Artifacts 1/17/03

Swingle nominated for book award

"The Gold of Cape Girardeau," a novel written by Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, has been nominated for the Michael Shaara Award for Civil War Fiction.

The award is sponsored by the United States Civil War Center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Swingle's book, published by the Southeast Missouri State University Press, is in its second printing.

Dixie Players to present 'Cheer for the New Year'

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- The Dixie Players will present a show titled "Cheer for the New Year" Saturday at the Dixie Playhouse.

The mix of country, pop and gospel music along with comic entertainment will feature Charles Parks, June Benson, Jeanette Hartlein, Terry Cheatham, Ginny DuPont, Howard Parker and Kelly Baker, all of Sikeston, Mo., Sandra Bollinger of Benton, Mo., and Carrie Miller, Leslie Bickford, Lori Brotherton, Mark Wade and Ralph Palmer, all of New Madrid.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.

Wind ensemble to perform Saturday

The Southeast Missouri Honors Wind Ensemble will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Academic Auditorium.

The band is composed of 40 high school students chosen by audition for 60 Missouri school districts.

The program will include the second performance of "Labyrinth," a work composed by Southeast Missouri State University graduate Joseph Pappas.

Area students in the band include: Joshua Miesner, Frohna, Mo.; Jonathan Beasley, Anthony Brewer, Chelsea Brown, Megan Dye, Mark Gerecke, Garrett Gjerstad, Carrie Golden, Derek King, Sarah Luehrs, Leslie Pourney, David Presnell, David Scroggins, Joey Starke, Mark Strickert, Beth Tate, Fallan Thiele and Jonathan Young, all of Jackson; Daniel Bert, Andrew Fair, Lisa Hunt and Ryan Pontillas, all of Perryville, Mo.; Hanna Gathman of Pocahontas, Mo.; and Rebecca Wheetley of Scott City.

The ensemble is directed by Dr. Robert Gifford. The concert is free and open to the public.

'Wit' begins Thursday in Paducah

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Wit" opens Thursday at the Market House Theatre.

The play tells the story of Vivian Bearing, a teacher of metaphysical poetry and the study of wit who is diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer. Bearing, a demanding teacher, becomes the subject of research because of an experimental treatment she undergoes and finds herself longing for human compassion and forgiveness.

The play continues through Feb. 8. Parental discretion is advised due to medical scenes and frank language.

Phone (270) 444-6828 or go to the MHT Web site, www.mhtplay.com, for information.

Cape native plays Lincoln for Hewlett Packard

Cape Girardeau native Charles Brame, who has been presenting programs as Abraham Lincoln for 27 years, plays Honest Abe in two current nationwide television commercials for Hewlett Packard Corp.

The commercials promote HP's new entertainment center system.

Stars on Ice features skating Olympians

ST. LOUIS -- Smucker's Stars on Ice, a show that includes a number of Olympic champions, will skate into St. Louis' Savvis Center Jan. 31.

Skaters include Olympic champions Tara Lipinski, Alexei Yagudin, Katarina Witt and pair champions Jamie Sale and David Pelletier and Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze.

Other stars in the show include four-time world champion Kurt Browning and world champion and six-time U.S. national champion Todd Eldredge.

Others in the show include three-time U.S. national pair champions Kyoko Ina and John Zimmerman, three-time U.S. national pair champions Jenni Meno and Todd Sand and eight-time British national champion Steven Cousins.

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show are $58, $45 and $35. Phone (314) 421-4400 for tickets or information or visit ticketmaster.com.

Clogging museum is going to Paducah

PADUCAH, Ky. -- A National Clogging Museum will be built in Paducah, it was announced Thursday.

The announcement was made by the National Clogging Hoedown Council, America's Clogging Hall of Fame and the Clogging Champions of America.

Submissions sought for 'Art for the Health of It'

Two-dimensional works in any media are sought for the annual "Art for the Health of It" exhibition.

The show is open to Missouri residents 18 and older living within a 100-mile radius of Cape Girardeau. The show will be displayed in the Southeast Missouri Hospital surgical waiting room corridor.

Prospectuses and entry forms are available from the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, 119 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau.

Deadline for submissions is Feb. 21.

'BLAST!' to show off percussion at Fox

ST. LOUIS -- Tony Award-winning "Blast!" will be presented Feb. 4-9 at the Fox Theatre.

"Blast!" evolved from a drum corps into a 54-member troupe that performs on brass and percussion instruments and provides a visual spectacle by spinning and tossing unusual implements along with the traditional sabers and some colorful flags.

Tickets range from $22 to $58. Phone (314) 534-1111 or visit www.metrotix.com.

'When Harry Killed Sally' at vineyard

POMONA, Ill. -- The play "When Harry Killed Sally" will be presented Feb. 7 at Von Jakob Vineyards.

The show will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. following a wine tasting and appetizers at 5:30 p.m.

Phone (618) 893-4500 or visit www.VonJakobVineyard.com for information.

"The Chicago Caper' opens Feb. 14

The River City Players production of "The Chicago Caper" opens Feb. 14 at the River City Yacht Club.

The audience-interactive play is set in the Roaring 20s.

Dinner theater performances also will be presented Feb. 15, 21 and 22. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 8 p.m. Admission is $19.95.

A show-only performance will be presented Feb. 20. Admission is $7.

For information or reservations, phone Post Cape at 334-09454 or send e-mail to portcape@clas.net.

JaRule to team with Charli Baltimore

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Charli Baltimore, Ludacris, and the Disturbing Tha Peace Family have been added to the Feb. 15 JaRule concert as special guests.

Tickets for the show at the SIU Arena go on Sale Saturday. Tickets are $32.50. Wristbands will be distributed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the SIU Arena south Lobby box office.

For more information, phone the ticket office at (618) 453-5341 or visit the SIU Arena Web site, www.siu.edu/~arena.

'George M!' at SIU Feb. 21

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The musical "George M!," a patriotic salute to America based on the legend of George M. Cohan, will be presented Feb. 21 at Shryock Auditorium.

The musical biography includes the sons "Over There," "Yankee Doodle Boy" and "You're A Grand Old Flag."

Tickets are $25, with a $6 discount for children 15 and younger. Phone (618) 453-2787 for information.

Anderson in concert sponsored by troopers

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- Country star John Anderson and special guest Ashley Dart will perform Feb. 28 at the Farmington Civic Center.

The 7 p.m. concert is a benefit sponsored by the Missouri State Troopers Association. Tickets also can be purchased so they can be distributed free to area nursing homes and child care facilities.

For ticket information, phone toll free (866) 906-6782.

-- From staff reports