First off, for those seeking fun this weekend, it’s First Friday.
Participants in the beloved monthly event, organized by the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association and sponsored by the city of Bainbridge Island, include nearly 30 galleries, show rooms, museums, shops and offices.
The action, as always, will be in full swing from 6 to 8 p.m.
Visit www.bainbridgedowntown.org to learn more.
Of special note, the Bainbridge Public Library will present “The Art of Natural Bainbridge,” an exhibition featuring the artwork of Cameron Snow and Paul Brians.
The illustrations by Snow and photographs from Brians are from the new book, “Natural Bainbridge,” published by the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, which focuses on protecting, sustaining, and appreciating our island’s natural character and special preserved places.
The book is the work of a small team of longtime land trust supporters — including Brians and Snow — all of whom volunteered their professional skills for the book.
Brians is a retired Washington State University English professor who, since moving to Bainbridge a decade ago, has done extensive photography for the land trust and other environmentally oriented organizations, and appears in many of the nonprofit’s publications.
Snow is a professional painter, videographer, and ceramic artist who settled on the island 20 years ago. She was particularly drawn to the new native plants and animals that greeted her. Her closely observed and exquisitely detailed work has appeared at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.
The exhibition opens during the First Friday Art Walk with an artists’ reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Bainbridge Public Library. “Natural Bainbridge” will be available for sale at the show, as well as some of the artwork from the book. The book is also available at Eagle Harbor Book Company.
The exhibition will be on display through August at the library, and also on the library website at www.bain bridgepubliclibrary.org.
Also happening this weekend, a new modern version of Edmond Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac” will be on the Bainbridge Performing Arts stage — and it’s flippin’ good.
In Jeremy Desmon’s pop musical “Cyrano de Burger Shack,” Cyrano is king of the local Burger Shack, but he can’t seem to win the love of his best friend, Roxanne. When Roxanne confesses her crush on Christian, the new burger-flipper, Cyrano decides that playing Cupid is better than sitting out of the game.
BPA’s production is directed by Buddy Todd, with musical direction by Crystal Johnston, and choreography by Havilah Criss.
Together, the directing trio lead an enthusiastic cast of BPA Theatre School students (ages 8 to 13).
Todd recently directed “The Wizard of Oz” for BPA, is choreographing “Little Shop of Horrors” at the Black Box Theatre in Edmonds, and looks forward to directing at Renton Civic next season.
Johnston has been a classically-trained pianist for almost 30 years.
BPA Theatre School will present “Cyrano de Burger Shack” at BPA from Aug. 1 to Aug. 4, with shows at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets, $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, students, youth, military, and teachers, or $8.75 each for families of four or more, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgeperformingarts.org, by phone at 206-842-8569 or in person at BPA (200 Madison Ave. North).
Box office hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and one hour prior to each performance.
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