Entertainment shorts

Lisa Dickinson is the new director of operations for Brainerd's Crossing Arts Alliance. She started Aug. 2.

Dickinson has had experience working with nonprofit organizations, including writing grant proposals, fund-raising and strategic planning and collaborating with community and business groups.

She owns and manages a local design business specializing in textile wall art. She serves as an officer for the Brainerd Lakes Area League of Women Voters.

"We feel Lisa is a tremendous asset for our organization and are thrilled to have her on our team," said Evelyn Matthies, board president for the Crossing Arts Alliance.

The mission of the Crossing Arts Alliance is to promote and enhance arts opportunities in the central lakes area through facilities, partnering and programming.

Beginning in September, the Crossing Fine Arts Center will be open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays. The center is at 918 Pine St. Call 833-0416 for more information.

Auditions set for two CLC productions

Auditions for two Central Lakes College Theatre Department fall productions are scheduled 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at CLC in Brainerd.

Auditions for "The Children's Hour" will be in the Dryden Theatre and auditions for "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" will be in the Chalberg Theatre. Actors will read from the scripts.

"The Children's Hour," to be performed Sept. 30-Oct. 5, calls for a cast of five women ages 25-70, a man age 25-35, a boy age 14-16 and eight girls who look ages 10-13.

"Sweeney Todd," to be staged Oct. 28-Nov. 6, requires a cast of eight men ages 16-65 and three women ages 16-55.

"The Children's Hour," directed by Dennis Lamberson, is about a young girl who falsely accuses the two headmistresses of a New England girls' boarding school of sexual misconduct. The child's blackmail rumors and lies destroy her family, classmates and the two young teachers.

The non-musical version of "Sweeney Todd," directed by Patrick Spradlin, is a murderous melodrama about a London mad barber who predates Jack the Ripper.

For more information, contact Lamberson at 855-8202 or dlamberson@clcmn.edu or Spradlin at 855-8255 or pspradlin@clcmn.edu.

Music General dancers attend camp

More than 100 dancers from the Music General dance studio in Brainerd attended a summer dance camp July 12-15 at the Music General Studios.

Students took classes in jazz and lyrical dance with Justin Giles of South Carolina and Joe Istre of New York City and hip-hop dance with Jeremy Keeton of Dallas.

The week ended with a showcase featuring the dancers and guest instructors for the dancers' families.

Community Band rehearsals to start Sept. 13

Brass, woodwind and percussion players are wanted for the Central Lakes College Community Band, which will rehearse 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays in the CLC music room in Brainerd starting Sept. 13.

The fall concert will be performed Nov. 9.

For information, call Anderson at 855-8215 (office) or 765-3756 (home).

Photos at CLC Gallery

"7 Scenes," the first Central Lakes College Gallery exhibit of the new academic year, will be on display through Sept. 23 at the CLC Gallery in Brainerd.

Artist Tema Stauffer chose seven photographs to display. The Minneapolis-based Michigan native is a 1995 Oberlin College graduate who received a master's degree in photography from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1998.

She recently exhibited her work at the Jen Bekman Gallery in New York City, part of a group show titled "Best Midwestern: Photography from the Heartland." She is preparing for a solo show there this fall.

Engholm and Collective Unconscious to perform Sunday in Little Falls

LITTLE FALLS -- The Great River Arts Association's 10th annual Concerts in the Park season will conclude with a performance by Little Falls native Jeff Engholm and the Collective Unconscious 4 p.m. Sunday at Maple Island Park in Little Falls.

Admission is free.

This eclectic group of seasoned musicians plays songs ranging from traditional jazz to power pop/rock.

Production of Engholm's solo CD "Summit Climb" brought him together with Muggsy Lauer and Nathan "Nature" Neshe in 2000. The group has traveled across the Midwest with their harmony-filled sound that emphasizes jamming and having fun. The band's new album is "The Garden."

Antique, collectibles fair set in Little Falls

LITTLE FALLS -- The West Side Improvement Association will hold its second annual West Little Falls Antiques and Collectibles Fair 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 11 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 12 at LeBourget Park along the Mississippi River.

A food court and on-site parking will be available.

For more information contact Brian Crowder at (320) 632-3792 or Deb Retka at (320) 630-5331 or e-mail wsialf@hotmail.com.

Book discussion groups to begin season

LITTLE FALLS -- Two book clubs at Bookin' It Bookstore in Little Falls are launching their new seasons.

The Contemporary Fiction Book Club starts Sept. 21 with discussion of the novel "Easter Island" by Jennifer Vanderbes. The Spirituality Book Discussion Group begins Oct. 7 with "The Spirituality of Imperfection."

A third club, The Good Living Cookbook Club, meets and cooks year-round on the second Tuesday of the month.

All of the groups welcome new members. For more information, consult www.bookinitontheweb.com or call the store at (320) 632-1848.

Byrd to perform at casino

ONAMIA -- Tracy Byrd, one of country music's hottest stars since the early '90s, will bring everything from his singalong party songs to his ballads when he performs at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Oct. 1 at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs Events & Convention Center.

Tickets, priced at $18 and $25, are available at the box office, by calling (651) 989-5151 or consulting www.ticketmaster.com.