Can’t Miss Alabama has family entertainment for the fall weekend
Stay tuned for more holiday festivities. (Getty Images)
Virginia Samford Theatre reopens with safety procedures in place.
‘Clue: Stay-At-Home Version’
The Athenian Players will have their fall performance of “Clue: Stay-At-Home Version,” adapted from the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn, written by Sandy Rustin and directed by Hugh Long. Based on the 1985 Paramount movie inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, “Clue” is a hilarious farce-meets-murder-mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, all of the guests become suspects. Led by Wadsworth the butler, Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. “Clue” is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult fans and newcomers in stitches. The cast of “Clue: Stay-At-Home Version” includes Ryan Rorick as Wadsworth, Aly Szappan as Yvette, Rachel McPeters as Miss Scarlet, Kathy Earnest as Mrs. Peacock, Savannah Matthews as Mrs. White, John Powers as Colonel Mustard, Anthony Guffey as Professor Plum, John Jack as Mr. Green, Laura Poe as an Ensemble Woman and Curt Reynolds as an Ensemble Man. Performances will stream live on Broadway on Demand at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12-14. Follow the appropriate link for each performance: Link here for the Thursday performance, here for the Friday performance and here for the Saturday performance. The cost to view the show will be $5. Follow along on Facebook or visit the website for more information. The Athenian Players are the resident theatre company at Athens State University. For information about the drama program at Athens State, visit athens.edu/drama.
Frozen Junior is underway through Nov. 22 at Virginia Samford Theatre. (contributed)
Virginia Samford Theatre
“Frozen Junior,” the enchanting modern classic from Disney, is based on the 2018 Broadway musical and brings Elsa, Anna and the magical land of Arendelle to life onstage. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the play. A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, “Frozen Junior” expands upon the emotional relationship and journey of Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure and plenty of humor, “Frozen Junior” is sure to thaw even the coldest heart. The show is Nov. 12-22, Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 with socially distanced seating. Learn more at virginiasamfordtheatre.org.
Gadsden’s Hardin Center
It is now free to view art exhibitions at the Hardin Center in Gadsden. Exhibitions pairing works by two landscape painters opened last week. New York artist Martin Weinstein uses acrylic paint on layers of floating acrylic sheets that are stacked to form a single image of great depth. The perspective of the image changes as the viewer moves. Maryland artist Stephen Estrada uses oil on canvas to capture coastal scenes. His work features spectacular images of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The exhibitions are on view in the Chan Gallery until Dec. 30. Visitors may view the art exhibitions and the Hardin Center’s 72-foot-long railroad table model of Gadsden in the 1940s for free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays. The art gallery and model railroad are closed on weekends. Donations are welcomed. The Hardin Center and Imagination Place are at 501 Broad St. For more information, call 256-543-2787, extension 38.
Alabama Public Libraries offer online services
Major libraries across the state offer a huge slate of online services. Patrons can check out e-books and audiobooks, stream movies and TV shows, prepare for standardized tests and get expert help with homework. A Digital Media Zone powered by OverDrive allows patrons to check out e-books, audiobooks and movies. Freading adds yet more e-books. Freegal has thousands of songs and music videos available for free and for keeps. The exact mix of services varies from system to system, as does the way they’re presented on websites. The Birmingham Public Library has a “Digital Library” tab. The website for Jefferson County Public Libraries has an update on its home page that lists online services. At the Mobile Public Library MPLonline.org, you can find the most popular offerings under the “eResources” tab, where you select “Digital Downloads.” Options on the Mobile system’s site include Cloud Library (audiobooks and e-books), Flipster (magazines), hoopla (e-book, audiobooks, comics, music, TV shows and movies) and kanopy (movies, with an emphasis on independent, foreign, documentary and classic cinema).
Family-friendly comedy comes to Downtown OWA in Foley
OWA has a night of giggling good times for the whole family Nov. 12-14. For one night only, enjoy comedy in the first-ever Improv at OWA Theater show on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Comedians Patricia and Andrea Riley will perform 90 minutes of family-friendly, interactive improv. The laughs keep coming on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. and on Nov. 14 at both 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. as Christian Comedy Fest takes the stage. Join comedians Cyrus Steele and Eric Hunter as they use everyday, real-world experiences to engage and bring laughter to the audience. Due to social distancing, seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased online at OWA.com/Events or at the OWA Theater box office.
Homestead Hollow’s Christmas Arts and Crafts Festival
There is plenty of room for social distancing at Christmas Arts and Crafts Festival in Springville. Choose from a variety of handmade, decorated arts and crafts Nov. 13-15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. See everything from bungee jumping to the petting zoo to the Blacksmith Shop. Stop by and have your photo made with Santa. Visit the food court for barbecue, beans, greens, homemade ice cream, funnel cakes, fried pies, foot-long corn dogs and hot dogs. Wear a mask when you are within 6 feet of a person from another household. Stay updated on how to be safe while attending the festival at alabamapublichealth.gov. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 3 to 12, free for ages 2 and younger and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more. No pets are allowed. Homestead Hollow is at 1161 Murphrees Valley Road.
Lone Pine Mine
Lone Pine Mine is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Vulcan Park and Museum. The virtual presentation will take visitors back to when mining was a primary industry in Birmingham. This interactive presentation will discuss the history of mining along Red Mountain with a question-and-answer segment. The presentation will be streamed free on Facebook Live and Instagram TV. Lone Pine Mine No. 3 is a small iron-ore mine on the property of Vulcan Park & Museum. In the early 1900s, workers removed iron ore for use in Birmingham’s furnaces and factories. This small mine was operational for a few years but closed before World War I. After being shut for many years, the mine entrance is now open for visitors to peek inside. Visitors will see period-appropriate artifacts and replicas from the time when the mine was in use. Signs provide information about the items and the mine’s history. Can’t make it to the virtual experience? Visit in person seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Entrance to the mine is included with general admission to Vulcan Park & Museum: $6 for ages 13 and older, $4 for ages 5-12 and free for children 4 and younger.
Paint Art Live
Every Thursday through Nov. 19, Paint Art Live hosts Cocktails + Canvases at The Wharf in Orange Beach. It is the ultimate paint party with different, colorful themes each week on a 16-by-20-inch gallery-wrapped canvas. Come early to grab a drink to sip while painting your autumn masterpiece. The minimum age requirement is 16, and attendees must be 21 or older with a valid ID to purchase alcoholic beverages. The cost is $20 per person. Click here to register. All guests must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Have fun, but keep back 6 feet. Air high-fives are encouraged when you see friends.
