Future events
local The Geyer Performing Arts Center of Scottdale has announced rehearsals for the musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” will begin during March in Uniontown with performances slated at the Geyer Performing Arts Center on April 12-15. The production staff for “Forum” will include Brad Henry, music director; Ginny Tanner, choreographer; and Bill Dreucci, director. For more information, call 724-557-1119.
“The Wizard of Oz,” a play, will be presented at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Uniontown High School. All proceeds will benefit Fayette Friends of Animals, a no-kill shelter. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase a ticket, call 724-437-1965.
Auditions for the upcoming production of “Johnny Cash: the Man in Black” are being held at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale. The show will be performed Sept. 6-9. Vocal skills are a must. Guitar skills are preferred but not necessary. Experience in performing with a live band also is helpful. Those auditioning should come prepared to sing at least one Johnny Cash song of his/her own chose. Tapes are permissible but must be instrumental only. Auditions will be held by appointment at the Geyer Performing Arts Center. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Geyer at 724-887-0887 or e-mail Christina@geyerpac.com.
Flatwoods Productions will present “Dearly Departed” April 13-15 at the Curfew Grange, Flatwoods. For additional information, call 724-785-8689.
The Laurel Highlands Senior High School will produce “The Laurel Highland 40th Anniversary Musical Celebration: Paving the Way for Another 40 Years of Talent” on Friday and Saturday, April 13-14. It has the same components of a Broadway musical that students can audition for and display their talents on stage. The show also will combine the efforts of the Laurel Highlands elementary, middle and high school music departments while including any alumni or any Laurel Highlands music department from the past 40 years to join the performers on stage for an opening number. Any graduate of Laurel Highlands who participated in the music program can send an e-mail to vargos@lhsd.org or mail a post card to Laurel Highlands High School in care of Sandy Vargo, 300 Bailey Ave., Uniontown, Pa. 15401. Include your graduation year, the shows or classes you took, your height and which nights, April 13 or 14, you will be joining the cast on stage for the production number.
The Laurel Highlands Academic Foundation will hold an “After Party-Party” on Saturday, April 14, following the 6:30 p.m. performance of “LH – 40 Years of Musical Celebrations,” an original production of the Laurel Highlands Senior High School music department. The fund-raiser will feature a variety of hors d’ouvres and beverages along with a Chinese auction.
Tickets are available for the performance and After Party at a cost from any Academic Foundation trustee or by calling Carol Bubonovich or Kim Pegg at the business office at 724-437-2821. Tickets for the After-Party only may be purchased.
All money raises will be used to benefit the students of the Laurel Highlands School District.The Greater Uniontown Children’s Choir will hold rehearsals from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Third Presbyterian Church, 425 Union St., Uniontown. Rehearsals will continue through May. The choir has performed at the state Capitol in Harrisburg and the Maryland Children’s Choir Festival. In addition to the annual concert, the choir performs for annual holiday events at Nemacolin Woodlands, Nemacolin Castle, Christian Klay Winery and private parties. The choir is open to children who like to sing from the Fayette/Greene County area in grades four through senior high. Boys must have unchanged voices. For more information, call 724-938-1348.
The PovertyNeck Hillbillies will perform a benefit concert for All Saints Regional School at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown on April 27. The concert begins at 7 p.m. The opening acts are Vanessa Campagna and Camry Uhazie. Tickets are available at the State Theatre by calling 724-439-1360. Changes on “Dinner for Two” with the PovertyNeck Hillbillies are available at All Saints Regional School at 724-583-2141. Chances also are being sold for an autographed guitar by the PovertyNeck Hillbillies.
Ohiopyle Bluegrass will take place at 6 p.m. April 7. The doors will open at 5 p.m. Food and drink will be for sale, including homemade pies. Seating is provided. No alcohol or drugs will be permitted. There is a donation for admission. Local and regional bands will perform 30-minute sets on stage. Rooms are available for offstage jamming. There will be a 50/50 drawing. The Ohiopyle Community Center is located on Main Street in Ohiopyle between Farmington and Normalville across the road from the waterfalls. To schedule a band or for more information, call Bill Springer at 724-455-3919.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra will play at 7 p.m. May 19 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown. The event is sponsored in part by National City Bank. Back at the theater by popular demand, the legendary Glenn Miller was one of the most successful of all the dance bandleaders back in the swing era of the 1930s and ’40s. Under the direction of Larry O’Brien, the 19-member band continues to play many of the original arrangements that have been delighting Miller fans for decades. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the State Theatre box office at 724-439-1360.
The Uniontown Downtown Business District Authority has announced the 2007 Storey Square Summer Concert Series. This popular downtown event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Storey Square is located on Main Street next to the State Theatre Center for the Arts. The concert series begins on June 4 and continues through Aug. 27. The concerts are free to the public, and a local restaurant will be serving food and refreshments at a cost. For this event to be successful, the Downtown Business District Authority is searching for sponsorships for this event. Anyone who would like to sponsor a performance is asked to call the Downtown Business District Authority at 724-430-2926.
The Beesontown Singers of Fayette County continue its search for adult singers for the new spring season. Experience choral singers who want to sing good choral literature are encouraged to make an appointment for an audition as soon as possible. The Beesontown Singers rehearse for two hours each Sunday evening in Uniontown and present two public performances annually. It is the only auditioned choral ensemble in the tri-county area and the membership is limited to achieve a good choral balance. Rehearsals will begin in late February to prepare for a mid-May concert. Interested singers should apply as soon as possible by calling 724-557-1119 or by sending a letter of application to Beesontown Singers, 20 Dunbar St., Uniontown, Pa. 15401.
The Greater Uniontown Chorale will begin rehearsals for the spring term on Monday at the Third Presbyterian Church on Union Street, Uniontown. Rehearsals will begin at 7 p.m. All questions may be directed to Richard McCoy at 724-437-6400. Music selected will represent the history of Broadway.Frank L. Melega Art Museum, Upper Floor in the Flatiron Building Heritage Center, 69 Market St., Brownsville, will present “Treasures Found!” through May 5. The museum will debut recently discovered artworks of Frank L. Melega. For more information, call the museum at 724-785-9331 or e-mail info@barcpa.org for the latest weekday and weekend hours.
Gallery MD, located at 502 S. Pittsburgh St., Connellsville, will reopen from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Regular hours are noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The gallery features works of art by local and regional artists. Call 724-626-2117.
Join Nature’s Garden columnist Susan Brimo-Cox for a workshop designed to encourage artistic creativity inspired by nature. “Nature as Art” will be held May 4-6 at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington. The workshop is not just for artists. Anyone can enjoy translating their love of gardening and nature into expressions of art, too. Participants will explore the wooded campus for spring ephemerals and search for other elements in the natural environment to stir their artistic creativity. Participants are asked to bring their camera, pencils and paints. They can try their hand at nature painting, nature stenciling and more. There is a tuition charge, plus a small materials fee. Lodging is available. For more information and to register, call 800-721-0177 or visit the Web site at www.touchstonecrafts.com.64 Crayons at Jozart Studios, 333 Second St., California, invites local writers to submit short plays, from eight to 15 minutes running time, for possible production as part of the 2007 season at California Community Theatre. The plays will be read and judged by members of the 64 Crayons Writing Workshop. Final decision on production rests with the CCT Board of Directors. Manuscripts will be accepted from now through Tuesday. No more than two plays will be considered per playwright. A readers’ fee of $5 for one play or $8 for two will be charged, but playwrights will receive a share of the performance proceeds for any play produced by CCT. The fee will be waived if the author joins the Writers’ Workshop and participates in the production process. For more information, call Dr. Fred Lapisardi at 724-938-9730 or e-mail him at 64crayons@jozartstudios.com.
Third Presbyterian Church in Uniontown invites the public to attend an annual “Easter Celebration” on Saturday, April 7. The free event for all ages begins at 1:30 p.m., with registration and face painting for kids. From 2 to 4 p.m., participants can enjoy an Easter message and praise music, a candy-making demonstration, crafts, refreshments and a big Easter egg hunt. Third Presbyterian Church is located at 425 Union St., Uniontown, in the Craig Meadows neighborhood. Call the church office at 724-438-2529 for directions or more information.
The Tower Hill No. 2 Volunteer Fire Department will hold a fish fry from noon to 6 p.m. every Friday during Lent. The fish dinners will include a fish sandwich, fries & coleslaw. They also will have cabbage and noodles.
For more information, call 724-246-0660.
A round and square dance will be held from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the Knights of Columbus to benefit mentally and physically handicapped individuals. The event is sponsored by Bob Jones, a former Uniontown mayor and Fayette County commissioner, and Agnes Almes, fund-raiser for ARC. A small donation will be charged.
The Ligonier Valley Historical Society will host the 16th annual “Tastes of the Town” from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12, at Mill Creek in Ligonier. Participants will have a chance to sample the area’s finest cuisine from Abigail’s Coffeehouse, The Bistro at Ramada Ligonier, Carol & Dave’s Restaurant, Christian W. Klay Winery, Darlington Inn, DiSalvo’s Station, Green Gables, Ivy’s Caf?, Ligonier Country Inn, Ligonier Giant Eagle, Ligonier Tavern, Main Street Deli, Pedro’s, Rosalie Jioio’s Little Italy and Ursula’s. Only 200 tickets will be sold in advance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are available at Betsy’s of Ligonier, Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce office and The Paper House and Baskitry or send a check to the Ligonier Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 167 Laughlintown, Pa. 15655. For more information, call 724-238-6818 or visit the Web site at www.ligonierhistoricalsociety.org.
Nemacolin Castle on Front Street, Brownsville, will hold the following events: Easter Bonnet Parade and Egg Hunt at 1 p.m. April 7; castle open on weekends only from noon to 4 p.m. April 7 to May 27; National Road Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 19-20 and ghost tours only from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 19.
St. Therese Church Cookbook with familiar and traditional recipes “like Grandma used to make” is available for sale. To place an order or for more information, call St. Therese Faith Formation Center at 724-437-1957 or Linda at 724-439-4036.
Geezers’ Book Shop, now operating as 64 Crayons at Jozart’s Studios, has resumed Tuesday writing workshops from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at 333 Second St., California, located above the Dollar General store. Instead of concentrating on a single genre as in past years, the current group agreed that fiction, creative, non-fiction, poetry, plays, film scripts and songs may be presented for discussion. There is no charge for these sessions. For more information, call 724-938-9730 or e-mail begin 64crayons-@jozartstudios.com 64crayons-@jozartstudios.com end
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A cookbook with a forward by award-winning chef Joe Carei of Caileigh’s Restaurant in Uniontown is available at the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown. The cookbook is full of recipes and historic photographs of “The Grand Old Lady of Main Street.” They are available in the theater box office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at all performances. Call 724-439-1360 to place a mail order. There is a cost for the cookbooks.
The Friends of the Uniontown Public Library are selling New Geneva Stoneware as a fund-raiser. The three styles offered, each inscribed “Fayette County,” are a mini jug, a mini crock and a pencil jar and are available in the Pennsylvania Room on the second floor of the library. The Friends also are selling hoagie tickets, which can be purchased at the first floor circulation desk. All funds raised directly will benefit the Uniontown Public Library.
The “Carpathian Cookery” cookbook, now in its 12th printing, having sold more than 10,000, is again available for sale. The 330-page cookbook now has a new look and features a protective plastic cover and includes sections on Christmas customs and recipes, Easter customs and recipes, traditional Rusyn foods, other ethnic dishes and many other recipes of St. John’s parishioners. Many paska and kolachi recipes, as well as meatless dishes and Lenten recipes, suitable for the great fast as well as the pre-Christmas fast. There is a cost for the cookbook. For more information, call 724-438-6027.
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West Virginia Public Theatre announces its audition schedule for the upcoming Morgantown auditions for its 2007 summer season. Non-equity and equity auditions will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Falbo Theatre in the WVU Creative Arts Center. Production rehearsal and performance dates for the productions of “Sweet Charity,” “The Odd Couple,” “Funny Girl,” “Aida,” “A Chorus Line” and “The Full Monty” are June 8 through Aug. 5. Rehearsals will be held at the Creative Arts Center, and all performances are held at the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre in the WVU Creative Arts Center. To audition, individuals are expected to come prepared to sing 32 bars of an up-beat tempo and ballad. And, if auditioning for “The Odd Couple,” prepar a one-minute comic monologue. Also, bring the proper clothes and shoes for a possible dance callback. Anyone wanting to audition should call the West Virginia Public Theatre office at 304-291-4117 to schedule an appointment prior to the audition date.Senior art major Jaime Neal will present “Jaime la vie,” an exhibit that encompasses a selection of her artwork created over four years. The exhibit opens Thursday in the Benedum Fine Arts Gallery at Waynesburg College. Admission is free, and the public is invited to attend. The college will hold a reception for Neal’s exhibition in the Benedum Fine Arts Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday. The exhibition will be on display through April 13 and is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. To make an appointment or visit the exhibition at another time, call Susan Phillips at 724-852-3274.
“Daguerreian Artists at Work: Photography Comes to Southwestern Pennsylvania” will be presented by Mark Johnson, president of the Daguerreian Society at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The program will be held at the Westmoreland County Historical Society’s Calvin E. Pollins Memorial Library, 41 W. Otterman St., Suite 310, Greensburg. The program is free to historical society members. A small fee is charged to non-members. Seating is limited. To make a reservation, call the Westmoreland County Historical Society at 724-836-1800.Streets of Gold will present the fourth annual “Live” Gospel Music Weekend on Friday and Saturday, April 20-21, at the Word of Life Church, Route 136, Greensburg. Master of ceremonies for both days, which includes four events, is Tim Lovelace. Events start at 1 p.m. each day and then again at 6 p.m. Some of the groups appearing include the Faith Harmony Boys, Pine Ridge Boys, Right Spirit, Jay Stone Singers, Johnson Quartet, The Worley Quartet, Sheldon Bissell, Derwin Hinson and many others with a special tribute to the legendary late Jake Hess. There also will be a special “laughing time” and “jam session” with Tim Lovelace and artists at 1 p.m. Friday. There is free parking and no steps to climb. Food is provided by the church at a reasonable cost. For ticket information, call Joe Chioda at the Streets of Gold office, 2123 Grandview Ave., Monroeville. For more information, call 412-372-0110 or 412-916-5782.
Russian-born singer Natalya Kraevsky will take the stage in the Performing Arts Center at Waynesburg College at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. There is an admission charge. The public is invited to attend.
odds & ends
“The Monongahela Railway, Its History and Operation, 1903-1993,” a 212-page book with more than 300 black and white pictures and 24 maps of the system, is available at Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, 325 Market St., Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Uniontown Library, Flatiron Building, Nemacolin Castle in Brownsville, New Salem and Fairchance pharmacies and Hobbies & Stuff in Connellsville.
The Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania will hold its 77th annual State Convention from April 22-25 at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh. Members and non-members are encouraged to attend to enjoy a variety of events and educational opportunities. Dr. Allan Armitage, one of the world’s foremost horticulturalists, will be the keynote speaker at the dinner and program on April 23. The convention also features floral designs from across the country, as well as local horticultural celebrities. A tour with the Parks Conservancy and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Chihuly glass installation at Phipps Conservatory are two of the off-site activities planned. A schedule and registration information can be obtained online at www.pagardenclubs.org
or by calling 412-498-8750.
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival is moving to a new location. The festival will take place Sept. 7-9 at the Amphitheatre at Sandcastle, 1000 Sandcastle Drive, West Homestead. The event will feature Glengarry Bhoys, David Munnelly Band, Maken & Spain Brothers and more musical acts. For more information, call 412-422-1113 or visit the Web site at www.pghirishfest.org.
Hoedown round and square dancing, slow dancing, polkas, line dancing and clogging will take place at the following dates and locations: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 6, at Waynesburg Moose; 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Alwine Civic Center on Old Route 66 about two miles north of Greensburg; 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, at the Arthurdale Center Hall in Arthurdale, W.Va.; 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at the Blacksville Senior Center in Blacksville, W.Va.; 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 27, at the Haydentown Community Center; and 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at the Long Branch Community Grange off Old Route 88 in Elko. There is a small donation for each person. The Dave Dahl Trio will provide music and figure calling.
Pittsburgh Wine Festival 2007 will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. April 26 in the East and West Club Lounges at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh. For details and ticket information, call 412-281-2681 or visit www.pittsburghwinefestival.com.
Flenniken Public Library, 102 E. George St., Carmichaels, will offer preschool story hour every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The library also will offer after-school tutoring for students in kindergarten through high school. A state-certified teacher runs the program. Sessions are customized to fit each child’s learning style. For more information, call 724-966-5263.
The California Area Public Library will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Story hour for preschool children will be held at 10:30 a.m. every Thursday. Visit the library’s Web site at www.calpublib.org, and click on the “story hour” link for more information or call the library at 724-938-2907.