Youth production set to open next Thursday
When the eerie performances of a life-size puppet begin to haunt the old Van Pelt estate, where an amateur acting group — the Footlighters — have their theatre, Nancy Drew is called upon to unravel the baffling mystery.
The famous girl detective, Nancy Drew, was created in 1930. In the past seventy years she has only aged two years, starting out as a sixteen year-old, and aging to eighteen. The creation of Edward Stratemeyer, a publisher who also created the popular series’ The Bobsey Twins and The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew was meant to provide a fresh interpretation of a determined young woman.
Nancy Drew appealed to young readers in the 1930s and 1940s for her independence and freedom. Nancy lives with her father, the famous lawyer Carson Drew, in comfortable River Heights. She is financially secure, and does not have any obligations of school or work to tie her down. This, coupled with her blue roadster, made her very popular with envious young women. Nancy’s freedom allows her to travel to country, and in some books the globe, solving mysteries. She always succeeds, with the help of her two best friends George Fayne and Bess Marvin.
Performance dates for the Piedmont Players youth production are May 8-10 and 15-17 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees on May 11 and 17 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale May 5: $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. Call 704-633-5471 or visit PiedmontPlayers.com
10-minute play theme is ‘Office Hours’
Lee Street Theatre announces its sixth annual 10-Minute New Play Festival on May 8-10 and15-17.
Always find yourself singing at the office? Having problems with that copy machine? The theme of Office Hours will be explored by six brand new never-before-seen short comedies, directed by Jason Roland and Tony Moore.
This year’s plays are
“Serenity Island” and “Slick Dame” by Kay Poiro of Great Mills, Md.;
“Kiss A Squid” by Andy Rassler of Concord;
“Need to Know” by Drew Davis of Martinez, Ga.;
Starring performers, in no particular order, are Nick Bishop, Winnie Mikkelson, Dan Mikkelson, Mike Cline, Cassie Hodgin, Fredric Schuttenberg, Tara Van Geons, Rob Taylor, Natasha Decker, Jagger Freeman, Amber Watson, Sue McHugh and Addison Bevis.
The Lee Street Theater & Performing Arts Center is lcoated at 329 N. Lee St.The lobby and bar open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. $15 general admission tickets on sale now at www.leestreet.org/tickets or 704-310-5507.
Wine Down and Create will continue in new Spencer location
SPENCER — Carol Dunkley and Patt Legg will continue the popular class, Wine Down and Create, on Friday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at Spencer’s Green Goat Gallery, located on Main Street in Spencer. Pinocchio’s Restaurant is right next door; at Green Goat the participants are free to bring their own wine. The May 2 class will feature the painting of roosters and chickens led by Carol Dunkley. Call for reservations: Patt Legg 704-762-9647, or Carol Dunkley 704-636-0633 704-213-6171, or leave a message on Facebook @Wine Down and Create
CF&A film and forum tonight at 7 p.m.
The movie and Q&A session with “Outsider” art expert Tim Miller will start at 7 p.m. at Center for Faith & the Arts this evening. The wine and cheese reception from 6 to 9 p.m.
This show opening revolves around the life of Boone “Outsider” artist Wiili Armstrong and his creation of art despite his struggles with his disabilities.
Miller is owner of Blowing Rock Frameworks and Gallery and is an expert on outsider art — especially Wiili Armstrong (1956-2003). Visitors to Boone may remember Armstrong selling his art on the sidewalk outside Boone Drug on King Street years ago.
His works will be for sale through June 12, with additional works on paper available tonight only.
Concurrent local outsider art show is on view at Center for Faith & the Arts, 207 W Harrison St., in the lower level of Haven Lutheran Church. Visit faithart.org or call 704-647-0999 for details.
Old Courthouse Theatre’s ‘Tintypes’ opens tonight
CONCORD — The growing pains of a nation are chronicled in this grand pageant of pre-World War I America--told in the exuberant words and music of the day.
Like “Ragtime,” this nostalgic revue takes us back to turn of the century America.
The story of immigrants, new rights, the expansion of America and the changing times of 1890 to 1917 blaze to life in a tuneful, high-spirited brew of popular songs of the day.
The score, featuring works by George M. Cohan, John Philip Sousa, Joseph E. Howard, Scott Joplin, and Victor Herbert, among others, is a blend of the patriotic songs, romantic tunes, and ragtime popular during the era.
Performance dates are May 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 and 17 at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees on May 4, 11 and 18 at 2:30 p.m.
Area festivals taking place this weekend:
Concord’s annual Spring into Art
CONCORD — The Spring into Arts Festival is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Concord. The festival this year boasts thirty artists displaying clay, glass, jewelry, metal, mixed media, painting, photography, textiles and wood.
The children’s Celebration Station highlights professional acts such as Dancing Stories by April Turner, The Pickle Mama’s, children’s line dancing with Downtown Concord’s Motion Dance Studio, Acting Up Children’s Theatre and singer Sarah Morgann, along with local young talent participating in the Spring Alive! Youth Talent Showcase.
Children can get crafty under the Trashed tent. Street performers will be entertaining throughout the festival area, and Downtown restaurants and food vendors will be open. New to this year’s festival is Windows on Union, three large blank canvases that attendees can paint a window in a block to create three murals. Visit www.concorddowntown.com
MOCKSVILLE — This year’s Daniel Boone Family Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday in downtown Mocksville. There will be crafts, historical tours, Fort Dobbs reenactors, a kids’ area, hula hoop and frozen T-shirts contests, plus entertainment at Junker’s Outdoor Theater. The schedule is:
2 p.m., Hula hoop and frozen T-Shirt contests (registration that day at Relay for Life)
Bring your own chairs; alcohol will be available for purchase. Visit www.danielboonefamilyfestival.com or call 336-909-2263.
LEXINGTON — The 18th annual Lexington Multicultural Festival is 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday. It is a free cultural event for families, with food, artisans, crafters and merchants, featuring five international villages, a children’s international village with free amusements, a dog Show, circus acts, a parade, ethnic foods, exhibits, demonstrations and live entertainment. It is held at Finch Park, 15 Paul Beck Road. See www.LexingtonNC.gov for details.
kannapolis — On Saturday from10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Paws for Celebration & Pet Blessings will host music, food, pet adoptions, bouncy house, K-9 search and rescue demonstrations and more, at Memorial United Methodis Church, 1100 W. C St.. For details on the event, visit memorialunitedmethodistchurch.org or call 704-932-6711.
Quilters’ Guild show opens tomorrow
The Salisbury Rowan Quilters’ Guild will host the “Sunny Days and Starry Nights” Quilt Show on May 2 and 3 at the First Baptist Church First Ministry Center at 223 N. Fulton St.
There will be more than 200 professionally judged traditional and modern quilts, Challenge Quilts, cuddle quilts and quilts for veterans. Sewing, quilting and fiber vendors will be available. Highlighting the Saturday afternoon show will be the presentation of quilts to several local veterans at 1:30 p.m.
In addition, there will be demonstrations, a silent auction, door prizes and a tea room featuring fresh North Carolina strawberries. Admission is $5 and children 12 and under free. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
St. Thomas Players, the award-winning theatre company of Center for Faith & the Arts, announces the casts for its 2014 season:
Driving Miss Daisy
Next Fall
Both shows will be performed at The Lee Street Theater & Performing Arts Center at the Tom & Martha Smith Event Center. For tickets, call 704-310-5507 or visit www.leestreet.org
Waterworks reception tomorrow for high school artists’ exhibit
The last installment of the rotating exhibit “Celebrating Rowan County’s Young Artists” at Waterworks Visual Arts Center will open with a reception tomorrow from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit has featured the works of nearly 800 students representing Rowan-Salisbury’s public, independent, and home schooled students.
Catawba wraps up its season with three events
‘Dancin’ for Dimes in the Dust’
The Catawba College Dance Program will present its spring DanceWorks concert, “Dancin’ for Dimes in the Dust,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4. The one-act performance recalls 1930s America during the Great Depression, a devastating economic time that elevated unemployment rates and poverty, drought, and crime across the nation.
Through the bad and the worse, the American people found a sense of comfort in gathering around a source of technological warmth: the radio. Radio strengthened bonds between the common people through broadcasts of music, radio theatre, and the news.
This historical period inspired Catawba student and faculty choreographers. Led by visiting assistant professor of musical theatre and dance, Meredith Fox. they created pieces about gangster mobs, the Dust Bowl, Hoovervilles, Broadway revues and more, in an array of dance styles, such as tap, contemporary and jazz.
“Dancin’ for Dimes in the Dust” will be performed in Keppel Auditorium of the Robertson College-Community Center on campus.
The program is free and open to the public. http://catawba.edu
Choirs combine for ‘Our Song’
On Sunday, May 4 at 5:30 p.m. the Catawba Singers and the Catawba Chamber Choir will present their final spring concert, “Our Song,” which features music chosen for this performance by the members of the ensembles themselves.
Works by Gershwin, Thompson, Leonard Cohen, Freddie Mercury and Billy Joel will be presented. Of special note is a first performance of “Alone” by Catawba senior Allison Andrews, sung by the Catawba Chamber Choir.
The 47 singers directed by Dr. Phillip E. Burgess, Catawba’s director of choral activities, will be accompanied by Jacob Hahn and Susan Trivette on piano, and Dr. Barry Sang, French Horn.
The hour long program will be held in Omwake-Dearborn Chapel. The program is free and open to the public.http://catawba.edu
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours has been called the perfect rock album. It has reached platinum status 19 times over since its release in 1977 and contains some of the most recognizable and beloved songs in popular music by one of the greatest bands of all time.
The Catawba College Vernaculars will perform the Rumours album live in its entirety Thursday, May 8 in Hedrick Little Theatre.
This rare event, which is free and open to the public, will be made even more special by the attendance of Ken Caillat, the Grammy-winning producer of Rumors and other Fleetwood Mac albums. Caillat will sign copies of his memoir, “Making Rumours: The Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Album,” immediately following the 7:30 p.m. performance.
The Rumours performance will feature top students from Catawba College’s nationally recognized popular music degree program. They will perform “Dreams,” “Don’t Stop,” “Go Your Own Way,” “The Chain,” and all of the other classic songs from the album.
Catawba is one of only about a dozen four-year colleges and universities in the country to offer a curriculum designed especially for students of popular music. It draws talented students from across the country. Five have won John Lennon Songwriting scholarships, better results than any other school in a national competition that draws thousands of entries each year.
The Catawba College Music Department has been recognized as one of the fastest growing music programs in the country. Leading music education magazine In Tune Monthly has also selected it as a Best Music School for five years running alongside a short list of prestigious institutions that includes Julliard, Peabody and Berklee.
For information on the Rumours concert, contact Dr. David Lee Fish at dlfish@catawba.edu or call 704-637-4345.http://catawba.edu
Piedmont Prime Time Community Band Concert
CONCORD — The Piedmont Prime Time Community Band, with a large membership of residents from Cabarrus and Rowan counties, will present its final concert of the spring semester, Thursday, May 8, at 7 p.m. at Jay M. Robinson High School.
This is a free concert open to the public.The ensemble is conducted by Dr. Laurence Marks and Charles Emerich.
The program, titled “Made in America,” features music of American composers past and present. Highlights will include a rarely heard medley of Stephen Foster songs, arranged for the U.S. Marine Band by Sammy Nestico, plus a local premiere of a new composition “Bright Gleams A Beacon” by David Gillingham.
The Jay M. Robinson High Schoil Symphonic Band, directed by Blair Smith, will also perform several selections.
The history of Holbrook Radio
KANNAPOLIS — Kannapolis History Associates present Blaine Holbrook on “Holbrook’s Radio And TV.”
This family-owned business is one of Kannapolis’s oldest. Holbrook will share history and memories of this familiar icon.
The meeting is Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in the A.L. Brown High School social room.
Park in the lot East of Trinity Methodist Church and use the sidewalk. For more details call the History Room at 704-932-6125, ext 412.
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Folk Society will present a ticketed concert at Wedgewood Church on Saturday, featuring the Cathie Ryan Trio in the intimate setting of the Jim Rivers Hall (100 seats). Ryan has been in the vanguard of Irish music for more than 25 years.
She joined the all-female Irish-American supergroup Cherish the Ladies as lead singer in 1987 and toured with the band until 1995.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. and doors open at 7:30 p.m. at the Jim Rivers Fellowship Hall, Wedgewood Church, 4800 Wedgewood Drive, Charlotte.
Tickets are $20, available at www.folksociety.org