‘Politics on the Porch’
Sundays in September on the porch of the William Allen White House State Historic Site, 927 Exchange St, concludes Sunday with “Politics on the Porch” at 2 p.m. featuring Karen Manners Smith of the ESU Social Science Department and a guest panel discussing aspects of politics in the White era.
A donation in support of the site in any amount is requested from those who do not wish to tour the historic site. A Sunday tour option: Immediately after the porch program, participants may opt for a classic tour of the house site at the regular price of $2 K12-college; $3 senior; and $5 adult. This admission includes the program. Limited seating is available. In case of inclement weather, the program will be held in the site visitor center. Information: 342-2800 or wawhitehouse@kshs.org.
‘A Piece of My Heart’
Emporia High School presents the play, “A Piece of My Heart,” at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5 and at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. It dramatizes the experience of six women during the Vietnam War. Three are nurses, one is in special forces, another is part of a USO show and a Red Cross worker rounds out the players. For ticket information, call the school at (620) 341-2365.
ESU concert
The ESU Department of Music presents the Orchestra Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Albert Taylor Hall of Plumb Hall on campus. A Faculty Recital with Kate Bergman, flute, will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 in Heath Recital Hall of Beach Music Hall, also on campus. General admission is $5; $4 for students and senior citizens. Information: 341-5431.
Country in Cottonwood
Belinda Gail and Curly Musgave, the 2006 Western Music Association Duo of the Year, are returning to Cottonwood Falls. They will perform, beginning at 8 p.m. today at the Community Building. Tickets are $8 each person; $15 each couple. For reservations or information, call sponsor Suzan Barnes at the Grand Central Hotel and Grill, (620) 273-6763.
Gail has been named Female Performer of the Year several times by the Western Music Association and also won Female Vocalist of the Year in 1994 and 2004.
Musgrave is a multiple winner of the WMA Male Performer of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. He also received the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers award in 2003 as Male Vocalist of the Year and Entertainer of the Year.
Book group
The next book in the Kansas Connections: 2007 Book Discussion Series will be “A Breed Apart,” by Max McCoy. Discussions will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Emporia Public Library, 110 E. Sixth Ave.
ESU Art
“New Directions,” an art exhibit by Robin Cole and Anthony Henderson, will go on display at the Eppink Gallery Monday. Cole and Henderson were displaced from their home by Hurricane Katrina and came to Emporia as “artists in residence” in October 2006, staying for a month and working in the Kress Building. The show presents some of the directions that began during the residency, displaying paintings, drawings and sculpture. The show will run through Nov. 30. There will be an opening reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at the gallery.
The Senior Exhibitions in the Gilson Gallery, opening Monday features works by Travis Ramos and Jake Jones, shown through Oct. 12. Information: 341-5246.
Jupiter String Quartet
The Emporia Arts Council 2007-08 season lineup begins with the Jupiter String Quartet at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11, featuring a “wide selection of classical music.” The quartet is made up of “four young string artists whose artistry demonstrates they are in the process of establishing a major career,” said the news release. The Quartet has performed at New York’s Lincoln Center, Boston’s Jordan Hall and London’s Wigmore Hall. Information: 343-6473 or fax: 620-340-6475.
‘Little Shop of Horrors’
The ESU 35th annual homecoming scholarship musical will be “Little Shop of Horrors” with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and book by Howard Ashman. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 18, 19 and 20 and 2 p.m. Oct. 21 in Albert Taylor Hall at Plumb Hall. Ticket prices are $15 for orchestra seating and $12 for balcony level seating. Balcony seats are available to ESU students for $8. All seats reserved in Albert Taylor Hall; call the box office at 341-6378. Those with disabilities who need accommodations, call 341-6637 (voice) or 341-6646 (TTY) at least 72 working hours in advance.
Kansa Book Festival
The Town Crier Bookstore will be one of five independent bookstores hosting authors at the Kansa Book Festival in Wichita on Oct. 5-6. They will host New York Times bestselling author, Steve Doocy, author of “Mr. & Mrs. Handbook,” and children’s author Brad Sneed, among others. The festival drew 7,500 children and adults last year.