The Minot Area Theatrical Society will hold auditions for "The Little Mermaid" on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. Children between the ages of 5 and 17 are asked to audition for this children's show. Auditions will be held at The Bagel Stop, 1701 S. Broadway, in the back room. For more information, contact Nicolette Nelson at 833-0619.
The Minot Chamber Chorale, the only mixed community choir in Minot, is seeking singers to audition. The group offers four concerts each season including a Fall Pops Concert, Renaissance Christmas Feast, Classical Works Concert and Spring Sampler Concert and Ice Cream Social. To schedule an audition contact conductor Bob Demke at 721-4548 or rcdinvest@srt.com. The chorale also performs each summer as part of the Arts in the Parks program sponsored by the Minot Area Council of the Arts. For additional information and to view some concert video clips check our website at (www.minotchamberchorale.org).
The 10th annual "Praise on the Prairie Music Festival" will be held in Hazen today through Saturday. Bring a chair and a tent and enjoy several genres of music, including Christian rock tonight, and country and gospel music Friday and Saturday. Concessions and canopies for shade provided. For more information, go to (www.praiseontheprairie.com) or call 870-4584.
Bluegrass bands Consensus and Cotton Wood will appear at Cross Ranch State Park Saturday at 7 p.m. for "Blue Grass Goes Pink." The event is being held in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. Tickets are $10 plus a $5 park entrance fee. Visitors to both concerts are asked to bring portable chairs. Camping reservations can be made by calling 800-807-4273.
Legendary Missouri River steamboat captain Grant Marsh returns to Fort Buford State Historic Site near Williston Saturday and Sunday. Portrayed by Arch Ellwein in the popular History Alive! program, Grant Marsh will discuss his life as a steamboat captain on the Missouri River. His monologue is set in the early 1900s when Marsh was in his late 60s. Performances of Grant Marsh are scheduled for Saturday, July 28, and Sunday, July 29, at Fort Buford State Historic Site at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (CT). The 20-minute monologues are based on original letters, diaries and other documents, many from the archives of the State Historical Society of North Dakota. For more information, contact Fort Buford State Historic Site at 572-9034, the historical society at 328-2666 or visit the agency's web site at (history.nd.gov).
A.T. Packard, the 1880s editor of the Bad Lands Cow Boy, will appear at the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site in Medora Saturday and Sunday. Portrayed by Donald Ehli in the popular History Alive! program, A.T. Packard will discuss his life as the editor of the newspaper from 1884-86. Performances of A.T. Packard will be on the veranda of the Chateau at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (MT). The free History Alive! performances are part of the summer programs sponsored by the state's history agency, the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The character monologues, about 20 minutes in length, are based on original letters, diaries and other documents, many from the archives of the historical society. For more information, contact the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site at 623-4355 or the historical society at 328-2666 or visit the agency's web site at (history.nd.gov).
Dianna and Erik Anderson, piano and cello duo and Minot State University faculty members, are scheduled to perform at the Sibyl Center in Stanley on Sunday at 7 p.m. The Andersons have been playing music together for the last 17 years - literally from their first date when they met as undergraduates at the University of Idaho. Since 2003, the Andersons have taught, performed on stages and in classrooms, and judged festivals. Dianna will present the 32 Sonatas of Beethoven in a series of recitals over the next decade. Erik soloed with two N.D. symphonies during the 2008-09 season. They participate in solo and joint programs during the academic year. There is a free will donation at the door for the performance. The Sibyl Center is located at 301 1st St. SW in Stanley. Log on at (www.sibylcenter.org) for more information, or call Don at 336-817-4129.
The International Peace Garden will host its FAME (Fun, Art, Music and Entertainment) Summer Festival and Irish Ethnic Buffet on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fun for the entire family will feature students of Marjorie Teske, Studio on the Prairie, art display, scavenger hunt, and performances by Jazmine Wolff and group of Minot, and Mackenzie Marcellais of Belcourt.
The Taube Museum of Art's "Mixed Media Art Camp" is scheduled for Monday through Aug. 2, with sessions from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. The camp is open to children ages 5 and older. Call 838-4445 for more information.
Comedian George Casey will return to the Medora Musical July 1-28. For more than 30 years, Casey has been entertaining audiences all over the U.S. with his self-deprecating humor and clean jokes and stories. Casey was born in a remote seaside village on Ireland's west coast that is legendary for its storytelling. More information about Casey can be found at (www.georgecasey.com). Comedian Etta May, the "Queen of Southern Sass," will appear at the Medora Musical July 29-Aug. 18. Born and raised in Bald Knob, Ark., Etta May grew up alongside nine older brothers. "That's where my comedy comes from," May said. "I just wait for my husband or kids to do something stupid, and then I write it down." As the winner of the prestigious American Comedy Awards' "Stand-Up Comic of the Year," Etta May is a regular on the syndicated Bob & Tom radio show and on XM and Sirius Radio's comedy channels, as well as multiple TV appearances. She's also a headline comic on CMT's "CMT Comedy Stage," which is the second highest rated show in CMT history.
The Dakota Prairie Regional Center for the Arts presents its first show of the summer, the comedy musical "Urinetown." The show will run through Aug. 12 at the newly renovated Old Church Theatre in New Rockford. "Urinetown" is a story about a town hit by a terrible decades-long drought and subsequent extreme water shortage, causing the authorities and along with corporate mogul Caldwell B. Cladwell to restrict and charge for the privilege of using restroom facilities. After a corrupt and unfair fee hike, everyman Bobby Strong begins a "pee-for-free rebellion" to free the poor from the tyranny of the authorities. The satirical show includes blasts against the legal system, capitalism, corporate corruption, social irresponsibility and even the standard format of Broadway musicals. Comedy, song, dance, ethics and real social politics blend with an intense love story in this remarkable show. "Urinetown" runs Sundays through Thursdays from July 8 through Aug. 12. Sunday matinee performances begin at 2:30 p.m., all other evenings run at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22 and may be purchased online at (www.dprca.com) or by calling the box office at 947-2174.
The North Dakota National Guard 188th Army Band, on the occasion of 125 years of military music in North Dakota, will perform Sunday, Aug. 5, at 7 p.m. in Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot. Admission is free. In case of rain, the concert will be held in the Maysa Arena. The concert is part of the Minot Area Council of the Arts' Arts in the Park summer concert series.
Prairie Village Museum in Rugby will host its second Pioneer Survival Camp for kids from Aug. 7-10 and Aug. 12. Campers ages 7-13 will learn pioneer skills, crafts, stories, games, songs, cooking and more. Two sessions, each limited to 20 campers, will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 1 to 3 p.m. A joint session will be held from 12:15 to 3 p.m. on Aug. 12 during the Village Fair. Registration for the camp is $25 for historical society menus and $30 for non-members, and payment is required to secure a spot. Registration is at the museum, by calling 776-6414, emailing prairievillagemuseum@gmail.com or by joining the event on Facebook.
The 24th annual Great Tomato Festival will be held Wednesday, Aug. 8, at the N.D. State Fair Center. Doors open at 5:30, with a social at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the event benefit the Taube Museum of Art and Minot Public Library. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, must be 21 or older. Tickets are available at the library, the museum, The Computer Store, Artistry, Art Main and Minot Air Force Base Tires Plus.
Prairie Village Museum in Rugby will host its 27th annual Village Fair on Sunday, Aug. 12. Featured performers include Dakota Dixie, Manuel Delgado and River Road. Gates open at 9 a.m. with a pancake breakfast until 11 a.m. The saloon and food stands open at 11:30 p.m. Activities include kids games, a stitching session and class in Juniata School.
The "Rock the Leaves" fundraiser to rebuild the Oak Park bandshell is scheduled for Aug. 25, from 2-11 p.m. at Scandinavian Heritage Park. The sixth annual event will feature Nashville guitarist DJ Phillips, a 10-year veteran of the Medora Musical from 2000 to 2009. Phillips, who plays a unique blend of indie blues-funk pop/rock, has had his music land on MTV's "The Real World" and Oxygen's "Bad Girl's Club." He has also toured all over the U.S. and United Kingdom. Rock the Leaves' goal is to put on a concert that would appeal to the masses and help people at the same time. All funds donated will go to help build a new band shell at Oak Park. Rock the Leaves is completely funded by freewill donations. Besides music and food, there will be face painting and many more festivities for people of all ages. For questions, contact Dan Hansen at 833-6868 or dthansen86@gmail.com.