Perseverance Theatre.

• Author: Pounds, Nancy
• Position: ENTERTAINMENT

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Juneau's Perseverance Theatre is bringing two productions to Anchorage for the first time this winter. "The Blue Bear" is set for Feb. 10-18, and "A Raisin in the Sun" runs April 13-22 at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets are on sale this month and sure to sell out.

Perseverance officials have considered Anchorage performances for several years in order to expand its audience base, said Ruth Kostik, producing director. The theater company leaders also envision producing performances in other Alaska towns on the road system, Kostik said. Artistic director Art Rotch said the company has saturated the Juneau market and must find new audiences to continue to grow.

Rotch modeled the multiple-city plan after similar programs, including the Arizona Theatre Co. in Tucson and Phoenix. Rotch's Arizona Theatre contact served as the last director of the now-disbanded Alaska Repertory Theatre, and he noted similarities between Anchorage and Juneau. Distance is the major difference, Rotch recalled his friend saying.

"In Alaska we have a lot of things in common," Rotch said. "In programming theater to operate (in different Alaska towns), we can learn a lot about Alaska."

The Juneau troupe has been carefully charting its first-ever Anchorage season.

"We partnered with the Anchorage Concert Association," Kostik said. "We've gotten a great...