The Valley Roadrunner, April 2010

Palomar Mountain artist Chris "the Woodcutter" Marszalek is donating an original hand-carved wood sculpture (pictured) to the upcoming fundraising effort for disaster relief in the San Diego North County.

"It's going to break my heart to give it away. There's not another one like it in the world," he said describing the star pine sculpture with a mythological "green man" on one side and a "green woman" surrounded in vines on the other.

Marszalek s said he has lived through four fires on Palomar but never one like the 2007 Paradise wildfire. "That one got everything: my whole house and a lifetime of artworks."

"When I heard about the play/fundraiser that was being put on [for disaster relief in the San Diego North County], I knew I wanted to repay in some small way," said Marszalek. "After what so many have done to get me back on my feet, I know in my core that I owe it to posterity to churn out the best artwork I can do for however many more years I'm allowed."

Come see (and bid on) not only Marszalek's artwork but more than 30 other original pieces serving double duty, first by dressing the stage of the play, All the Time in the World, then by being silent-auctioned right off the sets to raise even more money for disaster relief.

The mystery/drama will be performed six times: April 30, May 1, 7, and 8 at the Maxine's Dorris Staples Center Theater.

More info is available at www.carrfamily.com/allthetime.

All the Time in the World co-producer, Charles Carr (left) with Valley Center Art Association president Kathy Hayden and board member Ed Labrado.

Local artists paint rosy picture(s) for local charity
(Valley Roadrunner newspaper, Feb. 11, 2010)

Nearly a dozen artists are currently working on original paintings that will adorn the stage of All the Time in the World, an original theater production and fundraiser for disaster relief in the San Diego North County.

Local artist Floann Sannipoli will join Gundy and MacLeod (pictured above) at MacLeod’s home this week to create several works for the production.

MacLeod said, “This is really fun for us, because the artist in the play (Neha Curtiss) is supposed to paint in a modern style, so we get to create works outside of our normal more realistic styles.”

About 30 completed paintings will serve double duty, first dressing the stage, which is set in an artist’s studio (Curtiss’), then being silent-auctioned at several locations around town including The Desert Rose gift shop, the VC Library, and even at performances. Noted wood sculptor Chris the Woodcutter has also offered to place one of his own pieces on the auction block.

“It’s a great way to help an organization that has done so much for survivors of our last two wildfires and get a wonderful original work of art in the bargain,” said Ms. Carr.

In addition to monies raised from the sale of the art works, all proceeds from the play itself will go to the fundraiser.

All the Time in the World will be performed six times: April 30, May 1, May 7 and May 8 in the Maxine's Dorris Staples Theater. Call Marsi Carr at (760) 749-0409 or go to www.carrfamily.com/allthetime for more information.

NORTH COUNTY TIMES
Preview Magazine
nctimes.com/entertainment
April 29, 2010

By Patricia Morris Buckley

HITCHCOCK INSPIRES ART-FILLED ‘WORLD’

Writer Charles Carr is a big fan of Hitchcock movies, and so with his newest play, “All the Time in the World,” he couldn’t help but add a bit of the master into its mix.

“All the Time in the World” encompasses two familiar Hitchcock themes–murder and love. But Carr takes this whodunit one step further by bringing in the theme of artistic integrity.

The play, which opens Friday in Carr’s hometown of Valley Center, centers on an artist who is about to break out in a big way. Many of the people surrounding him are encouraging him to do things that will enhance that success even further. Powerful forces put pressure on him to sell out and change who he is. He must choose between his own conscience or allow others to manipulate his talent for their own gain.

Carr modeled the play’s protagonist after some of the actors who starred in Hitchcock movies, such as Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant, he said. And for the love interest, he imagined Grace Kelly or Ingrid Bergman.

“His friend, who is an art dealer, tells him he will have to do something to get the public excited about his work;’ said Carr, who writes a column for the North County Times about the area’s backcountry. “The dealer tells the artist that he needs to generally play the game more, such as having affairs to get his name in the newspapers. I’m hoping the audience will examine their own decisions, such as when a boss asks them to fudge numbers or someone tells them a shady way to get ahead?”

This isn’t the first play Carr has written, but it is the first produced in San Diego. An active member of the Valley Center Community Theatre, he has plenty of experience on the stage. But with this show, he wanted to do something different.

Carr and his wife, Marsi, started putting the production together, selecting the Maxine’s Dorris Staples Theater as the venue. Then they started thinking about the set and came up with another idea to raise money. “Since the main character is an artist, why not set it in his gallery?” said Carr. “And instead of spending money building and painting the set, we decided we wanted to cover the walls with works by local artists!’ Carr found a grant that would pay for canvases, and then turned to the local art community, which responded enthusiastically. Local artists donated more than 30 paintings and one woodcarving. After the show, the art will be sold and the proceeds will go toward [disaster relief].

“This way, people can donate money, but they also get a wonderful painting,” he said. “It’s like having a story on your wall. Plus, they can see a show, and for an hour and half, they can really relax. It’s going to be a great experience!’

NORTH COUNTY TIMES
nctimes.com/opinion
April 16, 2010           

By Brigid Brett

EFFORT AIDS VICTIMS OF DISASTERS

Sometimes it feels like I live in Lake Wobegon, that gentle Midwestern town that Garrison Keillor has made real. Saturday was one of those days.

It started when the bank teller sent a dog biscuit down the drive-through chute for our mutt, and ended at the library, with a preview of a play called “All the Time in the World.”

I had just come to find something to read and hadn’t even known about the preview, so it was an unexpected treat to take my seat in the community room, watch the actors getting ready to make their entrances and chat with other library patrons who seemed equally pleased to settle in and watch some free live theater.

The play, a Hitchcock-like mystery/drama, was written by North County Times freelance columnist Charles Carr and brings home the true meaning not only of community theater, but of community. All proceeds from the play will go directly to [a disaster relief non-profit].

Cash donations are always needed to allow the organization to continue its long-term recovery program, finding job training and employment resources, securing and maintaining affordable housing, settling children into their new neighborhoods and dealing with recovery-related health and life issues.

If not the play itself, then the spirit behind Carr’s work is a love letter to his home and community. Even the assortment of wildly colorful abstract paintings that surround the set–most of the play takes place in an art studio–were painted and donated by local artists, and are up for bid. All proceeds generated by the sale of the paintings will also go to [the fundraiser].

“I told the artists I don’t want dogs playing poker–unless they’re Salvador Dali's dogs,” Carr said.

BRIGID BRETT writes from Valley Center. Contact her at brigidbrett@aol.com.

Play/fundraiser opens Friday
(Valley Roadrunner newspaper, April 28, 2010)

All the Time in the World, a fundraiser for disaster relief in the San Diego North County, will open this Friday, 7 p.m. at the Maxine’s Dorris Staples Theater, located at Valley Center High School and play for two weekends.

“Getting to here is really something of a dream come true for all of us who worked on this project,” said Charles Carr, author and director of the play/fundraiser for VC/Pauma disaster relief.

All the Time in the World is, at its heart, a love story set against the backdrop of a lone man's struggle against powerful forces determined to manipulate his talent for their own gain. One critic who saw a preview of the show said, “It’s a mystery/drama with a fast-moving plot and Hitchcock-like suspense, twists, and surprises sure to entertain audiences and keep them guessing right until the end.”

Net proceeds from both the play and the sale of original paintings that will dress the stage will help provide vital support for [disaster relief in the San Diego North County].

“Our intention from the beginning was to create an event that involved the community at every possible level,” said Carr. “That’s why, for example, we asked local painters to create several dozen original works that will cover almost every inch of the set. You’ve really got to see it—an explosion of color and design. Now there's just one more level of involvement left for the community,” he said smiling. “Come and enjoy the play!"

The cast includes Neha Curtiss, Samantha Carr, David Ross, John Coulombe, Marsi Carr, Sevan Soghomonian, Catie Coulombe, Morgan Brown, Tana Davis, and Lesley Coulombe.

“And that’s just who you can see,” he said. “There’s all the behind the scenes folk like Tim and Michaele Pennell, who loaned us the use of their barn for rehearsals—not to mention Tim’s set construction prowess; Paul LeFevre, who took our amazing cast photos (including the one above); and Andy Washburn, who keeps us on the straight and narrow both as stage manager and as a production adviser.

“Then there’s all the local businesses like Debra Sasse’s Desert Rose gift shop, Bates Nut Farm, Harvest Farms Market, and the Valley Roadrunner; and organizations like VC Rotary, the VC Library, and the VC Art Assn. And, of course, our artists: Carey Soghomonian, Mark Brock, Carol MacLeod, Pam Gundy, Michaele Pennell, Donna Harris, Floann Sannipoli, Samantha Carr, Kris McCarrick, Mary Belland, Ruthii Slatum, and Chris the Woodcutter.”

Carr says the icing on the cake was learning this week that the fundraiser has been awarded a $4,500 Neighborhood Reinvestment Grant from Supervisor Bill Horn’s office and a $1,000 arts grant from the Accretive Group.

“It’s hard to get better value for your charity dollar than that. It’s gratifying that the concept we put together in kitchen table conversations with friends has been placed in the company of respected community mainstays like VC CERT, the Firesafe Council, the Boys and Girls club, YMCA, and a raft of North County historical societies, jobs fairs, and infrastructure improvement projects.”

All the Time in the World is slated for six performances in the Maxine's Dorris Staples Theater: April 30, May 1, May 7, and May 8 (7 p.m.) May 1 and 8 (3 p.m.) with a suggested donation of $9 adults $6 kids/students/seniors.

Tickets are available at Country Junction Deli, the Desert Rose gift shop, Bates Nut Farm, and other local businesses, as well as from cast members, and at the door.

Contact 760-749-0409 or www.carrfamily.com/allthetime for more information or to buy tickets.

Click here for more photos

Carr has one final tip for parents who might experience a bit of foot-dragging from their youngsters at the thought of attending a play. “Tell them it’s in 3-D,” he said. “It’s amazing. It’s like you’re really there!”