Juneau-based Perseverance Theatre is kicking off its inaugural Anchorage season with “The Blue Bear,” Feb. 10-18 at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. It will be the Anchorage premiere of the play, which is adapted from an award-winning book by Juneau author Lynn Schooler.
Schooler was a wilderness guide when he met Japanese photographer Michio Hoshino in 1990. The two shared a passion for writing, photography and Alaska’s wilderness. Together they embarked on a journey to find and photograph the rare and legendary blue-colored glacier bear. Before they could complete their quest, Hoshino was tragically killed by a Siberian grizzly bear. Schooler dedicated himself to getting a photograph of the bear to honor his friend.
Schooler and Hoshino’s widow, Naoko, will be in Anchorage for the premiere and are also attending a free book-signing event on Saturday, Feb. 11, from noon- 2p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 200 E. Northern Lights Boulevard.
A preview of the play:
“The Blue Bear” opens Friday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be performances: Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 12 at 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m., Friday. Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 18 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets available at centertix.net, or by calling 263-ARTS.
The second show in Perseverance Theatre’s Anchorage season is “A Raisin in the Sun.” It runs April 13 – 22 at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
Find out more about Perseverance Theatre and its Anchorage season at perseverancetheatre.org
Perseverance Theatre’s mission is to create professional theater by and for Alaskans. The theater was founded in 1979 and has grown into the state’s flagship professional theater, serving nearly 15,000 artists and audiences annually with classical, contemporary and world premiere productions; education and training programs for youth and adults; statewide and national tours; and outreach collaborations with statewide artistic and social service groups.
Alaska community news powered by the people. Become a citizen journalist, or enlist your organization today and join the conversation.
