Best Bets/Hot Tickets

Best Bets/Hot Tickets
TONIGHT
* Be among the first to buy tickets for "A New York City Doo-Wop Spectacular," featuring Eugene Pitt & amp; The Jive Five, Cleveland Stills & amp; The Dubs, Randy & amp; The Rainbows and Bobby Lewis ("Tossin' & amp; Turnin') at 8 p.m. June 7 in Edward W. Powers Auditorium, downtown Youngstown. Sales began today at the Powers box office (call 330-744-0264) and at B & amp;O Station, 530 Mahoning Ave. (330) 742-4891). An after-show party will be at B & amp;O Station.* Hardcore and rap music fans will gather tonight at The Bombshelter, 513 S. Mill St., New Castle, Pa., where Insane Clown Posse, 2 Live Crew and Anybody Killaz will perform beginning at 9. Call (724) 656-6819 for directions.
FRIDAY
* Talk about one's hour of need. "Dearly Departed," the next production by Salem Community Theatre, brings together members of a Southern family whose personal problems seem to overshadow the reason for their gathering -- the patriarch of the family has died. It'll take a miracle for them to get to the funeral, let alone through it. The theater is at 490 E. State St. Curtain time will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays through May 18. Reservations, (330) 332-9688.
* The genders have changed but the personalities haven't in "The Odd Couple: The Female Version," a Neil Simon play that's being produced by Stage Left Players of Lisbon. Vicki Rossi of Canfield will be Olive, the messy roommate, and Kathy Fawcett of Salem will be fussy Florence. See it at 8 p.m. at Outreach Center, 234 E. Lincoln Way, Lisbon. Other performances, 8 p.m. Saturday; 8 p.m. May 9-10; and 2 p.m. May 11. For details, call (330) 424-5093.
* Roberta's Gallery of Fine Arts, 10 N. Main St., Columbiana, will participate in the annual "Springtime in the Village" weekend by opening a show by artist Alberta D. Mele-White of Cortland. Mele-White, who has worked with Noesis Ceramics and Designs in Howland, uses several mediums. "Springtime in the Village" -- a merchants' promotion that features horse and buggy rides, garden pond tours and Victorian teas -- continues through Sunday.
* Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. for R.E.M.'s "Greatest Hits" concert with guest Sparklehorse on Sept. 27 at Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls, as well as for Third Eye Blind's small-hall rock concert May 26 at Cleveland Agora Theatre, 5000 Euclid Ave. More tickets will be sold at noon for the July 11 concert at Blossom by rappers 50 Cent, Jay Z and Fabolous. Tickets for the rappers' July 2 appearance at Post-Gazette Pavilion near Pittsburgh will be available beginning at 5 p.m. Call Ticketmaster about any of these shows.
SATURDAY
* Buy tickets beginning at 10 a.m. for the Aerosmith and Kiss concert that will be Sept. 3 at Blossom Music Center. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
* Country music singer Aaron Tippin will be on hand for opening day at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure, state Route 43, Aurora. Tippin will give the first of many concerts during the 2003 season. While concerts are free with paid park admission, report early to Batman Water Thrill Spectacular Stadium to get wristbands and guarantee your seats. Other concerts will be by Sixpence None the Richer and Soul Jahz on May 17; Three Dog Night, May 31; Little River Band, June 7; David Clayton-Thomas with Blood, Sweat and Tears, July 5; gospel music star Kirk Franklin, Aug. 3; Marshall Tucker Band and Molly Hatchet, Aug. 17; and blues singer Koko Taylor on Sept. 6.
SUNDAY
* The second annual spring concert by Warren Community Chorus will be at 4 p.m. in Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St., Warren. Gary P. Richards directs the 40-member chorus. Anthony Ruggiero will be accompanist, and soprano Lisa C. Brown will be guest soloist. Admission will be by free-will collection.
AHEAD
* The full Monday Musical Club schedule for the 2003-04 season has been announced. It'll kick off Sept. 25 with TV actor Tony Danza performing classic pop songs on Sept. 25. Pop singer Olivia Newton-John will return to the area on Nov. 11; singers B.J. Thomas and Juice Newton will be paired Dec. 7; The Dukes of Dixieland will put a new spin on jazz music April 2, 2004; and Art Garfunkel, half of the great pop duet Simon & amp; Garfunkel, will finish the series May 16, 2004. All shows are at Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave. For season ticket info, call Monday Musical Club at (330) 743-2717.
* The ever-growing event schedule at B & amp;B Backstage, U.S. Route 224 at Tiffany Boulevard, Boardman, includes country singer Joe Nichols, who will perform Sept. 13, and a night of tribute bands playing music of The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Buffett and AC/DC on July 25.
* A golden oldies concert by The Coasters, Platters & amp; Drifters will be May 15 instead of May 8 at Mountaineer Race Track & amp; Gaming Resort's Grand Ballroom in Chester, W.Va.
* One-of-a-kind musician Leon Redbone will be welcomed by Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk Music Society at 7:30 p.m. May 17 in Carnegie Lecture Hall, Pittsburgh. Call (412) 394-3353 for ticket information.