Washington County arts briefs: 'Accidental Hero" examines WWII liberation of Czechoslovakia

On Thursday, April 17, the Water Street Inn will host a multimedia presentation, titled "Accidental Hero," which recounts the experiences of an American G.I. who was a witness to the Allies' liberation of Czechoslovakia in the waning days of World War II.

The film, pieced together from footage shot on a "home movie camera," follows the story of Lt. Colonel Matt Konop, an American soldier fighting retreating Nazi troops in the former Czechoslovakia, who unwittingly helped liberate his grandparents' hometowns. Konop's grandson, Patrick Dewane, found the footage — along with a trove of typewritten accounts and photos — and set about piecing together the pieces of his grandfather's life.

"The Czechs made him a hero, called him their 'liberator.' But they actually liberated him, freeing him of his shame of his poor upbringing and connecting him with his identity," according to the synopsis of the film posted online.

The multimedia presentation will be followed by a three-course Czechoslovakian-inspired dinner. The show, which starts at 7 p.m., will be preceded by a social hour at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the show are $20, while the dinner costs $19.95.

The Water Street Inn is at 101 Water St. S. in Stillwater.

For more information, call 651-439-6000 or visit http://www.accidentalhero.net.

Auditions are open to the public and will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, April 14, 15 and 16 from 4-9 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Individuals can sign up for auditions by e-mailing Haeri Tollefson, director, at tollefsonha@stillwaterschools.org. Performances are July 10-13.

To learn more visit www.stillwaterschools.org/PeterPan and click the link under "Auditions."

Auditions are private and simple. Prepare one minute of any song. Readings for "Peter Pan" are unprepared or "cold" readings.

Stillwater Area High School is presenting "The Little Prince" at 7 p.m. on April 11 and 12 at the Stillwater Area High School Auditorium, 5701 Stillwater Blvd. N., Stillwater.

"The Little Prince" is a tender tale of a boy, disillusioned by the vanity of the "flower" he loves, who searches other planets to learn the meaning of life, love and happiness. This play is a comical and metaphorical examination of life through the characters who meet, befriend, and conspire with the prince.

The second annual Earth Day Birding Festival will take place on April 19 at the Carpenter Nature Center.

Offering classes, bird banding demonstrations and guided bird trips, the all-day festival is sure to have something for birders of all feathers, organizers say. Festivalgoers will have the opportunity to meet and learn about such species as the red-tailed hawk, peregrine falcon and great horned owl.

The festival will also feature a field trip to the Hastings River Flats, where participants will test their birding skills in identifying species.

To RSVP, call 651-437-4359. Tickets are $2.50 per person, or $10 for a boxed lunch, with all proceeds going to benefit the nature center.

For more information, visit the festival's website: http://carpenternaturecenter.org/event/earth-day-birding-festival.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Birch Conference Room at City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road. A short presentation will be followed by a period in which city staff will be available to answer questions and record public comments about the proposed improvements at the park, officially named the Dale Road Open Space and Off-leash Dog Park.

Also in question is what will become of the park's pole farm, which has been used "for storage, water and shelter." Construction of a picnic area at La Lake Open Space is also being considered, officials said in an announcement posted to the city's website.

For more information on the project, call assistant Parks and Recreation director Mike Adams at 651-414-3435.