Future events
local Actors and Artists of Fayette County will present the children’s show “A Visit from St. Nicholas” on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, at Scottdale Showtime Theatre. Laurie London is directing. All roles are open, and no prior acting experience is required. For more information, call 724-737-0733.
“A Christmas Story” will be presented on Friday, Dec. 19, at Becker’s Shadyside Restaurant, 998 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown, during a dinner/theater production. Gallagher’s Stagecoach to the Stars will present the story about Ralphy and his BB-gun. Call 724-438-0931 for reservations, information and dinner choices.
“Jenny Lind’s Christmas,” featuring Emily Lapisardi as Lind will grace the 64 Crayons Cultural Center ballroom at the Thompson House, 815 Water St., Brownsville, from 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20. She will be joined by P.T. Barnum, Father Christmas and other figures from the 1840s. A traditional Swedish Christmas smorgasbord will be served. There is a cost, and reservations are encouraged. Geezer’s traditional anniversary gathering, including awards for contributions to Geezers’ Literary Book Shop and 64 Crayons Cultural Center, will be incorporated into the event.The Point Marion Lions Club began its music jamborees, which will continue every second Saturday of the month through June 2004 at the skating rink in Point Marion. The doors will open at about 5 p.m. The open stage starts at 6 p.m. The event is alcohol and smoke free. A small donation will be accepted at the door. For information or to book a band, call 724-725-5737. Visit the Web site at www.lionwap.org/pointmarionpa.
Classical music and musical theater will highlight the 2003-04 season of the Asbury Festival Recital Series. Featuring the music of Marcel Grandjany, Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, “278 Strings” will premiere in the Asbury sanctuary March 7. The series will conclude April 3 with a performance of Franz Schubert’s “Mass in G” sung by the Asbury Festival Choir and the Greater Uniontown Chorale in addition to Josef Rheinberger’s “Concerto No. 2 in F” performed by Asbury organist Jim Hutchinson. Asbury Festival Series subscription brochures can be obtained by mailing an address label to Asbury United Methodist Church, attention: Festival Series, 20 Dunbar St., Uniontown, Pa., 15401. Brochures will be mailed shortly to those on the series mailing list. Individual tickets will be on sale two weeks prior to each recital event at local businesses in Uniontown and Hopwood.
The fall recital series for the Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Uniontown will feature the Trinity chancel and handbell choirs on Friday, Dec. 19. For more information, call the church at 724-437-2709.
Advanced Strings, a group of guitar playing, banjo strumming, yodeling senior adults, meet every Thursday at Center in the Woods in California for its weekly jam session. For more information, call 724-938-3554.
Christmas from Dublin, starring the Three Irish Tenors, will take the stage at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. The show is filled with songs of the season such as “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Adeste Fideles,” “Silent Night,” “Savior’s Day” and “O Holy Night.” For ticket information, call 724-439-1360 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Albert Gallatin North Music Department will present is annual holiday program at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the gymnasium at Albert Gallatin North Middle School in McClellandtown. The public is encouraged to attend. Emiley Crossley is chorus director, and Jerry D. Clark is band director.
The 2003 Trinity Recital Series will present an Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19, in the candlelit historic sanctuary of Trinity United Presbyterian Church in downtown Uniontown. The church’s chancel and handbell choirs and Trinity Singers under the director of Jason J. Keefer will perform an inspirational montage of music ranging from the Renassiance through the contemporary interspersed with readers from the Christmas story. In lieu of admission, a free will offering will be received. Attendees are also invited to bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items for the Fayette County Food Bank. Trinity United Presbyterian Church is located in downtown Uniontown, and ample parking is available in lots accessible from Morgantown and Fayette streets. For more information, call the church at 724-437-2709.”Interpretations,” an exhibit of paintings and monoprints by Samuel N. Koleman, will run from Saturday through Feb. 7 at the Frank L. Meglega Art Museum on the upper floor of the Flatiron Builidng Heritage Center, 69 Market St., Brownsville. The Heritage Center is open noon to 6 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For museum hours, call 724-785-9331.
Artists Image Resource (AIR), Pittsburgh’s only professional printmaking studio, will present a collection of fine art prints at California University of Pennsylvania’s Manderino Gallery of Fine Art, located on the third floor of Manderino Library. All are welcome to attend a catered opening reception from 4 to 6 p.m. The gallery is open from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 2 to 6 p.m. Sundays. The show will run until Jan. 15.
Washington resident Judy Hopson has crossed into Fayette County to exhibit her art at 64 Crayons Cultural Center in the Thompson House at 815 Water St., Brownsville. Her third show, “Extravaganza!,” will be displayed throughout December. The exhibit features pottery, paintings and prints. Hopson plans to offer a pottery demonstration at the site later this month and a series of workshops in January.
For more information call 64 Crayons at 724-785-9010 or Bill Faust at 724-225-3512 or e-mail Geezersbks@att.net.A New Year’s Eve dinner/dance will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Shadyside Restaurant, 998 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown. Music will be provided by D.J. Arnie Amber. Call 724-438-0931 for information and reservations.
Santa Claus is coming to Greensboro Saturday, Dec. 20. The event, which will be held from 5 to 7 p.m at the log cabin in Greensboro, will feature refreshments and a candy treat for every child.
Christmas SportCard, NASCAR, Comic Book and Collectible Show will be held at the Uniontown Mall. It will continue until Dec. 24 near the Sear’s store at the mall. There will be dealers from three states with many different items to fill Christmas gift lists. For more information, call 724-592-5038.
A cookbook is currently being planned for print by the State Theatre Center for the Arts Progressive Dinner Committee. The committee asks anyone with favorite recipes that they want included in the book to send the information to the State Theatre, 27 E. Main St., Uniontown, Pa. For questions or additional information, call the State Theatre at 724-439-1360.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater is searching for volunteers to work in a variety of capacities from “Ask Me” guides to garden helpers to pavilion assistants to transcription services. Those applying must enjoy nature, architecture or history. Volunteers are offered a flexible schedule, working one day a week or one day a month. For more information, call 724-329-1441, ext. 1203, or e-mail aturnicky@paconserve.org.
Friendship Hill National Historic Site announces its 2003-04 winter hours. The Gallatin House, including the visitor center, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. The house will be available for group tours by reservation Tuesday through Friday. A 48-hour notice is requested for tours. All other areas of the park, including hiking trails, will remain open from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week through the winter. The restrooms at the main parking lot will be locked at 5 p.m. every evening. For more information or to make reservations, call 724-329-5811.
Christmas Candlelight Tours will be held at Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December and Jan. 2-4. The tours are available from 5 to 9 p.m. Fridays and 2 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Activities begin with Light-Up Night on Sunday when the castle grounds and walls are lined with luminaria. “An Old-fashioned Christmas” is this year’s theme. For more information, call 724-785-6882.
The Carpathian Cookery cookbook, now in its 10th printing, is again available for sale. The 330-page cookbook features a protective plastic cover and includes sections on Christmas and Easter customs and recipes, traditional Rusyn foods and other ethnic dishes and many other recipes of St. John’s parishioners. For more information on how to order, call 724-438-6027.
The State Theatre Center for the Arts will accept non-perishable donations to benefit the Fayette County Community Action food bank. Donations will be accepted at the State Theatre box and administrative offices Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and at the following shows: “The Oldies Spectacular” tonight and “A Christmas from Dublin” on Dec. 21.
“Fayette County: A Video History,” an educational video with more than 90 minutes of footage about the history of Fayette County, is available at the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, the Coal and Coke Heritage Center at Penn State Library, Connellsville Area Historical Society, Smock Historical Society, Uniontown Public Library or from the Fayette County Historical Society. The book “Abel Gray: A Romance of the National Road,” reproduced by the Fayette County Historical Society in 1998 from the 1876 writings of A.F. Hill published in the Uniontown newspaper, contains accurate depictions of the National Road. For more information, contact the Fayette County Historical Society, Inc. at P.O. Box 193 Uniontown, Pa. 15401 or call 724-439-4422.
Hoe-down round and square dancing, slow dancing, polkas, line dancing and clogging will take place from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Ohiopyle-Stewart Community Center. The event will also be held at the Arthurdale West Vurginia Center Hall from 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. A Big New Year’s Eve Round and Square Dance will be held from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Ohiopyle Stewart Community Center. For more information, call Dave Dahl at 724-438-5455.
“It Caught My Eye” Christmas light-up festivities will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21, in Smithfield. Judging will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. The borough and surrounding areas are eligibile to participate in this event when everyone can plug in their Christmas displays and wait for the judging. Those with the most impressive displays will receive a monetary award or a gift certificate good for a local business. For more information, call the borough building at 724-569-9501.
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West Virginia Public Theatre will present “Scrooge, The Musical” Dec. 8-12 exclusively for school groups. Shows will be performed daily at 9:30 a.m. and noon in East Fairmont High School’s auditorium. Schools or school groups interested in making reservations should call 877-999-9878 or 304-598-0144.
“A Musical Christmas Carol” will show at the Byham Theater today through Dec. 23 at various times. This Charles Dickens’ classic, featuring character Ebenezer Scrooge, is set to the music of yuletide melodies and filled with yuletide charm. Purchase tickets or gain more information online at www.pittsburghCLO.org by calling 412-456-6666 or by visiting the new box office at Theater Square located in the heart of the Cultural District on Penn Avenue between Sixth and Seventh streets. Pittsburgh CLO will also present seven specially priced 10 a.m. educational student matinees complete with a study guide, a behind-the-scenes video and musical performances. Teachers, who want to make the show a part of their lesson plans, should call Susan or the group sales hotline at 412-263-2560 or e-mail groups@pittsburghCLO.org. Call or e-mail the group sales hotline for special group ticket programs.St. Vincent College’s Department of Fine Arts and Music will host auditions for students interested in pursuing undergraduate degrees in music, music performance or music education. Admission to St. Vincent’s music programs are by audition only. Auditions will be held on four Saturdays throughout the 2003-04 academic year: this Saturday, March 6 and April 17. All auditions will begin at 11 a.m. in the Fine Arts Department located on the third floor of the Robert S. Carey Student Center. Appointments are required. To receive a copy of audition requirements, schedule an appointment or for more information, contact Joseph Bronder at 724-805-2123.
The Monongalia Arts Center in Morgantown, W.Va., will hold OpenMac Night at the center every month.
Any bands interested in performing at one of the OpenMac Night events should contact Seret Englestad at 304-292-3325 or stop by 107 High St. in Morgantown, W.Va., for more details.
Buck Naked Band will perform at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, at Country Hideaway on Kanetown Road off Route 50 in Fellowsville, W.Va.
A New Year’s Eve dinner and show, an alcohol-free event, will be held at the Sagebrush Round-Up on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner will be served at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Meat, bread, drink and utensils will be available, but participants are asked to bring a covered dish. The Sagebrush Round-Up is located six miles east of Interstate 79, exit 139 on Bunner Ridge near Fairmont, W.Va. For more information, call 304-292-5854 or 304-363-4864.
Westmoreland Symphony’s Home for the Holidays, featuring holiday pops and classical favorites, returns to the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg. The featured soloist will be Curt Scheib of Seton Hill University. The Chamber Choirs of Greensburg-Salem High School and the Penn-Trafford High School will join him. For more information, call 724-837-1850.
The Westmoreland Youth Symphony Orchestra will present its first concert of the season at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Cecilian Hall on the campus of Seton Hill University in Greensburg.
This will be the inaugural concert of newly appointed music director Paul Critser. Douglas Moeller, concertmaster of WYSO, will be the featured soloist. For more information, call Morrie Brand at 724-837-1850.
odds & ends
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium is offering an exploration of the animal world in “Skulls and Skeletons” featuring dozens of real and replicated skulls, skeletons, bones and fossils of present day to prehistoric animals, including the wooly mammoth and a killer whale. It offers a learning experience on the skeletal adaptations of reptiles, birds, mammals, fish and insects and why the various animal adaptations are crucial to their survival. The exhibit also features a real dinosaur bone for visitors to touch.
The aquarium is the first venue for this exhibit. The exhibit will begin a nationwide tour after its Pittsburgh stop. “Skulls and Skeletons” will be in the Discovery Pavilion at the Kids Kingdom until January. For more information on the exhibit, call the aquarium at 412-665-3639.
Smitty’s on the Water Front, 119 River Road, Speers, will offer dancing from 7 to 10:30 p.m. every second Sunday of the month. There is an admission charge. For more information, call 724-483-7333.
Millions of sparkling lights and animated displays across 15 acres makes up the Overly’s Country Christmas, a drive-through, walk-through Christmas Village, held at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Mount Pleasant Township through Jan. 4, every day including holidays. Event favorites include Mister Rogers Neighborhood, Sprouting Water Fountain, Forest of Dancing Trees, Walkway Entrance to the Christmas Village, Kids’ Korner, Santa and Mrs. Claus, the Dancing Snowmen, Ringing in the New Year Bells, Carousel Park, Galliker’s Milking Pallor and Victorian Carolers.
Wagon/sleigh rides and kids’ express train rides will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Gifts, treats and a bonfire will also enhance this Christmas tradition.
Proceeds from the event benefit Overly’s Lights For Little Ones Endowment, which supports multiple children’s causes.
For more information, call the infolines at 800-9OVERLY (968-3759) or 724-423-1400 or visit the Web site at www.overlys.com.
Wild West Garden at Phipps Conservatory will run through Feb. 22 with four different G-scale trains traveling tracks through the 1,250-square-foot western landscape. An interactive mining car explores an ore mine.
Turn-of-the-century steam engines pass through mountains and canyons, traveling over bridges and through tunnels admist a variety of plants all to scale. Phipps serves the area in two locations: Phipps Consevatory and Botanical Gardens in Schenley Park and Phipps Garden Center at 1059 Shady Ave. in Mellon Park. For additional information, call the conservatory at 412-622-6914 or the garden center at 412-441-4442. To learn more about either location, visit Phipps online at www.phipps.conservatory.org.
The Fire and Ice Festival will be held Friday through Sunday, Jan. 16-18, in Somerset. The annual festival, held in the streets of Somerset every January, kicks off with a winter fireworks display at 6 p.m. Friday. Ice sculptures will be on display and carving will continue throughout the weekend as the DiMartino Ice Company creates masterpieces for the entertainment of the crowd. Musical entertainment and activities for children and teens will also be available. A 5K walk/run will be held at 10 p.m. Saturday. The “Hot Stuff” Chili Cookoff will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the basement of the American Legion.
The Andy Warhol Museum has announced its 2004 season for the Off the Wall performance arts series. For the fourth year, The Warhol will bring an eclectic batch of nationally and internationally acclaimed performance artists to Pittsburgh audiences. The 2004 season features everything from thought-provoking spoken word to physical theater and multi-media performances. A reception to meet the artist will follow each performance. The 2004 season will welcome the following artists: Forced Entertainment at 8 p.m. Jan. 17; Sekou Sundiata at 8 p.m. Feb. 21; Richard Maxwell and the New York City Players at 6, 8 and 10 p.m. March 6 and 2, 4 and 6 p.m. March 7; Dael Orlandersmith at 8 p.m. April 10; New Paradise Laboratories at 7 and 9 p.m. April 24; Tim Miller at 8 p.m. May 22 and 23. For more information, call 412-237-8300.
The United States Postal Service has once again declared the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium the official Express Mail to Santa station for the holiday season. Through Dec. 23, children can drop off their letters to Santa at the special collection box located at the zoo’s reindeer paddock in Kids Kingdom. For more information, call 12-365-2538 or 412-359-7819.
The North Pole assured the Pittsburgh Zoo and Postal Service officials that all letters with return addresses will be answered until the week before Christmas. For more information, call Rachel Capp at 412-365-2538 or Diana Svoboda at 412-359-7819.