Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410210021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS BANKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Published in 1911, "The Secret Garden" has since become one of the most popular children's novels ever.
In 1991, Burnett's story of childhood's wonder and delight was adapted for the stage by four creative women. Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha Norman wrote the script and lyrics for the musical version of "The Secret Garden." Lucy Simon composed the score, Susan Shulman directed the production and Heidi Landesman designed the scenery and produced the play.
"The Secret Garden" opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on April 25, 1991. It was nominated for more awards than any other production of the season and won 10, including three Tony Awards.
Daisy Eagan was the youngest actress ever to win a Tony. She received the honor for best supporting actress in her role as Mary Lennox, the orphan girl who is sent to live with her uncle and discovers a mysterious garden on his large, lonely English estate. Mary's love for the garden brings it back to life and helps her to heal her own childhood wounds.
The musical features songs such as "I Heard Someone Crying," "The Girl I Mean to Be" and "Come to My Garden."
Big League Theatricals of New York will bring a touring production of the musical to Virginia Tech's Burruss Hall Tuesday. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. The show is part of the Virginia Tech Union's Broadway Series.
Tickets, on sale now at the box office in Squires Student Center, are $16 for adults, $8 for children under 12, $13 for Virginia Tech faculty and staff and $5 for Virginia Tech students. Call 231-5615 for ticket information.
SUR LES POINTES: "If I wanted to turn someone on to dance, I'd recommend this company as a first experience," says Joe Scartelli, speaking of New York's Feld Ballets.
Scartelli, dean of performing arts at Radford University, said he has been trying to bring the dance company to the university for the past three years. At last - success!
Feld Ballets will perform Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Preston Auditorium. The company, founded by Eliot Feld 20 years ago, combines contemporary dance styles with the classical elegance of ballet.
Feld, who is known around the world for his original and inventive choreography, is known among dancers for his grueling demands on their physical stamina. Feld Ballets performances have been called "a mixture of madness and charm."
Tickets for Tuesday's performance are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Admission for Radford University students and staff is free. Call 831-5420 for ticket information.
MUSIC FOR TWO: David Jacobsen, saxophone, and Caryl Conger, piano, will team up for a recital Saturday, starting at 8 p.m., in Virginia Tech's Squires Recital Salon. The two will play works by Bach, Brahms, Milhaud and Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim, as well as a piece written by Kent Holliday of Virginia Tech's music faculty.
Several of the selections were originally written for instruments other than the saxophone, so you can expect a jazzy twist on classic pieces.
Jacobsen, an associate professor of music at Virginia Tech, also plays flute and frequently performs as a soloist and chamber musician.
Conger, an assistant music professor at Radford University, has played with the Chicago Friends of Music, the University of Kentucky Orchestra and the Blacksburg Master Chorale.
Admission to Saturday's recital is $3 and tickets will be available at the performance.
SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL: Virginia Tech's Percussion and Marimba Ensembles, directed by John Floyd, will make the walls vibrate in Haymarket Theatre Wednesday. The groups will perform in concert, beginning at 8 p.m.
The concert features the premiere of "Stression," a piece composed by Floyd and four of his students: Allison Hada, Wesley Holley, Rainier Homoroc and Aaron Snyder. The work involves 7 musicians and 27 percussion instruments.
Also on the program is a solo performance by senior David Bradley. He will play Chapi's "A Bunch of Roses," an early ragtime piece for xylophone.
Tickets, available at the concert only, are $2.
SHOPPING TALK: The 16th annual Christiansburg Senior Arts and Crafts Fair starts today and continues Saturday at the National Guard Armory at College and Depot streets. You can shop and chat from 5 to 9 p.m. today. Saturday's hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The fair features lots of gift items made by local senior citizens. Be sure to register for the quilt raffle. Tickets are $1 and some lucky winner will receive a lovely quilt made by the Senior Athletes of Montgomery County. The drawing will be held Saturday.
Also on Saturday, you'll have a chance to win door prizes every half hour. Hot food items and baked goods will be available at the Senior Athletes' snack bar.
Admission both days is free.
MILLS TO GO BEFORE YOU SLEEP: You won't want to miss the newest exhibit opening Sunday at the Old Church Gallery in Floyd.
"The Run of the Mills: Grinding Grain, Weaving Wool, Sawing Wood - Milling Traditions of Floyd County" documents almost 100 Floyd County mill sites and histories. On display are local flour sacks, mill artifacts, stories, photos and more, including blankets and coverlets woven at the Vaughn Woolen Mill.
Guest curators for this exhibit, running through Dec. 17, are Radford University's Ricky Cox and Frank Webb of Roanoke. The gallery is open Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The opening reception runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday. You can watch as old-timers make stone ground corn meal, and you can nibble on some homemade corn bread while you watch.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Floyd County Historical Society. Old Church Gallery is at 110 Wilson St. off East Main Street in downtown Floyd.
by CNB