The Angelina Arts Alliance welcomes "Chicago — The Musical" to the Temple Theater stage on the Angelina College campus at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The winner of multiple Tonys, a Grammy and other awards, this dark kiss-and-tell story of murder and obsession with "celebrity criminals" is still running on Broadway. The Lufkin production is based on the 1997 revival of the musical that won over a new generation of enthusiastic fans. Some content may not suitable for young audiences.
A live, onstage band will fill Temple Theater with electrifying music, as the performers belt out one show-stopping song after another. Tunes like "All That Jazz", "Razzle Dazzle", and "Cell Block Tango" will have audiences humming and tapping their toes long after the show has departed. Add to all of this the brilliance and excitement of Bob Fosse-style choreography, and Chicago — The Musical becomes the must-see event of the Angelina Arts Alliance season.
Tickets are $35 to $45 at the Temple Theater box office. Patrons who arrive at the box office at 7 p.m. the night of the show can purchase unsold seats for half-price, subject to availability. Box office hours are weekdays noon to 5:30 p.m. and the information number is 633-5454. Show sponsors are Angelina Radiation Oncology Associates and Lufkin Industries, Inc. Season sponsors are First Bank & Trust/East Texas and Temple-Inland.
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Stephen F. Austin State University's The Original Cast will present "Babes Off Broadway: A Salute to the Mickey and Judy Movies" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday in the Downstage Theater of the Griffith Fine Arts Building. The ensemble will also present a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.
The Original Cast, established in 1991, is the SFA School of Theatre's cabaret-improvisation troupe that presents an original musical revue each spring and performs for civic groups and other sponsors throughout East Texas.
Dr. Alan Nielsen, professor of theatre and director of the ensemble, said the Mickey Rooney-Judy Garland musical films of the 1930s — "Babes in Arms," "Babes on Broadway," "Girl Crazy" and "Strike Up the Band" — provide the inspiration for this year's revue.
"Babes Off Broadway" is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts and School of Theatre. The Griffith Fine Arts Building is located at 2222 Alumni Dr.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for seniors, students and youth. For tickets or more information, visit www.sfasu.edu/finearts or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.
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The Woodville Business & Professional Women's Club is sponsoring its annual Western Weekend Arts & Crafts Fair from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 29 and the Big Thicket Arts & Crafts Fair from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 9 in Woodville during the Dogwood Festival activities scheduled for both weekends. Proceeds from the fairs will be used for B&PW scholarships. For more information contact the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce at (409) 283-2632 or Lois Henderson at (409) 547-3352.
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Items may be contributed to this column by sending the information to The Lufkin Daily News, P.O. Box 1089, Lufkin, 75902, to my attention. Or give me a call at 631-2618 or e-mail me at lufnews@coxnews.com.
