Carnegie ballet seeks dancers for flood fund-raiser
Southwest Ballet will audition dancers to perform at a January fund-raiser to help pay for building repairs and new equipment.
The ballet was one of dozens of Carnegie businesses that were devastated by the flash floods generated by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan on Sept. 17. Floodwaters damaged or destroyed costuming, scenery, stage lighting and dance flooring.
“We lost everything,” artistic director Virginia Nicoll says.
The ballet’s insurance company has verbally denied its claim, she says. Federal government money might be slow in coming, if it comes at all. While normal classes have resumed, the Southwest Ballet has canceled its planned performance of “The Nutcracker,” Nicoll says.
They are looking for professional dancers ages 18 to 40, who will perform in “The Phoenix Project” scheduled for Jan. 22 and 23 at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty.
Southwest Ballet is at 26 E. Main St. in Carnegie.
Details: (412) 279-8133.
— William Loeffler
Book drive set at East Hempfield Elementary
East Hempfield Elementary will be sponsoring a Book Drive in honor of Children’s Book Week/National Education Week.
The drive will be open to the public from 9:30 a.m to 3 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19. Drop boxes will be located inside the entrance to the school.
All gently used children’s books will be donated to Operation Santa Claus, and all adult books collected will be donated to the Blackburn Center.
St. Vincent celebrates Founders’ Day
The Rev. Eugene F. Hemrick, syndicated columnist for the Catholic News Service, will be the principal speaker at the Saint Vincent Founders’ Day Vespers and Honors Convocation at 4 p.m. Nov. 18 in the Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica, at St. Vincent College, near Latrobe.
Founders’ Day is an observance in honor of Boniface Wimmer and the Benedictine founders of Saint Vincent Archabbey, College, Seminary and Parish.
At the convocation, students who have been named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges will be recognized, and the Thoburn Excellence in Teaching Award will be presented.
The Founders’ Day observance will include exhibitions in The Saint Vincent Gallery including “Woven Into History: American Coverlets from the Collection of Foster and Muriel McCarl” and “Figuratively Speaking: Recent Works by Duncan MacDiarmid.” The Saint Vincent Gallery will be open from noon to 3 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18. The exhibitions will be on view until Dec. 12.
Candlelight tours set at Nemacolin Castle
The Brownsville Historical Society will hold Christmas candlelight tours at Nemacolin Castle, starting with a light up night from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 26, complete with a storyteller, craft booth and a visit from Kris Kringle.
Tours will run every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Nov. 26 to Jan. 2. Times are 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No tours will be held Dec. 24 and 25.
Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger, and the cost includes hot Wassail and cookies. Reservations are needed only for groups of 20 or more.
For information and directions, call 724-785-6882.
Holiday glass sale slated
You can stock up on festive glass gifts made by area artists during the Pittsburgh Glass Center during its annual holiday glass sale.
The public is invited to shop from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 at the center, 5472 Penn Ave., in the city’s East End. For information, call 412-365-2145.
Artists’ competition announced
The visual arts department of McNeese State University, in Louisiana, is accepting applications for its 18th annual National Works on Paper competition. More than $3,000 in purchase awards will be selected, and winners’ work will become part of the university’s permanent collection.
Artists nationwide may submit up to two works in paper media, including photography and computer-generated images. Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 2.
For more information and submission details, call Heather Ryan Kelley, coordinator, at 337-475-5060, or visit www.mcneeseartonline.org .
Dinner theater trip planned
Unity Township Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a trip Dec. 20 to Akron, Ohio, for the Carousel Dinner Theater’s Holiday Extravaganza.
Registration is $70 and includes transportation, lunch and the dinner show. Buses will depart 8 a.m. Dec. 20 from the municipal building. The deadline to register is Dec. 3, and the trip is limited to 45 participants. For information and to reserve a seat, call 724-539-2546, Ext. 27.
Cultural events in the city today
Cultural events in the city today include:
City Theatre presents “The Moonlight Room” at 5:30 and 9 p.m. Performances continue through Dec. 12 at City Theatre, 57 S. 13th St., South Side. $15 to $40. (412) 421-2489.
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera presents “Forever Plaid” at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Performances continue in an open-ended run at the Cabaret at Theater Square, Downtown. $25 to $36. (412) 456-6666.
Pittsburgh Opera presents “Marriage of Figaro” at 8 p.m. Performances continue through Nov. 21 at the Benedum Center, Seventh Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $16 to $125. (412) 456-6666.
Pittsburgh Public Theater presents “Anna in the Tropics” at 8 p.m. Performances continue through Dec. 5 at the O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave., Downtown. $29 to $48. (412) 316-1600.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra presents music from “Swan Lake” at 8 p.m. Performances continue through Sunday at Heinz Hall, Sixth Street and Penn Avenue, Downtown. $17.50 to $69.50. (412) 392-4900.