etc. - April 1, 2010

Big band jazz returns to Empire

Big Band jazz will rock the Tekoa Empire Theatre Saturday, April 10 at 7 p.m. The Master Class Jazz Orchestra from Spokane will bring 15 instrumentalists and two vocalists to perform a full concert featuring swinging arrangements from the heyday of the swing era to the present. Unique among area music ensembles, the MCJO is a combination of professional musicians and outstanding students.

Vocalists will be Whitworth College students Brandon Cate from Hayden Lake and Ellie Tappa from Spokane.

Mark Stephens is executive director of the group and Paul Plowman, musical director for Spokane schools, is musical director.

They will play selections from jazz past masters as well as current stars, including Quincy Jones, Nelson Riddle, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Harry Connick, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and many others.

The orchestra has proven effective in putting younger players on the fast track to developing musical technique, as well as showmanship, professional conduct and leadership skills. Led by seasoned professionals in the key horn and rhythm sections, the ensemble is able to mentor students while maintaining its top caliber presentation. The pros out-number the students by a ratio of three to two.

Admission to the show will be $15 at the door, $12 in advance, $5 for youths 12 and under. For tickets and information, call (509) 254-5000.

‘Guys & Dolls’ begins 3-week run at RTOP

A three-week run of “Guys and Dolls,” presented by Regional Theatre of the Palouse, will begin April 9. A cast of more than 20 will entertain audiences with their depiction of the fast-paced world of New York gambling and street life in the 1940s. .RTOP Artistic Director John Rich reports he was amazed with the talented pool of actors for this show and double cast the four leading roles with residents from Moscow, Pullman and Colfax.

The story is based on Damon Runyon’s Broadway fables and boasts a musical score by Frank Loesser featuring clever, funny and singable songs such as “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “Luck Be a Lady” and “A Bushel and a Peck.”

Jared and Shairylann Lisonbee, of Colfax, are married and playing opposite each other as Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide. Joseph Monohon and Sarah Kelley are playing the other Nathan and Adelaide.

Evening performances will be April 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees will be April 17 and 24 at 2:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for children. All shows will be at the RTOP Theater, 122 N. Grand Ave. in Pullman.

http://www.rtoptheatre.org.

St. John egg hunt

An Easter egg hunt will be conducted by the St. John/Endicott 4H and Mothers’ club Saturday at 10 a.m. in the St. John City Park. It will be sponsored by local businesses. Youngsters up to third grade are welcome to participate. The park will be marked off in different age divisions.

Garfield hunt offers 500 Easter Eggs

Garfield’s 8th annual Easter egg hunt will be Saturday, April 3, at 10 a.m. at the Garfield-Palouse Middle School playground. All children, ages 2 through 9, are encouraged to join in the fun of finding more than 500 candy-filled eggs. This event is sponsored by the Garfield Lions Club in partnership with the Garfield Community Church, Garfield Christian Fellowship and the Garfield United Methodist Church.

Bank Left to exhibit paper mache design

Coeur d’Alene artist Rhea Giffin will show her paper mache designs at The Bank Left Gallery & Bistro as part of the WSU mom’s celebration April 9,10 and 11. The exhibit will run until April 28.

Opening reception with the artist will be April 10 from 1-5 with live music and chocolate tasting.

A French dinner will follow from 5-8 at The Bank Left Bistro as part of the art & culture series.

Scholz recital at UI

Matthew Scholz, a CHS graduate majoring in music at the University of Idaho, has been scheduled to present a student piano recital April 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the UI Auditorium in the Administration building. Scholz plays here at the United Methodist Church and has given other performances. The April 7 recital is part of his course work.

UI music recitals this year have been moved to the UI Auditorium because the concert hall in the Lionel Hampton music building is being remodeled.

Scholz and Jamie Karlson, another UI student, also plan a piano/flute recital at the Colfax UMC church, tentatively set for May 5 at 7:30 p.m.

‘Orpheus’ set for Bryan Hall

WSU Opera Workshop will present “Orpheus in the Underworld” by Jacques Offenbach during Mom’s Weekend, at 8 p.m. April 9 and at 2 p.m. April 10 in Bryan Hall Theatre.

The production is directed by Julie Anne Wieck, with assistance from Karen Savage. Ruth Boden will conduct the WSU Symphony Orchestra.

The cast consists of 31 WSU students, lead by Angela Brown as Eurydice, Dillon Robertson as Orpheus, Jordyn Palmer as Calliope, Jared Johnson as Pluto and Zach Peterson as Jupiter.

Tickets are $5 for students of all ages and senior citizens and $10 for general admission. Tickets will be on sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 7 to April 9 at Kimbrough Music Hall as well as an hour and a half before each performance at Bryan Hall Theatre.

‘End Days’ drama set at daggy

WSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance will present “End Days” starting during Mom’s Weekend in Daggy Hall’s Jones Theatre. Dates are April 8 to April 10 and April 15 to April 17 with all shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. A 2 p.m. matinee is slated April 10.

“End Days” is the story of a family stunned by the attacks on 9/11. The mother is a born-again Christian, the father is in a catatonic state and their 16-year-old daughter Rachel is trying out the gothic style of clothes and makeup. Who will save this family?

Tickets for the show can be reserved by email at [email protected] or by calling the theater box office. Tickets can also be purchased at the Daggy Hall box office from 2 to 5 p.m. the week of the performance and few before the

Prices are $15 for adults, $10 for WSU students with identification and senior citizens, and $7 for youth under 17.

Clubs & Youth Groups

Rosalia Garden Club

At the March meeting, Rosalia Garden Club had a class in creative design given by Joyce DiGiovanni, president of the judge’s council.

The club members are hoping to be able to show some creations at the next flower show. Joyce critiqued the flower arrangements that were brought by some of the members.

The next meeting will be at the home of Joy Buchholtz with Penni Barringer co-host Wednesday, April 7, at 1 p.m. Members will discuss the upcoming fund-raiser for the club. In addition, the nominating committee will report.

The theme for the tea this year will be “Hat’s Off To Spring.” Club members have received their packets from President Kathy Hilliard with instructions for selling. Please call Joy Buchholtz in Rosalia before the April 7 meeting with counts. The tea will be at the Rosalia Methodist social room April 17, at 1 p.m. Tickets are available from any garden club member.

Proceeds from the fund raiser will be used to beautify the mini-park owned by the people in Rosalia. A program will be presented by Ermie Jean Widman.

Taste ‘n’ Tear 4H

Last Saturday, March 20, the members of the 4H club Taste ‘n’ Tear, started an embroidery project that they will finish at their next meeting, April 17. They also learned about the different embroidery stitches. For lunch, they each pitched in to make Chicken Kiev, roasted Asparagus, Carrot Salad, Lemony Tropic Layered Dessert and muffins.

On campus

MUSIC

Award-winning guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque will give two performances with students and musical groups from the WSU School of Music April 13. Haque will perform at noon with WSU students in the CUB and join WSU’s vocal jazz ensemble and the WSU Big Band for a performance in Kimbrough Music Hall at 8 p.m.

After the performances, he will play at Rico’s Pub in downtown Pullman at 10:30 p.m.

All events are free and open to the public.

BOOKMARK

Need more computer access? Thanks to grant funding, Whitman County Library has added 24 open hours each week to the countywide library schedule. For more information about computer access or assistance finding a job, contact Erica or Andree with the WORC program toll-free at 877-733-3375 or at [email protected].

Teens are invited to a countywide dance at the Palouse Empire Fairgrounds on April 9 from 8-11:30 p.m. Cost is just $5 with proceeds benefiting 4-H and library teen programs.

Items of note on the library events calendar include: April 4 holiday closure, the next meeting of the Library Board of Trustees has changed from April 20 to April 13, and the Friends meeting is set for April 27 at Two Old Gals.