Poetry competition

Poetry competition
YOUNGSTOWN -- A piggy bank full of goodies awaits the winner of the third annual Pig Iron Press Poetry Slam, which will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cedars Cafe, 131 W. Commerce St. Poets may sign in beginning at 6:30 p.m. Each participant will have three minutes to read one original work. Costumes and props are not permitted. Five audience members will serve as judges. The rest of the audience will be encouraged to interact with the poets.
Pig Iron Press, Cedars Cafe and Moe & amp; Izzy's Deli have donated prizes. Call (330) 747-6932 for more information.
Cabaret shows planned
YOUNGSTOWN -- The first of three cabaret-style shows by local performers will begin next Thursday at Oakland Center for the Arts, 220 W. Boardman St. "A Broadway Evening with Jason Budd" will be at 8 p.m. next Thursday through Aug. 25 and at 3 p.m. Aug. 26. "Broadway Babes," featuring Fedra Anastasiadis and Liz Rubino, will be at 8 p.m. Sept. 7-8 and at 3 p.m. Sept. 9. "Unexpected Songs," Leah Pringle's one-woman show of favorite songs by composers such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim, will be at 8 p.m. Sept. 14-15 and at 3 p.m. Sept. 16.
Budd, a Hubbard native, won the Meistersinger Competition in Graz, Austria, and is a resident artist with Orlando (Fla.) Opera Company. Pringle will make her solo debut after a decade of appearing on many local stages. Anastasiadis, who was born in Rhodes, Greece, has performed with Cleveland Opera and at Athens Conservatory of Music in Greece. Rubino, 21, has appeared in 59 productions.
Musical director of the Oakland's cabaret series is Gary Kekel of Salem, who has worked with Maureen McGovern, Bob Hope, Tony Bennett and Harry Chapin. Kekel and his wife, Cheryl, own Mainsail Music and Audio Production in Canfield.
Call the Oakland at (330) 746-0404 for information.
Musical workshops
YOUNGSTOWN -- Easy Street Productions will offer musical workshops for students of all ages on Saturdays from Sept. 8 to Oct. 6. Call (330) 743-8555 to register.
Kids' Zoofari event
PITTSBURGH -- Children ages 13 and under will receive free admission during Kids' Zoofari, which begins Saturday and ends Aug. 31 at Pittsburgh Zoo & amp; Aquarium. Weekday events will include face painting, jugglers, puppeteers, strolling singers and interactive displays. On weekends, employees will demonstrate enrichment work that stimulates mental and physical activity among the zoo's animals. Call (412) 665-3640 for directions, hours and adult ticket prices.