Go green

Get out your green. Irish Heritage Month begins this weekend in Illinois. The celebration starts with a production of "The Irish and How They Got That Way," at Mugsy McGuire's Entertainment Center at 1620 W. Main St. in Carbondale, Ill.

The musical was written by Frank McCourt, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Angela's Ashes." It gives a brief history of the Irish in Ireland and in America up to the 20th century and shows different aspects of Irish and Irish-American history through songs ranging from the traditional to Tin Pan Alley songs.

A buffet dinner will be served from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday with the performance starting at 8. Tickets are $35 in advance, by today, and $40 at the door. A Sunday matinee starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or at the door. No meal will be served, but drinks will be available. Tickets for children age 10 and older are available at a discounted price. Call 618-457-6847 for tickets or more details. Tickets can also be purchased at Mugsy McGuire's, by sending a check to the Southern Illinois Irish Festival, P.O. Box 3276, Carbondale, Ill., 62902, or at www.silirishfest.org.