Magic Tree House coming to Westminster

April 12, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. — “Magic Tree House: The Musical,” a children’s show, will come to Westminster College’s Orr Auditorium at 7 p.m. May 14. Tickets are now on sale for the full-scale, Broadway-style musical. Contact Connie McGinnis, assistant director of the college’s Celebrity Series, at (724) 946-7354 or mcginncl@westminster.edu. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.

The family-friendly musical is based on Mary Pope Osborne’s Magic Tree House books that have sold more than 60 million copies worldwide.

“Magic Tree House: The Musical” takes Jack and Annie, the series’ brother-sister team, on an adventure to restore joy to King Arthur’s kingdom. Rising to each challenge with courage, humor, and resourcefulness, Jack and Annie discover that memory and imagination are gifts that can fill lives with magic. The show features more than two dozen life-sized puppets, imaginative costumes, more than a dozen original songs and a troupe of Irish step dancers.

Mahoning artists to open studios to public

YOUNGSTOWN — Artists of the Mahoning Commons and Friends will open their working studio spaces from noon to 5 p.m. May 2 and 3. Admission is free. The artists are located in the Ward Bakery Building (across from the U-Haul building), 1024 Mahoning Ave.

Participating artists include Marcie Applegate, Tony Armeni, Lynn Cardwell, Jim Cliff, Gabriel and Nancy Crish, Mary Farrhager, Patti Green, Susan Green, Christopher Leeper, Maryann Cox-Limmer, Patrick Hyland, Nick Levinsky, Robyn Maas, Sharon Meenachan, Stephanie Moore, Tracy Segreti, Fred Shepherd, Sandpiper Soap Company, Sunburst Selections, Georgia Tambasis, Jason Van Hoose and Lisa Zitello.

Tours of the J.L. Treharn and Co., which produces handcrafted 18th-century reproduction furniture, will be given at 2 p.m. both days. A chance auction will also take place.

To browse the artwork in advance, go to flickr.com/photos/artistsofthemc.

Artists of Rust Belt seek area participants

YOUNGSTOWN — Artists of the Rust Belt is seeking Youngstown-area artists and artisans to participate in the first Artists of the Rust Belt Festival, June 6-7 at the B&O Station, 530 Mahoning Ave. The festival, presented by Rust Belt Brewing Co., will celebrate regional art, music, beer and food.

For details or an application, go to artistsoftherusbelt.com, or contact Daniel Horne at daniel@artistsoftherustbelt.com or (330) 219-9539. The application deadline is May 7. Late applications will not be accepted.

Youngstown Connection at Stambaugh series

YOUNGSTOWN — The final event in the Sundays at Stambaugh series will be April 26 in Christman Hall, inside Stambaugh Auditorium, 1000 Fifth Ave.

With the theme “American Salute,” the event will begin with lunch at 12:30 p.m. Entertainment by Youngstown Connection will follow. Tickets are $23; reservations are due by April 23. Call Stambaugh at (330) 747-5175

Playhouse production

NEW CASTLE, Pa. —The New Castle Playhouse Youth Theater’s production of “101 Dalmatians” will open Friday. The musical, directed by Brent Rodgers, will run for two weekends.

Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.

For reservations, call (724) 654-3437. All tickets are $10. The theater is at 212 E. Long Ave.