DATE: Friday, May 9, 1997                   TAG: 9705070129

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   80 lines

LITTLE MISS CHESAPEAKE WILL BE ``JUST A NATURAL YOUNG MISS''

The Little Miss Chesapeake Pageant is Saturday night at Deep Creek Middle School, but before you start thinking JonBenet Ramsey, pageant officials want to assure you that the event is not about turning little girls into dolled-up little adults.

``We stress no make-up and we make sure our judges do not make their choice based on what kind of evening dress or gown a contestant wears,'' said Jackie Moseley, pageant organizer. ``We're looking for just a natural young miss.''

Moseley believes in the 19th-annual pageant. Her own daughter Stacey, now a high-achieving college student who graduated from the New York High School for Performing Arts (the school from ``Fame''), was once a Little Miss Chesapeake.

Moseley said the pageant experience gave her daughter the stage confidence to become a successful young performer in local and national television commercials, film, theater and TV.

Moseley said that fallout from the JonBenet case - the much-publicized murder of a Little Miss Colorado that is still unsolved - initially led to a slow sign-up period. But Moseley said the air was cleared when she was able to discuss the pageant with parents, stressing its no-makeup and no-fancy-dress rule.

Now the slate is filled with 22 girls, ages 5-7.

``We had more in past pageants, but this year we had to hold the number at 22 since the middle school has a smaller stage,'' Moseley said. ``We're looking for a completely natural child with stage presence and a good personality.''

The pageant is at 7 p.m. in the Deep Creek Middle School auditorium, 1955 Deal Drive. Tickets are available at the door for $5.

Stacey Moseley will serve as the mistress of ceremonies, and Melissa Suter, who is a former Little Miss Chesapeake and currently Miss Deep Creek, will perform.

A portion of this year's proceeds will be donated to Our House Shelter in Chesapeake. Also, the pageant will adopt a needy family from Chesapeake to help with Thanksgiving and Christmas.

COMING NEXT WEEK:

Come enjoy the music of the Beatles, Roy Orbison and Elvis, while helping a good cause.

Chesapeake resident and long-time area rocker Gary Woolard, will present he and his band Chesapeake-based band, Exit, for a concert May 16 at the Veterans of Foreign Wards Post No. 4809, 5728 Bartee St., Norfolk, by Military Circle.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Norfolk-based Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters.

Woolard, who's been playing rock in various bands around South Hampton Roads for the past 20 years, will don his wrap-around shades and black outfit for his appearance as Roy Orbison on stage. Backed by Exit, Woolard will perform all of Orbison's greatest hits, including ``Pretty Woman'' and ``Dreaming.''

After the Orbison bit, Woolard and the rest of Exit will pop on bushy wigs and perform as The Beatles.

The concert will include an appearance by the King, or rather someone else in Elvis garb. Woolard and his mates will back this faux Elvis through a program of his most memorable songs.

Tickets to the benefit concert are $12.50 per person, which also includes dinner. Again, all proceeds will go to the CHKD.

For more information or to order tickets, contact Woolard at 421-9525, call Bailey's Guitar Shop at 546-0679 or the VFW Post No. 4809 at 461-1343.

The Governor's School for the Arts Theatre Department will present Stephen Sondheim's musical ``Merrily We Roll Along,'' next weekend at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk.

The musical follows the life of Broadway composer Franklin Shepard and his two closest friends as they go through their personal and professional lives.

Michael S. Tick and Lisa A. Baldwin are the directors and Lauri Lynn Young is the musical director.

The production will feature a cast and crew of more than 50 area students. Included are Chesapeake student performers Ryan Braaten, Christine de Triquet, Rachel Matchett and Courtney Watson from Western Branch High School; Erica Dawn C. Garcia, Meghann Hodges, Catlin Revell, Brent Smith, Angel Trent and Angela Wyman of Hickory High; and Ginny Hanson and Nicholas Parsons of Indian River High.

Stephen Sondheim's ``Merrily We Roll Along'' takes place at 8 p.m. on May 15-17 and again at 3 p.m. on May 17 at the Wells Theatre, Tazwell Street and Montecello Avenue, Norfolk. Tickets are $8. For more information or ticket reservations, call 683-5549.

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