The Albert Lea High School &uot;CAT&uot;aclysmic Show Choir and Southwest Middle School Blue Sky and the parent support group will host the eighth annual show choir competition on Saturday, March 9, in the high school auditorium.

Thursday, March 07, 2002

The Albert Lea High School &uot;CAT&uot;aclysmic Show Choir and Southwest Middle School Blue Sky and the parent support group will host the eighth annual show choir competition on Saturday, March 9, in the high school auditorium.

Each show choir performs for approximately 20 minutes and then is critiqued by one of the judges in a separate room. Each choir is scored on musical execution and choreography as well as the back-up combo. The choirs will compete in three classes – one for large schools over 1,000, one for smaller schools, and a prep division which is mostly groups consisting of ninth- and 10th-grade students.

This year’s competition will feature 19 groups including Southwest Middle School, Waseca, St. James, Jackson County Central, Hastings, Waconia, and North St. Paul from Minnesota, Garner-Hayfield, Forest City, Emmetsburg, and Cedar Rapids Prairie High School from Iowa. Competing from Wisconsin are Chippewa Falls and Altoona and from South Dakota will be Sioux Falls Washington.

The daytime competition will begin at 8:45 a.m. with the Southwest Middle School Show Choir and go until 5:30 p.m. with a lunch break from about 11:30 a.m.-noon. Results of the day competition will be given at 5:30. The top five scoring show choirs will compete again in the final round which begins at 7 p.m. and the Albert Lea High School group will perform in exhibition at the end of the finals.

Tickets may be purchased at the door and are $5 for adults and $4 for students and seniors for either the daytime or the evening finals performance. A combination ticket for both daytime and evening performances may be purchased for $8 adults and $7 students and seniors.

Following is a roundup of other area events happening this weekend:

Friday, March 8

– The Trish Lease photography show continues at Gos-sip. Hours are 9 a.m.-11 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will go to help a New York City firefighter’s family.

– Northbridge Mall hosts a home-based business show from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

– The kindergarten through sixth-grade elementary/middle school exhibit continues at the Albert Lea Art Center. Students’ works from Albert Lea elementary classes, Alden-Conger Elementary, St. Theodore’s and Glenville- Emmons are on display. Gallery hours are from noon-4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray Art Center expenses.

– Alden-Conger School presents &uot;Our Miss Brooks&uot; at the Albert Lea Civic Theatre. Curtain time is 7 p.m. Cost is $4 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets are available at all Albert Lea Hallmark Stores and the Alden-Conger School office. Tickets are also available at the door.

Saturday, March 9

– The Trish Lease photography show, &uot;A Tourist in New York,&uot; continues at Gos-sip. Hours are 9 a.m.-10 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will go to help a New York City firefighter’s family. The show continues through March 16. Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday.

– Minnesota Festival Theatre will hold auditions for actors from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1101 Highway 69 S., Albert Lea. The 2002 season features the plays, &uot;The Sunshine Boys,&uot; &uot;I Love A Piano,&uot; and &uot;Guys and Dolls.&uot; There are roles for both males and females ages 10 to 100. Be prepared to sing and read. For more information, call 1-800-944-5260.

– Northbridge Mall hosts a home-based business show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

– The kindergarten through sixth-grade elementary/middle school exhibit continues at the Albert Lea Art Center. Students’ works from Albert Lea elementary classes, Alden-Conger Elementary, St. Theodore’s and Glenville- Emmons are on display. Gallery hours are from 10 a.m. p.m. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray Art Center expenses.

– The Humane Society of Freeborn County will hold a pet adoption from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Gayle’s Grooming and Pet Supplies, 917 S. Broadway Ave., Albert Lea. These pets need loving, responsible homes. Call 377-8501 with any questions and leave a message.

– Arc Freeborn County will hold its Fun Day for children, ages 2-12, who have developmental disabilities, and their families from 2:30-4 p.m. in the Arc activity room, at 407 E. William St. Activities include a fishing pond, hoop shoot, tattoo parlor, animal bingo and drop the clothespins. Kids can get their caricatures drawn, a special feature provided this year by Chris Christianson, Halverson Elementary School art specialist. The finale of the afternoon will be a juggling show at 3:30 p.m. performed by Larry Nordstrom. There will be lots of prizes, and refreshments will be served.

– The Jason Johnson Benefit Sloppy Joe Supper and Dance will be held at Forever Bermas in Kiester. The supper will be held from 5-8 p.m. and the dance, with music by Walking Eagle, will follow from 8 p.m.-12:30 p.m. Cost is $5 per person, which includes supper, dance and cover charge. There will be a silent auction throughout the evening. Proceeds will help purchase adaptive equipment for Johnson’s home to make it more handicap accessible.

– Alden-Conger School presents &uot;Our Miss Brooks&uot; at the Albert Lea Civic Theatre. Curtain time is 7 p.m. Cost is $4 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets are available at all Albert Lea Hallmark Stores and the Alden-Conger School office. Tickets are also available at the door.

– The Albert Lea Figure Skating Club presents its annual show, &uot;Legendary Musicals,&uot; beginning at 7 p.m. at the Albert Lea City Arena. Admission is $5 in advance for adults and $6 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Stadheim Jewelers. Student tickets are $4.

Sunday, March 10

The Jason Johnson benefit soup dinner and bake sale will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Kiester. Cost is $4 for adults and $2.50 for children under 12. The menu includes a choice of wild rice, chicken noodle or chili, dinner rolls, bars, coffee and juice. Johnson was diagnosed with leukemia in 1999. He had chemotherapy and was in remission, but relapsed in 2000 and had a bone marrow transplant in June of that year. Due to the side effects of various medications, Johnson has severe neuropathy and muscle weakness. He is able to get around, but only with the aid of a walker in his home and a wheelchair if he goes out. Matching funds will be contributed by Lutheran Brotherhood East Faribault County Branch 83228 Disaster Relief Fund. Those who wish to contribute but cannot attend can send a check to the Jason Johnson Benefit Fund, in care of the First National Bank of Kiester, 11011-105 N. Main St., Kiester, MN 56051.

– Northbridge Mall hosts a home-based business show from noon to 5 p.m.

– Minnesota Festival Theatre will hold auditions for actors from 1-6 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1101 Highway 69 S., Albert Lea. The 2002 season features the plays, &uot;The Sunshine Boys,&uot; &uot;I Love A Piano,&uot; and &uot;Guys and Dolls.&uot; There are roles for both males and females ages 10 to 100. Be prepared to sing and read. For more information, call 1-800-944-5260.

– The Albert Lea Figure Skating Club presents its annual show, &uot;Legendary Musicals,&uot; beginning at 2 p.m. at the Albert Lea City Arena. Admission is $5 in advance for adults and $6 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Stadheim Jewelers. Student tickets are $4.

– The open house for the kindergarten through sixth-grade elementary/middle school exhibit will be at the Albert Lea Art Center from 2-4 p.m. Students’ works from Albert Lea elementary classes, Alden-Conger Elementary, St. Theodore’s and Glenville- Emmons are on display. Admission is free, but donations are accepted to help defray Art Center expenses.

– Alden-Conger School presents &uot;Our Miss Brooks&uot; at the Albert Lea Civic Theatre. Curtain time is 2 p.m. Cost is $4 for adults and $3 for students. Tickets are available at all Albert Lea Hallmark Stores and the Alden-Conger School office. Tickets are also available at the door.