
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, February 3, 1995                   TAG: 9502030038
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Almena Hughes
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

RAILROADS AND ROMANCE: Legion are the legends inspired by the golden years of railroading. Perhaps most impressive are the hundreds of songs written to capture the adventure, hard work, danger and glory of trains. Much of that music will be interspersed among the romance of the railroads as portrayed by two actors portraying passengers, ticket clerks, conductors, hobos and train detectives during Lime Kiln Theater's production of "Scalding Steam and Lonesome Rails" on Friday. The show at the Reynold Homestead Center in Critz begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $4. Call 694-7181.

SPIRITED STRINGS: Robert Trent, a professor at Radford University, winner of numerous competitions and Fellow of the 1994 Aston Magna Academy, will perform works by Dalza, da Ripa, Giuliani, Sor and Rodrigo on guitar and lute as part of the "Con Spirito" concert series sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke. There is no admission charge for the 7 p.m. performance on Saturday at the church at Brandon Avenue and Grandin Road. However, donations will be appreciated. A "meet the artists" reception will follow the performance. Call 342-8888.

DRIVE ME TENDER: The tender relationship that tenuously develops between a feisty Jewish widow and her low-key, but tenacious black chauffeur form the fodder of "Driving Miss Daisy" at the Lynchburg Arts Center. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play will be performed Saturday, Feb. 10 and Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. and Sunday and Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $7 to $12. Call (804) 846-3804.

FREEDOM FLIGHT: Many slaves in Alabama and Mississippi called the Big Dipper a Drinking Gourd and devised ingenious ways to follow the constellation north to freedom. Jeanette Winter's book, "Follow the Drinking Gourd," about this flight to freedom, is the basis of a half-hour show at the Hopkins Planetarium, Science Museum of Western Virginia. The show, opening Saturday, explores the day and night skies and includes a coded gourd-following song sung by the slaves. Admission is $2.50. Call 342-5714.

4-H CLOVER: The Cloverbud Caravan, Feb. 4-5, promises to take children between 6 and 8 years old on a "magical trip around the world." The program at the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Center will include arts and crafts, music, dancing, storytelling and camping activities, such as competitions, fireside s'mores, singing and a treasure hunt. The $35 cost includes overnight lodging, four meals, snacks, supplies, insurance and supervision. Call 721-2759.

STAMP OF APPROVAL: The 7th Annual Black History Celebration, 1:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday at the Main Post Office, Roanoke, will include crafts, a fashion show, ethnic foods and music by J. Plunky Branch. Call 985-8752.

ISLAMIC ISSUES: Simon Spencer, instructor of African civilization at Patrick Henry Community College, and Mamadou Doumbia, a citizen of Mali, West Africa, will discuss "Islam and Traditional Society" on Tuesday from 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m. The lecture - part of the Piedmont Arts Association's "African Connections" series - is free; however, seating reservations are recommended. The event will be at the center in Martinsville. Call 632-3221.

VIOLIN VIRTUOSO: On Feb. 10 Anne-Sophie Mutter will bring her spontaneity, wide tonal range and technical polish to a concert of works by Stravinsky, Beethoven, Currier and Schumann. Mutter, who has won numerous international awards and several Grammy nominations, will be accompanied by pianist Lambert Orkis. Tickets for the 8 p.m performance in the Concert Hall at George Mason University cost $35, $28 and $22. Call the box office at 993-8888.

by CNB