March 8, 2011 (San Diego)—Young actors ages 6 to 18 are invited to audition for an upcoming musical production of The Sound of Music. Young actors will find plenty of opportunities to learn their craft and dazzle onstage,” a press release on the auditions states. Scholarships are available. Everyone who auditions will be in the show!

Auditions will be held Thursday, March 17 from 4-8 p.m. at the Joan B. Kroc Theatre, 6611 University Ave., San Diego. Scroll down for details on the show and auditions.

March 3, 2011 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Art Council presents its annual fundraising Exhibition and Auction next week. The Hyde Gallery on campus will exhibit works of 18 established artists representing a variety of disciplines.

Event at United Church of Christ La Mesa will benefits Charley Brown Children’s Center in La Mesa

March 3, 2011 (La Mesa) – Robert Preston, as Professor Harold Hill, created a memorable musical moment in the movie “The Music Man,” parading 76 trombones, 110 cornets and other instruments through the streets of River City. Sliding forward in time, on March 6, 2011 at 6 p.m., the eight trombonists in San Diego’s own Bone-A-FieD Brass Ensemble will appear in a special concert followed by a “Mini-Mardi Gras Party” featuring Cajun hors d’oeuvres and more music.

March 3, 2011 (San Diego) -- Shana and Robert ParkeHarrison, famed photographers who combine sculpture, painting and theatrics to create surreal, fabricated images, will be featured in a conversation led by Arthur Ollman, director of the School of Art, Design and Art History at San Diego State University, at the Museum of Photographic Art’s Irwin and Joan Jacobs Theater at 7:30 p.m., March 9. The presentation, “Mending the World: The Collision of Nature, Culture & Humanity,” sponsored by the SDSU Art Council, will explore their art, exposing mankind’s impact on the environment in a way that is haunting and emotionally gripping.

February 26, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Ragtime, the musical that won a Tony Award in 1998 for best musical score on Broadway, will be performed by Young Actors Theatre at the Encore! Theatre in Spring Valley March 17-20 and March 24-27.

The musical offers a powerful portrayal of life in turn-of-the-century America based on E.L. Doctorow’s acclaimed novel. Interweaving stories of three families as they confront the issues of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair--and what it means to live in America--the story’s themes resonate with audiences today.

Artists' Reception scheduled for March 30

February 25, 2011 (El Cajon)--The St. Clair Gallery in El Cajon has announced its 26th Invitational Art Exhibit, which will run from February 28 through April 1, 2011. The artists’ reception will be held on Wednesday, March 30 from 5 to 8pm. Admission is free.

Over 140 works of art by numerous artists will be on display, including oil and watercolor paintings by Barbara Siegal, who opens her own personal gallery at St. Clair with this exhibit.

By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero

February 25, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Golden Artistry Jewelry Design of La Mesa is hosting their third annual jewelry design contest for high school students in the Grossmont Union High School District. The theme this year is water.

The competition is the creation of jeweler Terry Whyte, who hopes to inspire artistic students to consider careers in jewelry making, the same way he was inspired when he saw one of his professors solder a ring.

Abigail Migala photography exhibition continues through February 25

February 22, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – “In the old analog days, we used to print our negatives forwards and backwards and glue the juxtaposed prints to a board to create mirror image compositions. Today, digital technology makes it so much easier,” fine art photographer Abigail Migala told ECM in an interview following an artist’s reception at Mission Trails Regional Park.

An exhibition of her dramatic flower and car photography titled “Blooms and Vrooms” will be on display through February 25.

Editor's Note - February 22, 2011: location has changed to Faith Chapel Church of God in Christ, 4999 Holly Drive, San Diego, near Lincoln High School.

February 18, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- The Grossmont College Music Department‘s Grossmont College Gospel Choir and Grossmont College Master Chorale will celebrate Black History Month with two performances of gospel music.

February 15, 2011 (San Diego) - Symphony of Clouds (Musical Adventures of the Boy Mozart) will be performed at San Diego State University's Don Powell Theatre in showings Feb. 18-27. 

The program is described on the theatre's website as "a joyful production which incorporates milestones in Mozart's early life and work in stormy 18th-century Europe, inspired by letters, biographies, and the music itself." Mozart's rise to fame as a musical prodigy drives the action, dance, song and humor in this production.

February 15, 2011 (San Diego) – Dan Reagan, a graduate student in San Diego State University’s master’s program in jazz studies and coach of the SDSU jazz band, is a member of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra which won best tropical Latin album for Viva la Tradicion at the 53rd annual Grammy Awards February 13th.

February 11, 2011 (La Mesa) -- Following a traditional Mardi Gras pancake meal at 5:15 p.m., Copper Creek Band will perform, 7 p.m. on March 2 at the Community Center of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, 8650 Lake Murray Blvd., La Mesa.

February 12, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) -- Cuyamaca College of the Performing Arts will present a combo jazz concert led by music instructor Paul Kurokawa on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center.

Tickets cost $8 for general admission and $5 for students or seniors.

“To be, or not to be; that is the question.”--Hamlet

February 7, 2011 (El Cajon) – The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present Hamlet by William Shakespeare, directed by Jeannette Thomas.

Murder. Betrayal. Lust. Adultery. Those are among the themes in what many critics consider Shakespeare’s most profound play, which will be presented in the Stagehouse Theatre March 10-12 and March 16-19 at 7:30 p.m., as well as on March 12 and 19 at 2 p.m.

February 6, 2011 (San Diego) -- The second annual San Diego County Library Acoustic Showcase series starts this month. With a total of 30 concerts taking place at twelve libraries across the county from February to June, the Acoustic Showcase series offers a variety of some of San Diego's best singer/songwriters, folk music performers and story tellers. These concerts are free to the community.

This month’s concerts include a performance by San Diego lounge scenestress Erika Davies at the El Cajon Library on February 13 at 2 p.m.

Rocker turned author to lecture at Cuyamaca College Feb. 14

February 5, 2011 (Rancho San Diego)--Martin Atkins, a rock-music veteran who’s pursued every facet of the music industry from performer to producer during a career spanning three decades, will give a free multimedia presentation on succeeding in the music business 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 14, in the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theater.

January 31, 2011 (Escondido) – As part of its “Free First Wednesdays” series, California Center for the Arts in Escondido will present Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters on February 2 from 4-7 p.m. in the Center Theater.

Get in the mood for Mardi Gras at the concert, celebrating sounds of the Gulf Coast with traditional Cajun and zydeco music, Texas swing, second line parade and original tunes.

January 27, 2011 (Escondido) – The California Center for the Arts in Escondido and Mike Pettite Presentations will present the musical comedy Forever Plaid on Saturday, January 29 at 7 p.m.

January 26, 2011 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Theatre Arts Department will present “Inside the Actor’s Process: Improvisation,” a performance of student actors using improvisational skills, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 4 and 5, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5.

Through presentations of scenes and monologues, the show will demonstrate how student actors can develop such improvisational skills as timing, team work and listening.

BOULEVARD, Calif. (January 24, 2011) – Sacred Rocks Reserve now offers Saturday art classes in a beautiful high desert setting one hour east of San Diego. Classes include jewelry making, photography, writing and silk scarf painting.

“The desert vegetation, amazing rocks and sweeping views make this a great place to hone scenic photography skills,” said photographer David Muenker, instructor of the photographic arts class.

January 24, 2011 (El Cajon)--The Grossmont College Hyde Art Gallery, located on Grossmont College’s campus in El Cajon, is presenting an exhibit of 24 wall panels featuring natural materials that display rain patterns that fell on campus during the 2009-2010 rainy season. The exhibit, called “Rain Events and Related Investigations", was created by Grossmont College art faculty member Jim Wilsterman. The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, runs from January 24-February 24.

January 24, 2011 (El Cajon) -- East County's newest gallery, Main Street 5 Gallery at 124 East Main Street in El Cajon, will host a grand opening event on Friday, February 4th from 5-10 p.m.  The opening will feature photographic arts by Esther Beish.  

Artist’s reception for Abigail Kurtz Migala  on February 6

January 20, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) –A solo showing of East County resident Abigail Kurtz Migala’s fine art photography will be held January 29 through February 25 at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor’s Center. The show is titled “Blooms & Vrooms: 30+ Years of Flower and Car Photography.” In addition, an artist’s reception for Migala will be held on Sunday, February 6 from 1 to 4 p.m.

January 15, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – Heritage of the Americas Museum, located on the campus of Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, is holding two special sales. Both are ongoing until all works are sold and proceeds benefit the museum. The first features original works by Guadalupe Apodaca, is a very popular artist of Native Americans and the West. He has galleries in Scottsdale and Santa Fe.

The second sale features Pan Dao, the stitchery of the Lao Hmong. During the Vietnam War, the Lao Hmong allied with United States forces. Their service was vital in leading downed airmen back to friendly territory. Without a written language, their stitchery was the art form that recorded their beliefs and their history.

January 14, 2011 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Arts Alliance will present its third annual theatrical production, “Radio Daze…Again” on Thursday, February 10 in the La Mesa Community Center Arbor Room.

“Last year’s Radio Daze was so enthusiastically received that we decided dot do another evening of the wonderful old scripts from the days when the radio was the major source of information and entertainment in the home,” said LMAA' spokeperson Patricia O’Reilly. “It is a trip down Memory Lane for some of us and an introduction for others to a whole new world.”

January 14, 2011 (Escondido)--California Center for the Arts, Escondido presents Keyboard Conversations® “The Romantic Music of Robert Schumann: Fantasies Forbidden and Fulfilled” featuring pianist Jeffrey Siegel. 

January 14, 2011 (El Cajon)--El Cajon Wesleyan Church presents a free Southern gospel concert that is open to the public. Greater Vision - the most awarded trio in the history of gospel music, will be performing Saturday, January 15th at 6 p.m. (Doors open at 5 p.m.)

January 3, 2011 (El Cajon) -- Diane Johnson  spent many years capturing peak action in the world of sports. She now concentrates on documenting the earth's wild places and creatures she cherishes, using photographer as a tool to express her love of nature. Silver Creek Fine Art Gallery & Custom Framing, 120 East Main St. in El Cajon, will host a showing of Johnson’s work on January 7th from 5-8 p.m. as part of downtown El Cajon’s “First Fridays” events.

December 30, 2010 (San Diego’s East County)—The Native American Flute Players, a volunteer group, will be practicing and performing in the Visitor Center Ampitheater at Mission Trails Regional Park from 1-3 p.m. during the second Sunday of each month in 2011, starting January 9th.

December 17, 2010 (La Mesa) – “Food, wine, art and a chance to talk with local people who are going about making the world a better place, one village at a time…what could be more in the holiday spirit?” asks an invitation from Shannon O’Dunn, owner of O’Dunn Art in La Mesa. Tonight from 5-7 p.m., she will host a wine-tasting event to benefit H.U.G.S. (Helping Ugandans Grow Stronger). The organization is raising funds to build a bakery in western Uganda that will provide jobs for women and girls in this impoverished area.