HERITAGE
ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 2-B
www.heritage.com
January 27, 2011
Saline High to host Junior Miss Scholarship program Michigan’s Junior Miss Scholarship Program will hold the 53rd annual scholarship program 6 p.m. Saturday at Saline High School. During the event, 15 contestants from around the state of Michigan will compete for more than $11,000 in college scholarships and the chance to represent Michigan at local events throughout the state and at the National finals in Mobile, Ala. This year, the Junior Miss Program has changed its name to the Distinguished Young Women of Michigan. Organizers said this new name better reflects the ideals of Junior Miss, which are scholarship, leadership and talent. Haley Williams, a senior at Saline High School will be participating as Saline’s Junior Miss. Williams is the president of the Business Professionals of America, the senior business editor of the Saline High School Yearbook and a member of the Saline Majorettes. She is also a member of the Saline Twirlettes under the direction of Susan Usher. The Saline Twirlettes also will be guest performers Saturday at the Michigan’s Junior Miss State Scholarship Program. Some of their activities for the week were to include performing community service at local elementary schools, touring The Henry Ford, visiting the Boys and Girls clubs, touring Michigan International Speedway, entertaining at Parkway Meadows Senior
Living Center and practicing routines for the program night. At the state program Saturday, contestants will perform on stage in an opening number and compete in a performing arts talent routine, a physical fitness routine and a self-expression segment. Contestants are also evaluated based on scholastics and am interview. This year’s program theme is music from the TV show “Glee.” Tickets to the event can be purchased the day of the event at Saline High School or by contacting Lydia Soroosh at 426-4744 or by e-mailing mijrmiss@yahoo.com. Tickets are $15, and all proceeds go toward scholarship awards. Michigan’s Junior Miss Scholarship Program awards college scholarships to young women who have distinguished themselves at school and in their communities. Michigan’s Junior Miss Scholarship Program is part of America’s Junior Miss Program, now called Distinguished Young Women of America, the largest and oldest scholarship program for high school seniors in the country. Since it first began in 1958, more than $90 million dollars in college scholarships have been awarded. National sponsors are More information on this scholarship program is available at www.ajm.org.
The class of 2011 Michigan’s Junior Misses includes, in front, Raleigh Poxson (left) of Irish Hills, Shelby Turner of Wayne-Westland, Caitlin Blankenship of Alpena, Anna Marie Pokriefka of Farmington Hills and Rachel Rochowiak of Dearborn Heights; and, in back, Mariah Austin of Tecumseh, Elizabeth Johnson of Plymouth, Anastacia Washington of Plymouth-Canton, Maegan Budd of Jackson, Ashley Poszywak of Stockbridge and Jaycie Giordano of Westland. Caroline Asiala of Bay County, LeAnn Allan of Detroit, Haley Williams of Saline and Michelle Good of Romulus are not pictured.
Penny Seats Theatre Company to perform Saturday By Sheila Pursglove Special Writer
Members of the new nonprofit Penny Seats Theatre Company will perform “Penny Pieces: A Cabaret,” 7 p.m. Saturday in the La Piazza room at Mediterrano Restaurant, 2900 S. State St., in Ann Arbor. The event features a threecourse meal and the show. Advance tickets are available at www.brownpapertickets. com/event/142904 and cost $40 each or $75 per couple. For more information, visit www. pennyseats.org. The group, launched seven months ago and taking its name from the cheap seats at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in Elizabethan England, aims to fill a niche for summer outdoor theater in the area.
The cabaret will include Broadway favorites from musicals such as “The Producers,” “Guys and Dolls,” “The Fantasticks,” “Hair,” “The Threepenny Opera,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “The Boy From Oz” and “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.” The troupe, which is preparing for its inaugural production of “Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)” at Ann Arbor’s West Park Band Shell in August, hopes to host more performances in coming months. The troupe’s vice president is Scio Township resident Matt Cameron, a 2001 graduate of Pioneer High School, where in his senior year he played Nathan Detroit in a production of “Guys and Dolls.” At
NAAPID at Night talent showcase set for Feb. 14 Six of the 10 public school districts in Washtenaw County will take part in the annual National African American Parent Involvement Day at Night Showcase of Student Talent, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Saline High School auditorium, 1300 Campus Parkway. The event will feature student entertainment, from magic to musical renderings. Students will sing, drill, play, dance and recite their way through a fast-paced, event celebrating and recognizing the importance of parental involvement in the educational process. NAAPID at Night Chairwoman Shoshana DeMaria said she looks forward to having a packed auditorium. “Just when I think we’ve had the most spectacular student showcase ever, the next year tops the previous one,” DeMaria said in a news release. “The scope and quality of our student talent is boundless. We are so fortunate to have representation from all corners of our county convene and shine on a single stage.”
Washtenaw County school districts supporting the event include Ann Arbor Public Schools, Lincoln Consolidated Schools, Milan Area Schools, Saline Area Schools, Willow Run Community Schools and Ypsilanti Public Schools. Light refreshments will be served at 5:30 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:30 p.m. In addition to the talent showcase, there will be exhibits of student art and academic projects, along with displays of the NAAPID Poster Contest winners. NAAPID at Night is an extension of the school day program, which encourages parents and guardians to visit their children in the classroom. The theme for this year’s event is “Parent Involvement 365=Student Success.” National African American Parent Involvement Day was founded 15 years ago by Joseph Dulin, and is now celebrated across the United States and internationally. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call DeMaria at 678-4136.
Kalamazoo College, he participated in various performances and was a member of the college improvisation troupe. He also completed a brief stint as a professional actor in Wisconsin. Cameron, a law student at Wayne State University, said the goal of Penny Seats is to fill the niche between professional theater and community productions, and make highquality theater accessible to all members of the community. Roy Sexton of Saline, who holds a master’s degree in theater from Ohio State University, is board chairman of The Penny Seats. “As business people and as artists, it’s a particular thrill when we can successfully partner with local organizations like Mediterrano,” he said.
“The support and encouragement has been astounding.” The troupe’s president is Lauren London, an attorney who also is a board member of the nonprofit creative writing organization 826 Michigan. London began acting professionally when she was 11 years old and has performed a lot of community theater in the area. “We have limited seating, and tickets are going fast, but we hope to fill La Piazza and have an exuberant evening,” she said. “We truly enjoy partnering with local vendors like Mediterrano and its owner, John Roumanis.” London’s husband, Zach, a neurologist at the University of Michigan and a musician and composer, is also in the Penny Seats, as is her brother, Russ Schwartz, who has appeared
with Wild Swan Theatre and Performance Network Theatre. “There’s an urge to say, ‘We can’t ask people for money right now,’ but we can’t control the state of the world. We can only promise not to ask for very much and provide great theater in return,” Schwartz said. “From the beginning, it has been a goal of the group to offer affordable theater so good that people go home wondering if they robbed us.” The company’s launch was largely made possible by social networking. The group worked with a fund-raising site called Kickstarter, and relied on Facebook to drive people to the site. “We didn’t know what to expect, so we said, ‘OK, we’ll put our idea and plans out there,
and see if it gets anyone excited. I think people responded to the fact that when you help launch a company, you’re a part of it, and that’s an idea that social networking can get across really well,” Schwartz said. “It may sound sappy to say it aloud, but financial support isn’t everything. We’re getting support from journalists who want to find out what we’re up to, technicians who are letting us consult with them, other companies who offer guidance, people with business experience who let us pick their brains, and significant others who aren’t killing us for giving up our evenings and weekends.” Sheila Pursglove is a freelance writer. She can be reached at bingley51@yahoo.com.
THINGS TO DO: REGIONAL CALENDAR CHELSEA Thursday, Jan. 27 Critic’s Corner 6:30 p.m. Thursday: Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St., Chelsea. Free. Pre-register at 475-8732.
Friday, Jan. 28 Community Drum Jam 8 p.m. Friday: Tree of Life, 6065 Sibley Road. Free. 4330697.
Saturday, Jan. 29 DJ Skate 7:15 to 9 p.m. Saturday: Arctic Coliseum, 501 Coliseum Drive. $5 (age 14 and younger, $3) admission, $3 skate rental. 4334444. Chelsea Chess Club 3 p.m. Saturday: Wendy’s, 1640 Commerce Park. Free. 475-1583. “Winter Bonfire” 2 p.m. Saturday: Eddy Discovery Center lower parking lot, Bush Road, Chelsea. $2 (families, $5). Space limited; preregistration required. $10 annual vehicle entrance fee. 475-3170. Science Saturday 2 p.m. Saturday: Chelsea District Library, 221 S. Main St., Chelsea. Free. Pre-registration required. 475-8732.
Sunday, Jan. 30 Music at McKune: Kevin Devine 2 p.m. Sunday: Chelsea
District Library, 221 S. Main St. Free. 475-8732.
Wednesday, Feb. 2 Stuffed Animal Sleepover 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: Chelsea District Library. 221 S. Main St. Free. Pre-register at 475-8732.
Ongoing “Corktown” 8 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays, 3 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays: Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St. 433-7673.
DEXTER Saturday, Jan. 29 Draw Doubles 101 Disc Golf Noon Saturday: Hudson Mills Metropark Activity Center, 8801 North Territorial Road. ($7 per player; free for spectators. $5 vehicle entrance fee. 449-4300. “Chillin’ at the Mills” 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday: Hudson Mills Activity Center, 8801 North Territorial Road, Dexter. Pre-registration required. $5 vehicle entrance fee. 4268211.
Sunday, Jan. 30 “Tracks, Scat, and More!” 2 p.m. Sunday: Washtenaw County naturalist Faye Stoner leads a hike at Miller-Smith Preserve on Parker Road. Deadend at Dexter-Chelsea Road in Dexter. Free. 971-6337, ext. 334.
Monday, Jan. 31
U of M Club of Ann Arbor 11:30 a.m. Monday: Men’s gymnastics coach Geoff Corrigan. Weber’s Inn, 3050 Jackson Road. $9.25, includes lunch. 649-8816. Bingo for Books 1 p.m. Monday: Dexter District Library, 3255 Alpine St. Free. 426-4477.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 Visitors Night: Ann Arbor Model Railroad Club 7:30 p.m., Tuesday: Michigan Central Depot, 3487 Broad St. Free. 426-5100.
SALINE Thursday, Jan. 27 Thursday Contra Dance 7 p.m. Thursday: 4531 Concourse Drive. ($7 (students, $4; age 13 and younger with a parent, free). 408-1018.
Saturday, Jan. 29 Winterfest 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday: Wintertime activities, including an ice carving demo, a snowmobile display, a snow bank treasure hunt, a sled dog demo, and the “Snowman Making Championship of the Free World.” Also, a volleyball tournament, art display, hayride, and food from local restaurants. Several former Detroit Red Wings players are on hand for autographs. Ann Arbor Street and Henne Field, Saline. Free. 429-4907.
Remote-Controlled Car Racing 10:30 a.m.-midnight Saturday: Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds, 5055 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. Free admission. $16 to race. 1-313-565-2815.
Tuesday, Feb. 1 New Horizons Band 6 p.m. Tuesday and 1 p.m. Thursday: Liberty School, 7265 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. Free. 429-1742.
Wednesday, Feb. 2 Saline Woodcarvers 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday: Saline Area Senior Center, 7190 N. Maple Road. Free. 944-1918.
YPSILANTI Friday, Jan. 28 Manilow Competition: EMU Music Department 3 p.m. Friday: EMU Alexander Recital Hall, Lowell at East Circle Drive. Free. 4872255.
Sunday, Jan. 30 Organ Recital: EMU Music Department 4 p.m. Sunday: Pease Auditorium, EMU campus, West Cross at College Place. Free. 487-2255. Children’s Puppet Shows 3:30 p.m. Sunday: Dreamland Theater, 26 N. Washington St. $5 (age 3 and younger, free). 6572337.