Productions opening on regional stages

3/2/2005

The Village Players present LuAnn Hampton Laverty Oberlander, written by Preston Jones and directed by John Henry, Friday through March 19 in the theater at 2740 Upton Ave. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. March 13. The production includes adult language. Admission is $14 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. Information: 419-472-6817.

•

Monroe Community Players will present South Pacific today-March 13 in the River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 South Monroe St., Monroe. Performances are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15. Information: 734-242-7722.

•

Harold and Maude, the 1971 film starring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort, has been scheduled at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Super Cinemas, 1301 East Mall Dr., Holland, as the latest entry in National Amusements' Silver Screen Classics program. The film is a love story between a depressed, death-obsessed 20-year-old man and a spirited 79-year-old eccentric who exposes him to the wonders of life.

The price of $1 will buy viewers a ticket, popcorn, and a soft drink. The Silver Screen Classics program is geared toward senior citizens, but movie fans of all ages are welcome to attend.

•

Re-secheduled from a snow cancellation, Project ABC, a literacy-based arts program, presents The Great Pancake Escape at 10 a.m. Saturday in LaRue auditorium of Monroe Street United Methodist Church, 3613 Monroe St. Written by University of Toledo communications professor Paul Many, with a jazz score by David Jex, the 40-minute production is free and open to the public. Information: 419-480-0222.

•

Blessid Union of Souls, with special guests Holly Spears and Justin Branam. will be performing at 8 p.m. Friday in the Ritz Theatre, 30 South Washington St., Tiffin. Tickets range from $9 to $32.

The theater also will host HopeJam, a concert to benefit tsunami relief, at 7 p.m. Saturday. It will feature music of Toraigh, performing traditional music and dancing of Ireland and Scotland, and John Sager, the 2004 Findlay Idol winner. A donation of $5 is requested at the door.

Information: 419-448-8544.

•

Broadway! The Big Band Years will be staged at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Valentine Theatre, 400 North Superior St. The production celebrates Broadway stars, orchestra, and tunes with songs such as "The Lullaby of Broadway" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Tickets are $25, $37, and $45.

Also at the theater will be the children's production of Hugga-Bunny's Eggs-Traordinary Adventure at 2, 4, and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday. Recommended for preschoolers to third graders, the adventure centers on the nature of friendship and the advantages of using one's imagination. Tickets are $12 and $16 for adults and $7 and $11 for children.

Information: 419-242-2787.

•

Singer Tom Jones will be in concert at 7:30 p.m. March 31 at the Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowsn Blvd. Tickets are $42.50, $52.50, $56.50, and $66.50. Information: 419-381-8851.

•

The University of Toledo department of theater and film will be hosting Austrian filmmaker Peter Kubelka today and Friday. He will present his seven experimental films in two screenings at the Student Union. Adebar, Schwechater, and Arnulf Rainer will be screened at 8 tonight. The metaphoric films Dichtung und Wahrheit (Poetry and Truth), Mosaik im Vertrauen (Mosaic in Confidence), Unsere Afrikareise (Our Trip to Africa), and Pause! will be screened at 8 p.m. Friday. General admission is $5; student tickets are $3. Information: 419-530-2202.

•

The CakeWalkin' Jass Band will be performing from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in Murphy's Place, 151 Water St. Admission is $6.

•

Stevens Puppets brings the classic tale Beauty and the Beast to life through the use of marionettes in three performances at Toledo-Lucas County Public Library branches Saturday. All performances are free and open to the public, with tickets available one hour prior to the program. Performances will be at 11:30 a.m. in the West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 Sylvania Ave.; 2 p.m. at the Main Library, 325 Michigan Ave., and 4 p.m. in the Maumee Branch Library, 501 River Rd.

Information: 419-259-5207.

•

Toledo Harley-Davidson/Buell, 7960 West Cental Ave., is presenting a free All Shook Up Daytona Days Party to benefit Beach House Family Shelter from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. The in-store event will feature Elvis impersonator Walt Sanders & the Cadillac Band, performing from 5 to 9 p.m. Information: 419-843-7892.

•

Entries for the 10th annual Ohio Short Film & Video Showcase are being accepted through March 25. The showcase will be held April 30 in the Wexner Center for the Arts on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus. Applications and guidelines for the Showcase and Youth Division are available online at www.wexarts.org/fv.

•

Right Side Cast, a Christian rock band, will perform a benefit concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in North End Church of God, 2610 North Erie St. The concert will raise funds for a local food bank. Admission will be canned or nonperishable food items.

•

The "Taste of Chaos" Tour is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Toledo Sports Arena, One Main St.; doors open at 5 p.m. Headlining will be Used, with My Chemical Romance, Killswitch, and Engage. Tickets are $25 from 419-698-4545.

•

Toledo Repertoire Theatre will hold auditions for Into the Woods Jr., a musical directed by Shauna Newbold at 1 p.m. Saturday at 16 Tenth St. Auditioners must be in grades 1-8, bring sheet music, and be prepared to sing. Production dates will be April 29-May 1 and May 6-8. Information: 419-243-9277.

•

Random Acts will hold appointment-only auditions for models, singers, and actors from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 28744 Simmons Rd., Perrysburg. Information: 419-861-3094.