Smith: Late nights are little trouble for this ‘Music Man’ duo

By the time the cast and crew wrap up a frequent, after-dinner rehearsal for the SRJC production of “The Music Man” that opens the day after Thanksgiving, it’s at least 11 p.m.

That’s late, especially for actors Annelise Ethington and Freyja Kremer. Annelise is 10, Freyja 11.

But there’s little danger that either of these eager, poised stage veterans will fall asleep.

Freyja and Annelise may never be more alive than when they’re acting and singing. If you were fortunate enough to see last year’s JC production of “Mary Poppins,” you witnessed the two of them share the role of Michael.

“She’s so happy being up there,” said Freyja’s mother, Ursula Kremer. “She is just loving it.”

Amy Ethington says she’s in awe to observe how hard and joyfully Annelise prepares for “The Music Man.”

In addition to all the fun Annelise is having, her mom said, “she got to see how heavy a trombone really is.”

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ART BY CHANCE: Check out www.occidentalchoir.org and you’ll see the lovely poster that promotes the Occidental Community Choir’s Dec. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11 winter concerts.

The poster’s artwork, a bold rendering of a wolf seated atop a peak and singing to the moon, was done by 13-year-old Chance Hagemann of Salmon Creek School. There was a poster-art contest and he won.

Chance is some kid. Having grown up helping to run his family’s trout farm near Bodega Bay, he writes, “I consider myself an expert at anything related to the outdoors ... I currently own about 20 fish in 6 tanks, along with a dog, cat, spider, goose, chickens, and three lizards.”

It surprised Chance that his nature scene won the Occidental Community Choir poster contest. Like many others, he likes to look at it.

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A CUBBIE COMES HOME: Fresh from his team’s World Series victory, Santa Rosa native and Chicago Cubs first-base coach Brandon Hyde will soon come home to lead a youth baseball camp.

Brandon, who played at both Montgomery High and SRJC, will conduct the camp on ?Dec. 10 and 11 at Cardinal Newman High School. The morning instruction will be for players 8 to 12, the afternoon for 13- to 18-year-olds.

The details are at FBK1.com.

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THURSDAY, DEC. 1, will be an especially delicious, delightful and charitably productive day in Sonoma County.

It’s Dining Out for Life day. A record number of our restaurants, about 90, will share a portion of the day’s sales to Food for Thought, the ?Forestville-based food bank that serves 800 people who live with HIV and other serious illnesses.

For the participating restaurants, go to fftfoodbank.org.

Volunteer ambassadors will be at the eateries to greet and thank diners. Once again, I’ll volunteer at the Soltani family’s landmark Mac’s Deli & Cafe in downtown Santa Rosa.

Love to see you there for breakfast or lunch.

Chris Smith is at 707-521-5211 and chris.smith@press?democrat.com.