Entertainment report for week ending 1/28: Death and Taxes at the ZCT plus lots of music on the Mountain

By BEN OLSON/for The Herald  —  The Zero Clearance Theater is back with their mid-winter production of “Death and Taxes”, a black comedy about a murder mystery taking place at a small town city hall. Becky Chamberlain is directing Pat Cook’s play, in which an IRS agent turns up dead, and everybody from the mayor on down is a suspect. The show will be taking place this weekend and the next, January 26, 27 and 28, as well as February 2, 3 and 4.

Becky Chamberlain directs Death and Taxes

The doors open for the Friday and Saturday showings at 6 pm and the curtain is at 7. For the Sunday matinee shows, the doors open at 2 pm, with the curtain at 3. Tickets for the show are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Seniors and children under 12 are half price. Advanced tickets can be purchased at the Lion Mountain Bakery, Mane Street Coffee and the 3 Legged Crane. The Zero Clearance Theater is located on Highway 58 in Oakridge, in the same building as the Lion Mountain Bakery.

Speaking of the Lion Mountain Bakery, Broken Horn is scheduled to be playing tunes there for the brunch crowd this Friday, Saturday and Sunday,  The music runs from 11 am until 1 pm each day. His music draws from the classics of the 50s and 60s, covering rock, pop and country tunes that those of us who grew up in that era remember well. The Lion Mountain serves both breakfast and lunch in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Catch Ben at the Crane on Thursday

The 3 Legged Crane on 1st Street in uptown Oakridge will be having an open mic this Thursday, January 25. I’ll be hosting the event, and I’m assuming that the usual suspects will turn up to participate. (An aside: I thought that The Usual Suspects would be a great name for a band. Checking with the oracle, there are a number of bands around the country that are currently going by that name.) The marquis says that the music begins at 7 pm, but I’m going to be ready to rock at 6:30. The Crane is a traditional brewpub, making many of the fine beers and ales on site. They feature appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu.

Music all weekend at Willamette Pass

Willamette Pass Resort is once again open for skiing and snowboarding. For those taking a break from the action on the slopes, there will be live music in the bar on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from noon until 3 pm. I’ll be providing the song stylings on Friday.

Eugene singer-songwriter Cuchulain will be bringing his wry sense of humor to a higher altitude on Saturday. Sidney Joseph will be playing his rock and soul, infused with the blues on Sunday afternoon.  Willamette Pass Resort has a full bar and a number of food options, including breakfast for those who want to get a nourishing meal before the lifts start running.

You don’t have to be a skier, either, to enjoy the action- it can be entertaining to just relax and observe the action on the slopes from your comfortable seat in the bar. The resort is located at milepost 62, 25 miles east of Oakridge on Highway 58. Please have your car wearing appropriate tires for the conditions that may be prevailing.

DLC hosts Ben on Friday night

When I get done playing at the ski hill on Friday, I’ll be heading down the hill, 25 miles past Oakridge, to play at the Dexter Lake Club. It’s always a test to see if my old body can still do a double shift. The show at Dexter begins at 6 pm sharp. The Dexter Lake Club has a full bar, and the adjoining Rattlesnake BBQ features appetizers, sandwiches and dinners on the menu. The DLC is located just off Highway 58 near milepost 12.

 am happy to report that each day is getting just a little bit longer, providing us a few more minutes of sunlight. Well, light, anyway- the sun is somewhere behind those clouds. Try to get out and get a little fresh air and exercise in between the rain squalls. We’ve got a first-class show coming up at the Zero Clearance Theater and a variety of live music to listen to. Get out and get some culture, as well. That’s all for this week.