News and Notes

-- I had fun this afternoon helping with the load-in of the set for Peanutsapalooza (well, "helping" is too strong a word - I just drove the truck from the storage building to the theater).

The show, which includes productions of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Snoopy!!! The Musical on alternate days, takes the stage next Thursday night at Huntington's City Hall auditorium. It's going to be a great one (and the set is awesome) - don't miss it!

-- Coming up this week is another great production from the Marshall Artists Series. You can read about it right here:

Often described as the world's greatest opera, Mozart's Don Giovanni encapsulates all of that boiling passion, playing, humor and even an accidental murder in the night.

The true-life antics of Don Juan play out live onstage at 8 p.m. Monday, March 15, at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $55, $50 and $45. To order tickets, call 304-696-6656 or order online at www.ticketmaster.com. They also can be purchased at the Marshall Artists Series box office located in the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center.

Presented by the Marshall Artists Series, Don Giovanni will be performed in original Italian with supertitles (translations projected on a screen) by the Mozart Festival Opera, one of the most successful opera touring companies touring today.

-- And congratulations to the Cabell Midland Show Choir for their big victory this weekend, as Rhythm in Red was named the grand champion of Class A at the West Virginia Music Educators Association State Show Choir competition, held March 13, in Charleston.

In addition to the grand championship, Cabell Midland won for best choreography, best vocals, best instrumental ensemble, best show design and best female vocalist.

Student Wes Urian also was named best performer.

Poca, Martinsburg, Hurricane and Nitro high schools rounded out the first through fourth runners-up.