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Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres this weekend

PRAIRIE DU ROCHER, Ill. -- The Midwest's largest gathering of 1700s-era re-enactors will be at the 33rd annual Rendezvous at Fort de Chartres Saturday and Sunday.

The rendezvous features military units, traditional craft demonstrations, period music and dancing, an 18th century fashion show, black powder shooting events, cannon firings and more. Everything is free and open to the public. The public can participate in some activities.

Performers will include the Great River Fife and Drums Corps, Tippecanoe Ancient Fife & Drum Corps, Colonial Fife & Drum Corps, Traveler's Dream, La Guiannee Singers, The Peacocks, Booneslick Strings, the 42nd Highlanders Band of Pipes, Fifes & Drums, Lewis & Clark Fife & Drum Corps and the Campfollowers Band.

This is the 250th anniversary of the French construction of the stone Fort de Chartres. A re-enactor will portray the fort's engineer, and period craftsmen will demonstrate the original construction techniques.

Each day's activities will begin with the Posting of Colours at 10 a.m. The Retreat Ceremony ends each day at 4:30 p.m.

The Gordons to play folk music

Southern Illinois folk singers The Gordons will perform Saturday night at Trail of Tears State Park and Sunday afternoon at the Bollinger Mill State Historic Site.

Gary Gordon plays guitar and dobro. Roberta Gordon plays the autoharp.

The Trail of Tears performance will begin at 8 p.m. in the amphitheater. The Bollinger Mill concert will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the picnic area. Lawn chairs are recommended at Bollinger Mill.

Both concerts are free. In case of rain, the Bollinger Mill concert will be held at the Little Ole Opry, 1 mile north of Burfordville on Highway 34.

Single Muny tickets now on sale

ST. LOUIS -- Single tickets for the 2003 season at the Muny are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Muny Box Office in Forest Park or by phoning (314) 534-1111.

"Fiddler on the Roof," a musical based on the folk tales of Sholom Aleichem, will open The Muny season June 16 through 22. All performances are at 8:15 p.m.

Tickets range from $8 to $54. For information, phone (314) 361-1900 or visit www.muny.com.

The rest of the season includes "Side By Side By Sondheim" June 23 through 29, "Show Boat" July 7 through 13, "Cinderella" July 14 through 20, "Godspell" July 21 through 27, "Crazy For You" July 28 through Aug. 3 and "South Pacific" Aug. 4 through 10.

Sinatra sound-alike to sing with symphony

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Paducah Symphony will perform with Sinatra sound-alike Steve Lippia at Bluegrass Downs June 14.

Attendees are invited to bring their own picnic dinners or order boxed dinners. Wine must be ordered through the symphony office. Tables range from $25 to $50 per person. General admission is $12 in advance or $15 at the gate.

Gates will open at 5:30 p.m., with live dinner music at 6:30 and symphony music at 8 p.m.

Phone (800) 738-3727 for information.

Car show Saturday in Oran

ORAN, Mo. -- The eighth annual Oran Chamber of Commerce Car Show will be presented from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Tilles Memorial City Park in Oran.

There also will be Shriners Clowns, a Lifebeat helicopter, a radio-controlled car exhibition and other events. Concessions will be available.

Museum offers workshops for children

Two weekend workshops for children will be offered at the Southeast Missouri State University Museum. The workshops are presented in conjunction with the museum exhibition "Literary Journey/Classic Texts: The Illustrations of Barry Moser."

Moser is an illustrator and designer of more than 250 books, including Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," and L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

He received the National Book award for Design and Illustration and the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award.

The workshops for children ages 9 to 12 will be presented June 28 and July 26. Children will explore how art expresses a story. They also will create prints of their own using block printing and lithography.

The same program will be offered both days at the Museum Galleries, room 122 in Memorial Hall. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Snacks will be provided. A $5 supply fee is required, and enrollment is limited. To register, phone 651-2301.

The Moser exhibit will remain on display at the museum through Aug. 10. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from noon to 4 p.m. weekends. It will be closed July 4 through 6. Youth group tours also can be arranged by phoning 651-2301.

Cedarhurst to exhibit Southern Illinois artwork

MOUNT VERNON, Ill. -- An exhibition titled "Southern Illinois Artists" opens June 14 and continues through Aug. 24 at the Mitchell Museum at Cedarhurst. The show exhibits 65 works by 62 artists.

For information, phone (618) 242-1236.

'China: The Panda Adventure' in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- "China: The Panda Adventure," is playing at the Union Planters IMAX Theater.

The film stars Maria Bellow as a widow whose mission is to find the elusive Giant Panda her husband was searching for when he died.

The movie is based on the autobiography of New York socialite Ruth Harkness. Widowed in 1936 just weeks after her marriage, Harkness took up her late husband's quest after he died of fever during an expedition to study the Giant Panda. At the time, big-game hunters claimed the panda was ferocious and should be shot on sight. Harness' husband wanted to prove they are gentle.

Phone (901) 763-IMAX for information.

Cape band opening up at Hogg Farm Rally

BENTON, Ill. -- The Cape Girardeau band Drivin' Rain will share the bill with rock legends John Kay & Steppenwolf and the acclaimed country band the Kentucky Headhunters June 20-21 at the Hogg Farm Rally.

The Kentucky Headhunters will perform June 20, with the Southern Illinois band Plain Strange opening up.

Steppenwolf recorded the rock standards "Born to be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" in the 1960s. In 1980, lead singer John Kay created a new band called John Kay and Steppenwolf. They have continued touring ever since and will headline June 21.

Drivin' Rain will be the special guests that day. The band's personnel includes Timexx Rainwalker, Tommy DeWolf, G.P. Clark and C.D. Shemwell.

The 220-acre Hogg Farm is located on Route 14, 13 miles east of the Benton exit off Interstate 57. The rally will include a poker run, field events, bike shows, raffles and vendors. Primitive camping, hot showers, a swimming pond and firewood are free. Food and ice will be available. No pets, golf carts, ATVs or weapons are allowed.

Phone (618) 439-HOGG or (618) 439-4644 or visit www.hoggfarmrally.com. You must be 18 or older to enter. Admission for the weekend is $30.

'Magnificent Age' of France at Nelson-Atkins

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- "A Magnificent Age: French Paintings from the Walters Art Museum," opens June 28 at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

The exhibition celebrates the explosion of new ideas, mores and power that occurred during the 19th century in France, from the rise of bohemia and the Eiffel Tower to the intellectual warfare in the riverbank cafes and the seductiveness of the Moulin Rouge.

The Walters Arts Museum in Baltimore contains nearly 22,000 works of art collected by railroad tycoons William and Henry Walters. The show continues through Sept. 7.

Theater classes for children in Paducah

PADUCAH, Ky. -- "Play It -- Jack and the Beanstalk," a two-week performance class for second- and third-graders, will be offered July 7-18 at the Market House Theatre in Paducah.

"Play It -- Little Red Riding Hood," a performance class for fourth- and fifth-graders, also will be held July 7-18.

Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders can learn about comedy improvisation in "Improv Kids!," to be presented July 7, 9, 14 and 16. Preschoolers 4 and 5 years old can explore art, music and movement in "Princesses, Pigs and Dragons! -- Preschool Creative PlayShops" for four days beginning July 8.

To register or for information, phone (270) 444-6828.

-- From staff reports