Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994 TAG: 9404290103
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The fifth-grade students of Mrs. McKee, Mrs. Drapeau and Miss Levy have formed a company they call "Co-opera-tion Incorporation." Can you guess the opera-tive word here?
Right!
The youngsters have composed an original opera entitled "Revolving Doors." It features fresh music and a creative script written and performed by fifth graders.
The children also have been in charge of designing and building the set, making costumes and gathering properties. One group studied electricity so they could build the lights. Another studied makeup art to enhance the appearance of the actors. Others worked on publicity.
The children even appointed an "official photographer" to record their progress in pictures.
Now, all they need is an audience.
Co-opera-tion Incorporation will present "Revolving Doors" Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the school on Airport Road in Blacksburg.
Don't miss it.
It's not often you get a chance to see such astute operators!
GREAT GOSPEL: Go-to-meetin' music has never been the same since the Easter Brothers started singing it.
The Easter Brothers were pioneers of bluegrass gospel music in the '60s. Like The Lewis Family, the band played sacred music that emphasized the joyous, happy side of religion.
The group has written many songs that have become gospel standards. A few of the memorable ones include "Thank You, Lord, for Your Blessings on Me," "The Darkest Hour" and "Holding Up the Ladder," a song that reached the top spot on gospel music charts in the early '80s.
More than three decades have passed and the brothers are still spreading the word.
The group features Russell on banjo, James on guitar and Ed on mandolin. Russell's grandson, Jason Easter, plays keyboards for the quartet.
The Easter Brothers will perform Sunday, starting at 3 p.m., at Floyd County High School. The gospel sing also features local favorites The Farley Brothers and The Gospel Strings.
Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the door, and children under 12 will be admitted free with their parents. For more information, call Carl Ratcliffe at 382-4654.
SALUTE TO DUKE: The Virginia Tech Jazz Orchestra will perform a concert salute to the great jazz pianist and composer, Duke Ellington, Wednesday at 8 p.m. in Haymarket Theatre. The band will remember the jazz giant with songs such as "Sophisticated Lady," "Do Nothing Til You Hear from Me" and "Caravan."
The concert also includes works by George and Ira Gershwin, Horace Silver and Sergio Mendez.
Lisanne Lyons, director of Virginia Tech's New Virginians and a member of the university's music department, is guest vocalist for the evening. Lyons is just back from a 10-month national tour with a production of the Broadway show, "City of Angels." She has received two "Dee Bee" awards from Downbeat magazine for her jazz singing.
Joe Kennedy Jr. is director of the orchestra. He will be assisted by associate director Dayl Burnett.
Tickets for Wednesday's concert are $2 and will be available at the door. Haymarket Theatre is in Squires Student Center on the Virginia Tech campus.
WHIRLS AND GIGS: The ferris wheel is whirling. The hot dogs are hot. The bands are tuning up.
That means one thing. The Kiwanis Spring Fair is underway.
The Blacksburg and Christiansburg Kiwanis clubs have expanded their annual carnival at New River Valley Mall this year. Organizers have lined up live concerts, professional wrestling matches, specialty acts and other attractions to give the carnival more of a fair flavor.
The fair will continue through May 8. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for kids. One-price wristbands will be available for all the kiddie rides this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday are "Wade's Wristband Nights." Coupons for $2 discounts are available at all Wade's, Food Time and Deli Mart locations.
Here's this week's entertainment lineup:
Today, 6 and 8:30 p.m., progressive rock by Alchemy.
Saturday, 6 and 8:30 p.m., country music by Wasted Acres.
Sunday, 2, 5 and 7 p.m., comedy and juggling by David Van Derveer.
Monday, 6 and 8:30 p.m., acoustic guitar music by Chris Saunders.
Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., All-Star Professional Wrestling featuring a title match between ladies' world champion, Bambi, and the Amazon Queen. Autograph session at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., All-Star Professional Wrestling featuring Chief Wahoo McDaniel in a match with The Grappler. Autograph session at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, 6 and 8:30 p.m., country and bluegrass music by Fescue 911.
The fair is in the parking lot at New River Valley Mall in Christiansburg. Gates open daily at 4 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at noon.
PAINTBOX AND BINOCULARS: Shearon Campbell's childhood was spent with a paintbox and her father's binoculars in southern North Carolina. She found retreat in the forests there where she enjoyed observing the creatures, especially birds. She says she developed "an enthusiasm for nature and painting."
Campbell said she didn't have time for painting later in life when she was involved in school, then marriage, then motherhood. But after her own children left the nest, she re-discovered her enthusiasm for painting the peaceful scenes of nature.
Campbell's paintings have been exhibited in regional shows and in local exhibits at Armory Art Gallery and the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center. Her work was part of the recent Women's Week Art Exhibit.
If you've missed her work, head over to Montgomery Museum. Her paintings are featured throughout May at the museum's Lewis Miller Regional Art Center.
A reception for Campbell will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the museum, 300 S. Pepper St., Christiansburg. Regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
In addition to monthly art exhibits, the museum also has artifacts, documents and photographs of early life in Montgomery County. Call 382-5644 for information.
by CNB