BOTTINEAU The rollicking one-woman show, "The Truth About Women and Horses," will be held in Bottineau Nov. 4 and 5 as the first fundraising event of Touchstones, Inc., the nonprofit group working to restore the 1890s Stone Bank building on Main Street in Bottineau.
The show will be held at 7:30 p.m. both days in Bottineau High School's Holwell Auditorium, in collaboration with Bottineau Community Theater. Award-winning Twin Cities playwright Nancy Conger's monologues explore love, aging, beauty and death through the eyes of 11 unforgettable characters and their horses.
"She is such an interesting talent," said Tim Davis, Community Theater director and a member of the Touchstones board. "I've looked at video clips of the show on her Web site, and it's a humorous, thought-provoking show. It should be particularly fun for horse-lovers, but it will be an entertaining night at the theater for everyone."
Conger also will hold a creative writing workshop with students at Dakota College at Bottineau during her visit.
Touchstones moved closer to beginning the restoration of the Stone Bank when the Bottineau Economic Development Corporation delivered a $20,000 check to the group Sept. 23.
"This is really the leg up we needed to get started on the work," said Karen Larson, the nonprofit's president.
Part of the building's back wall is crumbling and must be rebuilt, Larson said. After it is removed, plans call for building a temporary wall at the back of the shortened building and closing it to the elements until 2012, when the rebuilding process will begin if funds are available.
"We will be working on grants and other efforts to raise money for the rebuilding," Larson said. "We hope that 'The Truth About Women and Horses' draws a good crowd to help us pay some part of it."
Tickets for the Nov. 4 and 5 performances are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Make reservations by calling 871-0309, or send an e-mail to Touchstones.Inc@gmail.com.
For more information about the show, go to (www.StoneBank.org).
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Mouse River Players to hold auditions
Mouse River Players Community Theatre in Minot has set auditions for both "West" and "Father of the Bride" for Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., Nov. 6 at 4:30 p.m., and Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Arlene Saugstad Theater in downtown Minot, 115-1st St. SE. Roles for men and women with a variety of ages are available.
"West" is a sequel to "Prairie Heart," both by T.M. Sell. "Prairie Heart" was previously presented by Mouse River Players. "West" will be directed by Ken Haarstad.
The comedy, "Father of the Bride," by Caroline Francke, will be directed by Conrad Davidson. Auditions for both shows will be on those same dates. "West" will be performed Jan. 12-15 and "Father of the Bride" will be presented Feb. 16-19. Call 838-3939 or visit the Web site at (www.mouseriverplayers.com) for more information.
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Concert to feature music, storytelling
STANLEY Kelly Patten and Dave Anderson will present their music and life story at the Sibyl Center in Stanley Saturday at 7 p.m.
Dave Anderson grew up as a pastor's son in South Dakota, and Kelly Patten is originally from Stanley and Velva. Both men now live in Arizona. Anderson is on staff at Shepherd's Canyon Retreat.
The concert features contemporary music, hymns and old-time Sunday school songs, but in addition, Anderson will be sharing "The Rescue Story," an account of a miraculous rescue from a downed plane in the Bering Sea.
Anderson, his wife, and 15 others were returning from ministry work in Russia in 1993 aboard a small plane that ran out of fuel and ditched in the Bering Sea 22 miles from Nome Alaska, without a life raft or life vests.
The group used empty 5-gallon gas cans as flotation devices in the 36 F water. At that temperature, life expectancy is between 5 and 13 minutes. Through the efforts of a second plane in the area and two non-rescue equipped helicopters, the group was pulled from the water and flown to a hospital in Nome.
Donations received will go to Shepherd's Canyon Retreat ministry, a project that counsels emotionally wounded Protestant ministers and spouses. For more information, go to (ShepherdsCanyon Retreat.org) or (www.TheRescueStory.com) to learn more about The Fellowship Ministries.