Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 23, 1993 TAG: 9309230191
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: Donna Alvis-Banks
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Virginia Tech Union's first Broadway Series show of the season, "Man of La Mancha," is Thursday, 7:30 p.m., in Burruss Auditorium.
Based on "Don Quixote," Miguel de Cervantes' classic novel about a middle-aged Spanish landowner who imagines he's a knight in shining armor and wages war against the wrongs of the world, "Man of La Mancha" originally played 2,341 shows on Broadway and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
Jericho Entertainment of New York is bringing the touring production to Virginia Tech.
Ronald Brown plays the comically idealistic Don Quixote and David Maxwell is his sidekick, Sancho Panza, the peasant who accompanies him as he performs his heroic deeds - jousting windmills he thinks are giants and fighting flocks of sheep he mistakes for armies.
Written by Dale Wasserman, "Man of La Mancha" features the music of Mitch Leigh and lyrics of Joe Darion. The play has several enduring and endearing songs, including "The Quest" (better known as "The Impossible Dream") and "To Each His Dulcinea."
Tickets for Thursday's show in Burruss Hall are on sale at the Squires Student Center ticket office. Prices are $5 for Tech students, $13 for Tech faculty and staff. Public admission is $16 for adults; $8 for children under 12.
For ticket information, call 231-5615, weekdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
\ SHE'S NO PLAIN JANE: She's funny, flamboyant and fabulously talented.
Jane Powell, the Roanoke singer with a five-octave range, is performing Saturday at Eat at Joe's Cafe International in Blacksburg. The show starts at 10 p.m., but you'll want to get there early for a good seat.
Powell, who was voted a Campus Entertainer of the Year in 1990, is a hot ticket on the college and club circuits. She also sang two songs in the Cissy Spacek movie "Marie."
The film's director, Dino DeLaurentiis, said he had to shoot Powell's scene in the movie several times: "In the script, after she sang the songs, the audience wasn't supposed to applaud. They were supposed to remain quiet. But every time she finished, they cheered and clapped."
She's been compared to Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson, but Powell doesn't like to be categorized.
"I'm a little bit jazz, a little bit rhythm and blues, a little bit soul," she says. She also says her choice of music on any given night depends on her mood.
When she's in a good mood, watch out!
"If people annoy me, I'll tell 'em," she says. "If they don't like my music, I tell 'em to leave. And if they love me, I give 'em all I got."
Saturday's cover charge is $6 if you're under 21 or $5 if you're over 21.
\ SONGS THAT GIVE YOU GOOSEBUMPS: Those are the kind of songs Dallas Holm sings.
The man who pioneered contemporary Christian music, won seven Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and received a Grammy nomination in 1987 is now celebrating 25 years in music ministry. His 28th album, "Completely Taken In," was released this year.
He's not about to quit now.
"Life is filled with subtle reminders that we're all getting older and you have to realistically plan for the future," he says. "But if what you do is really about ministry and changing people's lives, then it goes on forever, and there's a tremendous security in knowing that."
Holm, who says his all-time favorite band was The Byrds, started singing gospel music while he was still in high school. Many of the songs he has produced in the past 25 years have the folk-rock flavor of the '60s. Some of his more recent tunes, such as "I Have Hope" and "One Lord (Over Us All)," lean toward today's popular country sound with some surprising twists, such as R&B sax licks.
In 1984, Holm began sponsoring food drives at his concerts. The first effort brought in 3,400 pounds of food. His dedication to the project is still going strong.
"Food drives are another way for us to minister to the people in a community," he says.
Holm's next concert is Monday at 7 p.m. in Christiansburg High School. Straight Street Teen Center is sponsoring it as a benefit for the Montgomery County Emergency Assistance Program. Admission is a can of food for the food program and a $2 donation at the door.
\ DOUBLE D: As in Davis and Dee.
You've seen Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee on TV, at the movies and - if you're lucky - treading the boards.
Most recently, the two appeared together in the Spike Lee films, "Jungle Fever" and "Do the Right Thing."
The Black Student Alliance at Virginia Tech is sponsoring "An Evening with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee" Saturday at 8 p.m. in Burruss Auditorium. The celebrities will present "In Other Words . . .," a program of dramatic readings about the history of the minority experience in America.
Some of the readings are aimed at black audiences. Some focus on America's other minority groups. All of them have meaning for everyone who likes a well-told story.
Tickets, $5 for the public and $2 for Tech students, are on sale at the ticket office in Squires Student Center.
\ YEE-HA! The Floyd County Rescue Squad Auxiliary is bringing the Dry Hill Draggers to town Saturday. The popular old-time bluegrass band will perform at the rescue squad building Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
This is not a sit-down affair.
The Dry Hill Draggers are providing the tunes for the Saturday night square dance, always a fun time in Floyd.
Admission is $4 at the door. Kids under 10 are admitted free.
The auxiliary will have refreshments for sale at the dance.
\ IT'S A FIRST: The Christiansburg Veterans of Foreign Wars and Auxiliary will put on its first crafts show this weekend at VFW Post 5311 on High Street. Members are hoping this will turn into an annual event.
Organizers say the show was designed to meet standards of quality. They expect a large variety of arts and crafts.
The show will be open to the public Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
Homemade baked goods and food will be available for sale. The coffee is free.
by CNB