West arts & leisure briefs

Stages Theatre eyes fundraising goal Stages Theatre, looking to expand its arts education programs, is entering the final phase of a special fundraising campaign that has raised $1.2 million since 2007 to fund more arts and outreach programs and improve access for under-served communities.

The monetary goal of the Campaign for Stages Theatre Company is $1.5 million. The $1,217,305 raised so far represents 81 percent of that total and has been garnered well ahead of schedule, according to the organizers.

"Corporate partners such as The Cargill Foundation, The Bush Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, General Mills Foundation, Target Foundation and Best Buy's Children's Foundation have made significant contributions," Stages said in a news release.

The youth-oriented theater also has enjoyed record sales and attendance numbers over the past few seasons.

"We are very excited to be entering this final phase of our campaign ahead of schedule," said Sandy Boren-Barrett, Stages' artistic director. "Families and the broader funding community have provided Stages Theatre Company with so much support over our 26-year history. We are delighted that, through this campaign, we will be able to provide this community, and others who have not previously experienced our services, with even more programs to expand their imaginations."

For more information on Stages, which is based at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, go to www.stagestheatre.org.

Arts center's member exhibit continues Friends of the Hopkins Center for the Arts are conducting their Members' Juried Exhibition through Oct. 16 at the center, at 1111 Mainstreet in Hopkins.

Big band at Old Log Theater Russ Peterson's big band will present an "Autumn Swing" concert at the Old Log Theater at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The event will feature songs about the season such as "Autumn Leaves," "September in the Rain," "Early Autumn" and many more.

Peterson's ensemble of 16 musicians will include Joe Pulice on drums, Larry Foyen on trumpet, Doug Haining on saxophone, Dave Graf and Jim ten Bensel on trombone, and Ron Seamon on keyboards. Featured vocalists will be Debbie Duncan and Patty Peterson.

Tickets are $23, with group discounts available. Call the Old Log Theater at 952-474-5951 or go to www.oldlog.com.

Gale Woods Farm offering folk art classes Gale Woods Folk School is signing up students who want to learn some of the arts of days gone by. Classes offered at Gale Woods Farm, 7210 County Road 110 in Minnetrista, include:

• Beginning Spinning, 1-5 p.m. Oct. 16. Learn how wool goes from the sheep to a skein of yarn. For ages 12 and older. Cost is $40, and reservations are required.

For details, go to www.threeriversparks.org.

STAFF REPORTS

'Jazz Thursdays' at MacPhail Center The MacPhail Center for Music will present "Jazz Thursdays" through the winter, beginning with a celebration of the music of Charles Mingus at 8 p.m. Oct. 14.

The concert, entitled "Please Don't Come Back from the Moon," will feature Chris Thomson on saxophone, Adam Linz on double bass and Alden Ikeda on drums.