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Students in Healy performed Shakespeare’s “MacBeth” about eight times in one day last week. Luckily, it was the five-minute version.

It was also kind of a goofy version — which was perfect for many of the youngest students — who have not yet been introduced to the Bard. During the five-minute performance, one student rolled around on the floor as “Thunder” and three witches borrowed a line from the Wizard of Oz and cackled: “I’ll get you, my pretty.”

Those oh-so-quick performances followed lots of improvisation and theater games, all led by the Alaska Theatre of Youth’s Young Shakespeare Company.

This group of eight energetic teens — between the ages of 10 and 18 — organized and led all the workshops. The two adults, creative director Christian Heppinstall and technical director Kevin McClean, unloaded theatrical sets and prepared the afternoon performance. Clearly, the young performers were totally in charge of sharing their craft for this one-day visit.

There was plenty of giggling going on during those theater games. But there was also some quick thinking, some creative improvising and even some excellent acting.

At mid-day, the group presented a 50-minute performance of “MacBeth,” a dramatic rendering that included sword fights, much blood, a kiss or two and even a beheading.

Thundering music filled the room and the actors projected such energy that the nearly 200 students watching — even mid-elementary age students, who were probably stymied by the Shakespearean prose – sat mesmerized.

A question-and-answer session followed and to everyone’s surprise, the traveling Shakespeareans were then mobbed for autographs by the youngest members of the audience. The older students came up with their own version of autographs on a giant sheet of paper — complete with ‘bloody’ handprints from each character.

Students from Cantwell and Anderson traveled to Healy for the performance as well. Cantwell students will head to Anchorage next week to watch this group perform Julius Caesar.

Denali Borough students study Shakespeare in regular classes. But to have Shakespeare presented in this way, by these dynamics teens, made for a very exciting day.

Young Richie Stickle told me he even got to taste the substance they used for theatrical blood.

“Minty,” he said. “Yum.”

Neighbors to the rescue

Luther the sled dog is home now with a bionic-looking brace holding his leg together, thanks to the kindness of neighbors.

Luther belongs to Jeff and Laurie Yanuchi, owners of Denali Dog Freight. Every spring for seven seasons, the Yanuchis use sled dogs to haul mountaineering gear to the base of Mount McKinley.

“We had four different expeditions and 2,500 pounds to haul up McGonagal Pass,” said Laurie. “Very exciting. This is one of our best years for hauling.”

It was also their hardest year ever. Laurie put it this way: “We are earning every cent.”

Due to difficult trail conditions, they broke three out of four sleds. Laurie and their two children ended up returning early because she had a severe inner ear infection, which caused terrible vertigo. But before she left, tragedy struck.

One day, Jeff and his companion Chris Infante were crossing an open channel on the McKinley River. “Jeff always has them run really close, so he can help pull them across, because they balk at the water,” she said.

Luther was the lead dog on the second team. Somehow, Luther’s leg got tangled in a line and snapped cleanly in two. They knew he needed medical attention immediately. Nearby Camp Denali had been working on a building project all winter, flying people and supplies in and out regularly. Using a satellite phone, Jeff called Simon Hamm of Camp Denali, with one of these conversations, “You don’t know me, but…”.

In true Denali fashion, that didn’t matter.

Simon was apparently eating dinner at 229 Parks Restaurant when he received the call. “I’ll be there in 45 minutes,” he said.

True to his word, he flew to the Wonder Lake area and picked up the dog.

Neighbor John Nierenberg drove to McKinley Village and picked up Luther the night before Easter. Another neighbor, Laurent Dick, then drove Luther to a Fairbanks veterinarian Monday morning.

Veterinarian Mark May operated on the dog, learned that the Yanuchis were still out in the wilderness at least for a while longer, and said, “Oh. I’ll just take him home with me.”

“He took him home and kept him for us till we came back,” said Laurie. “Everyone just helped with this dog.”

Luther is due to visit students soon at Tri-Valley School.

Music, music, music

The Region II Music Festival takes place Thursday through Saturday this week in Nenana.

If you want a musical experience to remember, come to the Nenana gymnasium Saturday at 7 p.m for the final, free performance. There, students from more than a dozen different schools will join forces for an incredible mass choir and band performance.

“We will have musicians from Region II for two and a half intense days, working with some of the greatest guest conductors in the area, putting together a concert that is top-notch,” said Candace Mainiero, Denali Borough’s music teacher. “It’s also a great opportunity for all music directors around the region to get together and talk and plan. Most of our music departments are only one-person departments generally.”

The judge for vocals will be a familiar face — Tri-Valley School alumnus Dean Shannon from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Other guests include Marvilla Davis, also from UAF, and Christopher Lubken from West Valley High School. And there are more — including the Denali Borough’s strong friend in the arts, jazz pianist Barney McClure, who will help tune all the pianos and help professionally move pianos.

Nearly 500 students participate in the event, which is co-coordinated this year by Darren Mudge of Nenana and Candace Mainiero of the Denali Borough School District.

Schools participating include Delta Junction, Nenana, Denali Borough, Su-Valley, Glacier View, Seldovia, Glennallen, Kenny Lake, Anchorage Christian School, Cordova, Valdez, Wind Island and Unalaska.

Tri-Valley School was voted the top choir in the region last year and Nenana placed third in top bands last year. Student musicians who receive a superior rating for solo/ensemble performances will compete at the State Music Festival in Anchorage, May 8-10.

Public access meeting

Denali residents might be interested in a special public meeting on public access across Ahtna Corp. lands, being held in Fairbanks Thursday at the Fairbanks Bureau of Land Management Office on University Avenue from 4-7 p.m.

BLM wants to hear from residents who cross land, conveyed to Ahtna, as it relates to 17b easements in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. This is a good chance to look at a map of the area and find out where these easements are.

Ahtna provides permits for crossing Ahtna land and those are easily available. Information on those permits is posted on the bulletin board at the Denali Park Post Office.

The deadline for comments on 17b easements on Ahtna lands is April 28. For general info on 17b easements, go to www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/lands_realty/17b_easements.html or call Randy Goodwin at the Fairbanks BLM office at 474-2200.