Saratoga Sampler
Local connections make awards show a winner
By Mary Ann Cook
ACADEMY CALLS: Two folks with Los Gatos and Saratoga ties may be called on stage to accept plaudits for the movie "American Beauty" at this year's Academy Awards. Both best actress nominee and producer have strong ties here.
Annette Bening was a member of VITA (Valley Institute of Theatre Arts), and Dan Jinks grew up here. Bening played Juliet to Bill Peck's Romeo, among other roles with VITA, in the summer of '81. Peck is now a special ed teacher at McKinnon School in San Jose.
He is the son of Willys and Betty Peck, of Saratoga, thespians in their own right. It was summer productions in the Peck backyard that led to the formation of VITA by Bill Peck and Judith Sutton. Another connection: Bening's aunt, Kay Merkle, lives at the Meadows in Los Gatos.
During her summer stay, Bening lived with Alice and Jack Williams and taught classes at VITA. About her Juliet, director J. Steven White said she had "a magic combination of youth, innocence and grace, as well as a very fine acting technique."
The producer of American Beauty is Jinks-Cohen Productions and Dan Jinks is a local product, an '81 grad of Los Gatos High School. He earned a theater arts degree from New York University in '85, and worked as assistant to two different independent producers, one in New York and, later, in Los Angeles.
After that, Jinks started his own production company with a like-minded friend. American Beauty is the first film the company has produced. What a way to start. He was captivated by the script when he first read it, and had tried to get it produced for several years.
Jinks is the son of Claire and Larry Jinks, who say that Dan has always been interested in theatrics. As a youngster he would put on magic shows, as Whodanny the Magician, and earn pin money in the neighborhood.
As of this writing, the winners are unknown, but you'll have heard, by now, whether these two were called to the stage.
STRING SPECIALIST: Here's more about Pam Page, who teaches the string instruments to Saratoga youngsters. She teaches the beginning class before school, and the intermediate and advanced classes after school. Those who have had a year's training with her qualify as intermediate.
Page also teaches a three-week program in summer school that meets daily. The beginning youth orchestra she conducts usually has about 30 members, half of whom are violinists; the rest are made up of violas, cello and bass.
The intermediate and advanced groups are combined and number about 45 musicians. All these groups play two concerts a year--one winter, one spring The spring concert is combined with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Boosters' Club, since this music program is funded by the Boosters.
Besides teaching youngsters, Page plays for her church, for senior and health care residences and for private parties. At senior residences she may stroll the halls playing the violin, or entertain at lunch time.
Page has a CD available to prospective buyers. She's working on a book for beginning violinists, since she couldn't find one that fulfilled her needs exactly.
Eventually, she'd like to teach a latchkey program for children who wouldn't otherwise be exposed to music lessons. She's hoping to interest a corporate sponsor in such a program, with East Palo Alto or Oakland youngsters in mind.
FIBER ARTS: Big doings in the fiber arts world in April with two simultaneous local shows--one in Saratoga's Aegis Gallery of Fine Art, and one at Elemental Arts Gallery of Los Gatos. The gallery shows are in conjunction with the Conference of Northern California Handweavers, which will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center April 14-16.
Local weavers exhibiting at Aegis, include Jeanne Tillman and Lorri Scott, of Los Gatos. Tillman makes her own paper out of natural materials, such as iris or daffodil leaves, and weaves paper threads from these products. Scott creates hand-dyed silk materials, and fashions clothing from them.
Scott is in charge of the fashion show for the conference, to be held at 8 p.m. on April 14, at the SC center. Tillman is coordinator of the fiber shows in the two galleries.
Judy Heintz of Saratoga, and Mary Simmons of Los Gatos, are two who are exhibiting at Elemental. They create artwork from gourds. They either grow the gourds themselves, or buy them at special outlets.
The two belong to the Calabash Club of Silicon Valley, so-called because the calabash is a form of gourd. This group has 100 members. Potential members may call Heintz at 408.867.4829. Ten gourdists will show their wares at the Elemental.
A reception, at Elemental, will be held on April 8, from 1 to 3 p.m. The reception at Aegis is on April 9, 1 to 3 p.m.
FESTIVAL: This weekend Beethoven abounds: Symphony No. 9 will be performed March 31 and April 1, at 8 p.m. at San Jose Center for Performing Arts, and April 2, 2:30 p.m. at Flint Center.
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Saratoga, California Since 1955
