Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 20, 1995 TAG: 9501200065
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
By the time she turned 30, she was one of the most famous and powerful women in the world.
The wife of Argentine dictator Juan Peron, Eva was loved and hated, worshipped and feared by the people of South America.
When she died of cancer in 1952 at age 33, Argentina's resplendent first lady was mourned by the masses. Her body - said to be "preserved for all time" - was viewed by more than 2 million people while it lay in state in Buenos Aires.
The story of Eva Peron's rise from poverty to privilege is told in "Evita." The documentary-style drama features music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The original production won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical of 1980.
The show's most popular song is "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." The musical score is punctuated by Latin rhythms.
Producer Robert Young and PACE Theatrical Group will bring the national touring production of "Evita" to Virginia Tech for one show Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Burruss Auditorium. This show is part of the Virginia Tech Union's Broadway Series.
Tickets are on sale at the box office in Squires Student Center. They are $16 for the public, $13 for Tech faculty and staff, $8 for children under 12 and $5 for Tech students.
For more information, call 231-5615 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. today.
THE AUDUBON PLUS ONE: The Audubon Quartet, Virginia Tech's quartet-in-residence, will perform with Radford University music professor Robert Trent on Saturday. The concert starts at 8 p.m. in Radford's Preston Auditorium.
Trent, a classical guitarist, will join Clyde Shaw on cello, Doris Lederer on viola and violinists David Salness and David Ehrlich. The musicians will perform a new piece, "Triptico," by American composer Roberto Sierra. Also on the program is the popular D Major Guitar Quintet by Luigi Boccherini, as well as works by Brahms and Beethoven.
Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children and free with Radford University identification.
SOMETHING NEW: Straight Street Youth Center in Christiansburg has opened its Street Light Cafe, offering food, games and entertainment for all ages every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m.
Gourmet coffee, homemade pies and pastries and a variety of menu selections will satisfy your hunger pangs. Alcohol is prohibited.
"Even though we don't serve any alcoholic beverages, we do serve up the best time anybody could have," said Straight Street director Bob Anderson. "Adults, teens and families can all enjoy this cafe."
Tonight is "Sports Night" at the cafe. Visitors may watch the big-screen TV or join in a game of pool, table tennis or foosball. A few arcade games are available, too.
On Saturday, Jim Morris will play acoustic music.
Anderson said the coffeehouse will feature live entertainment or guest speakers most weekends. Music will include country, rock and Southern gospel styles.
Straight Street is at 300 N. Franklin St. There's no cover charge to get in.
FIDDLIN' AROUND: The monthly Fiddle and Banjo Festival presented by Progress in Narrows Now is Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Old Narrows High School.
The Appalachian Mountain Girls from Lansing, N.C., will be joined by the Craig County Boys of Newport and The Blackburn Brothers of Radford. The three bands will play bluegrass and traditional mountain music.
In addition to the music, the festival offers folks an opportunity to see and buy local crafts. If you're interested in displaying crafts at the monthly get-together, call 726-2598.
Come hungry. You can pick up hot dogs, drinks and popcorn at the concession stand. You also may bid on two hams to be auctioned during the show.
Admission to the festival is free, but donations are accepted.
AND THE WINNERS ARE ... Students in Radford University's art department are waiting anxiously for the word from Roger Ricco.
Ricco, owner of the Ricco/Maresca Gallery in the SoHo district of New York City, is the juror this year for the university's annual student exhibit. He will give a gallery talk today at 4 p.m., followed by a reception and awards ceremony at 5 p.m.
The students' work will be on display in Flossie Martin Gallery through Feb.1. The show, "Defining Ourselves," features figurative works in a variety of media. The works were created with the purpose of celebrating individual differences.
The gallery at Norwood and Downey streets is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. It's closed Monday and Saturday.
HARD GROOVIN': Gibb Droll's band mixes the blues with a little jazz, a touch of rock and a smidgen of funk. The resulting groove is a little hard around the edges.
Droll, who was born in Winchester and grew up in Virginia Beach, plays guitar in the tradition of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert King and Carlos Santana. Still, the young musician has a sound that is uniquely his.
The Gibb Droll Band will visit Blacksburg's South Main Cafe on Tuesday for a 10 p.m. show. In addition to Droll, the band features Pete Mathis on keyboards, Gary Look on bass and Mike Williams on drums.
The band recently released its second CD, "Dharma," with 10 original tracks and a rendition of Miles Davis' "All Blues." The band has not signed with a label, but radio stations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Washington, D.C., are giving four cuts some good airplay.
Tickets for Tuesday's show are $5 and are available at the cafe, 117 S. Main St.
by CNB