ARTifacts 5/3/13

Chamber Music presents 'Where East Meets West'

Chamber Music Sundays at Three will present "Where East Meets West" at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Shuck Music Recital Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. Jennifer Judd will join Southeast violin professor Brandon Christensen in works for violin and piano by Chinese, Taiwanese and American composers. The duo, who have performed together throughout the Midwest and in China, will play music by George Gershwin, William Bolcom, John Corigliano and a new piece by composition professor Robert Fruehwald entitled "The Dawning of Music in Kentucky." Tickets may be purchased by contacting the River Campus box office at the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays or by calling 651-2265. Tickets also may be purchased online at RiverCampusEvents.com.

'Last Chance to Dance' features student pieces

Student-choreographed dance pieces will be in the spotlight during Southeast Missouri State University's Department of Theatre and Dance's Second Stage Series event, "Last Chance to Dance: Spring," at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Bedell Performance Hall at the River Campus. The event allows students to present work without an audition, according to Dr. Phil Nacy, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. Most students performing will be theater and dance majors, although students from other majors also may participate. The show will include ballet, modern, tap and jazz, and is free and open to the public. The performances may contain adult content.

River City Players present 'Rumors'

"Rumors" by Neil Simon will be the River City Players' next production at Port Cape Girardeau. Dinner shows will be May 10, 11, 17 and 18, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., dinner starting at 7 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m. A show-only night will be May 16, with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m. and the play beginning at 7 p.m. "Rumors" tells the story of several affluent couples gathered in a posh suburban residence for a dinner party celebrating their hosts' 10th anniversary. They discover there are no servants, the hostess is missing, and the host -- the deputy mayor of New York City -- has shot himself through the earlobe. For reservations, call Port Cape Girardeau at 334-0954.

Arts Council hosts downtown walk

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will host a walking tour of downtown public art and architecture in Cape Girardeau from 1 to 3 p.m. May 11. Southeast Missouri State University professor emeritus and sculptor Edwin Smith will direct the tour, assisted by Tom Neumeyer, local photographer and author of "Cape Girardeau: Then & Now," and muralist Craig Thomas. Stops include the Common Pleas Courthouse, various public murals and Old St. Vincent's Church. The tour is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to assemble at 12:45 p.m. at the east portico of the Common Pleas Courthouse. Parking will be available at this location. The tour will wind through downtown Cape Girardeau and end at the corner of Spanish and Independence streets. Participants are asked to wear cool clothing and comfortable walking shoes. Bottled water will be provided. For more information, call the Arts Council at 334-9233.

Cape Roller Girls host second home bout

The Cape Girardeau Roller Girls come home May 18 at the Arena Building for their second home bout of the season. Currently undefeated at 3-0, the Roller Girls hope to continue their winning streak as they face Derby City Roller Girls from Louisville, Ky. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the bout begins at 7 p.m. As the team waits to receive not-for-profit status, it donates proceeds from every bout to a local charity. This upcoming game will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Missouri. A schedule of practices, bouts and publicity events can be found at CapeGirardeauRollerGirls.com, and on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace. Concessions for May 18 will be provided by Pitter's, which will host an after party immediately following. All fans of legal drinking age are invited to the party. Tickets may be purchased at Pitter's, P Mac Music, online at brownpapertickets.com or from any member of the Cape Girardeau Roller Girls. Children 5 and younger will be admitted free.

Old Town Cape kicks off spring Tunes at Twilight

The spring series of Old Town Cape's Tunes at Twilight starts at 7 p.m. May 17 and will feature Donna Herula. Herula is a blues singer-songwriter. She was a semifinalist in the 2012 Yamaha Six String Theory international guitar competition and placed in the top six of the blues guitarist category among contestants from 58 countries. Tunes at Twilight is an award-winning outdoor concert series held on Friday nights at the Common Pleas Courthouse gazebo in Cape Girardeau, sponsored by SoutheastHEALTH, Cape Air and FOX 23 KBSI. Grant assistance is provided through the Missouri Arts Council. Future spring performers include Corinne Chapman, Dan Bliss, Dana Cooper, Danny Santos and Stephen Simmons. In case of rain, the concert will be moved to Rose Theatre on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University. For more information about Tunes at Twilight, contact the Old Town Cape office at 334-8085 or visit oldtowncape.org/events.

Spring Art Festival set for May 17 and 18

More than 50 artists and craft workers from Missouri will offer live demonstrations in a variety of media at the two-day Bilderbach's Spring Art Festival. The festival is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. May 17 and at 10 a.m. May 18 at Bilderbach Art Plaza, 5 N. Main St., in Cape Girardeau. Live musical entertainment will be provided by Shaad Shubert, Tim Godlove and Eight Tracks. Hunter Valley Winery and Schmetterling Tea & Coffee Co. also will be at the event. Food will be provided. Admission is free. For more information, call 979-0043.

Smith to present piano recital

Dr. Janet Bass Smith, former organist at St. Andrew Lutheran Church and former piano instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, will present a solo piano recital at 7 p.m. May 16 at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. The recital, titled Classical Piano Favorites, includes many of the most famous intermediate and early advanced piano works from the classical period through the 20th Century. The recital is free and open to the public.

Saxony Village hosts bridge party

Saxony Village Retirement Community is hosting an area-wide bridge party at 1:30 p.m. May 23 at Saxony Manor. The party is open to the public and will be in Saxony Manor's common area. Participants will play "Party Bridge" and are encouraged to preregister in groups of four by calling 986-6290 or logging on to saxonyvillage.com. Registration is free and prizes will be awarded to winners. Sign-in for the bridge party will begin at 12:45 p.m., and play will begin at 1:30 p.m. Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. For more information about Saxony Village or the bridge party, visit saxonyvillage.com or call 986-6290.

Sikeston's Music at Malone begins May 31

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Music at Malone Park, a series of Friday evening concerts, will begin May 31 at Malone Park in Sikeston. From 6 to 8 p.m., Cape Girardeau progressive bluegrass band The Big Idea will play the first concert and Willy Bill's BBQ will provide the eats. The event is sponsored by Historic Downtown Sikeston.

-- From staff reports