Best Bets/Hot Tickets

Best Bets/Hot Tickets
FRIDAY
* Dial Ticketmaster after 10 a.m. to get tickets for any of these concerts: jazz-rock-R & amp;B-blending Steely Dan, Aug. 12 at Blossom Music Center, Cuyahoga Falls; song stylist Joe Cocker, July 16 at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights; or singer-songwriters Sheryl Crow, July 20, and Aimee Mann, Aug. 11, both at Cain Park.
* What do you get when you cross the biography of humorist Will Rogers with a Ziegfeld Follies production from the 1930s? "The Will Rogers Follies," the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that's being revived by Easy Street Productions this weekend at Edward W. Powers Auditorium, 260 W. Federal St., Youngstown. Call Easy Street at (330) 743-8555 for information.
* Expect absurd yet innocent comedy from Trumbull New Theatre's production of "The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940," John Bishop's play about Broadway writers whose audition with a prospective financial supporter don't go according to plan. Showtime, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through May 24, and at 3 p.m. May 18 at TNT, U.S. Route 422, Niles. Tickets, $10 for adults and $8 for students. Reservations, (330) 652-1103.
* Young love is at the heart of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the first production of the Summer Stock season at Kent State University Trumbull Campus, 4314 Mahoning Ave. N.W., Warren. Shows will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays through May 18. Admission, $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and students and $6 for children. Call (330) 847-8700 to reserve seats.
SATURDAY
* What's new, pussycat? Pop singer Tom Jones will tell you during his concert at 7:30 p.m. July 22 at The Harv, the arena at Mountaineer Race Track & amp; Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va. Tickets, which are from $20 to $80, will go on sale at 10 a.m. at Ticketmaster outlets.
* It could be a scene out of Eminem's movie "8 Mile." Sixty-four rappers will compete at Northeast Ohio Rap Crown at 3:30 p.m. at Salvation Army, 1501 Glenwood Ave., Youngstown. Just like the movie, rappers will face off two by two and will have 45 seconds to out perform each other. More than 40 battles will take place during three rounds of competition. Contestants already auditioned once to make it this far. Admission is $6 plus one nonperishable food item, the latter of which will be donated to Second Harvest Food Bank.
SUNDAY
* "Music at Madison," the local cabaret and singer showcase, will celebrate Mother's Day with a brunch and a program titled "Songs All About Women." Events will begin at 2 p.m. in the gardens (weather permitting) at 264 Madison Ave., around the corner from Dorian Books on Youngstown's North Side. Vocalist Rodd Coonce and pianist Anthony Ruggiero will be joined by guest artists. The same program, minus the brunch, will be performed Saturday night as well. Tickets are $10 for Saturday night, $25 for the brunch and show. For reservations, call Dorian Books at (330) 743-2665.
NEXT WEEK
* Country music singer Toby Keith will be the headliner at the 2003 Crawford County Fair in Meadville, Pa. Keith will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 19 at the fairgrounds. Tickets will be sold for $39 and $31 beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the Crawford County Courthouse in Meadville, by telephone at (814) 333-7400 or on the Internet at www.co.crawford.pa.us.
* African stilt dancers, Finnish clowns and an Icelandic actor-cellist have roles in the 2003 Pittsburgh International Children's Festival, which begins Wednesday at West Park and Allegheny Center on the city's North Shore. The festival is a showcase of visual and performing arts groups from the national and international scenes. There are only three other children's festivals like this in the United States. Hours are 9:30-5 Wednesday through May 16, 10-5 May 17, and noon-5 May 18. Save money by buying tickets in advance; call (412) 321-5520. See www.pghkids.org for a schedule.
* Here's a safe way to get up-close and personal with those awesome, terrifying creatures we call dinosaurs. Eighteen life-size, electronically-powered figures are part of the "Dinosaurs!" exhibit that will be open from next Thursday through Labor Day at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, 3900 Wildlife Way. Visitors may also act as paleontologists in search of fossils and operate an automated dimetrodon with a joystick. Admission is $2; zoo admission is $9. The zoo is open daily. Call (216) 661-6500 for details.
AHEAD
* Separately, they're known as Jack D'Amico, Lonnie Parlor and Tony Ocean. Together, they're transformed into Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin. This "Rat Pack" will perform with Tom Fries Orchestra in a Las Vegas-style "Memories" show June 26 at The Embassy, 5030 Youngstown-Poland Road, Struthers. A buffet dinner will be served at 7:15 p.m.; the show will begin at 7:30. Tickets are $39.95 each. Call Ciao Promotions at (330) 757-2779.