Music-video competition challenges area high schools

High School Music Video Challenge

Video

The Vindicator and Local singer & songwriter J.D. Eicher invite area high schools to create an anti-bullying music video with his song, "I'd Like to Get to Know You" .

The Vindicator’s High School Music Video Challenge is starting to attract interest from schools around the Mahoning Valley.

The contest, which was announced this week, invites high-school students to create a lip-dub video using the song “I’d Like to Get to Know You” by Youngstown-based singer-songwriter JD Eicher.

For details on how to enter, go to vindy.com/schoolvideo. Examples of lip-dub videos also can be found there. The deadline to sign up is Nov. 21. All of the entries will be shown in March on vindy.com.

The competition is just a fun school project and a chance to show off your talents. Underlying the competition is a theme of anti-bullying, and the winning school will be featured in a 30-second ad with that message that will air on 21 WFMJ-TV and on vindy.com.

Eicher will perform solo at every school that enters, and the winning school — as determined by a panel of judges — will get a concert by JD Eicher and his band, the Goodnights.

JAMES O’MALLEY GETS EXHIBITION AT THE BUTLER

For the past few years, the screen saver on my computer at the office has been James O’Malley’s realist painting titled “Pizza.”

A black-and-white version of it is shown embedded in this article. It doesn’t show the powerful primary colors that O’Malley uses, but it gives an idea of the artist’s style.

O’Malley, of Struthers, is one of the most talented artists in the region, and his work is regularly displayed at the Butler Institute of American Art. “Pizza,” in fact, won first place at the Area Artists Annual juried exhibition at the Butler in 2011.

O’Malley’s first solo show will open Sunday at the Butler’s Trumbull Branch, 9350 E. Market St., in Howland, and run through Dec. 28. The artist will be on hand for a reception from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday.

A self-taught artist with an obvious passion for realism, many of O’Malley’s works are painted from photos that he took.

A quick take on ‘Anything Goes’ tour at powers auditorium

The revival of “Anything Goes” is titanic.

A touring production of the Broadway musical that won the 2011 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Choreography played Powers Auditorium on Tuesday.

It was dazzling, exuberant and so much fun to watch. The magic that earned it accolades on Broadway is reborn in this traveling iteration.

“Anything Goes” is a classic, born in the 1930s and brimming with big dreams and moxie, gangsters and showgirls, Cole Porter song classics, witty wordplay and humor, and monumental musical numbers.

The touring production echoes the original’s look and spirit, with beautiful costumes and set pieces.

Most of all, it has an uber-talented cast, led by Emma Stratton as Reno Sweeney. Stratton is simply terrific every second as the nightclub singer on an ocean liner where a mismatched but engaged couple splits up and finds true love.

The only thing amiss was the smallish — but appreciative — crowd at Powers. The 2,300-seat auditorium was half-full at best.

This was a major-league production of a grand piece of American musical theater, and I can’t understand why the hall wasn’t full.

SALEM TWIN CINEMAS: ALL THAT AND LOWER PRICES

Salem Twin Cinema will reopen Nov. 14 with two films: “Interstellar” and “Big Hero 6.” It had been closed for a year.

John and Natalee Buta of Salem purchased the theater and gave it a full renovation, installing every modern bell and whistle.

Recliner chairs, private viewing rooms that seat six, digital Surround Sound speakers, vibrating seats that complement the action on screen, 3-D capability — these are some of the amenities.

Another nicety that the theater will offer is the price. An adult ticket will be $8.50 ($6.50 for seniors, children and matinees). That’s almost $2 less than what you’d pay for a first-run film at a chain theater in this area.