Arts briefs: Dinner benefits ballet troupe
Central West Ballet presents its Ballet in the Barn fundraiser this weekend before the start of its new season.
The event will include a dinner, cocktails, auction and entertainment. This season the Modesto ballet company will add performances at the Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy in addition to its resident Gallo Center for the Arts shows.
The 2015-2016 season kicks off Oct. 16-17 at the Gallo Center and Oct. 24 at the Grand Theatre with the premiere production of the new full-length ballet “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” based on the Washington Irving headless horseman ghost tale. It continues with seven shows of “The Nutcracker” Dec. 11-20 at the Gallo Center. Then it finishes with “Rat Pack is Back!” March 18-19 at the Gallo Center and April 2 at Grand Theatre.
The Ballet in the Barn benefit begins at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at 3500 Dunn Road in Modesto. Tickets are $125. Call 209-576-8957 or visit www.centralwestballet.org.
Sierra Rep auditions
Sierra Repertory Theatre invites local children to audition for the “A Columbia Christmas Carol” production.
Auditions will be from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the East Sonora Rehearsal Annex. No sign up is necessary. Participants are asked to prepare a favorite carol to sing at auditions without accompaniment.
Dennis Jones will direct the new adaptation of the classic Charles Dickens tale, reinterpreted to take place during the Gold Rush era in Columbia. The show runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 20 and rehearsals will begin Oct. 27.
Roles include Martha (age 14-18, the Cratchits’ oldest daughter), Peter (age 10-14, Tim’s older brother) and Belinda (age 10-14, the other Cratchit daughter). No previous theatrical experience is necessary, but children must be available for all rehearsals and performances. For more information, call 209-532-3120 or visit www.sierrarep.org.
Tuolumne Writers Retreat
The Sonora Writers Group holds its third annual Tuolumne Writers Retreat this weekend.
The event at Columbia State Park includes guest speakers, classes, workshops and more. The public is also invited to take part in several of the activities. They include the free Ghost Walk starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Angelo’s Hall in Columbia. There will be a free open mike at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at Angelo’s Hall. Then starting at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, authors will have their books on display during a signing.
The morning will also include literary performances.
For more information call 209-288-9950 or 209-743-8097 or visit www.sonorawriters.org.
Library foundation gala
The Stanislaus Library Foundation will host Modesto author Paula Treick DeBoard at its Author’s Garden Gala on Saturday, Sept. 26.
All proceeds will benefit children’s programs at the library’s 13 branches countywide, including the Summer Reading program, which serves more than 10,000 school-age children each year. DeBoard, who teaches English and writing at Modesto Junior College, has published the books “The Fragile World” and “The Mourning Hours.”
The gala will take place at 6 p.m. at the Modesto home of Ginger and Kent Johnson. Tickets are $125. Call 209-529-1517 or visit www.stanislauslibraryfoundation.org.
Live in the Cellar
Modesto Unplugged and ModestoView presents its monthly Live in the Cellar show Friday, Sept. 25.
The show will feature the grand prize winners of the 2014 and 2015 Modesto Unplugged Music Festival songwriting contests. Performing will be 2014 winner Francesca Bavaro of Modesto and 2015 winner Tonya Newstetter of the Bay Area bluegrass/newgrass group Old Belle.
Show starts at 8 p.m. at Greens restaurant in downtown Modesto. Tickets are $15 general, $20 reserved. Call 209-543-5306 or visit www.modestounplugged.com.
This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Arts briefs: Dinner benefits ballet troupe."