re thinking—all the makings of a musical comedy, right? After all, they already can sing. Amusement parks are fun. Bloody death and dismemberm…hang on. How does this work? Ride The Cyclone is indeed a musical, and a hilarious one at that. It’s also a bit, well, outlandish. A mechanical fortune-telling machine can save one of the victims and restore that person to life. Will it be the teen whose ambition is to become a French prostitute but, alas, can only find work at Taco Bell? The teens have to compete for the prize by telling a story. Unfortunately, the fortune-telling machine’s life may be cut short, too—a rat is chewing on its power cord. Yes, it’s an unusual take on what makes for a life well lived, but the Forest Theater Guild is up to it. Musical directors Laurel Lane Bowen and Hunter Hobson have crafted an unforgettable production. [DF] 8pm Fridays-Sundays, June 16-July 9. Outdoor Forest Theater, Santa Rita Street and Mountain View Avenue, Carmel. $22; $17/seniors, military, teachers; $12/teens. 626-1681, foresttheaterguild.com. Saturday, June 17 Birding for All Here’s one of many magical things about birding: Anyone can do it, virtually anytime, anywhere. That’s the underlying MO behind Monterey Audubon’s outings, including this guided birding trip at Laguna Grande Park, which is ADA-accessible, located in an easily accessible urban area and also home to 200plus bird species. Sam Phillips, a wildlife biologist who works at Fort Hunter Liggett, specializes in raptors but is curious about all things avian and leads this roughly one-mile-long stroll around the park. It’s Monterey Audubon’s Pride Month event, so feel free to wear your rainbow colors—betcha the birds will still be even more colorful—and bring binoculars if you have them. Beginner birders are encouraged to attend. If you get lucky, you might see some of the four baby peregrine falcons chicks that are starting to wander around the rooftop of Embassy Suites. [SR] 22 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY June 15-21, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com William Ritschel William Frederic Ritschel (1864-1949) was an impressionist painter born in Nuremberg, Germany. He sailed off to America in 1895, and became an American citizen in 1904. At first based in New York City, Ritschel spent a summer in Carmel in 1911 and kept returning. A few years later, he purchased a cottage in Carmel Highlights, where he began building his stone castle which he called his “eagle’s nest.” Ritschel exhibited at the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club, and was involved with the Carmel Art Association for years. He also volunteered to design and paint sets for the Forest Theater. Ritschel died in 1949 at his studio/home in the Highlands. He and other early California artists (Xavier Martinez, Granville Redmond, Charles Rollo Peters, E. Charlton Fortune and Franz Bischoff) were the subject of a recent presentation organized by Native Daughters of the Golden West, who invited Cynthia Wagner Weick and Joaquin Turner to talk about Monterey Bay as seen through the eyes of early California artists. Some of Ritschel’s works can be seen at the Monterey Museum of Art. [AP] 15-21 june HOT PICKS To see more local events, and add your own, visit calendar.montereycountyweekly.com Courtesy of The Native Daughters of the Golden West Credit JonPaul Magan VISUALS JonPaul Magan JonPaul Magan is a self-taught artist who experimented with many media and landed on acrylic art. “The unpredictable flow, movement and color combinations that result give me so much joy,” he wrote in an artist statement. Magan’s pieces are all abstract—splashing color, all wavy and hallucinogenic. Based in Sand City, Magan is having his first open studio hours from 10am to 4pm in his own studio. Visits are available by appointment only. Otherwise, the public is invited to a reception from 6-8pm Friday, June 16. Email jpmagan@ yahoo.com for details. [AP] Carmel Valley’s Folktale Winery is bringing four musical acts to the stage for the inaugural Live in the Vines summer festival. Among them is local-ish (Santa Cruz-based) band Wolf Jett, who are a rocking good time. Acclaimed queer poet Bianca Tonantzin Zamora presents her work at a Pride Month event at Palenke Arts in Seaside. courtesy Palenke Arts
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