ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFS

CLC to host Illusion Theater’s ‘My Antonia’ Feb. 24

The Illusion Theater of Minneapolis will present “My Antonia” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 in the Chalberg Theatre at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

The production is presented by the Cultural Arts Series at CLC.

Since 1974, Illusion Theater has been making light of the illusions, myths, and realities of our times and uses the power of theater to catalyze personal and social change. “My Antonia” was written about the European immigrants of the 1880s who came here to make their American dreams come true despite the bitter winters and hard-scrabble conditions on the prairie. This production is wrapped up in the environment of the changing prairie as created by actors, set and sound.

This critically-acclaimed production chronicles the friendship between Jim Burden and a young Bohemian woman named Antonia as it blossoms in the windswept prairies of the American Midwest in their small town of Black Hawk, Neb.

The play is told through the memories of narrator Burden, who after 20 years of living in the East returns to his small prairie town to see Antonia, the Czech immigrant girl who shaped his understanding of life.

Three of the actors are Emily Gunyou Halaas (Antonia), Dustin Bronson (Young Jim Burden) and Jennifer Maren (Lena). The first two have played their roles in previous versions, but Maren is getting her first crack at the role of Lena.

The title role gives Halaas a sort of freedom. “Antonia is such a beautiful character; she moves forward,” she said. “The beauty of her generosity, her curiosity. She has no judgment: This is what is. She has no shame about anything. It isn’t that she is fool-hardy; it’s not pride. To her the world is open and generous. Playing her is really freeing.”

Bronson said the play may take place in the 1880s, but it is contemporary. “So many people are so upset about immigrants, but so many of us immigrated here to this continent,” he said. “And yet people today say, ‘Well, that was different’; they make a distinction between immigrants from Europe back then, and immigrants of today.

“When we were on tour last year, we played in communities where there were First Generation immigrants, and they so related to Antonia’s story. I am proud of my ancestors who came here as immigrants.”

The Cultural Arts Series is an offshoot of Central Lakes College Theatre. It is the goal of the series to bring to local stages professional artists of national and international reputation.

Ticket prices are $10, $20 or $25 depending upon location of seating. Tickets are for assigned seats. CLC Theatre may be reached at 855-8199 or clctheatre@clcmn.edu. For full ticket details and seating charts, visit www.clctickets.com.

Heartland Poets celebrates its oldest member’s birthday

Heartland Poets, an area chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets, will present a program at 3 p.m. Saturday to commemorate the poetry of its oldest member, Maxine Russell, in the 200 Building of Good Samaritan Society, Woodland. Heartland Poets will read Russell’s poetry, the day after Russell’s 100th birthday.

All who know Russell are welcome to attend.

Heartland Poets to meet

Heartland Poets, a local chapter of the League of Minnesota Poets, will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the large room of the Brainerd Public Library. After a brief business meeting, poets will share their poems-in-progress with those present. Participants are asked to bring copies of their poem, so others may more fully appreciate the work-in-progress.

Heartland Poets meetings are free and open to the public. For more information contact Heartland Poets at heartlandpoets@gmail.com or call 829-5402.

Magazine editor to lead workshop Feb. 23

Jodi Schwen, editor of the Lake Country Journal Magazine, will lead a writer’s workshop, “Finding What’s Right to Write (for You!)” at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in Room E203 on the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College. The workshop is sponsored by the Center for Lifelong Learning at CLC.

The act of writing is hard work, said Schwen, who intends to help participants build on individual creativity and writing interests. She will discuss genres of writing, such as fiction, memoir, family and history; and explore ways for people to bring their writing passions to life.

Schwen said the Internet has made it easier to access websites, yet it’s more challenging to narrow the publishing choices. The days of paging laboriously through a hefty writer’s market book are gone. The workshop will help people take their writing to the next level, whether writing for publication, personal satisfaction or just to find a writers’ group and your genre.

Schwen has been editor-in-chief of the award-winning Lake Country Journal since 1999. Schwen’s published credits also include Guideposts and Minnesota Monthly magazines. She has written original dramas and monologues and presented workshops on journals, creativity and how to freelance.

Her master’s thesis researched the narratives of breast cancer patients. The thesis was published in 2010 and includes a drama she wrote, titled, “One Person Away”— based on the true stories of breast cancer survivors.

Cost to attend this event is $5 for non-members and free for those with a Center for Lifelong Learning membership.

For more information go to www.clcmn.edu/lifelonglearning.

Crosby choirs to present winter concert

CROSBY — The Crosby-Ironton High School seventh- and eighth grade choirs, Concert Chorale, Girls’ Triple Trio, Chamber Singers and A Cappella Choir under the direction of Wayne Ellingsen will present their annual winter concert at 7 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Mayberry Auditorium. The choirs are accompanied on piano by Bryan Johnson.

Admission is by donation of $5 for adults and $3 for students.

Opening the concert, the seventh- and eighth grade boys’ choir will sing “The Winds Of Winter Blow,” “Follow The Drinking Gourd” and “One More River.” The seventh- and eighth grade girls will follow with “Spirits,” “Colors Of Winter” and “Shine A Little Light” featuring soloists Kate Sharp, Jessica Meyer, Shaylin Dotzler and Emily Davis. The boys’ and girls’ choirs will then combine and close with “Blow, Bugle Blow.”

The girls’ Concert Chorale will present a variety of music including “Chantez, Alleluia,” ”Rueben, Reuben” and “The Journey.” The girls’ Triple Trio and Chamber Singers will follow the Concert Chorale. A wide variety of music will be performed including “Joyfully Sing,” “Love Story,” “Adieu, Sweet Amarillis,” “Lead Me Home” featuring tenor soloist Joe Herda, and “Linus and Lucy.”

The A Cappella Choir will conclude the concert with “Sing Dem Herrn,” sung in German and by Praetorius, “Gloria” from the Vivaldi Gloria, “Loch Lomond” arranged by Quick featuring tenor soloist Jacob Goodwin, and a spiritual titled, “Hark! I Hear The Harps Eternal” by Parker.

Crosby choir students advance to section/state music contest

CROSBY — The Crosby-Ironton High School A Cappella Choir, Chamber Singers, Girls’ Triple Trio and selected solos, under the direction of Wayne Ellingsen recently participated in the Sub-Section Music Contest hosted at C-I. Eight area high schools participated in the contest.

C-I entered 18 events. One student received an excellent rating and 17 received “superior” ratings, the highest possible. The events that receive excellent ratings receive a certificate while those with superior ratings receive a medal and certificate and advance to the section-state contest to be held March 12 in Duluth.

Earning an excellent rating for her soprano solo was Taylor Popkes. Earning superior ratings for their solos were Dean Groat and Matt Wagner, bass; John Stokman, Jacob Goodwin, Eric Smedsrud, Will Goodwin, Aaron Bostrom and Joe Herda, tenor; Caitlyn Bostrom and Sienna Miller, soprano; Kryston Wiseley and Abby Gindorff, alto; Matt Staley and Jesse Drake, baritone; and Sarah Beavens, mezzo.

Also earning superior ratings was a duet by Joe Herda and Jacob Goodwin, The Girls Triple Trio and The Chamber Singers. The A Cappella Choir earned three superior ratings from the three judges in Category 1, the most difficult category of music for singing “Lux Arumque” by Whitacre, “Gloria” by Vivaldi, and loch Lomond” arranged by Quick.

Herda and Goodwin also received the “Best in Site” recognition for their duet and Herda received “Best In Site” for his tenor solo.

Monroe Crossing to perform Feb. 25

Midwest’s Premier bluegrass and gospel quintet Monroe Crossing will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Crossroads Music Café in Brainerd.

The concert is sponsored by the 2012 Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association and the music cafe.

Opening the concert will be Tim and Cindy Roggenkamp of Pequot Lakes, followed by two full sets of traditional and original bluegrass and gospel music Monroe Crossing.

Monroe Crossing is touring with its new CD, “Joy, Joy, Joy.” This is the group’s 11th CD and their third all-gospel release that features audience favorites and original compositions. Named in honor of Bill Monroe, “the Father of Bluegrass,” Monroe Crossing also recently released a tribute CD, Monroe Crossing “Plays the Songs of Bill Monroe,” which features 15 classic bluegrass songs made famous by the “Big Mon” himself.

Tickets are $13 in advance or $16 at the door and $10 for children age 12 and under. Tickets are available at Crossroads Music Cafe, Coco Moon, Bridge of Harmony and Bethany Book and Gift in Baxter, or order online at www.minnesotabluegrass.org.

Revolution 5’ to perform for fundraiser in Little Falls

LITTLE FALLS — The Friends of the Lindbergh Heritage will hold it’s first fundraiser on Feb. 24 at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls that will help the nonprofit support its mission to preserve, protect and provide education and advocacy for the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, Lindbergh State Park, and the Little Elk Preserve.

The fundraising event will consist of music from 7-11 p.m. by the Revolution 5’, Minnesota’s premier Beatles tribute band that is based out of the St. Cloud area. Doors open at 6 p.m. There also will be door prizes and a silent auction.

Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Pap’s Sport Shop, Ambiance @ 53, The Flower Dell and Pete & Joy’s Bakery, all in Little Falls, and the Lindbergh Historic Site and the State Park.

The Friends of the Lindbergh Heritage was established in 2006 by the late Chuck Stone and a group of concerned citizens. During the 2009 Minnesota budget shortfall, with the possibility of the closure of the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, this group conducted a letter writing campaign to state legislators and the governor’s office to make them aware of the importance of the site.

The Friends group has also provided funding for signage for the Little Elk Preserve, helped with the purchase of a lawn mower for the historic site and purchased supplies for the annual candlelight ski at Lindbergh State Park. Volunteers help the staff with educational programs, and have landscaped the front of the site’s Interpretive Center.

For more information call the Friends of the Lindbergh Heritage at (320) 360-4394.