Artifacts

Children's workshop at University Museum

Spaces remain open in the "Stories and Art" workshop to be held Saturday at the University Museum in Memorial Hall at Southeast Missouri State University.

The workshop will use the illustrations of artist Barry Moser to teach children how illustrations work and how they affect literature. Children will make their own sketches based on passages from books. Andrea Morrill, the museum's curator of education, will be the teacher.

The workshop is for ages 9 to 12. It will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The cost is a $5 supply fee. Phone 651-2301 to register.

The exhibition of Moser's work is open for viewing by the public from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Group tours are available at 9:30 a.m. and at 1:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday until Aug. 7. Tours are free.

Clay Walker to sing at Metropolis

METROPOLIS, Ill. -- Country star Clay Walker will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday at Harrah's Metropolis Casino in the second installment of its Summer Outdoor Concert Series.

Tickets are $15. Phone (800) 929-5905 for information.

Upcoming concerts are John Michael Montgomery Aug. 24, Dwight Yoakam Sept. 14 and Merle Haggard Oct. 11.

'Crazy For You' begins Monday at Muny

ST. LOUIS -- The George Gershwin musical "Crazy For You" opens Monday at The Muny.

The musical tells the story of a playboy who goes to Deadrock, Nev., to foreclose the mortgage on a theater and meets the only girl for him in a town of 157 men.

Included are the Gershwin tunes "I Got Rhythm," "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Embraceable You."

The show begins at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $8 to $54. Phone (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.com for information.

Southern Illinois artists in exhibition

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The work of three Southern Illinois artists is featured in a new exhibit opening Wednesday at the Associated Artist Gallery in Carbondale.

Titled "Three Artists -- Five Media: Nancy Bain, Karen Fiorino & Rory Jaros," the exhibition continues through Aug. 30.

Bain, from Lake of Egypt, makes glass jewelry and is a watercolor painter. Fiorino, a Makanda artist, will display ornate vases and her work "Vulture Throne," a fantastical chair that has won first prize in six art exhibits, including the 2002 Girardot National Juried Exhibition at the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau.

Jaros, from Cobden, creates furniture using techniques and tools employed more than 150 years ago by the Shakers. He uses Southern Illinois hardwoods, especially walnut.

The gallery is located at 715 S. University Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

River City Players Follies auditions on Aug. 2-3

Auditions for the second annual River City Players Follies will be held Aug. 2-3 at Port Cape, 19 N. Water St.

The follies will be presented Aug. 15-16.

Anyone with a talent is invited to the auditions, which will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. both days.

For more information, phone Dr. Roseanna Whitlow, 334-9997.

Starcatchers to present acting workshop

A one-week acting workshop for students ages 11-15 will be presented Aug. 4-8 in Jackson.

The workshop will be limited to 12 students. Instruction will include diction and projection exercises, role playing, set design and painting, and creating costumes. Participants will rehearse an adaptation of the children's book "The Custard Kid." It will be performed the last day of the workshop.

Hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. all five days. The workshop will be held in Cox Memorial Hall at New McKendree United Methodist Church, 225 S. High St. The cost is $60. Registration must be made in advance by calling 243-1450 or 243-6172.

Dancers sought for 'Nutcracker'

More than 80 parts are available for local dancers who want to participate in the December performances of "The Nutcracker" by the Minnesota Ballet. Auditions will be held Sept. 12 at the Student Rec Center Dance Room on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

Parts are available for boys and girls ages 8 to 19 with advanced, intermediate and beginning experience.

Auditions will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. for ages 8-11 and from 6 to 7 p.m. for ages 12-19.

Rehearsals with the Minnesota Ballet will begin Sept. 13 and continue Sept. 14.

The Minnesota Ballet's "The Nutcracker" is a benefit for the Community Counseling Center Foundation. For more information about auditions, phone Larry Essner at 334-1100.

The ballet will present two school performances and three public performances between Dec. 18 and 20.

Czech bluegrass band to play Aug. 6

The Czech bluegrass band Fragment will perform Aug. 6 at the University Center on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

The five-piece band has performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

The concert is sponsored by Southeast Public Radio. It will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale at KRCU Studios, 338 N. Henderson in Cape Girardeau. Tickets are $10. Discounts are available for students and seniors.

Phone 651-5070 for information.

Strauss writes book on dance

Dr. Marc Strauss, a faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Southeast Missouri State University, is the co-author and co-editor of a new book titled "The Dance Experience: Insights into History, Culture and Creativity." The book is a second edition of a 1970s text of readings in dance.

Strauss recently presented a paper at a conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Workshop on gourds as works of art

WICKLIFFE, Ky. A workshop titled Gourds as Native American Works of Art will be presented Aug. 9 at Wickliffe Mounds Research Center.

Valerie Goetz, a member of the Muscogee Nation of Florida, will lead the workshop.

Sessions will be taught from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. The fee is $25. To reserved a session, phone (270) 335-3681.

Pulaski County Fair Aug. 11 through 16

PULASKI, Ill. -- The 44th annual Pulaski County Fair will be held Aug. 11 through 16. Events include demolition derbies, tractors pulls, a Western horse show and a mud race. Phone (618) 342-6212 for information.

Big band music at Stone Hill Winery

HERMANN, Mo. -- A big band dance will be presented Aug. 23 at the Stone Hill Winery.

The Blue Knights, a 12-piece orchestra from St. Louis will present "A Night with Sinatra" from 8 to 11 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and must be purchased in advance. Phone (800) 900-9463.

Fiddle festival in Branson Aug. 23

BRANSON, Mo. -- The 16th annual Olde Time Fiddle Festival will be held Aug. 23 at the Taneycomo Lakefront in downtown Branson.

Preliminary rounds in Texas Style and Old Time Traditional Style for three age groups will begin at 9:30 a.m. at North Beach Park. The finals will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Old Stone Steps.

For information, phone (417) 334-1548.

Environmentalist scientist to speak

ST. LOUIS -- Dr. David Suzuki, the geneticist and environmentalist who hosts the TV series "The Nature of Things," will speak Sept. 5 at the St. Louis Science Center.

His free lecture is being presented in conjunction with the national broadcast of the four-part PBS series "The Sacred Balance," which is based on Suzuki's newest book.

This book gives provides a blueprint for meeting our basic needs while living a fulfilling and ecologically sustainable life.

Suzuki's talk will begin at 7:30 p.m. The center is located at 5050 Oakland Ave. in St. Louis.

Reservations are suggested. Phone (800) 456-7572, extension 4424.

-- From staff reports