Jay’d to perform in Crosby and Brainerd
Jay’d Hagberg, a deaf musician who plays more than 30 different instruments, will perform two concerts in the Brainerd lakes area.
Hagberg, who has been studying abroad in Vienna, Austria, in music and German, will perform at 6 p.m. Dec. 29 at Heartwood Seniors Living in Crosby and then from 4-6 p.m. Dec. 30 at Coco Moon in Brainerd.
The concert in Crosby is to thank people who helped Hagberg with his lessons in London.
Hagberg, who resides in the Twin Cities area, started out at Crosby High School, then went to Brainerd High School and then finished up at the St. Paul Conservatory for performing artists. He graduated in 2009.
Hagberg has a video on YouTube that was produced by the University of Minnesota entitled “Students Deafness Doesn’t Stop The Music.”
Donovan’s debut poetry collection nominated for awards
A collection of poetry “Tumbled Dry” by Charmaine Donovan, Brainerd, has been nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. This first collection, published by Lost Hills Books in Duluth, also has been nominated for the 2011 Midwest Book Award in the following categories of poetry, cover (paper) and interior layout. This book also was submitted to the Northeastern Minnesota Book Award in the poetry division. These book awards will be announced in 2012.
Just For Kix dancers to perform in Outback Bowl
Brainerd Just For Kix ninth-grade dancers and 16 family members will leave Wednesday for Tampa, Fla., to take part in the 2011-12 Just For Kix Outback Bowl Dance Team Tour.
The dancers will perform Jan. 2 in the Patriotic Themed Pre-Game Show and the Kickin’ It Country Half-Time show at the Outback Bowl, which will feature Michigan State from the Big 10 Conference against Georgia from the SEC Conference.
There will be a total of 302 dancers along with 231 coaches and family members on the tour this year, from 16 different states from around the country, including a group of 40 from the Aitkin High School Dance Team.
While in Florida, the dancers will work on their routines, tour the sites and attend a semi-formal awards banquet and dinner following the performance and game. The Outback Bowl will be broadcast on ABC beginning at 12 p.m.
Dancers traveling from the Brainerd studio are: Hannah Anderson, Ashley Bontjes, Naomi Bremer, MaKayla Clough, Macy Clough, Hala Davis, Mariah Perrin, Cassie Gardner, Maura Halverson, Rachel Huber, Taylor Leas, Annika Mau, Hannah Nemeniuk, QueAhanna Owens, Stephanie Peterson, Kyla Slette, Claire Walton and Kalie Ylinen.
Family members include: Matt and Amanda Clough, Celeste Gardner, Robin Halverson, Vicki Mann, Cindy, Jarrett and Madison Leas, Maureen Mau, Amy Namenuik, Rhonda McKeever, Ambre Sollid, Leann Peterson, Tina Perrin, Lori Abear and Jody Davis.
Auditions for ‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ production set
PEQUOT LAKES — The Pequot Lakes Community Theater will host auditions for its upcoming show “Arsenic and Old Lace” at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 9-10 in the Pequot Lakes High School choir room.
Erik Steen is the director for the show that will take stage March 23-25 and March 30-31 and April 1.
Rehearsals begin on Feb. 7.
There are cast opportunities for 12-14 actors in the show; three women and 10-12 men, depending on the possibility of double casting a couple of smaller roles. The three women in the cast include the two sweet, charitable elderly sisters, Martha and Abby; who also happen to be mass murderers. The minister’s daughter Elaine from next door is a quick witted, flirty 20-something ingénue who happens to be dating Martha and Abby’s nephew, Mortimer.
The male roles in the show include the pastor, Martha and Abby’s three nephews, Teddy, the delusional nephew; Mortimer, a theater critic; and Jonathon, a vicious criminal; and Dr. Einstein, a plastic surgeon, the policeman, the potential border Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Witherspoon of the Happy Acres asylum. This play is set in the early 1940’s.
For more information call Pequot Lakes Community Education at (218) 568-9200.
FWAC grant deadline released
The Five Wings Arts Council recently announced the grant application deadline and its new grants coordinator
Artists, non-profit arts organizations, community groups, schools and government agencies in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd and Wadena counties can apply for financial support of arts projects that will enhance the quality of life in the region. The next deadline for grant applications is Jan. 16.
Individual artists may apply for support for either apprentice or artisan level grants. Organizations may apply for general operating, capital support and community arts access project grants. Schools may apply for funding to assist school art projects. Small community grants are available for short term projects or for first time applicants. Additional funds may be used for organizations seeking non-profit status and for board and professional development opportunities.
Funding for individual artists is provided by the McKnight Foundation. Other funding is from the state through the Legacy Amendment.
In other grants related news, Vicki Chepulis was recently hired as the new grants Coordinator at Five Wings Arts Council. She has more than two decades of arts leadership and management experience, previously serving as co-founder and executive director of the Trollwood Performing Arts School in Fargo, N.D.
For more information on the grants go to www.fwac.org or call (218) 895-5660.

