RECORD STAFF

History through the eyes of those who lived it is at the heart of a one-of-a-kind production celebrating Langley’s Centennial.

Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and The Langley Main Street Association present “Langley Life: 1890-1980,” a Centennial Celebration event. Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at WICA, 565 Camano Ave., Langley.

Local writer Bob Waterman created an original script that gives a “first-hand” look at Langley’s history through the eyes of Walter Hunziker, an early Langley resident, as well as his friends and family.

“The life of Walter Hunziker was chosen as a thread that would run through the show,” Waterman explained. “Walter came to Langley in 1899 and died in 1980, thus witnessed and participated in the growth of the town from its beginning to almost the present day.”

Jill Johnson is the production manager and Gail Fleming is the script shaper.

Waterman had the idea to have a kickoff event that would start a yearlong series of events celebrating the centennial of the incorporation of Langley. He discussed the idea with members of the Main Street Association Design Committee and representatives of Langley organizations and other interested parties.

“Stacie Burqua of WICA suggested that an event could be staged at WICA in January, so the die was cast,” Waterman said.

The cast is packed with local actors, including Tom Churchill, Gail Fleming, Jill Johnson, Mike McVay, Ken Martinez, Mully Mullally, Jasmine O’Brochta, Sara Saltee, Bob Waterman and Noelle Weiner. Accompanying the production are slides and music that bring Langley’s history to life on stage.

Cast and crew worked non-stop in recent weeks to bring this production to stage, including a work party at the fairgrounds where Langley Main Street Association board members and volunteers created a number of two-dimensional cast members for the show.

Eric Richmond volunteered to print the historic images provided by Waterman, and a work party mounted them on foam core at the fairgrounds.

The life-sized cut-outs of historic figures will move into stores and places around Langley to help share their story with the public during the year-long Langley birthday celebration.

The 90-minute production is co-sponsored by the South Whidbey Historical Society and Langley Historic Preservation Commission.

This event also marks the opening of a framed photo exhibit at WICA featuring many never-before-published historic pictures. Langley Main Street Association will host the wine and cheese art opening from 6 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, in the WICA lobby.

Book signing, too

Waterman and Frances Wood will also be on hand to sell and sign their new book “Langley,” a collection of photos and stories spanning Langley’s early days through the 1970s.

Tickets are available on the day of the show at the door. Suggested donation is $10 for adults, $5 for youths. All proceeds benefit Langley Main Street Association programs.

“Langley Life: 1890-1980” is one of the first events celebrating Langley’s Centennial in 2013. A full schedule of events is planned throughout the year. Go to www.langleymainstreet.org for a full schedule.

For more information, contact Bob Waterman at 360-221-8644 or Langley Main Street Association at 360-929-9333 or mainstreet@whidbey.com.