Popcorn forum takes lighter tone

In the past, the annual Popcorn Forum at North Idaho College has tackled emotional and often divisive topics such as racism, gun control, same-sex marriage, censorship and free speech.

This year, things will be a bit lighter.

Themed “Celebrating Humor and Music: Conversations with Comedians and Musicians From the Past,” the forum will feature performances by actors and actresses portraying comedians and musicians such as Moms Mabley, Lucille Ball, Mark Twain and John Lennon.

The 37th annual event kicks off March 19 and runs through March 23.

“There’s so many serious things going on in the world, we said maybe it’s time to do (the forum) in a format that is a little bit less stressful,” said forum coordinator Tony Stewart, a political science instructor at NIC. “It’s a softer approach, but it still has a powerful message.”

And the event still will have serious aspects. The 10th annual human rights banquet, part of the forum, will be held March 19 and feature a keynote speech by Francis Bok, a former Sudanese slave.

“We still have slavery in the 21st century in some places in the world,” Stewart said.

Bok has told his story in many forums around the world, including a meeting with President Bush.

“We’re very fortunate to have him here,” Stewart said.

Tickets to the banquet cost $25, with proceeds going to the Human Rights Education Institute.

All other events are free and open to public. The events are:

•March 19: A brief welcoming ceremony will begin at 9:45 a.m. in Boswell Hall Schuler Auditorium, followed by a presentation by Tawnya Pettiford-Wates, who’ll portray Moms Mabley.

The human rights banquet begins with a reception at 6 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn.

•March 20: Local residents will perform as characters from “I Love Lucy,” beginning with a 15-minute musical prelude at 8:45 a.m. in Schuler Auditorium. NIC graduate Tamara Poelstra will play Lucy Ricardo; Popcorn Forum executive assistant and NIC employee Kerrin Tenneson will play Ethel Mertz; NIC music instructor Max Mendez will play Ricky Ricardo; and retired high school history teacher and wrestling coach Ken Pelo of Spokane will play Fred Mertz.

At 11 a.m. in the same auditorium, Joe Jacoby will portray musician John Lennon. A musical performance by All That Jazz under the direction of Dick Kuck is scheduled from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Lake Coeur d’Alene Room of the NIC Student Union Building.

•March 21: Actress Denise Clark will return to the forum to play humorist Erma Bombeck at 9 a.m. in Schuler Auditorium.

A 15-minute musical prelude by Debra O’Dell will begin at 8:45 a.m. More music is scheduled that afternoon, when Natural Jazzaster will play from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Lake Coeur d’Alene Room of the Student Union Building.

•March 22: Doug Watson will perform as entertainer Will Rogers.

The performance will follow a 15-minute musical prelude by Matt Gallatin & Company, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. in Schuler Auditorium. At 1 p.m., in the Lake Coeur d’Alene Room of the Student Union Building, NIC speech instructor Annie McKinlay will portray former Texas Gov. Ann Richards.

•March 23: George Frein, an adjunct professor of religion at Furman University and emeritus professor at the University of North Dakota, will portray author Mark Twain at 11 a.m. in Schuler Auditorium. A 15-musical performance by Shelly Phillips is scheduled for 10:45 a.m.

Frein and Watson will return to their characters at 1 p.m. that day for a conversation between Twain and Rogers.

Under the direction of Terry Jones, a nighttime concert will include a variety of tunes by the legendary musicians of the 20th century including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller and Stan Kenton.