People Extra! 8/11/11

RTOP issues call for SL auditions

Regional Theater of the Palouse has issued an audition call for their fall production of “Meet Me In St. Louis.” Audition date will be Saturday, Aug. 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the RTOP Theater at 122 N. Grand, Pullman.

Participants are asked to be prepared to sing a song of their own selection and bring music for accompanist. Callbacks will be the next the day, Sunday, also between 4 and 7 p.m.

Eight performances of the musical are scheduled Nov. 3-5 and Nov. 10-12. The Saturday dates will include a 2:30 matinee. Evening performances will be at 7:30.

RTOP is currently in production for “Annie” which runs Aug. 25-27 and Sept. 8-10.

Seattle Times’ series features Elwood’s ‘canjos’

Elberton’s John Elwood last week was the subject of a feature story in the Seattle Times about his crafting of “Canjos,” a banjo-like instrument which features the round cans that contain WSU’s Cougar Gold Cheese. The “Northwest Wanderings” article by Alan Berner was in the Aug. 2 edition of the Times in its Northwest segment.

Elwood is pictured playing one of the Canjos while seated on the running board of his 1951 International pickup. His dog, Barkis leaps in the foreground.

Elwood, who is well known in the area for his skills as a luthier, attaches pieces of Osage orange and black walnut to the Cougar Gold cans to turn out the Canjos.

Berner’s article noted the Canjos produce a remarkable sound which Elwood attributes to their initial use as the containers for WSU’s Cougar Gold Cheese.

Elwood notes he takes two days to produce one of the instruments. Using cheese cans for string instruments follows a long-standing tradition in rural America to use what’s available.

Elwood and his spouse, Sally Burkhart, are among 10 people now living in Elberton. The Times’ article advises its readers they can find Elberton by traveling to Garfield and turning onto the Elberton Road at Grumpy’s Tavern.