Future events
local stage
Becker’s Shadyside Restaurant & Banquet Facility, 998 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown, will feature the child’s play “Beauty and the Beast” on Saturday, Jan. 25, at a cost of $6 per person. A light meal will be included. The show will be presented by Stagecoach to the Stars production. For more information on either event or to make reservations, call the restaurant at 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. There will be music from the staff band and unexpected guests. There is a $2 donation at the door. 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.
Auditions for professionally trained soloists will be conducted by the Asbury Festival Recital Series and the Greater Uniontown chorale from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Asbury United Methodist Church, which is located at the corner of Beeson Avenue and Dunbar Street, Uniontown. Four soloists are being sought for roles in W.A. Mozart’s “Requiem,” which will be presented on April 13, as the fourth concert in the Asbury Festival Recital Series. The soloists will perform with the Asbury Festival Choir and the Greater Uniontown Chorale and orchestra. Soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices are needed. Qualified soloists are asked to come prepared to sing solo selections from the “Requiem.” Soloists are asked to provide a current resume. An accompanist will be provided. To schedule an audition, call 724-557-1119.
Jazz legend Maynard Ferguson and his Big Bop Nouveau Band will be in concert on Monday, Feb. 17, at the Belle Vernon Area High School along Route 201 South in Belle Vernon. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 each. The event is sponsored by the Belle Vernon Lions Club. Call 724-328-4637 for tickets and information.
“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 will be Friday, Feb. 28. Ticket cost is $42 for seating in the grand tier or orchestra level. Bus transportation from the Uniontown Mall is available for a charge of $17 for a round-trip ticket. For reservations, call Susan at Communities in Schools at 724-437-2540.
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.
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.
The Friends of the Brownsville Free Public Library are currently selling packets of note cards. A hand-drawn sketch of the library is displayed on the front, with the inside left blank. One packet includes 12 note cards for $5. They can be purchased at the library or from any member of the organization. The organization is also conducting a membership drive. The group meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the library. For more information concerning the note cards of the “Friends,” contact Barry Blaine, librarian, at 724-785-7272.
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.
“An Evening With Coretta Scott King: The Importance of her Husbands’ Legacy and the Future of the Civil Rights Movement,” will be featured at California University of Pennsylvania on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. in Steele Auditorium. King, the wife of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., retains her status of one of the most influential women leaders in the world today. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information on the lecture, call 724-938-4155.
area
stage
Pittsburgh CLO will hold auditions for the 2003 Mini Stars on Friday, Jan. 31, and Saturday, Feb. 1, at Pittsburgh CLO Academy of Musical Theater, which is located along Penn Avenue Place in Pittsburgh. The group is seeking young performers between the ages of 10 and 16. To schedule an audition time, call 412-281-2234.
Tony-award winning production “A Chorus Line” will help to raise money for the Pittsburgh Musical Theater from its ticket sales. The show will take place through Saturday, Jan. 25 at the Byham Theater. Specific show dates and times are: today at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.; Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, Jan. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Call 412-456-6666 for tickets and additional information.
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.
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.
The Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival will present Ernie Hawkins in an interactive Blues Workshop at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art located at 221 N. Main St. in Greensburg. An acoustic blues guitarist, Hawkins has been noted by Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour for his performances that “consist of dazzling rags, souful ballads, gospel, African instrumentals and anecdotes of blues history.” The event is meant to encourage one-on-one activity between audience and performers. It will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. It is free to the public. For additional information, contact the festival office at 724-834-7474.
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will present the classical music concert “January Thaw,” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, in the Palace Theatre in Greensburg. Dr. Carl Iezzi will hold a 7:05 p.m. pre-concert lecture in the Intermission Suite of the Palace Theatre. The pre-concert lecture is open to all ticket-holders. Ticket prices range from $10 to $36. Call 724-837-1850 for ticket purchases. In addition, Morrie Brand, executive director of the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, will hold “Classical Chatters” at the Greensburg-Hempfield Area Library at 2 p.m. Saturday and at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Greensburg at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Call 724-837-1850 for more information.
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.” Tickets range in price from $39.50 to $69.50. To purchase tickets, call 412-323-1919.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra announces that during the weekend of Jan. 24, tickets to the Symphony will be priced at $15. Conductor Roberto Abbado will lead the orchestra in the music of Vacchi, Mozart and Strauss. Concert times are 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26. Purchase tickets by phone at 412-392-4900, on the Web at www.pittsburghsymphony.org or in person at the Pittsburgh Symphony Heinz Hall Box Office, which is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“Meet the Classics: Peter Ilyich Tchaiovsky – A Passionate Life,” a concert in the Pittsburgh symphony’s second installment of its “Meet the Classics” program, will be featured at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, in Heinz Hall at 600 Penn Ave. Ticket purchasers will enjoy renditions of Tchaikovsky’s “Concerto in D Major for Violin and Orchestra and Opus 35,” featuring concert master Mark Huggins and cellist Yosif Feigelson. For ticket purchase, call 412-392-4900.
The Debussy String Quartet will be brought to the stage of The Frick Art Museum auditorium at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9. The Frick Art & Historical Center/Tuesday Musical Club Concert Series will host the quartet in its first Pittsburgh performance. The concert is free and open to the public. General public seating begins at 3:30 p.m. For more information or directions, call 412-371-0600 or visit online at www.frickart.org.
art
Greensburg Art Center Gallery at 230 Todd School Road, Greensburg, will feature its own instructors in an exhibit entitled “Teachers in Our Midst.” The show will continue through Feb. 8. This is an off-the-wall show, which means paintings purchased can be removed immediately. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday; 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday; and noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. For directions or information, call the gallery at 724-837-6791 or visit the Web site at greensburgartclub.org.
Chromatic Journey, a senior exhibition by Amber Wirth, will be presented Monday through Friday, Jan. 31, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Benedum Fine Arts Gallery at Waynesburg College. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 724-852-3274.
The Three Rivers Arts Festival Gallery will host “Angels and Other Creatures,” an interactive community project showcasing the large-scale sculptures by artist Cheryl Capezzuti and the works of Pittsburgh community residents. The show runs through Feb. 14 and is free and open to the public. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or by appointment on Saturdays. Call the Three Rivers Arts Festival at 412-281-8723 for additional information on this exhibition.
The 2003 Merrill Lynch Young Artists Competition, held by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, has an upcoming Tuesday registration deadline for taped auditions. The competition is open to vocalists and instrumentalists, who are residents of Westmoreland County and who are not yet high school graduates. Musicians and vocalists will compete for the opportunity of future performances and cash rewards. For more information, contact the Westmoreland Symphony Office at 724-837-1850.
Photographer Harry Corbett’s exhibition “People of Chinatown, San Francisco” will be displayed in Washington & Jefferson College’s Olin Gallery daily from 12 to 7 p.m. through Friday, Feb. 7. An opening reception for the event is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. today. For more information, call W&J at 724-223-OLIN (6546).
odds & ends
Hoe-down square dancing, slow dancing, polkas, waltzing, line dancing and clogging will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Ohiopyle Community Center in Ohiopyle. The Dave Dahl Trio will provide music and figure calling. The donation is $4 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free.
“Orchid Inspiration” will be showcased at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens from Saturday through Sunday, March 16. The Orchid Exhibit includes works done by a plethora 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.
The 2003 Historic Weapons Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at Bushy Run Battlefield in Harrison City. On display will be a variety of century-old weapons, including the early Pennsylvania or “Kentucky” longrifles. A public donation of $5 is asked for by the sponsoring Old Westmoreland Rifles-Collectors Show Association. For more information, contact the battlefield at 724-527-5584.
Pete Hamill, one of the most well-respected newspapermen in America, will appear as the next guest speaker of The Drue Heinz Lectures at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27, at Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.
Hamill investigated murderes, crime and the police in New York City in the 1960s and has covered conflicts in Vietnam, Nicaragua, Lebanon and Northern Ireland. He has served as editor-in-chief for the New York Daily News, the New York Post and the Mexico City News. He is also a best-selling fiction writer. His 1997 novel, “Snow in August,” spent four months on the New York Times bestseller list, and his newly published “Forever” has already reached bestseller status.
Hamill’s lecture is the second of six programs in the 2003 spring series of The Drue Heinz Lectures.
For tickets and more information, call 412-622-8866. Students and groups are eligible for discounted tickets.