Ferron is Mitchell Scholar

The U.S.-Ireland Alliance announced the 2009-2010 George J. Mitchell Scholars on Nov. 22 in Washington, D.C., with the Irish Ambassador present. Neil Ferron, a former Mercer Islander, was among 12 scholars selected for the 10th Anniversary Class of George Mitchell Scholarship.

Ferron is a recent Santa Clara University graduate who grew up on Mercer Island. He is an award-winning poet, author, playwright and the founder and artistic director of 12th Avenue Drama, a small Seattle-based theater company. His play, “Sweet, the Breath of Children,” was produced in 2007 and was awarded a Seattle Times “Critic’s Pick.” Ferron received an artist grant from the King County Arts Commission to help produce the play. While an undergraduate, Ferron traveled to Calcutta to work for six months in an orphanage run by the Missionaries of Charity. His experience there, as well as his work with homeless teenagers at a shelter in California, has shaped much of his writing, which attempts to balance grace with a social justice message. He won a Canterbury Fellowship to work on a series of short stories that focused on his time in India. In addition, Ferron was awarded a first-place prize by the Academy of American Poets for his poem, “In its proper place,” and a Santa Clara Review “Editor’s Choice” for one of his short stories. Ferron plans to study playwriting in the fall.

The award, named after former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, recognizes outstanding young Americans who exhibit the highest standards of academic excellence.

An Island tradition: “Excerpts from the Nutcracker” begins Dec. 13

“Excerpts from the Nutcracker” is one of the most joyful performances of the holiday season. Young and old alike will be captivated by this uplifting production, which is performed by students of the Children’s Dance Conservatory and Island Youth Ballet.

Now in its sixth season at Youth Theatre Northwest, “Excerpts from the Nutcracker” has become a Mercer Island tradition, serving a diverse audience of parents, senior citizens and families from the greater Eastside and Seattle.

The production evolves from year to year with dancers of greater skill and work that showcases their talent and dedication to this effort and commitment. All dancers have been trained in the classical ballet curriculum of the Royal Academy of Dance. They train and rehearse a minimum of four days per week, enduring long hours of rehearsal for their love of classical dance and performing. The dancers in the school live for this annual production, and the “Nutcracker” never seems to go to sleep. Performances are scheduled for Dec. 13-14 at 2 p.m., Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and the performance is two hours, including intermission.

All performances are held at Youth Theatre Northwest, located at 8805 S.E. 40th St.

Tickets can be bought online at www.iybnutcracker.com, at the door or by calling 275-4750.

Drummer selected for EMP contest

Island teenager Samuel Landsman, a student at Yeshiva Northwest High School, will join 14 other students to perform in “Experience: The Band,” a music competition organized by the Experience Music Project. Landsman, 16, was selected to join the youth band for his drumming talent. More than 50 students auditioned for the band. The group will perform together for the first time on Saturday, Dec. 13, at Experience Music Project Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (EMP|SFM). The show, one of many that will take place throughout the year, is free and open to the public. Doors open at 1 p.m. in JBL Theater. Students selected for “Experience: The Band” have the chance to win a full scholarship to Berklee School of Music in Boston.