The Impaired Driving Impact Panel of Island County is hoping an upcoming event will kill three birds with one stone — provide an evening of fun while raising money for a good cause and shine the spotlight on an up-and-coming group of local performers.
An evening of comedy and canapes, as it’s called, is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Whidbey Playhouse in Oak Harbor and will feature the community theater’s Whidbey Improv Team.
“My husband and I are season ticket holders to the Whidbey Playhouse,” explained JoAnn Hellmann, IDIPIC director. “We heard about a comedy night they were having there, so we went to it and it was just flat-out funny, but there weren’t a lot of people there.”
Hellmann knew organizations had worked with the playhouse in the past for fundraisers, buying out the house for a performance and then selling the tickets to raise money. She thought the same concept might work as a fundraiser for IDIPIC, but instead of a scripted play, the improv team will be performing.
Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Airman Jonathan Wilkinson is one of four Navy personnel on the team. AT3 Bob Foster, ATAN Derek Remington and ATAN Michael Wilson and Whidbey Playhouse regulars Mary K. Hallen, Keath Hallen and Anjelica Glasgow make up the rest of the improv team.
Wilkinson made his first stage appearance at the Whidbey Playhouse in “Murder in the Magnolias” earlier this year. While new to the stage, he quickly felt at home.
“I tried some improvisation towards the end of the run of ‘Murder in the Magnolias,’” he said. “It’s such a fun thing not knowing what’s going to happen next.”
Wilkinson, who will turn 21 that evening, said he always wanted to be an actor when he was a child. When his Navy tour is up in about a year, he plans to go to film or acting school.
“It’s always interested me,” he said. “Whenever I’d go to a play or performance, I always wanted to get up out of my seat and join in.”
Hellmann said tickets for the event are selling well so far and hopes it will generate interest among people who haven’t gone to the theater before.
“There are people who have been in this town forever but have never gone to a Whidbey Playhouse production, said Hellmann. “This is an opportunity to introduce them to the theater and if we can get some more people in there, they might want to see a couple of shows. That’s a good thing.”
Hellmann is also hoping the event will generate income for the nonprofit. IDIPIC was established in 2000 as a community service to deter driving under the influence and underage drinking through education and awareness.
Tickets for assigned seating are $12.50 in advance. All proceeds will benefit IDIPIC’s work for ‘safer kids, safer roads,’ Hellmann said. In addition to a big serving of laughter, there will be plenty of tasty treats to entice theater-goers. Wine will be served separately by donation.
While that may raise some eyebrows, Hellmann is quick to point out that IDIPIC is not against drinking, but about making responsible choices and saving lives.
“We’re not against alcohol,” she said. “But impaired driving or underage drinking touches everyone — we’re all out on the roads together, this is all around us. We need to be aware and part of that is knowing what we are doing to make our roads safer and be defensive drivers.”
Patrons of legal drinking age will be limited to two, five-ounce glasses of wine for the evening, and it will only be available before the show and during intermission.
“Even though we will be serving wine, we will be limiting the amount,” said Hellmann. “It’s our soiree and we feel that’s the responsible thing to do. There will be no ‘one for the road.’”
Tickets for Comedy and Canapes are available at the Whidbey Playhouse, 730 SE Midway Blvd., or by calling IDIPIC at 672-8219. Go to www.idipic.org for information.
