Future events
local Laurel Highlands High School Theater Department presents Irvin Berlin’s “Annie Get Your Gun” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6. This musical is the story of a naive girl turned celebrity after her amazing sharp-shooting skills are noticed by a local hotel owner. Annie soon joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show and falls in love with the pompous star of the show, Frank Butler. Tickets may be purchased at Laurel Highlands High School between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased at the door. The Academic Foundation will sponsor a “Sweet Theatre” (desserts) before the performance on Saturday in the high school cafeteria. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Sarah Biancardi at 724-437-2821, extension 1010. For additional information, call 724-437-4741.
“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. “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
Simple Gifts Folk Trio folk musicians will perform on March 1 and 2. The two-day event at Cal U’s Gallagher Recital Hall (Room 107 of the Gallagher Music Center on campus) will kick off on March 1 at 4 p.m. with a workshop on Appalachian Traditions, for participants to create a routine that uses both playing spoons as musical instruments and clogging, with a public concert at 7 p.m. The evening’s festivities will conclude at 8 p.m. with a Jam Session. On March 2, the group will present demonstrations and discussions at 9 a.m. For more information, call 724-938-4583 or e-mail at fitch@cup.edu
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 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.
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 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.
Jozart Studios will present “A Unique Gallery of Artists.” The gallery opening will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday at the studios, located at 333 Second St., California, and the exhibit will run through March 12. Featured artists include Judy Hopson with her unique pottery, painting and “hands-on” potters session; Jeff Katrencik with his rational surrealist art; Alexio Govato with a magical collection of artwork; Jay Powell with his “sweet gum creations;” and Adrienne Martino with paintings and unique displays working with ostrich eggs. Gallery hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Friday by appointment only. Call 724-938-9730 or e-mail jozartstudios@jozartstudios.com.
odds & ends
Carmichaels Senior Center will host a fish fry every Friday through March 25 from 4 to 7 p.m. Dinner will include fish, fries or baked potato, cole slaw, roll, cake and coffee or tea. Fish sandwiches are also available.
“The Magic of the Night,” a Spring Prom Fashion Show sponsored by the Uniontown High School Post Prom Committee, will be held Thursday, Feb. 24, in the Margaret L. Emelson Auditorium at the high school.
Tickets are available at the Uniontown High School office or at the door the evening of the show. A Chinese Auction and bake sale will also take place that evening. For information, contact Mary Anne Coffman at 724-438-1847.
The second annual Egg Eggstravaganza will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church Social Hall, 185 E. Main St., Uniontown. Artists who will demonstrate, display and sell eggs are Bonnie Balas of Uniontown, Joe Borytsky of Fairchance, Joseph and Margaret Garbert of Sykesville, Md., Art Gisbson of Masontown, Madelyn Warhola Hoover of Pittsburgh, Mark Jesko of Baltimore, Md., Sister Rita Keshock of Uniontown, Janet Kocerka of Bobtown, Evelyn Peckyno of Bethel Park, Julie Pillar of Uniontown, Edward Senko of Donora, Helen Timo of Bentleyville, Julie Urdinas of Bentleyville and Lois Winslow of Perryopolis. The event will feature a marketplace with pysanky supplies and Easter items, children’s activities, videos on pysanky, a pysanky jigsaw puzzle, raffle items, display of Easter basket covers, ethnic menu items for sale and baked goods.
For more information, call the church at 724-438-6927 or the social hall at 724-438-1477.
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 charged 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 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
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 Sunday, March 20 and April 17. The presentations will be held 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.
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.
area
stage
The Conservatory Theatre Company, the student performing company of Point Park University, will present Cole Porter’s Broadway classic, “Anything Goes,” 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 or online at www.pittsburghplayhouse.com
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music
The Graham Grubb Orchestra, sponsored by the Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Ligonier branch of Commercial Bank and Trust of Pennsylvania, will present a free concert in the Ligonier Town Hall auditorium at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27. The orchestra, with outstanding professional musicians, carry on the tradition of the Big Bands such as Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Les Brown, Benny Goodman and all the others and have designed their music to keep audiences dancing and their toes tapping.
The Joe Grkman “Grkmania” Polka Band will perform on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Health Fair 2005 at Morgantown Mall, Morgantown, W.Va., Exit 152 off Interstate-79 from 2 to 4 p.m. The Foundation of Monongalia General Hospital is sponsoring the polka performance, which will take place at the BB&T/Victoria’s Secret corridor. This band has been pleasing audiences with its special blend of Slovenian/Cleveland-style polkas and waltzes across the United States and abroad since forming in 1967. For information, call 304-598-1337.
Westmoreland Community College, in observance of Black History Month, will hold several events at the Youngwood campus. Through Feb. 22, an art exhibit by Christine Dominique Bagernis will be on display in the Science Hall art gallery. The banquet, held in the Commissioners Hall Dining Room, is by invitation only. On Saturday, Feb. 26, at noon, the fashion show “Shop ‘Til You Drop VIII” and luncheon will take place in the Commissioners Hall Dining Room. For reservations or information, call the college at 724-925-4055.
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 or email at begin info@westmorelandsymphony.org info@westmorelandsymphony.org end
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The St. Vincent College Concert Series invites the public to celebrate its 33rd season. The artists appearing this season are Nanae Mimura on Saturday; 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. Visit the Web site at www.wcac-sing.org.
odds & ends
The Pennsylvania Arts and Crafts Mothers Day Festival will take place at the Pittsburgh ExpoMart in Monroeville, from May 6 to 8. Applications are now being taken. For information, call 724-863-4577. The festival is being produced by Family Festivals Association Inc.
The Winterlude 2005 Laurel Highlands Chefs’ Tasting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21, in Commissioners Hall at Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood. The event is held by the Laurel Highlands Chapter of the American Culinary Federation and is being co-chaired by Chef Steve Hill and Chef Christine Dopkowski of Westmoreland Country Club. Prior to the tasting, WCCC chef apprentices, student members of the Laurel Highlands Chapter, will participate in a food display competition that will be open at 4 p.m. The event continues to the chefs’ tasting at 6 p.m. with music provided by the Mervyn Johnston Trio. For information, call 724-864-9178 by today.
The St. George Junior Tamburitzans of Croatian Fraternal Union Lodge 354, Cokeburg, is currently welcoming new members into its musical ensemble. The ensemble practices on Friday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Croatian Home, 26 Grant St., Cokeburg. Interested children and young adults between the ages of 6-20 are invited to contact Musical Director Marlene Luketich-Kochis at 724-945-6618 for more information.
Hoe-down square dancing, slow dancing, polkas, waltzing, line dancing and clogging will be performed by the Dave Dahl Trio this Saturday and Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Ohiopyle Community Center from 8:30 until 11:30 p.m.; and today at the Arthurdale Center Hall in Arthurdale, W.Va., from 8 to 11 p.m. For information, call 724-438-5455.
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium announces a change in hours and admission rates effective this winter. During 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. 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 on events, camps or tours at the Gordon-Roberts House, call 301-777-8678.
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.” For more information, 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. For more information, 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.