Future events
local stage
Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues,” held by The Peace Project and the Student Sexual Assault Response Team (SSART), will be performed in the Natali Student Center’s Performance Center at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, for students only; and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19. The goal of the production is to raise awareness to stop violence against women and girls and to raise funds for local victim centers with proceeds being donated to Fayette County’s Crime Victims’ Center and the Washington County Women’s Shelter. For more information, contact Nancy Skobel at 724-938-5707.
“Brigadoon,” a whimsical musical fantasy, will be presented at Brownsville Area High School on March 11-13. “Brigadoon” is a musical set in a magical village in Scotland that comes to life every 100 years and disappears after a single day. Performing lead roles are Travis Neil, Heidi Kaufman, Travis Demo, Melissa DeSimone, Toni L. May, Andrew Basile and Jordan Sealy. For ticket information, call 724-785-8200.
Central Christian Church and Flatwoods Productions will present a dinner/theater presentation of a musical version of “Tom Sawyer,” on Friday, Feb. 25, at the church, located at 23 S. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. with the show following at 7:30 p.m. Mark Twain’s classic story comes to musical life in this adaptation of America’s favorite book, the story of a 14-year-old boy growing up in the heartland of America. For reservations and tickets, call 724-438-6821.
Actors and Artists of Fayette County will present “Nunsense” April 1-3 and April 8-10 at Scottdale Showtime Theatre, 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale. Marlena Solomon and Jim Overly will co-direct the production. For more information, call 724-331-7886 or 724-887-6814.
The State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown will present the following shows during its 15th anniversary season. Saturday will bring “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.” “My One and Only,” a musical comedy featuring Gershwin classics, will be presented Feb. 26. The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s production of “All the Great Books (abridged)” will be presented April 2. “Steel Magnolias,” a story that takes place in Truvy’s Beauty Shop, will be presented April 10. Paul Consentino and The Boilermaker Jazz Band will serve up jazz, swing and old-time ballads in New Orleans style on May 7. For more information on the shows, call the theater at 724-439-1360 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
music
Dave Iglar and the Igniters Band will perform at Phil’s Nite Club at 711 River Road in Dawson, just west of Connellsville for a Valentine’s Party on Saturday, Feb. 12, from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. For more information, call 724-529-2011.
Albert Gallatin High School Band Boosters will present JazzFest 2005 featuring Joe Negri accompanied by the West Virginia University masters’ students at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the Albert Gallatin High School auditorium, 1119 Township Drive, Uniontown. The event will feature performances by local high school jazz bands, including Albert Gallatin, Brownsville, Carmichaels, Laurel Highlands and University High in Morgantown, W.Va. Advance tickets are available by calling 724-583-8234 or 724-569-1018.
The Duquesne University Tamburitzans will perform a benefit concert supporting the Center in the Woods at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, at the Steele Auditorium on the campus of California University of Pennsylvania. Through music and movement, The Tamburitzans portray the human experience. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Steel Auditorium box office at 724-938-5943 or at the Center in the Woods at 724-938-3554. All proceeds benefit the Center in the Woods programs and services for seniors. For more information, visit the Cal U Web site at www.cup.edu/citw.
The 2004-05 Recital Series of Trinity United Presbyterian Church will present a concert with Jason J. Keefer, showcasing the church’s 1951 Austin three-manual, 46-rank pipe organ with musical selections spanning the organ repertoire from the Baroque to the 20th century at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11. The church is located at the corner of Morgantown and Fayette streets in Uniontown. For more information, contact the church at 724-437-2709.
Tommy’s Mom will perform at Pizon’s Place in Smock Saturday, Feb. 19, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tickets will be available for purchase for the band’s show at the Hard Rock Caf? in Pittsburgh on Monday, Feb. 28.
The Greater Uniontown Children’s Choir is accepting new members for the 2005 spring season through the end of February. All interested children may audition any Thursday evening prior to rehearsal at 6:15 p.m. The choir rehearses from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays in the music room at Dunbar Borough Elementary School on Pechin Road, across from the Fayette County Fairgrounds. The choir is open to children from Fayette County area schools in grades four through senior high. Boys must have unchanged voices. For questions, call 724-439-6477.
The Point Marion Lions Club will hold a benefit fund-raiser every second Saturday of the month through June 2005. The events are held at the Lions Club skating rink and begin at 6 p.m. This is a smoke- and alcohol-free event. Guests can enjoy a sandwich and soda with live music and entertainment. Open stage will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. along with Ray Rhodes and Friends. The doors and kitchen open at 5 p.m. For more information, call 724-725-5737. A donation will be accepted at the door.
The rehearsal site for the Greater Uniontown Chorale has changed, beginning Monday. The chorale will begin rehearsing in the Swimmer auditorium in the Williams Building at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Rehearsals will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. every Monday. When entering the campus, bear right. Drive to the back parking lot and enter the middle building. For more information, call 724-628-3382.
“Let’s Be Frank,” a tribute to Frank Sinatra, will take place Saturday, Feb. 12, at All Saints Church social hall in Masontown. In a Las Vega dinner/show atmosphere, Beau Wagner, former leader singer of The Four Coins and The Vogues, accompanied by the Joe Argiro Orchestra, will perform the music of Frank Sinatra. The evening begins with a dinner buffet serves at 6 p.m. Reservations and tickets are available by calling 724-583-7866.
The 2004-05 Recital Series of Trinity Presbyterian Church continues at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11, when Jason J. Keefer presents a recital on the church’s 1951 Austin pipe organ. The concert is open to the public, and a free-will offering will be received. An informal reception will follow. For more information, call the church at 724-437-2709.
art
California University of Pennsylvania’s Gallery of Fine Art will exhibit “In Our Own Image: A Southwestern Pennsylvania Collection of African and African American Art” on the third floor of the Manderino Library from Tuesday, Feb. 8, through Wednesday, March 16, with a catered opening reception at the gallery from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Regular hours for the gallery are 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays; 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays; and 2 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The gallery is closed on Fridays. For more information, contact R. Scott Lloyd, at 724-938-4565. In addition to the reception and exhibit, there will also be two “Meet the Collectors Gallery Talks – Collecting African American Art” from 11 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Feb. 15, and 3 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.
odds & ends
California University of Pennsylvania welcomes national political correspondent and author Juan Williams to the Performance Center of the Natali Student Center at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24. The lecture, sponsored by the university’s Noss Lecture Series and presented as the annual Frederick Douglass Institute’s Black History Month speaking engagement, will have a question- and-answer session and book-signing following the presentation. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The Lion Ambassadors and the HDFSA Association will host the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 12, beginning at 9 a.m. at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus. Age groups will be 0-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. This event will be held rain or shine. Activities prior to the egg hunt will include face painting, coloring page activity and photos with the Nittany Lion. There will also be various Easter basket drawings. The event is free for those who pre-register by March 8. Those not pre-registered will be charge a fee per child at the door. For more information or to register, call 724-430-4130 or e-mail ejk5013@psu.edu.
California University of Pennsylvania will celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February with several events. They include speakers Brenda Jo Searcy, representing the Mon Valley Branch of the NAACP, who will speak about Sojourner Truth; Dr. Nicholas O. Akinkuoye; former Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive back J.T. Thomas, whose speech will be “The Millennium Slave”; Juan Williams, national political correspondent and author; along with other activities. For a complete list of all Black History Month-related events taking place at Cal U, check the Web site at http://www.cup.edu/academic/frederickdouglas/events.jsp.
The Red Hatters will hold a weekend event at the Uniontown Holiday Inn March 11-13. The event will include three days and two nights. Reservations must be made by calling Carol at 437-3411 or Pat at 724-437-5434.
Variety Talent Show will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Scottdale Showtime Theatre, 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale. This showcase will feature a lineup of local and surrounding area talent. A variety of music styles will be featured, including country, oldies, rhythm & blues, gospel, jazz, standards, top hits and more. Professional sound and lighting will be provided. Those auditioning are asked to bring their own music, CDs, cassette tapes and instruments. For more information or to schedule an audition, call 724-887-5774.
Anthony’s Lakeside Party Center, in conjunction with Bangz Modern Hair Salon and Witt Photography, will host its first annual Wedding Extravaganza on Sunday, Feb. 13, to benefit the American Cancer Society, Fayette County Unit. The event will be held at Anthony’s Lakeside Party Center from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets may be purchase at the above businesses or at the door. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society’s programs of education, advocacy, local patient services and life-saving cancer research. For more information about the society’s programs or services, call 1-800-ACS-2345 or visit the Web site at www.cancer.org. For more information about the Wedding Extravaganza event, call Anthony’s Lakeside Party Center at 724-439-3111.
St. Valentine’s Day Buffet featuring ethnic foods will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, at St. Aloysius Parish on Ranch Road, Dunbar. The ethnic foods on the menu include spaghetti, pierogi, cabbage rolls, Irish stew, bratwurst, hot dogs, kielbasi, sauerkraut, German potato salad, hot sausage, scalloped potatoes, green beans, tossed salad, dressing and Irish coffee. A bake sale will also be held. The youth group will be on hand to do its share for the parish. The public is invited.
Expanding Horizons hands-on educational classes will be available through April 1 at the Center in the Woods in California. Classes being offered include Adult CPR, Beginning Fiddling, Bread Making for Beginners, Calligraphy Experiences, Chair Caning, Cooking Less Tender Cuts of Meat, Cooking Terms Demystified, Dream Catchers, Front Running Feminism, Fly Tying for Beginners, Gardening in Winter, Golf Swing Made Perfect, Great Bread Secrets, Hatha Yoga, Intro to Learning the PC, Making Memories, Mandolin for Beginners, Moffit’s Mill/Grinding Feed on the Pike Run, Nature Print Workshop, New Look at Fresh Vegetables, Oil Painting, Pastry Making, Pet First Aid, Starches for Any Meal, Valentine Card Making and Your Psychic Potential. For more information or to complete registration, visit the Center in the Woods on Route 88 between California and Brownsville, which is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 724-938-3554. Classes are open to anyone with those 60 or older receiving preference when class size is limited.
West Overton Museums in Scottdale has announced the 2005 winter Parlor Talks lecture series will be held on Feb. 20, March 20 and April 17. The presentations will be in the distillery theater at 2 p.m. and will feature area experts on a wide variety of historical subjects. Each lecture is free and includes a question-and-answer session followed by light refreshments. Reservations are requested, but walk-ins are welcome. For complete series information, call 724-887-7910 during regular business hours.
“Fayette County: A Video History,” an educational video of more than 90 minutes about the history of Fayette County, is available at the Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Coal & Coke Heritage Center at the Penn State Library or from the Fayette County Historical Society by calling 724-439-4422. Produced under the guidance of the Fayette County Historical Society, the video is filled with hundreds of photographs, interviews with historians and residents from the county, plus profiles of many towns and communities. The book, “Abel Gray: A Romance of the National Road,” written by A.F. Hill in 1876, was reproduced by the historical society in 1998 as a fictional novel with accurate depictions of the National Road. For information on these and other publications available, contact the Fayette County Historical Society Inc., P.O. Box 193, Uniontown, or call 724-439-4422.
The “Carpathian Cookery” cookbook, now in its 11th printing, is again available for sale. The 330-page cookbook now features a protective plastic cover and includes sections on Christmas customs and recipes and Easter customs and recipes, traditional Rusyn foods, other ethnic dishes and many recipes of St. John’s parishioners. Many paska and kolachi recipes, as well as meatless dishes and Lenten recipes suitable for the pre-Christmas fast as well as the Great Fast, are included. There is a price for the cookbook. Call 724-438-6027 for more information.
Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Friendship Hill National Historic Site have announced winter hours. The Gallatin House Visitor Center at Friendship Hill and the Fort Necessity Visitor Center will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Mount Washington Tavern, Jumonville Glen and picnic areas are closed for the winter. All other areas of the parks, including hiking/skiing trails, will remain open sunrise to sunset seven days per week through the winter. Roads and parking areas will not be plowed on Sundays and Mondays. For more information, call Fort Necessity National Battlefield at 724-329-5512 or Friendship Hill National Historic Site at 724-725-9190.
64 Crayons Cultural Center, located in the Thompson House, 815 Water St., Brownsville, continues to offer free playwriting workshops from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and poetry, fiction and non-fiction workshops from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturdays. The Tuesday workshops concentrate on one-act plays in conjunction with 64 Crayons Cultural Center’s Spring Short Play Festival. For additional information, call 724-785-9010 or e-mail Geezersbks@att.net.
The Adah Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary will hold a fish fry from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the station house on Firehouse Road in Palmer (Adah). Limited delivery is available. Call ahead to place an order at 724-737-6300.
area
stage
The Conservatory Theatre Company, the student performing company of Point Park University, presents Cole Porter’s Broadway classic, “Anything Goes,” on Wednesday, Feb. 16, through Sunday, Feb. 27, with performances on Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. The 1930s theatrical gem is under the direction of artist-in-residence Jack Allison and features original choreography by Kiesha Lalama-White. For ticket information, contact the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412-621-4445.
West Virginia Public Theater announces audition dates for its upcoming 2005 season on Feb. 19 at the James Center in Pittsburgh from 2 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available by appointment only by calling 304-291-4177 or 304-598-0144. Applicants need to be prepared to sing 16 bars of an upbeat tempo or ballad and bring a headshot and resume.
Point Park University’s professional theater company presents “Kimberly Akimbo,” a heartfelt comedic play that helps the audience to remember that age really is just a state of mind. The play will be presented through Saturday, Feb. 13, with performances Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances at 2 p.m. The play tells the story of a teen-age girl who suffers from a rare condition that causes rapid aging, and Kimberly learns some unexpected wisdom that teaches her that one should never forget about being young. For ticket information, call the Pittsburgh Playhouse box office at 412-621-4445.
music
Carnegie Mellon University Night at the Symphony will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, at Heinz Hall. The program will be conducted by the internationally renowned Sir Andrew Davis and features Sarah Chang on the violin. In addition to the concert, the PSO musicians and their CMU guests will enjoy a post-concert dessert buffet celebrating Carnegie Mellon University. Tickets can be purchased at the Carnegie Mellon University Center Information Desk.
The Pittsburgh CLO will hold auditions for the 2005 summer season on Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 10-12, at the Benedum Center, Stage Door Entrance, 719 Liberty Ave., Downtown, for singers, dancers and character actors ages 18 and older. For more information, call 412-281-3973.
“Forever Plaid” Valentine’s Day Package will be offered by the Pittsburgh CLO on Saturday, Feb. 12, with dinner at 6 p.m. and show time at 7:30 p.m. This special Valentine’s Day package includes two tickets to “Forever Plaid,” one bottle of wine, an appetizer, dinner, dessert and coffee and two tickets to a romantic performance at Late Night Cabaret featuring Tom Rocco’s moving performance of “Matters of the Heart.” Tickets are available by calling 412-456-6666.
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra announces the offering of a Community String Orchestra on Tuesdays from 7 to 8:15 p.m., beginning Feb. 8 at the Fine Arts Center at Greensburg Central Catholic High School. For more information, call the symphony office at 724-837-1850.
WVU Creative Arts Center will host Natalie Cole’s vocal artistry on Valentine’s Day, Monday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. Her music blends jazz and pop with her ever-soulful approach. The performance is part of the 2004-05 University Arts Series, a production of WVU Arts & Entertainment. For more information, call 293-SHOW.
St. Vincent College in Latrobe is currently holding auditions for the choral programs, including the St. Vincent Camerata and the Voices of St. Vincent. The choruses combine to perform Handel’s complete Messiah in December and another large work each spring. Rehearsals are held weekly. Community members of all vocal parts are welcome to audition for the choruses by calling Joseph Bronder at 724-805-2123.
The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra’s Merrill Lynch Young Artists Competition for 2005 is open to vocalists and instrumentalists who are legal residents of Westmoreland County or take private music lessons in Westmoreland County and have not yet graduated from high school. Participants compete for cash prizes and performance opportunities. The winners’ recital takes place at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, at Seton Hill University. For information, call the Westmoreland Symphony Office at 724-837-1850.
The St. Vincent College Concert Series invites the public to celebrate its 33rd season. The artists appearing this season are Nanae Mimura on Feb. 12; Yin Cheng Zong on March 12; and Kyung Sun Lee on April 16. All concerts are held at 8 p.m. in the Science Center Amphitheatre of St. Vincent College in Latrobe with the exception of December’s Messiah performance, which will be held in the St. Vincent Archabbey Basilica. For more information on tickets and available entertainment packages, call 724-537-4565.
The Washington Community Arts Choir resumed its Monday rehearsals at 7 p.m. at Faith United Presbyterian Church, 97 E. Chestnut St., Washington. The group will be working on arrangements for its June 4-5 concert titled “Nostalgia,” which will feature music from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. Singers interested in joining the choir are invited to attend a rehearsal. Both current and prospective members are urged to come early for music distribution. For more information, call Eileen Davis, membership secretary, at 724-222-2777.
odds & ends
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents “The Sleeping Beauty,” one of the most romantic and classical ballets of all time at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10; 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 11; and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, at the Benedum Center. Tickets can be ordered by calling 412-456-6666.
Hoe-down square dancing, slow dancing, polkas, waltzing, line dancing and clogging will be performed by Dave Dahl Trio today at the Waynesburg Moose, in Waynesburg from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.; on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the Core Senior Center on Route 7, west of Morgantown from 7 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 19, and Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Ohiopyle Community Center from 8:30 until 11:30 p.m.; and on Friday, Feb. 18, at the Arthurdale Center Hall in Arthurdale, W.Va., from 8 to 11 p.m. Call 724-438-5455.
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announces a change in hours and admission rates effective for the new year. During the winter months of January, February and March, the zoo will close one hour earlier. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with admission gates closing at 3 p.m.
The Gordon-Roberts House, 218 Washington St., Cumberland, Md., will celebrate seasons and holidays, with special events for children. A Valentine’s Tea will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, when children will make old-fashioned valentines and celebrate with a heart-theme tea party. An Easter Egg Roll and Egg Hunt will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on March 19. The celebration of spring will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. April 30 with a May Day event, which includes making miniature maypoles, dancing and a spring tea party. Through the summer months, history camps are offered at the Gordon-Roberts House for children of all ages. For additional information, call 301-777-8678.
The 2005 Pittsburgh International Auto Show will take place at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center from Feb. 12-20. The show will feature more than 500 of the latest vehicles from more than 35 manufacturers, including several pre-production vehicles, specialty vehicles and concept cars. Come to compare all the different makes and models under one roof, climb in the vehicles and check trunk space or simply dream about your next ride. Show hours are Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Mondays through Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m.; and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call the hotline at 1-866-575-3040.
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will present “Medicinal Plants: Earth’s Pharmacy” through April 3. This is a rare chance to see the basic, essential elements used in everyday remedies as they grow in nature. Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the 13-room Victorian glasshouse and gardens in Schenley Park, is open year-round Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday until 9 p.m. Phipps is closed Monday. Phipps Garden Center, located at 1059 Shady Ave. in Mellon Park, is a horticultural education center offering classes, workshops and the gift boutique, “Shop in the Park.” Call the conservatory at 412-622-6914.
The Greater Morgantown Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and MountainFest LLC have announced the Wild and Wonderful MountainFest Motorcycle Rally, scheduled for next July 29-31 in Morgantown, W.Va. The three-day rally, set for the last weekend of July every year, is expected to attract 15,000 visitors to Morgantown in 2005, with potential future attendance expected to exceed 100,000. Contact Jay Redmond at 1-800-458-7373.
Greene County Department of Recreation will offer aerobics and step aerobics classes. Aerobics classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Step aerobics classes are held on Saturday at 9 a.m. and Wednesday at 1 p.m. Aerobics classes are held at the Greene County Fairgrounds 4-H Building.