This year the Orcas Recreation Program Benefit Concert will entertain families with a variety of performances aimed to appeal to both children and adults.

Held at Orcas Center on Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 at 7:30 p.m., ticket proceeds from the concert will go to Orcas Island Recreation.

The event, which has been a children’s play in the past, has evolved this year into a family event that brings together Orcas and Seattle musicians, stand-up comedians, and improvisational groups.

“It’s a nice way to branch out and try something new,” Program Director Linda Sheridan said. “This event is for adults too, so it is nice to have offerings for adults also.”

Musicians performing in the benefit concert include Dustin Fox, Charly Robinson, Jeff Zbornik, Pamela Wright, Skye Hovelman, Michael Hurwicz and Friends, The Orcas Horns, and musicians from Seattle.

“We are putting together an entertaining, memorable, and special evening that helps raise necessary funds to help Orcas Recreation continue to offer a variety of enriching opportunities for children and youth,” said the benefit’s emcee and former director, Didier Gincig.

Steve Alboucq plays trumpet for The Orcas Horns.

“We are looking forward to the upcoming concert,” Alboucq said. “The enthusiastic music we perform is full of infectious grooves, tight melodic horn work, and jazz-inspired improvisation.”

The Orcas Horns’ music varies from funk groove with the inclusion of a rap artist to latin mambo. An island-grown band, The Orcas Horns evolved out of the Martin Lund One World concert where they came together to back the R&B vocalist.

Interspersed between the musical acts, the benefit will include comedy and improv by Woody Ciskowski, John Clancy, Peter Vinson, Rhys Thompson, Aiden McCormick, and Halley McCormick. The improv group is a melding of two groups started by Clancy, Legion of Terror and Improvissimo. Alumni members of the original group are coming back to perform for this particular benefit, some of whom have been involved with theater and performance on Orcas Island since they started in fourth grade.

“A bunch of people are coming together with great spirits and support for an organization that has served the island well,” John Clancy said.

“It’s sort of a variety, family-type show,” performer and Orcas native Ciskowski said.

Ciskowski, a creative writing student at Western Washington University, will perform with Clancy and other improv comedians as well as provide some sketch comedy all his own.

Orcas Island Recreation is a program of San Juan County that provides enrichment opportunities for youth, teens, adults and families throughout the year. The program recently lost 100 percent of its county funding.

The benefit will also include a silent auction of professional and personal services donated by islanders including massages, babysitting, cleaning, overnight accommodations, and gift certificates.

Admission to the Orcas Recreation Benefit Concert is $15 for adults, $12 for Orcas Center members, and $10 for students. Purchase tickets in advance at www.orcascenter.org or call 376-ACT1.