Future events
local stage
“Clue,” a murder-mystery dinner theater production, will be presented on Saturday, March 29, at the historic Stone House Restaurant on Route 40 near Farmington.
California Area High School’s Class of 2003 will present the musical “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, through Friday, March 7, in the high school auditorium. For ticket information, call California Area High School at 724-785-4202.
The Brownsville Area High School Musical and Theatre Department will present the classical musical “Man of La Mancha” Friday through Sunday, March 7-9. The presentations will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. All shows will be presented in the high school auditorium. Tickets can be purchased by calling 724-785-8200.
Stagecoach to the Stars Productions will perform the play “The Legend of St. Patrick” on Friday, March 14, at Becker’s Shadyside Restaurant, 998 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. followed by the show at 7 p.m. A slightly different version of the same play will be presented at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16, with brunch served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “Spiderman” on stage will be presented during a children’s lunch theater program on Saturday and Sunday, March 29-30. The show starts at noon on Saturday, March 29, and 1 p.m. Sunday, March 30. For more information or reservations, call 724-438-0931.
music
The Point Marion Lions Club will host a “Music Jamboree” fund-raising event at the skating rink in Point Marion every second Saturday of the month. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature an open-stage portion from 6 to 7:30 p.m. A feature group or band will play from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. These events will continue every second Saturday of the month through June 2003. There will be music from the staff band and unexpected guests. The kitchen opens at 5:30 p.m. To participate in the open stage, book a band or perform in the feature portion, call 724-725-5737 or 1-304-599-0795.
The Greater Uniontown Chorale will continue rehearsals on Monday at Trinity United Presbyterian Church on the corner of Fayette and Morgantown streets in Uniontown.
Rehearsals are held from 7 to 9 p.m. The chorale will be rehearsing Mozart’s “Requiem” for presentation on Palm Sunday, April 13, in conjunction with the Asbury Festival Choir Series. For rehearsals, singers should enter the church via the lower right front door. Rehearsals are held in the social room of the church. Parking is available in a lot across from the church. For more information, call Joanna Ball at 724-628-3382.
Penn State Fayette presents a performance by singer, songwriter and musician Ashley Cox at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, in the caf?. The Sarah Pillow Jazz Quartet will perform a variety of standards from Jacques Brel to Thelonium Monk at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, in Swimmer Hall. For more information on these events, contact Penn State Fayette at 724-430-4125.
“Symphony on Wheels” will travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 8, to attend “A Tribute to Henry Mancini.”
The concert will feature Academy Award-winning conductor, Bill Conti, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as they pay tribute to one of the city’s favorite sons – Henry Mancini. The legendary songwriter has been part of the American soundscape for generations with hits like “Moon River,” “The Peter Gunn Theme” and “The Pink Panther Theme.” The deadline for purchasing tickets for this concert is today. For reservations, call Susan at Communities in Schools at 724-437-2540.
The Greater Uniontown Children’s Choir will accept new members for the 2003 spring season through the end of February. All interested children may audition any Thursday evening prior to choir rehearsal at 6:15 p.m. Students are asked to prepare the “Star-Spangled Banner” for the audition. The choir rehearsals will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the music room at Dunbar Borough Elementary School on Pechin Road, which is located across from the Fayette County Fairgrounds. The tremble choir is open to children who like to sing from the Fayette County area in grades four through senior high school. However, boys must have unchanged voices. For more information, call 724-439-6477.
Organist Frederick Swann, a peformer on the weekly “Hour of Power” television ministry broadcasts, will stop by Uniontown’s Asbury United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. Wednesday as a part of his “farewell season” as a touring recitalist. Swann is regarded as the most visible organist in the world, seen by millions in every major city and in more than 165 countries. His performance makes up the third concert of the Asbury Festival Recital Series.
Tickets may be purchased at the Fayette Chamber of Commerce offices on West Main Street, Judy’s Do-Re-Me Music Shop on South Beeson Boulevard, Ellis Music Store on Morgantown Street, Amend’s Jewelry in the Uniontown Mall or at the White Picket Fence in Hopwood.
Tickets can also be purchased at the Dunbar Street entrance of Asbury Church two hours before the concert. Doors will open for ticket holders at 6:15 p.m. Following the recital, a meet-the-performer reception will be held in the church social hall. Group rates for 10 or more are available by claling 724-557-1119.
art
The Flatiron Building in Brownsville houses two museums. The Heritage Center tells the story of the two major eras of history relating to the making of America. The Westward Expansion (National Road era) and the Coal, Coke, River and Railroad (Industrial era) offer changing exhibits every two months. For more information, call 724-785-9331. The Frank L. Melega Art Museum located in the upper level of the historic Flatiron Building offers Melega’s original art of many mediums focusing on the industries of the area. Reproductions and limited-edition reproductions are available for sale in the gift shop.
The Gallery Store at Touchstone Center for Crafts near Farmington is closed for the season. It will reopen the first weekend of May in conjunction with Touchstone’s second annual Hammer In and the May weekend classes. Regular business hours will be maintained when weeklong classes resume in June. However, art objects in jewelry, glass and pottery are available at the same prices at MVP Jewelers in Serafin Square on Morgantown Street in Uniontown. For more information, call 724-439-4944.
odds & ends
The book, “Point Marion … From the Beginning,” is currently for sale. The 490-page volume includes the genealogy and history of the area beginning with the Indians and ending with the year 1999. It details not only the borough of Point Marion, but also the surrounding area because Point Marion was once located within the boundaries of Springhill Township in the former state of Virginia. The book is available at The Book Store in the Cherry Tree Plaza, Smithfield Pharmacy in Smithfield, Kendall Floral, Clar-Mac Sales and the Point Marion Hardware in Point Marion, New Geneva Pottery in McClellandtown and Riverrun Books and Prints in Greensboro.
Geezers’ Writing Workshops have been moved to Tuesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The workshops are free, but individual-tutoring sessions for writers may be arranged for other times at reasonable rates. These will also be held at Geezers’ Literary Book Shop, which is located on the third floor of the Thompson House in Brownsville. For more information, contact Dr. Fred Lapisardi at 724-785-9010 or e-mail Geezersbks@worldnet.att.net.
An inspirational dance class will be held at the Uniontown Area YMCA. The classes will be held 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Mondays and 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. Thursdays. The class will be taught by Nancy McChesney. The classes will include a warmup, stretching and simple dance steps. The class provides a low-intensity and low-impact workout. The participants do the dance movements to Christian music. Call Bill Poninsky at 724-438-2484 for more information.
The Friends of the Uniontown Public Library are selling personalized children’s books that can be ordered via the Internet from the buyer’s home computer at http://www.rwrinnovations.com. Each book will be personalized to the buyer’s specifications. Shipping is free. Please use the promotion code: “FRIENDS” when placing an order. Use of this code does not change the price otherwise charged for the book. Orders are generally received within one week. Sample books are on permanent display in the Children’s Department of the library.
The Uniontown Public Library at 24 Jefferson St. has a variety of unique gift ideas available for the public year round. Books about local history and genealogy, as well as other books of local interest written by local authors, can be purchased in the Pennsylvania Room on the second floor. Also available are library promotional items sold by the Friends of the Library, including mugs and tote bags, as well as stationery, bookmarks, cookbooks and other special reading-related items that change throughout the year. Visit the Friends’ display on the library’s second floor.
An oldies dinner dance with D.J. Jeff Allen will be held Saturday, March 22, in the ballroom at Becker’s Shadyside Restaurant, 998 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown. An all-you-can-eat buffet will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. followed by dancing until 11:30 p.m. Reservations are necessary. For more information, contact Becker’s Shadyside at 724-438-0931.
A traditional “old style” circus will roll into the California Rotary Club Wednesday, May 28. At 7:30 a.m., the public is invited to watch the unloading and feeding of the animals. The elephants will raise the big top at 8:30 and 9 a.m. Two performances, one at 4:30 p.m. and the other at 7:30 p.m., will be featured later in the day. Ticket purchases benefit the California Rotary Club and the Kelly Miller Circus.
Sport Card, Nascar and Memorabilia Show will be held Friday through Sunday, March 7-9, at the Uniontown Mall. The show will be held near the Value City Department Store. Dealers from three states will buy, sell and trade cards. For more information, call 724-592-5038.
“The Nature of Kentuck Knob: Fireside Lecture Series” consists of three lectures, all examining the relationship between Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob and its surroundings. The first presentation is slated to begin Saturday, March 8, with “Understanding the Architecture and the Landscape.” “USONIAN Architecture and the Arts & Crafts Garden” is the second lecture, while “The Naturalistic Landscape: Man and Nature” will comprise the third. Area experts in the fields of architecture, horticulture and history will deliver the presentations. All programs are scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. and will include question-and-answer time, along with leisure time to explore Kentuck Knob. Seating is limited. For more information or ticket reservations, call 724-329-1901.
The 14th annual Mon Valley Academic Bowl returns to California University with the initial qualifying round for high school students, grades nine through 12, starting at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, March 20, in the auditorium of the Morgan Learning Research Center. All area high schools are invited to send a team of five students. There is no admission charge or entry fee for either Mon Valley Academic Bowl rounds, including the March 20 qualifiers and the April 30 finals. For more information, contact Barbara Webb at 724-938-5956.
“Pennsylvania’s Fascinating and Forgotten History” will be the topic of presentation by Alan Irvine of the Commonwealth Speaker of the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. Irvine will recount tales of ordinary people who actually lived history at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Eva K. Bowlby Public Library in Waynesburg. The presentation is free-of-charge and open to the public. For more information, contact Diana at 724-627-9776.
area
music
The Voices of St. Vincent are currently holding auditions for all sections of the chorus. Rehearsals are every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. in the St. Vincent Archabbey Basilica in Latrobe. Rehearsals are required. For additional information or to schedule an audition, call Joseph Bronder at 724-532-6600.
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will present “These Three Tenors” at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Michael Crouse, a Greensburg native, will be joined by fellow tenors, Thomas Stallone and Rinaldo Toglia, in presenting operatic and Italian classics. Broadway hits and other popular favorites will be presented. Tickets can be reserved by calling the WSO office at 724-837-1850.
Chinese pianist Yin Cheng Zong’s visit to the St. Vincent College Concert stage will take place Saturday, March 22. The concert will be held at 8 p.m. in the Science Center Amphitheatre. To inquire about this concert or other furture performances in the 30th season of the St. Vincent College Concert Series, contact the box office at 724-537-4565.
Yanni will present the new sound of classical music with his one-of-a-kind orchestra at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena. Yanni will perform his greatest compositions and new music from his latest album “Ethnicity.” To purchase tickets, call 412-323-1919.
The Westmoreland Symphony will present two Young People’s Concerts at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Conducted by assistant conductor, Efrain Amaya, the program features “Peter and the Wolf” by Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev. For information, call 724-837-1850.
“My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” is now playing at Blatt’s Dinner Theatre in Kutztown, Pa. The tribute, playing until April 13, features all the songs Sinatra made famous, including “Strangers in the Night,” “My Funny Valentine” and more. Also, coming to Blatt’s is “American Jubilee,” a song and dance show featuring rag-time to rock-n-roll, starting April 25 to June 8. Day and night performances are available. For other information including ticket prices, call the box office toll-free at 1-877-866-1700.
art
The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh announces “Americanisms: Shaping Art and Society in the 1950s,” which will be displayed until July 20. For more information, call 412-237-8300 or visit the Web site at www.warhol.org.
Winterlude, the Greensburg Art Club exhibit, will run through Friday, March 7, with hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call the Greensburg Garden Center at 724-836-1123 or the Greensburg Art Center at 724-837-6791.
Art classes for beginners at the Greensburg Art Center will continue each Thursday through March 13. Drawing, clay sculpture, watercolor, acrylic, pastel and oil painting will be offered. Classes for children and experienced painters are also available. Register now for the winter/spring session by calling 724-837-6791 or visit the Web site at www.greensburgartclub.org
.
Pittsburgh sculptor Richard Claraval will present a solo exhibition of “Large Palpable Sculptures” at California University’s Manderino Fine Art Gallery from 3 to 5 p.m. through Tuesday, March 25. For additional information, contact Caroline Dvorchak at 724-938-4284.
odds & ends
“Orchid Inspiration” will be showcased at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens through Sunday, March 16. The Orchid Exhibit includes works done by a variety of artisans, while the Orchid Room in the glasshouse is dedicated to the showing of these flowering plants year-round. In addition, orchids of all varieties will be shown in the conserveratory’s Serpentine Room during the exhibit. Educational programs on orchids are also available at noon and 2 p.m. throughout “Orchid Inspiration” months. For more information on the conservatory, call 412-622-6914 or visit the Web site at www.phipps.conservatory.org
.
In honor of Black History Month, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Schenley Park will offer a variety of educational public programs that are free with admission to Phipps. The programs will be held throughout the month of February. For more information about the conservatory, call 412-622-6914.
The Greater Pittsburgh Rib, Wing and Music Spectacular is now scheduled for Fourth of July weekend, July 4-6, at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Throughout this weekend, more than 20,000 visitors are expected to attend the festival where rib and wing vendors compete as customers vote on their favorite mouth-watering recipes. Cash and awards will be given to the first-, second- and third-place winners. Next month will herald the release of the concert schedule and entertainment line-up. Commercial, craft and food vendor applications are now being accepted. Vendors are asked to call 724-863-4577.
“A Celebration of Quilting in America” will be featured from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 15, (National Quilt Day) at the John D. Rockefeller Vocational School in West Virginia. The Panhandle Piecemakers Quilt Guild, sponsors of the event, invite the public to bring quilts, share ideas, watch others quilt and view quilts in progress as the event unfolds. Coffee and cookies will be served. The John D. Rockefeller Vocational School is located on Route 2 approximately one and a half mile north of New Cumberland, W.Va. Parking is free.
Hoe-down round & square dancing, slow dancing, polkas, line dancing & clogging will be offered during the following dates and times: 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the Waynesburg Moose in Waynesburg; 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, and Saturday, March 22, at Ohiopyle Community Center in Ohiopyle; 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Brownfield Community Center in Dawson; and 8 to 11 p.m. Friday, March 21, at the Arthurdale Center Hall in Arthurdale, W.Va. The Dave Dahl Orchestra will provide music and figure calling. A dinner/dance will be held at the Bullskin Senior Center off Route 819 near Connellsville on Friday, March 21. Dinner will be served at 11:30 a.m. followed by dancing from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants are asked to bring a covered dish. Call 724-887-0655 four days before the event.
Three Rivers Quilters present their Three Rivers Quilt Festival featuring sampler quilts Friday through Sunday, March 21-23, at the Castle Shannon Fire Hall. The deadline for quilt entries has passed. For more information, contact Linda J. Knorr at 412-884-4000.