Patricia N. Nanon, the feisty choreographer who founded The Yard as an informal dance theatre project in 1972, next month will grant full ownership of her multimillion dollar property in the wooded hills of Chilmark to the singular Island arts colony.

Patricia N. Nanon, the feisty choreographer who founded The Yard as an informal dance theatre project in 1972, next month will grant full ownership of her multimillion dollar property in the wooded hills of Chilmark to the singular Island arts colony.

Patricia N. Nanon, the feisty choreographer who founded The Yard as an informal dance theatre project in 1972, next month will grant full ownership of her multimillion dollar property in the wooded hills of Chilmark to the singular Island arts colony.

It's raining outside, so artist Allen Whiting is doing a quick inventory of the leaks in his West Tisbury barn-turned-studio, making sure that stacks of finished oil paintings are out of the way of the runoff. Repairs can be put off to another day.

Adrian Blue and Catherine Rush have an easy demeanor that belies the pluck of the work they are developing for debut tonight at the Vineyard Playhouse. Theirs is a kinetic energy, all quick smiles, snappy repartee and dynamic gestures. She does the talking, in spoken English, for both; "AB", as he is known, speaks with his hands, his face, even his space, because he is profoundly deaf.