CSM Connections: Literary Journal. May 4, 7:30 p.m., College of Southern Maryland , La Plata Campus, LR Building, Room 102, 8730 Mitchell Road . Local writers and photographers will present and discuss their work as published in the spring 2007 issue of CSM's literary journal "Connections". The reading and copies of the journal are free. Some material may contain language inappropriate for young listeners. 

Free. 301-934-7864 or 301-870-3008, Ext. 7864 for Charles County ; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7864 for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7864 for Calvert County or http://www.csmd.edu/Connections.

Please join us at the College of Southern Maryland
LaPlata Campus, Fine Arts Building

Friday, May 4

• 9:30am - 2:00pm ~ Auditorium
  School Jazz Band Performances ~ Open to all Middle & High Schools
  Composer/Arranger Alan Baylock will offer critique and rehearsal techniques after each band's performance.
  

• 8:00pm ~ CSM's Black Box Theatre
  Berklee Jazz Trio in Concert
  Performing a variety of jazz and fusion standards with its own unique flair, the combo includes award-winning guitarist Randy Runyon, Jr. and promises to be full of surprises and very entertaining.
  

Saturday, May 5

• 2:00pm ~ Auditorium
  Randy Brecker Improv Session
  Two-Time Grammy Award Winner, Randy Brecker has been shaping the sound of Jazz, R&B and Rock for more than three decades. His trumpet and flugelhorn performances have graced hundreds of albums by a wide ranger of artists from James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Chaka Khan, George Benson and Parliament-Funkadelics to Frank Sinatra, Steely Dan, David Sanborn, Horace Silver, Jaco Pastorius and Frank Zappa.

• 6:00pm ~ CSM Inaugural Cocktail Reception and Jazz Concert.   CSM's fourth president, Dr. Bradley Gottfried, will be honored at an inaugural reception followed by CSM's Jazz Concert at 8 p.m. $25 includes reception and concert, with a portion of the proceeds to fund CSM scholarships. 301-934-7654, www.csmd.edu.

• 8:00pm ~ Auditorium
  SOLID BRASS, CSM's Big Band Jazz Ensemble, Featuring Grammy Award Winning Trumpeter and Composer Randy Brecker, with Special Guest Director and Chief Arranger for the Airmen of Note, Alan Baylock.  Comprised of professional musicians, members of the community, high school and college students, Solid Brass is Southern Maryland's most talented group of Jazz musicians and performers!
  

Sponsored by Charles County Public Schools & the College of Southern Maryland

Smallwood State Park Hosts Arts Festival

Marbury, Charles County, MD - Saturday, May 5th 2007 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Mattawoman Creek Art Center (MCAC) is partnering with the Department of Natural Resources and Smallwood Retreat Foundation to host "Art in the Park", a festival of visual arts, nature and history. Art in the Park is an outdoor event with artists' work for sale, Plein Air painting, sculpture demonstration, music, fine art appraisals, food, and children's activities.

MCAC artists will be selling all forms of artwork on the lawn of the art center, and a juried Quilt and Folk Art Exhibit is also showing in the gallery. Musicians performing at "Art in the Park" include The St. Charles String Quartet, Madd Mother Moose, Broken Stigma, The College of So. MD Guitar Club, and Tom Gordon on Bagpipes. Children can also enjoy face-painting by MCAC member artists, take-home crafts, and a 'quick-draw' contest.

For the plein air painting event, any artists are invited to spend the day at MCAC painting and drawing on the park grounds from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Artists are also invited to sell your work at end of the day.(Don't forget your easel!)

Weschler's Appraisals will also be on site at MCAC offering appraisals of Fine Art, Porcelain, Fine China, and Silver. Items must be hand carried only, with a limit of two items per person, and a fee of $5 each. Appraisals will be on a first come first served basis from 10:00 a.m. - Noon. Appraisals will be broadcast at various locations on the grounds of MCAC via local streaming television.

This Art Center event coincides with Smallwood State Park's Smallwood Retreat Open House event. The public is invited to visit the historic home of Gen. Smallwood, enjoy the 'Scales and Tails' live animal exhibit, and join in the bass fishing contest at the State Park's Sweden Point Marina.

Mattawoman Creek Art Center is located inside of Smallwood State Park. Mattawoman Creek Art Center is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1986 and completely operated by volunteers who believe that the arts have a compelling place in our lives and the lives of our children.

For more information about "Art in the Park' visit the Mattawoman Creek Art Center website at http://www.mattawomanart.org/, contact MCAC via e-mail at: mattawomanart@aol.com, or contact Mattawoman Creek Art Center, P.O. Box 258, Marbury, MD 20658; (301) 743-5159.

• CSM's fourth president will be honored at an inaugural toast at 2 p.m. 
• Ward Virts Master Concert Series featuring the CSM Choir at 3 p.m. The choral program includes works selected by the singers from the past concert seasons including an eight-part choral of Mendelssohn and 14 part works of Eric Whitacre. Various American folk songs and spirituals will be included. Free but seats are limited; call for reservations: 301-934-7654

On May 12, 2007 the Arts Vision 2020 Action Teams will meet in the Meeting Room of the United Way Building on Route 488 in La Plata from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon to continue work on Charles County's Strategic Plan for the Arts... All arts stakeholders are welcome! Call 301-392-5900 for more information!  Read more about Arts Vision 2020!

Please click here to access a sheet of 4 vouchers, one of which must be given to your server.  Please share the others with friends!

Thank you for your support!

For reservations and more info, call 301-932-6819, or visit the website at www.ptplayers.com

CSM Concert Choir. May 16, 6:30 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church , 1200 Charles Street , La Plata , Md. As part of its regional concert tour, the CSM Concert Choir, directed by Professor John W. Maerhofer, will perform the third of four concerts celebrating the Concert Choir's 10^th anniversary. Works will include a variety of Latin texts in various arrangements, Eric Whitacre compositions and American folk songs and spirituals. Free. 301-934-7861 or 301-870-3008, Ext. 7861 for Charles County ; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7861 for St. Mary's County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7861 for Calvert County or www.csmd.edu/FineArts.

CSM Chamber Singers. May 12, 7 p.m., Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 15848 Rock Point Road , Issue , MD. As part of their regional concert tour, the CSM Chamber Singers, directed by Professor John W. Maerhofer, will perform the second of four concerts celebrating their 10^th anniversary. Choral works will include a variety of Latin texts in various arrangements, Eric Whitacre compositions and American folk songs and spirituals. Free. For information call 301-934-7861 or 301-870-3008, Ext. 7861 for Charles County ; 240-725-5499, Ext. 7861 for St. Mary’s County or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7861 for Calvert County or visit www.csmd.edu/FineArts.

Bring head shot and resume and have a prepared monologue.  There is the possibility of a cold reading. For directions, visit www.indianheadblackbox.org

Questions?  Please e-mail NobleHeart@NobleHeartTheatre.com

Steel Magnolias 

by Robert Harling
Directed by Cindy Johnson

July 13, 2007 - August 12, 2007
Fridays and Saturdays 8pm
Sundays 3pm

All roles paid.

Set in a beauty shop in Louisiana.  Playable age range given for reference. 

Truvy Jones (late 30s-early 40s) The wise-cracking owner of the beauty shop.

Annelle Dupuy-Desoto (18-early 20s) Truvy's simple, yet enigmatic, assistant.

Clairee Belcher  (mid 50s-60s) Widow of the former mayor, a wealthy Grande Dame.

Shelby Eatenton-Latcherie (mid 20s) The prettiest girl in town.

M'Lynn Eatenton (late 40s-early 50s) Shelby's mother, a socially prominent career woman.

Ouiser Boudreaux (mid 50-60s) A wealthy curmudgeon. Acerbic but loveable.