Artifacts 10/7/16

'Mary and Belle' to be presented tonight

"Mary and Belle: Two Spirited Gals," a free play consisting of three very short scenes, will be performed by the River City Players Community Theatre as a part of First Friday with the Arts, starting at 6:30 p.m. today at the Arts Council Gallery, 16 N. Spanish St. in downtown Cape Girardeau. The first (5-minute) scene of the whimsical comedy about Mary, the ghost of Rose Theatre, and Belle, the ghost of Port Cape Girardeau, will be presented at the Arts Council Gallery. Scenes two and three will be at businesses around downtown -- but the locations won't be divulged until the end of scene one.

Book signing planned at mall

A book-signing event will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in West Park Mall, 3049 William St., in Cape Girardeau. Linden Mize, author of "The Journey of Mason Night: Night Meets Moon," will be available to sign copies of her novel.

Messiah Choir practices to begin next week

The Messiah Choir is open to singers of all ages who enjoy performing selections from Handel's "Messiah." Rehearsals will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays of October and November, starting Monday, Oct. 10, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 100 N. Frederick St. in Cape Girardeau. This is a choir for those who enjoy singing but cannot commit to a choir schedule full-time. Refreshments will follow the rehearsal. Everyone is welcome. No experience necessary. The concerts will be in January.

River Campus to present 'Snazzy and Jazzy'

Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Music will present "Snazzy and Jazzy," the annual Jazz Season opener, at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus, 518 S. Fountain St. in Cape Girardeau. The concert will feature Southeast's two jazz ensembles and several student soloists. Preconcert music by the Southeast Jazz Combo will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets for this concert cost $12 and may be purchased at the River Campus box office, by calling (573) 651-2265 or online at www.RiverCampus.org. For more information, contact Robert Conger at (573) 651-2398.

Concert, food drive planned at Black River Coliseum

Country music artist Martina McBride will perform as part of her Love Unleashed Tour at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Black River Coliseum, 301 S. 5th St. in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Martina McBride's charity initiative, Team Music Is Love, also is partnering with the Southeast Missouri Food Bank and the Bread Shed Food Pantry to host a food drive at 1:30 p.m. the day of the concert at the coliseum. Fans are invited to come before the show and donate nonperishable food items or make a monetary donation to the food bank. Volunteers will accept donations in the lobby at the Black River Coliseum. Requested food items are canned vegetables and fruits, canned meats, boxed dinners, peanut butter, pasta, soups and grains. Each donation to the food bank will earn a chance at winning two tickets and a meet-and-greet with McBride. The winner will be notified by phone before the concert. Donations will help the Bread Shed Food Pantry and citizens of Poplar Bluff and surrounding areas.

Call for local dancers to audition

Auditions for the Moscow Ballet's "Great Russian Nutcracker" will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 at The Dance Center, 2117 William St. in Cape Girardeau. Moscow Ballet soloist and audition director Alisa Bolotnikov will be present to judge the auditions. Boys and girls ages 7 to 17 who have at least one year of ballet training may audition for ancillary roles, such as Party Children, Mice, Snowflakes, Angels and more. The audition is free, but there may be a casting fee. The "Great Russian Nutcracker" will be performed Dec. 8 in the Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus.

-- From staff reports

Pertinent addresses:

16 N. Spanish St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

3049 William St., Suite 219A, Cape Girardeau, Mo.

301 S. 5th St., Poplar Bluff, Mo.

2117 William St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.