Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Thursday briefs

PLAY AUDITIONS: Auditions will be at the following:

* Auditions for the Looking Glass Playhouse production of "Pippin" will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Playhouse, 301 W. St. Louis St., Lebanon. Those auditioning will be asked to perform cold readings from the script, perform 16 measures of a prepared song and learn a short dance combination. Production dates are Jan. 28-31 and Feb. 4-7. For information, call 234-8116.

* Auditions for the Monroe Actors Stage Company production of "Pippin" will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Waterloo. Performances will be Feb. 12-14 and 19-21. Those auditioning are asked to prepare to sing 8 to 16 bars of an up-temp song, provide their own sheet music and there are cold readings from the script. For information, call 398-5807 or visit www.masctheatre.org.

* Auditions for the Hard Road Productions "You Can't Take It with You" will be at noon Saturday and at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Upper Elementary Auditorium, 1800 Lindenthal Ave., Highland. Auditions consist mostly of readings from the script. The production will be performed Jan. 29-31 and Feb. 5-6. For information, call 654-7748 or visit www.hardroad.org.

TASTE DOWNTOWN: Downtown Belleville will host a Taste of Downtown Holiday Edition from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in downtown Belleville.

The cost is $25 per ticket and tickets are available at Belleville Main Street and downtown retailers.

The event begins at Ben's Crafts & Florals at 11 a.m., followed by a fashion show at 1 p.m. at Ground Floor, an open house from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in participating stores, Taste of Downtown at participating restaurants, trolley rides and holiday events.

GINGERBREAD DECORATING: The Fairview Heights Public Library is offering a gingerbread decorating workshop at 10:30 a.m. Nov. 21 at the library, 10017 Bunkum Road, Fairview Heights.

Kathy Monte will provide instructions and tips. The cost is $15 and all supplies are included.

Saturday is the deadline to register. To sign up, call 489-2070.

OPEN HOUSE: Eckert's will host a Holiday open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at the country store, 951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville.

There will be a cooking demonstration, wine sampling and holiday food. Santa will be on hand.

For information, call 233-0513.

WINE TASTING: A wine tasting and auction to benefit the Lewis & Clark Council Boy Scouts of America will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Gateway Center, 1 Gateway Drive, Collinsville.

The cost is $25 per person and includes more than 50 wines from around the world. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

For information, call 659-6403 or 234-9111.

BINGO, AUCTION: A vendor bingo and quarter auction will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the American Legion Hall, 375 E. Locust St., Columbia.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Bring a toy for tots to donate to Waterloo Kiwanis Club Christmas toy drive to receive an extra bingo card and quarter auction paddle.

Admission is free. For information, call Allison at 935-6012 or Cheryl at 670-8682.

GROUP WALK: The Illinois Trekkers will host a group walk Saturday at the YMCA, 2627 Carlyle Ave., Belleville.

Registration is from 8:30 to 9 a.m. 5K and 10K trails are available. The trail goes through the SWIC campus and along the Greenway Trail.

Registration is $3 per person and children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

For information, call Sue or Packy at 236-9521.

BOOK SIGNING: Elizabeth Donald, paranormal/romance/horror author, will be at a book signing from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at AfterWords Bookstore, 231 N. Main, Edwardsville.

There will be free wine and snacks, a question-and-answer session with the author and door prize contests.

Copies of her Nocturnal Urges series will be available for purchase for 10 percent off list price.

For information, call 655-0355.

BOOK TALK: A book talk and signing with Cheryl Jett will be at 6:30 p.m. today at the Glen Carbon Memorial Library, 198 S. Main St., Glen Carbon, and from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Borders Bookstore, 6601 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville.

BENEFIT DINNER: The Althoff Catholic High School annual benefit dinner will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Fischer's Restaurant, 2100 W. Main St., Belleville.

A social hour begins at 6 p.m. followed by the dinner at 7 p.m.

The master of ceremonies is Glenn Schott. Alumni and Supporters Award will be given to The Rev. Raymond C. Orlet, Andrew Blassie and Patty Guignon.

The cost is $250 for an underwriter, which admits two and includes reception, dinner and program recognition or $70 for a patron, which admits one and includes social and dinner.

For information, call 235-1124.

INTERFAITH BREAKFAST: An Interfaith Business breakfast will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Retirement Community of Our Lady of the Snows, 726 Community Drive, Belleville.

Pat Henggeler of H & R Block will talk on "How My Work Influences My Faith."

For information, call 394-6851 or visit www.apartmentcommunity.org.