THINGS TO DO
PJC presents Gulf Breeze artist at Switzer

Painting by Dale Fairbanks

The Visual Arts Gallery at the Anna Lamar Switzer Center for Visual Arts kicks off its 2007- 2008 Lyceum exhibits at Pensacola Junior College (PJC) with artists Dale Fairbanks, Jeremy Jernegan and Matt Roberts.

The exhibit runs now through Oct. 19. The opening reception is 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 30.

Fairbanks lived and worked as an artist in Fairbanks, Alaska for 10 years before returning to her southern roots in 2003, and currently resides in Gulf Breeze. Influenced by the Alaskan landscape and lush deep south environment, her work often reflects the natural environment in which she lives and works.The gallery is located on the PJC main campus at Ninth Avenue and Airport Boulevard in Pensacola. Hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday

and 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday. Admission is free.

For more information, call 850-484-2550.

PLT presents Sweet Charity

The Pensacola Little Theater (PLT) 2007-2008 season opens with the musical-comedy "Sweet Charity," starring Crevita Brown as a down-onher luck dancer searching the big city for her Mr. Right.

Brown

"Sweet Charity" opens Sept. 7 and runs through Sept. 23. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. Individual tickets are $15 to $22, and a $2 discount is available for fulltime students, seniors, and active duty military with ID. Group rates are also available.

Show tickets may be purchased by phone at 850-432- 2042 or at the PLT Box Office inside the Pensacola Cultural Center located at 400 South Jefferson Street, in Pensacola. For details about any Pensacola Little Theatre production, call the box office at 850-432-2042 or visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

Labor Day concert on beach

Make those summer days last a little longer. For everyone who enjoys some good tunes under the blue sky, a special Labor Day concert features Civilized Natives from 7-9 p.m., Sept. 3 at the Gulfside Pavilion on Pensacola Beach. The beach's favorite summer concert series, Bands on the Beach, continues all month long with local favorites playing every Tuesday from 7- 9 p.m., also at the Gulfside Pavilion. And it doesn't stop there. Sundays on the Sound has yet another great concert in store with PensaCola Steel's island tunes from 5-8 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Quietwater Shell on the Boardwalk. The free concerts are provided by the Santa Rosa Island Authority.

Mass Kunfuzion, playing Sept. 4 at Bands on the Beach, features a unique blend of blues, rock, country and contemporary sounds, and their infectious tunes will have you dancing in no time.

PensaCola Steel will bring the warm rhythms of the islands to the Quietwater Seashell on the Boardwalk on Sept. 9 for a Sundays on the Sound celebration that includes traditional Caribbean steel drum, tropical beach and Jimmy Buffett music.

Southern Breeze, boasting two top-40 singles, has entertained crowds for almost 30 years. They'll hit the Bands on the Beach stage Sept. 11 with their "rockin' country with an attitude."

Local Hero will bring back some blues rhythms to Bands on the Beach on Sept. 18. They are "keeping it real" with their blend of rock, soul and other influences.

Brown returns for PSO performance

Be the first to guarantee your seats to hear Broadway star, Ashley Brown. On Feb. 9, 2008 at Olive Baptist Church. Brown will perform with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and the Pensacola Children's Chorus for one night only. Brown returns to Pensacola for her first major appearance since starring as the title character in the new Broadway production of Mary Poppins. The program will include songs by George Gershwin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, and a selection of favorites from the shows that have launched her career, including Beauty and the Beast and Mary Poppins.

A native of Gulf Breeze, Florida, Brown began singing in her church choir at age six and was a member of the Pensacola Children's Chorus. She began acting in musicals with the drama department at Gulf Breeze high school in her freshmen year. She earned her BFAin Musical Theater from the University of Cincinnati's College Conservatory of Music in 2004. After graduation, Brown caught the attention of casting director Tara Rubin and, after a successful audition, was cast in Disney's national tour of On the Record. She made her Broadway debut in September, 2005 as the lead character, Belle, in Disney's Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast, the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history.

Brown received five nominations for her role in Mary Poppins including the Tony nomination for Lead Actress in Musical, the Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical, the Drama League Award nominations for Distinguished Performance, the Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Musical and the Broadway.com Audience Award nomination for Favorite Onstage Pair with Gavin Lee.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear Broadway star Ashley Brown perform with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and the Pensacola Children's Chorus. Tickets for this one-night-only concert are available now, exclusive to symphony season subscribers starting at $35 per person. Tickets will go on sale to the general public at the first concert of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra's Whitney Bank Masterworks series on Oct. 6.

Order now to guarantee your seat. Call 850-435-2533, extension 104 for tickets.

Comedy comes to Pensacola Beach

Tickets are still available for the 13th Annual Evening of Comedy Benefiting Covenant Hospice, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 8 at The Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front, located at 12 Via De Luna Dr.

Hosted by Sue Straughn, the evening includes a silent and live auction, hors d'oeuvres, gourmet dinner, cash bar and a whole lot of laughter. Nationally known comedian Buzz Sutherland, will provide the evening's entertainment. Sutherland has been named Comedian of the Year a record 16 times by American's Colleges and Universities. Most recently he has been nominated by American Entertainment Magazine as Comedian of the Year for 2007 for the second year in a row.

Tickets are $100 and proceeds benefit Covenant Hospice, a non-profit organization providing compassionate, quality care for patients and loved ones facing end-of-life issues. To participate in this great event or for more information, contact Emily Cowan at 208-7122.