Entertainment Briefs - Feb. 5

Author Talk: 'Waiting for Unicorns'

CROSBY - The Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library (JFHML) in Crosby and the JFHML Friends Foundation will present Author Talk with Beth Hautala at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 19.

Hautala's new young adult novel is titled "Waiting for Unicorns."

Attendees will hear a presentation from the author and books will available for purchase and signing.

The book has already received rave reviews from Kirkus & Publisher's Weekly.

"Waiting for Unicorns," is a middle grade fiction novel for ages 10 and up. The book is about Talia McQuinn, who is much too old to believe in magic, yet she keeps a jar of wishes under her bed. When her whale-researcher father drags Tal to the arctic for the summer following her mother's death, she brings the jar along.

During her stay, Tal learns the ancient Inuit legend of the narwhal whale, the unicorn of the sea, and she forms a plan to make the biggest wish of her life. When the entire population of whales in the Hudson Bay mysteriously disappears, and an accident endangers the life of her new friend, Tal must confront the truth: no wish on earth can grant escape from her heartache, or bring her mother back.

But sometimes, the release of one wish makes way for the granting of another.

Valentine event planned in Little Falls

LITTLE FALLS - Great River Arts will host Best of My Love, a valentines dance party, on Feb. 14 featuring the Brothers Tone and the Big Groove. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the party will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $16 and are available at Great River Arts, online or at Reality Roasters.

Best of My Love will be the first performance of 2015 by the 12-piece collaborative band known for their energetic performances at Rock the Park. The addition of big horns and background vocals provided by the Big Groove enhances the Brothers Tone performance. Highlights of the setlist for Best of My Love include covers of the groovy love song favorites by artists ranging from Chicago to Bruno Mars. Join us for this fun and funky dance party, bring your sweetheart and do the hustle.

Band members include Andy Spofford, Craig Mesenbring, Mark Norgren, Dwight Nelson, Preston Weber, Karla Jensen, Elene Tonder, Jocelynn Moran, Joe McGown, Tom Lyseng, Jill Moore and Craig Engelhart.

For more information on the event go to the gallery's website at www.greatart.org .

Pierz school musical set

PIERZ - Pioneer Elementary School's fifth- and sixth-graders are performing their musical

play "Captain Bree and the Pirates" at 9:45 a.m. today (Feb. 5) and at 7 p.m. Friday in the Pioneer Elementary School gymnasium in Pierz.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

'Lake Country' exhibit on display

AITKIN - "Lake Country" is currently on exhibition at the Jaques Art Center in Aitkin through Feb. 14. This is a juried show by numerous artists who entered in friendly competition with one another for cash awards.

People may come in and vote for their favorite piece for the People's Choice Award.

The art center also is calling all student artists for an all student exhibit that will be displayed in April. Student in preschool through college-age can enter their art. One piece per student can be entered into this exhibit. Every student will receive a participation ribbon and be invited to the public opening reception on April 11. The deadline for entry is April 4. Any art form is accepted. All 2D art must be able to be hung on the wall.

The Kaleidoscope event is scheduled from 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday with a hands on project titled "Warm Heart - Cool Hands."

'The Imaginary Invalid' planned in Staples

ALDRICH - Start with a hypochondriac and his gold-digging wife. Throw in a sassy, interfering maid and doctors with questionable credentials. Let's not forget the star-crossed lovers. Add some music and dancing and you have "The Imaginary Invalid," the newest production of Lamplighter Community Theatre in Staples.

Performances for this dinner theater will be at 7 p.m. Feb. 20-21 and 1 p.m. Feb. 22 at Ted and Gen's in Aldrich.

Although Moliere's original script was first performed in 1673, his satire of the medical profession still resonates today. This adaptation by Miles Malleson brings it into the 20th century and director Gary Hirsch's interpretation reinforces the message while entertaining the audience.

"Moliere's 'The Imaginary Invalid' reveals, through comedy, the age-old story of person versus doctor - our need for the medicine as well as our fears of it. The story is timeless, so is our production," Hirsch said. "Large characters with even larger problems, Moliere examines the follies of human nature as much as the medical profession. This comedy is just what the doctor ordered."

Argan, the famous hypochondriac in this classic farce, not only complains of a million imaginary ills, but also of his astronomical medical bills. If he marries his daughter to a doctor, he reasons, he will have free medical care. He chooses a double-talking numbskull without consulting the daughter who is already smitten by another.

Argan's brother and the inventive maid expose the doctor and his father as charlatans and demonstrate to the master that his second wife loves his money, not him.

The cast of characters include:

Scott Lucas, Nisswa, as Argan, the imaginary invalid; Jennifer Abramson, Brainerd, as Toinette, the sassy maid; Kari Erickson, Motley, as Beline, Argan's second wife; Rachell Fisher, Staples, as Angelica, Argan's older daughter who is in love with Cleante; Jacob Denning, Staples, as Cleante, the young man who loves Angelica; Elaina Tanner, Baxter, as Louise, Argan's younger daughter; M. Hollis Ford, Brainerd, as Beralde, Argan's brother; Mike Gold, Staples, as Bonnefoy, a notary who is advising Argan; Mark Oehrlein, Baxter, as Fleurant, Argan's apothecary; Jim Vollegraaf, Staples, as Dr. Purgon, Argan's physician; Kai Brings, Staples, as Dr. Diaforus, another physician of Argan's acquaintance; Jordan Denning, Staples, as Dr. Thomas Diaforus, son of Dr. Diaforus and the doctor Argan wants Angelica to marry.

Hirsch, Pequot Lakes, co-producer of Stage North Theatre Company, is the director; and Sandy Porter and Teri Duff, both of Staples, are co-producers for this production.

The doors at Ted and Gen's will open at 5:30 p.m. with the buffet dinner served at 6 p.m. for the Feb. 20-21 shows. The Feb. 22 show. the doors will open at 11:30 a.m. with the meal served at noon. The ticket price also includes dessert which will be served at intermission.

Tickets are available at Ted & Gen's, Aldrich; Unity Bank, Motley; and Miller True Value and Staples World, Staples.

For more information call 218-894-3050.

Children's theater workshop planned

Mary Aalgaard and her company, Play Off the Page, along with the support of the Central Lakes College (CLC) Theatre Department will host a children's theatre workshop for grades one through four and then five through eight in Dryden Theatre in Brainerd.

Classes are Thursday and begin March 19 and run through April 30. Classes for grades one through four will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m. with a performance at 5 p.m. April 30. Cost of class is $65. Classes for grades five through eight will meet from 6-7:30 p.m. with a performance at 7 p.m. April 30. Class is $75.

Theme of the classes are Millie and WIllie Cottonpoly are visiting cousin Dyllie. His horse Phillie has come down with a mysterious illness, his cattle are disappearing and the chickens have stopped laying eggs. In the middle of the night, strange lights flicker and music starts playing in the old barn. What is causing all the chaos and who will be able to solve the mystery.

For more information on the workshop contact Aalgaard at 232-6069, mary@playoffthepage.com or www.playoffthepage.com .

To register for the workshop contact the CLC Theatre Box Office at 855-8199 or in person from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Preregistration is required. Space is limited, Registration deadline is March 17.

HSO fundraiser planned Sunday

LITTLE FALLS - Heartland Symphony Orchestra's (HSO) annual fundraiser "Music, a Menu and More from South of the Border" will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at A.T. Black and White Restaurant in Little Falls.

The HSO musicians will present music from "South of the Border" as well as a five-course meal prepared by the chef and owner of the Little Falls restaurant.

Tickets are $40.

For reservations and tickets call the HSO office at 320-631-8193 or 320-632-4254.

Staples native makes it to Hollywood on 'American Idol'

Staples native Katie Ziegler heard the words "You're going to Hollywood" last September at the "American Idol" auditions in Minneapolis.

Ziegler, 24, was one of the 25 people who qualified out of 3,000 singers who auditioned in Minneapolis to win the ticket to Hollywood for the Fox TV show titled, "American Idol," a singing contest show that began in 2002. To qualify singers had to receive thumbs up from at least two of the three "American Idol" judges.

Ziegler, who is trying out for "American Idol's" 14th season, received three thumbs up and was able to tell her fans Jan. 21 at Local Legends Bar in Staples, the night the Minneapolis auditions aired, reported the Staples World. Ziegler said in the story she sang "In Color" and "Beat of the Music" by Brett Eldredge.

The airing of the Hollywood shows began Wednesday. Ziegler can't reveal the outcome of the Hollywood results because the shows have not run yet.

TDS Telecom signs on as Platinum Sponsor for Lakes Bluegrass Festival

PINE RIVER - TDS Telecom, local exchange telephone company in the U.S., announced Wednesday they will partner with the Lakes Bluegrass Festival as a platinum sponsor. The

sponsorship will help fund the large spectator tents in the concert area held at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Pine River.

The festival celebrates its 10th year in 2015 and features Grammy nominated bands as well as numerous winners of International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) and Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music (SPBGMA) awards.

"The festival relies on the generosity of its sponsors to provide both cash and in-kind donations to help cover its expenses," said Steve Hansen, president of the Pine River Area Foundation (PRAF). "We have around 3,500 people who have come to love this family-friendly event and our sponsors and volunteers help make it happen."

The festival this year will be Aug. 26-30. This year's national headliners include Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper-Michael, IBMA's nine-time fiddle player of the year and is considered one of the premier fiddlers of his generation. In addition, Special Consensus, Minnesota native Becky Buller, Tommy Brown and County Line, and Nightflyer round out the national groups. Regional bands joining the line-up include The Platte Valley Boys, The Lonesome Tradition, The Berge Family, The Sawtooth Brothers, Porcupine Creek, Shaffers Lost 40, and Sarah Mae and the Birkeland Boys.

"TDS is proud to be a sponsor of the 10th Annual Lakes Bluegrass Festival," said Sue Courteau, associate field marketing manager with TDS. "It's part of our mission to be involved in the communities we serve. As the local telecom provider, we take pride in supporting this festival and many other events and activities in the area."

For more information about becoming a sponsor of the Lakes Bluegrass Festival contact John at the Pine River Chamber 218-587-4000 or visit, www.lakesbluegrassfestival.com .