Stage Right of Texas presents BAREFOOT IN THE PARK February 17 - March 4 Historic Crighton Theatre Downtown Conroe, Texas Richard Wilcox as Paul and Crys McClure as Corie      Stage Right of Texas, resident theatre company at the historic Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe, is pleased to present Neil Simon’s laugh out loud timeless romantic comedy Barefoot in the Park. Paul and Corie Bratter are newlyweds in Manhattan. He’s a serious young lawyer and she’s his free-spirited bride. Their tiny top-of-the-building-with-no-elevator apartment is perfect to keep a meddlesome mother-in-law away, but with bad plumbing, a closet for a bedroom, a leak in the skylight during winter, and an unexpected rooftop neighbor… well, anything that can go wrong invariably does. Barefoot in the Park proves the theory that opposites really do attract in one of Broadway’s most enduring and successful romantic comedies!  The comedy was made into a movie of the same name in 1967 starring Jane Fonda and Robert Redford.      Director Jillian Nolan has assembled a cast of Stage Right favorites.  Playing the effervescent Corie is the versatile Crys McClure. Stage Right audiences may remember Crys from Mama Won’t Fly, where she portrayed three very different characters; a pushy realtor, a religious zealot and a money grubbing bride in a Las Vegas wedding chapel.  Another alum of Mama Won’t Fly is Patrick Slagle who plays the eccentric upstairs neighbor Victor Velasco. Corie’s mother, Ethel Banks, is played by Yvonne Nelson.  Audiences may remember Yvonne as the evil Miss Hannigan in our acclaimed production of Annie or Sophie Tucker in Vaudeville (Finally) Come to the Crighton. The harried telephone repairman, that probably hears more than he’d like to, is played by Steve Dowell. Steve was last seen at the Crighton in Harvey as the sage cab driver. With only one line to learn: “Gasp!” is Gerald Livingston, who plays the out of breath delivery man. Gerald recently played multiple characters in A Christmas Story in addition to being production stage manager. New to the Crighton is Richard Wilcox, who plays Corie’s husband Paul Bratter.         Barefoot in the Park runs February 17 - March 4, 2012 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays February 26 and March 4 at 2:00 p.m. Performances will be held at the historic Crighton Theatre at 234 N. Main in downtown Conroe.  Tickets for Barefoot in the Park can be obtained by calling the Crighton Theatre box office at 936-441-SHOW or online at www.stage-right.org. Tickets are $17 for adults and $15 for seniors and $12 for youth. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.      As with every Stage Right show, we will be collecting donations for a local non-profit to help our neighbors in need. Patrons are asked to bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Montgomery County Food Bank. Stage Right patrons have provided over 1,000 lbs. of food for the food bank. Every patron bringing a donation will receive a coupon good for $5 off the adult ticket price for either The Carol Burnett Show or Cinderella; the two shows remaining in our 2011-2012 Season of Enchantment.

Bernhardt Winery presents WINTER MADNESS HOUSE CONCERTS Featuring RICK SCHULER singing the songs of John Denver   Sunday, March 4 - 4-7 p.m.       In 2012, Bernhardt Winery will be celebrating their seventh year anniversary. Over the years the Bernhardt’s have been providing the community with a unique venue for enjoying wine tasting and live music entertainment on the lawn under century old pecan trees. They now have created a special indoor winter concert for wine and music lovers. So shake off the cold winter blues with a toasty afternoon of warmth and comradery while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and great entertainment! Relax and be warmed by the Bernhardt fireplace, classic red wines, and snack on a delicious appetizer spread.        The concert format is designed around a Sunday afternoon picnic with family and friends.  The ticket price includes appetizers, dessert and family table seating in the concert room to enhance the intimacy of the evening. Guests are invited to bring their own picnic dinner. The evening starts at 4:00 p.m. with appetizers and a meet-and-greet with the entertainers and friends.  The entertainment begins at 4:30 p.m. with a break at 5:30 p.m. for picnic time, dessert and the traditional sunset toast. The entertainment resumes at 6:00 p.m. and ends around 7:00 p.m.   Seating is limited to 60 people and requires a reservation. The tickets for these events are $25 for Bernhardt wine club members and $30 for non-club members. The ticket includes reserved seating, appetizers and dessert. To purchase tickets, call 936-894-9829.  www.bernhardtwinery.com   February 12 - Valentine, Wine, Kisses and Chocolate with Tom Tranchilla & Buddy Allen February 26 - 2-Bit Palomino   March 4 - Rick Schuler Sings the songs of John Denver    March 11 - Lewis Lamb Motown Experience  March 25 - Monica Perry:  Fiddle versus Violin

Montgomery County Performing Arts Society presents YOUNG TEXAS ARTISTS CONCERT OF FINALISTS Saturday, March 10 - 7:30 p.m. Historic Crighton Theatre Downtown Conroe, Texas Ying Fu - 2011 YTA winner Photo by Dave Clements      The Montgomery County Performing Arts Society announces the 28th annual Young Texas Artists Music Competition and the Entergy Finalists’ Concert & Awards, set for March 8-10 at the historic Crighton Theatre in downtown Conroe, Texas. The competition provides an opportunity for classical music artists to compete for monetary prizes totaling $20,000 in addition to performance opportunities. The level of talent attracted by the Young Texas Artists Music Competition (YTA) continues to escalate each year. Past winners include a Grammy-nominated pianist; a tenor who made his Metropolitan Opera debut last year, and last year’s YTA Entergy Grand Prize winner, Ying Fu, who recently won a position in the Cleveland Orchestra.      Young Texas Artists offers four divisions: Voice, Piano, Strings, and Winds, Brass, Percussion, Harp and Guitar. A panel of distinguished judges, all esteemed leaders in their respective disciplines, will be announced soon. Unique to YTA, the judges provide valuable, written critique not only to finalists, but to all competitors.      Emelyne Bingham, noted conductor and teacher, returns in her fifth year as artistic director of the competition. “We are pleased to have Emelyne’s talent at work for us again this year. Her contribution to the competition is felt on many levels. She has brought us along not only artistically, but also technologically; and her knowledge and influence on the academic landscape has been invaluable,” said Susie Pokorski, YTA chair.      Returning as master of ceremonies is Chris Johnson, host of KUHA 91.7 Houston Public Radio’s Afternoon Drive and technical director of KUHA’s arts program, The Front Row.      Young Texas Artists Music Competition is open to Texas residents and/or students enrolled in a Texas college, university or music school.      Preliminary rounds begin Thursday, March 8 and are free and open to the public. Music teachers and home-schooling parents are invited to take advantage of this unique opportunity for their students. For more information, contact Susie Pokorski at susie@pokorski.us or 936-756-7017.      On Saturday evening, March 10 at 7:30 p.m., two finalists from each division will perform in the Entergy Finalists’ Concert & Awards. Tickets are $27 and may be purchased online at www.crightontheatre.org or by calling the Crighton Theatre Box Office at 936-441-SHOW (7469). Group rates are available. The Crighton Theatre is located at 234 N. Main Street in Conroe.      The Entergy Finalists’ Concert & Awards evening performance and final round of the competition is a featured event of the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society’s regular season and is an official music contest of the State of Texas.      For information about the competition, please visit www.youngtexasartists.org.      Young Texas Artists Music Competition was created in 1983 by the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society in an effort to encourage excellence in young musicians. In 1999, Entergy Texas graciously offered its support, enabling the competition to evolve into the rich experience it is today. Judges are distinguished artists who have achieved acclaim in their respective disciplines. Candidates are generally pursuing a career in classical music and are either residents of Texas or enrolled in Texas music schools.