Arts and Entertainment briefs

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 23, 2009

The Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society will be accepting new members at rehearsals on Tuesdays, Jan. 5 and 12, 2010.
There is no audition for the Choral Society, only a love of choral music. The group is made up of singers of all ages and all skill levels and will be preparing music for their official centennial concert, “Around the World & Through the Ages,” which will showcase a wide variety of music from renaissance to modern, from Palestrina to Whitacre.
Rehearsals are Tuesday evenings, 7 p.m., at Coburn Memorial United Methodist Church, 901 S. Church St. All singers, ages 16 and up are welcome, and tenors and basses are especially welcome (students may receive community service hours).
For more information go to www.SRChoralSociety.com or call Director, Damien Evans at 704-224-7148.
Museum ornaments
The Rowan Museum announces the release of three new Christmas ornaments, featuring each of the Museum’s sites: the 1854 Courthouse that houses the Museum’s collections, the 1766 Old Stone House in Granite Quarry, and the 1815 Utzman-Chambers House on South Jackson Street. The artwork on the ornaments is by Clyde Overcash and is laser etched on crystal. Each is individually boxed and cost $15 each or three for $38.50. The Museum accepts cash, checks and credit cards.
The Museum is open 10 a.m. ń4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 1ń4 Saturday and Sunday. The Museum will close at 4 p.m. on Dec. 23 and reopen at 1 pm on the 26th.
For more information, call 704-633-5946.
First Night activities
CHARLOTTE ó Activities for kids will be provided on Dec. 31 during the First Night celebration, coordinated with upcoming shows at The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center: The Aluminum Show (Jan. 12-31) and Band of the Irish Guards/Royal Regiment of Scotland, coming Jan. 12.
– Get to Know “The Aluminum Show” ó 3-4 p.m., ImaginOn 300 E. 7th St. This workshop combines movement, dance and visual theater to lead kids through fun, interactive, and educational activities in preparation for the upcoming show
– “The Aluminum Show” Costume Station ó 5 p.m., before the parade begins. Location: Discovery Place, 301 N. Tryon St., Level 3 of the museum.
The Center will have artists at Discovery Place before the parade to help kids create an aluminum mask, hat, or costume. The children will get to wear their costumes at the parade and the best aluminum costumes will win prize packs which include tickets to the show.
– First Night parade/ People’s Procession ó 7-8 p.m., Tryon Street. Included will be a bagpipe band to begin the celebrations in support of the Band of the Irish Guards/Royal Regiment of Scotland performance.
This year’s parade theme will be “aluminum.” The best aluminum costumes will win prize packs which include tickets to The Aluminum Show.
Visit www.BlumenthalCenter.org/FirstNight for all the details and to register
Art exhibit at YMCA
CHINA GROVE ó Artist Caroline Dobson Marshall will be exhibiting watercolor, pen and ink and pencil art in the display case of the Frank T. Tadlock South Rowan Regional Library at 920 Kimball Road in China Grove during the month of January.
Marshall is a self-taught artist. She is a graduate of South Rowan High School, class of 1966, who lives in China Grove.
Defending the Caveman
“Defending the Caveman” comes to the Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St., in Charlotte Dec. 26 – 31.
The longest running solo play in Broadway history, “Defending the Caveman” has been called an “outrageously funny and surprisingly sweet exploration of the gender gap” (Chicago Sun Times.” Recommended for adult audiences. Prices start at $29.50.
Hogmany: First Footin’ at Rural Hill
HUNTERSVILLE: Rural Hill invites everyone to join in the celebration of Hogmanay (Scottish New Year) and the tradition of walking the property borders for luck in the coming year.
Rural Hill’s Annual First Footin’ will be held Jan. 1 beginning at 11 a.m.. The event is free and open to the public, and each guest is encouraged to bring an item for the “Stone Soup.” Dogs on a leash are welcome. Full details are available online at www.ruralhill.net or by calling 704-875-3113.
Towns throughout the hillsides of Scotland continue an annual ritual of a “walk of the town borders” to restate or reclaim the boundaries of the township. This tradition has been adopted as part of the Rural Hill Hogmanay celebration to assure good crops, good health and good fortune in the coming year.
The walk at Rural Hill’s First Footin’ will be a 2-3 mile stroll around the farm stopping along the way to hear stories of history and folklore. It is over hill and dale, and through the woods, so please wear good walking shoes and appropriate clothing for the season.
For all who are coming to walk, please arrive between 10 and 10:45 as we officially “step off” at 11 a.m.. A presentation of the story “Stone Soup” will begin at 12:30. For lunch, guests should bring a can or fresh vegetables for the “Soup,” bread or a dessert. Bring the beverage of your choice too, to help you keep warm. The First Footin’ event concludes at 2 p.m.
For complete information on Rural Hill’s First Footin’ or details regarding Rural Hill and Hogmanay, please visit our website at www.ruralhill.net.
Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road) in Huntersville, 28078.
Cooking at Latta HUNTERSVILLE ó Historic Latta Plantation is holding an Open Hearth Cooking workshop Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. -4 p.m.
Participants will learn the basics of 19th century cooking. Participants will learn about period utensils, tools and recipes and prepare a meal in the Latta kitchen.
Cost is $30 per person, ages 15 and up.
Registration forms are available on the Historic Latta Plantation website. For more information, please contact Blair Elder at belder@lattaplantation.org or call 704-875-3212, extension 303.