Orcas Center has something for everyone! Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema’s A Contemporary Evening Saturday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m. he Metropolitan Opera presents Verdi’s “La Traviata” Live in HD Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m. (NOTE: rescheduled from March 26). Washington’s Poet Laureate Dr. Tod Marshal will give a reading of poetry Monday, April 3, 7:30 p.m. in the Madrona Room at Orcas Center.

Bolshoi Ballet

For one evening, the Bolshoi audaciously takes on the challenge of Hans Van Manen’s “Frank Bridge’s Variations,” “Sol León,” Paul Lightfoot’s “Short Time Together” and Alexei Ratmansky’s “Russian Seasons.” This encounter between some of the best dancers in the world and masters of contemporary choreography results in an outstanding synthesis of contemporary dance by bringing Van Manen’s formal beauty, León and Lightfoot’s intensity, and Ratmansky’s witty brilliance to a new level. Treat the whole family to an innovative night of dance for the Bolshoi Ballet in Cinema’s “A Contemporary Evening,” Saturday, April 1 at 6:30 p.m.

‘La Traviata’

“La Traviata” stars Sonya Yoncheva, pictured here, as the courtesan Violetta opposite Michael Fabiano as her lover, Alfredo. Thomas Hampson is his father, Germont.

In later performances, Carmen Giannattasio sings the title role opposite Atalla Ayan, with the great Plácido Domingo as Germont. Nicola Luisotti conducts. It will be shown in HD Sunday, April 2 at 1 p.m.

Mozart’s “Idomeneo,” previously scheduled for Sunday, April 2, will instead be shown on Sunday, April 9.

Poet Laureate

Gonzaga professor and award-winning poet Tod Marshall was appointed the fourth Washington State Poet Laureate by Governor Jay Inslee in January 2016. Marshall’s term runs through 2018. He is the first State Poet Laureate from Eastern Washington. He succeeds Elizabeth Austen, the state’s previous laureate, who served from 2014–2016, Kathleen Flenniken (2012–2014) and Sam Green (2007–2009) from Waldron Island.

Marshall is the author of three poetry collections: “Dare Say” (2002), “The Tangled Line” (2009) and “Bugle” (2014). “Bugle” was published by Canarium Press in 2009 and was a finalist for the Washington Book Award in 2015. Marshall has also published a collection of his interviews with contemporary poets, “Range of the Possible” (EWU Press, 2002), which was named to the New York City Public Library Poetry Book List for 2003; and an accompanying anthology of the interviewed poets’ work, “Range of Voices” (2005).

In 2005, he was awarded a Washington Artists Trust Fellowship. He is also the recipient of the 2015 Humanities Washington Award for Scholarship and Service. Marshall earned an MFA from Eastern Washington University and graduated with his Ph.D. from The University of Kansas. He lives in Spokane, Washington, and teaches at Gonzaga University where he is the Robert K. and Ann J. Powers Professor Chair of the Humanities. Dr. Tod Marshall will give a reading of poetry Monday, April 3, 7:30 p.m. in the Madrona Room at Orcas Center.

Tickets for the Bolshoi’s “A Contemporary Evening” and “La Traviata” are $20 and $15 for students with $2 off for Orcas Center members. They may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center box office. Subsidized tickets are available for $5 at the box office.

Admission is by donation for the poetry reading with Tod Marshall.