DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709260361

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 14   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY MARK YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   48 lines

VIRGINIA BEACH JOINS THE NATION IN MONTHLONG CELEBRATION OF ARTS

They do it in New York. They do it in the District of Columbia. They're doing it across the country, and soon they'll be doing it in Virginia Beach.

For the fifth year nationally, and the first time locally, arts communities are joining in National Arts and Humanities month observed in October.

A variety of entertaining and informational events are planned to coincide with the month-long focus, according to Lynn Clements, arts coordinator of the city's Arts and Humanities Commission.

Events begin with a presentation at the Central Library Auditorium Wednesday at 7 p.m. A program of Hispanic history will be accompanied by a performance by the Hispanic Folk Ballet.

On Oct. 7 at noon at City Hall, Mayor Meyera Oberndorf will issue a proclamation designating October as Arts and Humanities Month. At a lunchtime concert to follow the proclamation, selections from operatic and musical theater will be performed by local artists from the Virginia Musical Theatre and the Virginia Opera.

Other major events of the month are a special behind-the-scenes peek into the Virginia Beach Marine Science Museum Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. The museum staff will guide visitors through a free tour of the inner workings of the nationally ranked marine science facility. Registration is limited to 120 persons and may be made by calling 437-6002 before Oct. 13.

The fourth week of the festivities will include at performance by the Uhuru African American Dance Ensemble. The group is scheduled to perform at The Contemporary Art Center of Virginia, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. The group was also featured earlier this year at the Boardwalk Arts Festival.

A wide variety of other related performance, library and museum events have been woven into the fabric of the celebration.

These include:

``Hold On To Your Hats: Hurricanes and Other Storms'' - through Nov. 2 at the Old Coast Guard Station, 24th Street and Atlantic Avenue. Call 422-1587.

``The Boys Next Door'' - through Oct. 12 in Pembroke Mall at The Actors' Theatre. Call 557-0397.

``Lend Me a Tenor'' - through Oct. 11 at the Little Theatre of Virginia Beach. Call 428-9233.

``Forces: Art for the End of the 20th Century'' - through Dec. 9 at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. Call 425-0000.

``Fences'' - by August Wilson at ZWG Repertory Theater (810 Granby St. in Norfolk). Call 627-1568. MEMO: For more information at Arts and Humanities Month call 437-4949.

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