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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 12, 1995                   TAG: 9505120016
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: stacy jones
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE TIPOFF

PARTLY CLOUDY AND SUNNY: Most everyone remembers the classic shot of Gene Kelly in a yellow slicker, umbrella in hand, dancing down the street, singing. You know...``Singin' in the Rain,''...the hit musical. If it still isn't clicking, (or if, like some of us, you've only seen old posters of it in coffeehouses) plan a visit to Lynchburg this Saturday - the Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, to be exact - where the friendly spoof of 1920s Hollywood will be staged. The production will incorporate black-and-white film sequences into the live onstage action. The show begins at 8 p.m. and runs every Friday and Saturday through May 27. Tickets are $12, $10 for senior citizens and $7 for students/children. Call (804) 846-3804.

DANCE DELUGE: Sometimes a change of pace is called for. Sometimes it's nice to go out for the evening without a stranger baptizing you with Red Dog. The opportunity presents itself this Saturday. The Virginia School of the Arts presents ``An Evening of Elegance `95.'' The 6th annual benefit gala offers a dazzling array of dance VIPs including principals from The Joffrey Ballet, The Richmond Ballet, River North Dance Chicago, Gus Giordano Dance, Jazz Chicago and the Broadway production of "Carousel." A multimedia tribute to Judy Garland and a pas de deux titled ``Three Tangos'' are some of the highlights. The evening will benefit the Dame Margot Fonteyn Scholarship Fund for VSA students. Everything gets underway at 7:30 p.m. at the E. C. Glass Auditorium, Lynchburg. Tickets range from $15-$100. Call (804) 847-8688.

HICKS ON FILM: Not really, though the majority of the films being screened at tonight's West Virginia Filmmakers Tour deal with the West Virginia psyche and hillbilly stereotypes. For the third year, new works by that state's filmmakers will be shown at Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. The program includes John Nakashima's "Mountaineer," Jonathan Halperin's "The Minors" and two winners of the 9th Annual West Virginia Filmmakers' Competition: "Birds are Dead," by student filmmaker Benjamin Tucker, and "Aisle Seven," by Alan Cook. Nakashima's film interweaves interviews and slices of mountain life with Hollywood movie clips to create a portrait of West Virginia. "The Minors" explores the meaning of minor league baseball to the Town of Bluefield, WV. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5. Call (304) 645-7917.

FRUIT DU JOUR: Cravin' Melon, a four piece acoustic guitar-driven rock band, has created quite a following around the Carolinas and Georgia. Thursday you can see if they deserve it; Cravin' Melon will perform at Radford's Highland Brewery and Pub, starting at 10 p.m. The pub is located at 506 Norwood St. Call 633-1173.

CHEAP VACATION: Just as loads of New Yorkers have never been to the Empire State Building, many Roanokers haven't truly explored the jewels of their own city. This Saturday, in honor of National Tourism Week, the Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau will provide complimentary guided tours of the valley. The shuttlebus tours will visit the old fire station, the transportation museum and other historic spots. The tours depart from Center in the Square on Campbell Avenue at 9 and 10:30 a.m. and at 1:30 and 3:00 p.m. Call 342-6025.

CURTAIN CALL: Although she bade farewell to symphony audiences weeks ago, former maestro Victoria Bond returns Thursday with Opera Roanoke. The reason: the world premiere of her full-length opera, ``Travels.'' Inspired by the hero of Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," the piece takes a look at a young man and his search for an identity and a place in society. This is Bond's last official performance with the opera company that she served as artistic director and conductor. Additional performances take place Saturday and Monday. Admission is $22/$25 for adults, $12/$16 for students and $20/$23 for seniors. All shows begin at 8 p.m. at the Olin Theatre on the Roanoke College campus. Call 982-2742.

by CNB