ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 24, 1996 TAG: 9606240041
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
Summer reading at Bedford library
The Bedford Public Library System's annual summer reading program for children begins Tuesday.
This year's program, "Choose Your Own Adventure - Read," will include such activities such as visits from Mill Mountain Zoo and the Science Museum of Western Virginia's mobile planetarium, kite-making workshops, library sleep-overs and treasure hunts.
Activities are free. For more information, contact the library location nearest you or call 586-6110.
Preservationists plan Wednesday meeting
The Roanoke Valley Preservation Foundation is sponsoring "Advocacy or Action? Operating a Revolving Fund for Historic Properties" on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Roanoke County Administration Building's Community Room.
Mark Perry, the executive director of the Historic Salisbury Foundation, will discuss the pros and cons of operating revolving funds for historic preservation and will offer tips on how to establish such a fund.
Refreshments will be served following the presentation.
Olympic fencers training at Hollins
The United States Women's Olympic Foil team, which is currently ranked third in the world, are training at Hollins College through Sunday.
The team will hold practice sessions on Tuesday, 6-9 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-noon; and Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon.
The practices will be held in Tayloe gymnasium and fencing studio and are open to the public.
Abingdon student at Houston event
ABINGDON - Nathan A. Cook, an Abingdon High School student, will represent Virginia at the World Leadership Congress at Rice University in Houston Aug. 2-10.
Outstanding high school sophomores from each state, Washington and some 30 other countries will take part in the event.
Cook was among sophomore student leaders from 295 Virginia schools participating in leadership training at Christopher Newport University in Newport News while attending the Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation Leadership Seminar. The foundation, established by actor Hugh O'Brian, has been sponsoring leadership seminars since 1958.
Cook has been in a Boy Scout senior patrol leader, vice president of his Student Council Association, class president, and a student advisor for the Abingdon Baptist Church and Washington County Office on Youth.
'Wizard of Oz' musical at Barter
ABINGDON - Barter's First Light Theatre will perform a contemporary musical interpretation of "Wizard of Oz," adapted by Susan Boulle, today through July 6.
In this version of L. Frank Baum's mystical land of Oz, music plays on every street corner. From the Scarecrow's urban beat to the Wizard's grunge band, this Oz is like none seen before.
Reservations are available by calling (800) 368-3240.
'Girl of My Dreams' to open
ABINGDON - "Girl of My Dreams," a musical set in a USO club during World War II, will open Thursday at Barter Theatre and run through Sept. 1.
Music for the play is by Peter Ekstrom, with lyrics by Ekstrom and Stephen Hayes. The book and additional lyrics are by David DeBoy.
The story focuses on a USO troupe whose members fall in love, find courage in the face of danger, and learn the meaning of friendship. It celebrates the meaning of being an American and finding joy in the mixed-up bag of people who make up this country.
The play features songs including "How Lucky Can A Person Hope to Be?" "Here's to the Hero," "The Ladies Always Go for the Brass," "Look at Me, I'm Really Swingin'," and "Pick a Winner."
Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-368-3240.
Franklin County Games start Friday
Registration is under way for the Franklin County Games, an Olympic-style amateur sports event determining county championships.
The events will be held Friday and Saturday at Franklin County High and Benjamin Franklin Middle schools. Sports include badminton, three-on-three basketball, croquet, disc (frisbee) golf, horseshoes, roller hockey, softball home run derby, table tennis (ping pong), volleyball and weightlifting. All ages and ability levels are welcome.
The games are sponsored by the Franklin County Family YMCA and are open to Franklin County residents or people who work in the county. To register, call 489-9622.
Children's art in museum exhibit
An exhibit of children's art work from the Muscular Dystrophy Art Collection is view at the Art Museum of Western Virginia through Aug. 31. The works by children affected by neuromuscular disorders will be displayed in ArtVenture, the museum's children's center.
The MDA is a voluntary health agency working to defeat 40 neuromuscular diseases through research programs, comprehensive services and professional and public health education. Programs are funded almost entirely through private contributions.
ArtVenture is open Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. For more information, call the museum at 342-5760.
'Doctors & Diseases' at Barter Theatre
ABINGDON - "Doctors and Diseases," which opens June 19 at Barter Stage II and runs through Sept. 1, was written by an avowed hypochondriac.
"That's why I wrote it, to come to grips with some of that," said Peter Ekstrom. "I wanted to deal with the anxiety and confusion we feel when dealing with the medical profession."
So how is he dealing with it? With music.
"The play grew from what was a collection of songs," he said. "I used to perform them, and then a woman on another piano performed with me. It was a cabaret show. This is the first time it has grown into a full-length work."
Director Don Stephenson said his job has been to draw the connections of particular songs with the play's four cast members. "It has a certain satirical edge, like the best of 'Saturday Night Live,'" he said.
"It's very funny, but it deals with serious problems as well," said Ekstrom, who also wrote "An O. Henry Christmas" which has become an annual Barter event.
Barter is one of three theaters in the country to be awarded a 1996 Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The $150,000 grant depends on Barter raising $450,000 from private sources.
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