Benefit event set for July 24 at Reinheimer Ranch
By Eric Valentine
You know how positive people sometimes say things like this: “Let’s hope we learn some things from the pandemic that improve how we do things in the future.” Well, the Valley has found one of those things. And on July 24 at Reinheimer Ranch just south of Ketchum, the Senior Connection, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, will benefit from it—both literally and figuratively, and for you poetry fans, perhaps metaphorically.
Planning and directing the poetry reading event The Beauty of Brilliance is JoEllen Collins, a longtime teacher, writer, public speaker, and contributing columnist for Wood River Weekly. Collins said the event will feature readings by Valley-based actresses covering benchmark poems by renowned women poets from Emily Dickinson and Edna St. Vincent Millay to a “potpourri of works” by contemporary poets like Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, who became uber-famous in January when she delivered her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden.
“The selections will be dynamic and understandable and range through many situations of being a human being and bearing an open heart,” Collins said.
With a view of Bald Mountain forming a backdrop for the audiences here, Field Daze Event Series co-founders Cathy Reinheimer and Lila Claghorn say they are thrilled to kick off the second round of the seasonal event that seems well positioned to become a Valley must-do. Late last month, Field Daze kicked off its open-air live summer schedule with a workshop production of the new play from Idaho playwright and MacArthur genius award winner Samuel D. Hunter, “A Case For the Existence of God,” directed by Paul Lazar.
Later on this summer, Field Daze will welcome the return of Caritas Chorale directed by R.L. Rowsey, a weekend of comedy and improv from the Groundlings, a Broadway and Valley performer-packed cabaret with R.L. Rowsey & Friends, an activity-filled Children’s Faire, and so much more.
For this season at least, Field Daze will have Laughing Stock Theatre Company’s tax-deductible status for all ticket purchases and donations. Additionally, Field Daze has partnered with local companies and sponsors in town, including the Limelight and Warfield Distillery & Brewery. Warfield’s mobile bar will sell snacks and organic beer and cocktails at events.
Field Daze will also continue to adhere strictly to Ketchum’s COVID safety protocols for outside public gatherings, capping audience size and keeping it outdoors. With reduced capacity, accommodating 125 people broken into pods, tickets will likely go fast. For the Senior Connection event, tickets are $15. There is no reserved seating. Collins and Field Daze organizers remind folks to dress appropriately for an outdoor event, namely footwear suitable for walking across a grassy field.
Tickets are available at www.fielddazesunvalley.org.
Beautiful, Brilliant Poetry Event Details
ON: Saturday, July 24
AT: Reinheimer Ranch, Ketchum
FROM: 6:30 to 8 p.m.
BY: Valley-based performers:
- Claudia McCain
- Jessi Mayne
- Courtney Loving
- Yanna Lantz
- Page Klune
- Laine Hubbard
