NORTHFIELD

'The Cherry Orchard' will have six-show run next month

Northfield Arts Guild Theater will stage performances of Anton Chekhov's classic tale "The Cherry Orchard" next month.

The play, directed by Jon Terrill, will run the weekends of April 4-6 and April 11-13, with an American Sign Language performance on April 12.

Tickets can be purchased in the theater's office, over the phone at 507-645-8877 or online at www.northfieldartsguild.org.

BLOOMINGTON

Savage author M.R. Tain to sign books at writers' fair

Savage-based author M.R. Tain will sign copies of his book series at Bloomington's Theatre and Art Center's Writers Festival and Book Fair on Saturday.

Tain will sign copies of his books, "Peace, Man" and "This Isn't Normal," from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the festival, which will be held at the Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road.

The event also will feature keynote speeches, writing workshops and panel discussions with other local authors. For information, see http://tinyurl.com/kyrntny.

SOUTH METRO

Local musicians to perform a rare opera song-cycle

A quartet of vocalists and a pianist from the CORO group, including two south-metro residents, will present a rare performance of a period song-cycle often described as exotic and romantic on Sunday, March 23, in Minneapolis.

"In a Persian Garden," featuring lyrics from Omar Khayyam's poetry and music by Lisa Lehman, once was one of the most popular pieces in the English repertoire, according to CORO Director John-Scott Moir.

"Virtually every great singer, to include the inimitable Mario Lanza, performed solos from it," Moir said. "The solo parts are full-voice, and the piano parts are written in miniature-orchestra style."

Pianist Martha Mathewson is from Apple Valley and mezzo Marcia Evans is from Eagan. The group also includes tenor Timothy James of Bloomington; bass Moir of Eden Prairie; and soprano Naomi Karstad of St. Paul. CORO is a semiprofessional Twin Cities opera group.

The show will be at 4 p.m. at St. James on the Parkway Church, 3225 E. Minnehaha Pkwy., Minneapolis. The concert will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes, including an intermission. The first half will consist of solos by each member of the quartet, and the second half will be devoted to the song-cycle. For information, see http://corosings.org.

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