ROCK of ART Talent Show

The talent show features "London Highlights" and is presented to raise funds for Stanly ROCKS, a summer music camp to be held at North Stanly High School.

Date: Friday, May 2 at 8:00 p.m.
Location: North Stanly High School Auditorium, Hwy 52 North, New London -
Tickets: $4 at the door
More info: (704) 463-7358

"The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940"

Set in the library of a creepy old mansion in 1940, filled with secret passages and sliding panels, this story brings together a very eclectic group of characters, one of which may or may not be the infamous "Stage Door Slasher." The "slasher" has already murdered three chorus girls during a recent Broadway flop and has never been caught. As a blizzard rages outside and traps the possible victims inside the "slasher" makes his reappearance and strikes again -- and again.

What could be a nail-biting mystery from this point turns into hysterical, sidesplitting comedy as victims are chased in and out of sliding panels, fingers are pointed, and mistaken identities lead to mayhem. As the mystery unravels the audience is kept guessing and laughing right up until the hilarious climax of the play.

Despite the words "musical comedy" in the title, this year's production is not a musical. "We try to rotate from musicals to straight plays from year to year," says WSP director Wes Tucker. "After doing a large musical last year and other dramas and tragedies over the past few years, we wanted to do something to keep the audience laughing." read more...

By John Bishop, directed by Wes Tucker.

Dates: May 2, 3, 9 & 10 at 8:00 p.m.; May 4 at 2:30 p.m.
Location: West Stanly High School, Hwy 24/27, Red Cross - get map
Tickets: $8 in advance, $10 at the door; reserved seats $15. Purchase from any West Stanly Player or contact the school office.
More info: (704) 485-3012

Spring Concerts May 3 & 4

The Stanly County Chorale is celebrating 40 years of continuous service to the community. For the Spring Concert, the Chorale welcomes guest conductor Marvin Burke, former Professor of Choral Music at Pfeiffer College and director of the Chorale in the mid-1980s. The program is set in three parts, covering a wide variety of styles.

Sacred selections to be performed include Byrd's "Ave Verum Corpus", Beethoven's "Hallelujah", "He, Watching Over Israel" from Mendelssohn's Elijah, and George Lynn's arrangement of "O Magnify the Lord with Me". The second portion of the concert features Randall Thompson's "The Testament of Freedom", a setting of four passages from the writings of Thomas Jefferson. The concluding section includes Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Oklahoma!", "Ol' Man River" from Kern & Hammerstein's Show Boat, and the spirituals "I Want Jesus to Walk with Me", arranged by George Lynn, Robert Shaw's setting of "Set Down, Servant", and Warren Martin's "Great Day".

Accompanying the Chorale for this concert are Sue Lambert and Aza Hudson.

Dates: Saturday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: First Presbyterian Church, 126 West North Street, Albemarle - get map
Tickets: Free admission
More info: (704) 269-5547, (704) 422-5480, www.stanlychorale.org

"Not Another Teen Musical!" May 9, 10 & 11

"Not Another Teen Musical!" is a revue of some great numbers in musical theatre. This ambitious production features a cast of more than 20 young actors in a variety of singing, dancing and performing roles. Presented in three acts, the show includes selections such as "I Hope I Get It", "Show Off", "Diva's Lament", "Hair", "Rent", "42nd Street" and many more.

The Talent Company is a youth-focused group that offers a unique theatre experience for the education and enjoyment of the youth of Stanly County. At the same time, The Talent Company seeks to further the advancement of the performing arts in Stanly County and present entertaining shows for the general public.

Dates: Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m.
Location: Albemarle Senior High School, 311 Park Ridge Road, Albemarle - get map
Tickets: $5 all ages
More info: www.talentco.org

"The Red Carpet Journey"
Fifth Annual Esther/Jephthah Youth Celebration
Also featuring The Daughters of Zion (Goldsboro), The Sweet Roses (Richfield), The Studio/Dreamworks Dance Academy (Sumter, SC), Albemarle High School Cultural Choir, Prospect Baptist Church (Albemarle), Tacey Thompson (Ansonville)
May 3, 5:00 p.m., Resurrection Community Church, 1325 E Main St, Albemarle
More info: Brenda Spencer, (704) 322-7850, bspncr@ctc.net

North Stanly High School
Chorus & Handbell Concert
Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m., First Baptist Church, Albemarle
Free admission

South Stanly High School Theater
"Our Town"
Friday & Saturday, May 30 & 31, at 7:30 p.m.
South Stanly High School, Norwood
Admission $6 in advance, $8 at the door

Uwharrie Players: "Children of Eden"

The Uwharrie Players announce auditions for "Children of Eden", a full-scale production with live orchestra. The show dates are July 25, 26, 27 & 31, and August 1 & 2, 2008.

This is an open audition call for a very large cast, including some children (children must be of age 8-9 years old and going into 3rd Grade in fall of 2008), teens, young adults, adults and seniors. For your audition, please prepare 16-32 bars of a song and bring sheet music in the appropriate key. An accompanist will be provided. No a capella singing. Everyone in the show must sing, as there are many roles with solos and chorus singers. There is also a need for dancers.

Dress for comfort, as there will be a short dance combination taught. You may be asked to read and sing from the script. Please bring to auditions a list of known and possible conflicts from May 27 - August 2.

Audition Dates: Sunday, May 18 at 3:00 p.m.; Monday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m.; call backs Tuesday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: First Presbyterian Church, 126 West North Street, Albemarle - get map
More info: (704) 986-2211, www.uwharrieplayers.org