for the ARTS record
Short Play Festival When Nantucket Theatrical Productions formed in 1992 to run the Nantucket Short Play Festival, the organization staged its first shows on the green outside of the Atheneum. "We began by having the shows on drop cloths on the grass, with painter's lights in the trees," remembered Jim Patrick, Artistic Director of Nantucket Theatrical Productions.

Now paired with Theatre Workshop of Nantucket, NTP brings you the 16th set of performances for the Nantucket Short Play Festival.

"My personal goal has always been to have the festival be really accessible for both audience members, actors and playwrights. It's a pretty casual performance, because we do staged readings," Patrick said.

"We're not looking to fill certain roles to give certain actors something to do, or make a political message. We always try to find the best scripts, period."

The three winners of the Nantucket Short Play Festival's spring semester are:

+ "American Interlude" by Scott Brooks - A touching, fleeting interlude between two previously unconnected individuals makes for a charming romantic comedy, somewhat ethereal in its interpretation of what life throws our way and why. Starring Ciaran Byrne, and Oksana Shastikova. Directed by Meredith Martin.

+ "Untitled 2" by Jim Gordon - Christy Kickham and Bill Mogensen act and self-direct in this piece about two art critics who "draw from deep within themselves" to analyze a piece of artwork with ever wider stretches of the imagination. Susan Beaumont assists in direction.

+ "The Ditch" by Mike Smith - Dwight Beman stars in this quirky piece about two friends "trying to pull each other out of a ditch, of sorts." Directed by Eddie Loring.

When: Thu. - Sat., April 26 - 28, 7:30 p.m.

(Box office opens at 7 p.m.)

Where: Methodist Church (upstairs),

2 Centre Street Cost: $10

For more information or to make

reservations, call 228-4305

Nantucket Artisans show The Nantucket Artisans Collective is a hodgepodge of highly skilled, local, island artisans who work out their homes. Three years ago, weaver Karin Sheppard, potter Barbara Toole and knitter Sarah Wright organized the group - then, consisting of fewer than 10 people.

The collective is now at a healthy 20 members, 16 of whom will be showing their wares at the Preservation Institute this Friday, with a reception on Friday night and again on Saturday morning.

"We are the local artisan rebels," said Sheppard. Comprised of year-rounders, the group is happily informal, holding most of their exhibits in backyards with refreshments. They this show as a light at the end of the winter tunnel, according to Sheppard.

"We'll have wine and cheese. There might be a little bit of a party atmosphere," she said. "Come and hang with us. Meet cousin Sue."

When: Friday, April 27, 5 - 8 p.m.;

Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: Preservation Institute:

Nantucket, 11 Centre Street

Cost: Free (Ed: Who could ever put a

price tag on cousin Sue?) For more information, please call

Barbara Toole 325-6403 James Bond's Nantucket Casino Royale The Nantucket Arts Council promises "Razorsharp conversation and a night of continual intrigue and danger" (as well as a few hours of legal gambling) to raise money for its scholarship fund. "We expect a sell-out evening," according to the event's organizer, Elisabeth Hazell, "because the prices are low, the women are beautiful, the men are dashing, and capacity is limited." The Rose and Crown will turn into a pup Casino from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., when Nantucket's own Miss Fairchild performs until close. Guests are encouraged, for their own safety, to dress up in "black tie or bad guy" this "Halfween." ("Halfween" is halfway to Halloween.)

When: Friday, April 27, "2-007," 7:30 p.m. -

10:30 p.m. (Casino); 10:30 p.m. - close (Miss

Fairchild) Where: Rose and Crown Nantucket

Cost: $10 (advance), $15 (at the door)

For tickets, call 325-8588

Daffy Culinary specials Even if one were to wander lonely as a cloud amongst the Daffodils this weekend, one need not be hungry or thirsty, because island gastronomers are, for the fifth year, releasing their poetic Daffodil Culinary Specials.

According to David Sharpe, Administrator of Nantucket Vistors' Services, this promotion offers Daffy revelers a multi-sensory way to celebrate Daffy weekend. "It's something that people look forward to, particularly after a long dreary spring, when people have been cold. This is a way for people to going for the season." Daffy Specials:

A.K. Diamonds: A.K. Daffy-tini; Seafood Primavera w/ Lemon cream sauce; Grilled salmon w/ saffron cream sauce; Annye's Whole Foods: Spring Vegetable Quiche, Roasted Chicken

DAFFODIL Arno's: Daffalini (mango flavored Bellini) Atlantic Café: Sunny Daffodil Frozen Quencher; Coconut Shrimp w/ Kiwi Mango Glaze; Lemon Sponge Cake w/ Mint Cream and Raspberry Coulis

Brotherhood of Thieves: Absolut Daffodil Martini; Lobster BLT with Basil Aioli on Portuguese; Duet of Fruit Sorbet in an Almond Tuile w/ berries Cambridge St. Victuals: 888 Daffodil Day Tripper; Curried Coconut Chicken Skewers; Daffodil BBQ - Jerk chicken, grilled banana, etc.; Yellow Key Lime Pie Chanticleer: La Jonquille (a Daffodil drink) Cowboy's Market: Daffodil Picnics for two or more Fifty-Six Union: Daffatini Nantucket Bake Shop: Daffodil Cakes; Daffodil Cupcakes Oran Mor: Curry-glazed King Salmon with Cucumber, Pineapple and Coconut in a mussel broth Pete's Soda Fountain: Daffy Frizze; Turkey Reuben; Curry Chicken Provisions: Broccoli, Cheddar and Cauliflower Soup; Poppyseed Egg Salad Sandwich SeaGrille: Yellow Mellow Mojito; Daffodil Fettucini 29 Fair Street Bistro: Silly Daffy Champagne cocktail with passion fruit juice

Shakespeare by the Sea schedule announced Hosted by the Nantucket Arts Council, this year's Shakespearean festival (Sunday, August 12 - Saturday, August 18) will again feature a performance by Shakespeare on the Cape, which received a glowing review in The New York Times this year for its dramatization of the life of Tennessee Williams. This summer, the company will perform "Much Ado About Nothing," while Island-based Seaside Shakespeare will perform "Twelfth Night." Shakespeare on the Cape will also host an hour-long children's workshop. Marjorie Gerber will return for a talk and signing of her book, "Shakespeare After All," while Mick Hales, author of "Shakespeare in the Garden," provides a new face by attending for a discussion and book signing

as well. For more, go to NantucketArtsCouncil.org. I