Published: July 31, 2009 09:57 am      

OUT & ABOUT | Fierce farce

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM



The madcap farce “Lend Me a Tenor” opens Tuesday and will play through Aug. 16 at Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown.

The play revolves around a famed opera singer and includes a series of double entendres, plot twists, quick exits and innuendos.

Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $15 to $28 for matinee performances and $20 to $32 for evening performances.

Information: 629-9201, option 1.

Groovin’ combination

Zillion Dollar Combo will play ’70s funk grooves, soul, rhythm and blues, reggae and rock at 7:30 tonight at Artworks in Johnstown, 413 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Members of the band, who all live in Bedford, are Natalie Lee on vocals, Mike Ebersole on bass guitar, Ryan Chandler on electric guitar and Kenny Fetterman on drums.

The group’s musical influences include Bob Marley, Johnny Cash, Jimmi Hendrix and Sly and the Family Stone.

Admission is free.

Information: 535-2020.

Big wheels

The ninth annual Antique Tractor Festival, sponsored by Stoystown Lions Club, continues through Sunday at Stoystown Lions Park, one-half mile east of Stoystown on Route 30.

Tractor parades will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday, and tractor pulls will be held at 7 tonight and 1 p.m. Saturday.

Roof Garden Tractor Buddies Square Dancing Tractors will perform at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

Information: www.stoystownlions.org.

Musical romance

“Annie Warbucks,” the sequel to the international smash hit “Annie,” will be onstage through Aug. 15 at Cresson Lake Playhouse, 279 Shapiro Road, Loretto.

This time around, Daddy Warbucks must secure a bride in 60 days in order to keep the world’s favorite orphan under his roof.

Curtain times are 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $17 for adults and $10 for children younger than 12.

Information: 472-4333.

Block of fun

A block party will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Oakland United Methodist Church, 1504 Bedford St., Johnstown.

The party will feature free food, concerts, door prizes, youth activities and clowns and other childen’s activities, including supervised horseback rides, on the church grounds.

There also will be health and prayer tents, and a community yard sale.

Admission is free.

Chamber concert

In conjunction with the fifth annual Chamber Music Week, sponsored by the Chamber Orchestra of the Alleghenies, students will perform in a free concert at 7 tonight at Richland High School Performing Arts Center, One Academic Ave., Richland Township.

Students will present duets, trios and quartets prepared during their week at camp.

Information: 445-3221.

Masterful art

“Harriett Goff: Master Teacher and Artist,” a one-woman show of the 102-year-old artist’s work, will be on display Aug. 9 through Sept. 9 at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

The exhibit will feature more than 50 pieces of Goff’s artwork, which have been gathered from many homes, churches, museums, libraries and private collections.

An opening reception will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 9, and Goff will attend if she is able.

Admission is free.

Information: 536-5399.

After-hours benefit

The musical “The Pajama Game” will heat up the stage with “Steam Heat” at 2 and 8 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Mountain Playhouse, Jennerstown.

The play is set at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory during labor negotiations.

Tickets range in price from $8 to $37 depending on performance day, time, seat location and eligible discounts.

After tonight’s performance, the cast will participate in “Late Night at the Mountain Playhouse,” a fundraising cabaret to benefit the playhouse, which will be performed in the Tuscany Room at Green Gables Restaurant.

Company members will perform monologues, comedy skits and a variety of musical numbers.

The suggested donation is $20 per person or $30 for a couple, at the door.

Donors will receive hors d’oeuvres and one drink ticket, two tickets per couple. There also will be a cash bar.

Information: 629-9201, option 1.

Reading write

Works in Progress Writers’ Workshop will host its annual Outdoor Poetry (and Prose) Reading from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Laurel Arts, 214 S. Harrison Ave., Somerset.

The winners of the group’s short story and poetry contests will be announced, and readings by local writers will be featured at an open mike.

Information: 443-9541 or www.barbarapurbaugh.com.

Edible weather

The weather will be “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” at a special event class held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at Community Arts Center of Cambria County, 1217 Menoher Blvd., Westmont.

Taking its cue from a children’s film to be released later this summer, the class, which is geared toward children ages 6 and older, will have students making wacky paintings with mashed potato snow, soup rain and hamburger storms.

On the last day of class, there will be a real-life batch of spaghetti and stuffed meatballs to eat.

The cost is $29 for arts center members and $32 for nonmembers.

Information: 255-6515.

Beat goes on

A drum circle will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Those interested in joining the circle do not need experience in music to participate.

Facilitator Rachel Allen is trained in West African, Middle Eastern and many other cultural traditions.

The cost is $5 per person.

Information: 536-5399.

Going green

Laurel Brass will perform at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Johnstown Civic Concert Band will perform at 7 on the grounds of the Community Arts Center, 1217 Menoher Blvd., Westmont, for the 30th annual free Concerts-on-the-Green.

Those who attend should bring a blanket or chair for seating.

All’s fair

The 136th Bedford County Fair will wind down today and Saturday at the fairgrounds located on the western edge of Bedford at Route 30 and Interstate 99.

Performances will include the classic rock band Kun-tajus at 7 and 8:30 tonight and country singer and Altoona native Lisa Barrett at 7 and 8:30 Saturday.

One-price admission, which includes all rides, exhibits and grandstand shows, will be $9. Parking is $3 each day.

Bandshell blast

Flood City Brass will continue the summer concert series at 5 p.m. Sunday at Roxbury Bandshell on Franklin Street in Johnstown.

Dance rhythms

West-African dance classes, taught by Becky Bickford, will be offered again at Bottle Works Ethnic Arts Center, 411 Third Ave. in the Cambria City section of Johnstown.

Classes for children and adults will be held Wednesdays through Aug. 12.

Youth classes, which are for participants ages 5 through 12, will be held from 6 to 7 p.m., and the adult classes, for those ages 13 and older, will be held from 7:30 to 8:30.

Live drummers will provide music for both classes.

The cost is $75 per person for the 10-week class session or $8 per class.

Scholarships are available for eligible schoolchildren.

Classes will conclude with an optional performance during Cambria City Ethnic Festival.

Information: 536-5399.

Band played on

East Winds Symphonic Band will perform at 7 p.m. Sunday on the Diamond in Ligonier as part of the summer band concert series sponsored by Ligonier Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Information: (724) 238-4200 or www.ligonier.com.

Community celebration

Portage Area Summerfest will be held Aug. 7-9 at Crichton-McCormick Park and other sites around Portage.

There will be live music, craft and food booths, children’s activities, dancing and fireworks.

Admission is free.

Information: 736-0881 or www.portagepa.com.

Book benefit

A used book sale to benefit the Johnstown Flood National Memorial will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 7, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 8 and noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 9 at the 1889 Clubhouse in the National Register Historic District, St. Michael.

The sale is sponsored by the Friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial.

Information: 539-6752.

Family celebration

Heritage Days Festival will be held Aug. 8 and 9 at Shade-Central City Community Park.

There will be live music, ethnic foods, games, crafts, kids corner, a car show, basketball and volleyball tournaments, a 2K race and fireworks.

Admission is free.

Something old

The 39th annual Somerset Antique Show will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 8 on the streets in Uptown Somerset.

More than 100 dealers will feature items such as furniture, china, glassware jewelry, trunks and old books, paperwork and maps.

Admission is free.

Food vendors and nonprofit organizations will offer hamburgers, hot dogs, hot sausage, baked goods and beverages for purchase.

An antique and classic car show will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Somerset Trust Co. lot at 151 W. Main St.

To preregister for the show, call 443-9200.

Information: 445-6431 or www.somersetcountychamber.com.