Weekend Update

It is friday and here is what's happening this weekend:


Nov. 15th -- Nov. 17th “Nobody’s Perfect”
Romantic Comedy ~ A feminist publishing house hosts a competition to discover new female writers. Leonard, a shy statistician, adopts a feminine pseudonym, enters the contest and wins. The editor shows up to meet this new female talent, his alter-ego as a carefree woman is born. Life gets complicated when he falls in love with the editor!

Abilene Community Theatre, 801 S. Mockingbird
8 p.m.
$10—Adults; $8—Students, Military, Senior Citizens; $5—Ages 12 and younger
325-673-7082, Box Office

Nov. 16th -- Nov. 18th "The Nutcracker"
Annual performance of this classic ballet by Abilene Ballet Theatre, Abilene's regional ballet company and special guest artistsParamount Theatre
Fri. & Sat.—8 p.m.; Sun.—2:30 p.m.
$30—Patron Tickets;
$20—General Admission;
$10—Sr. Citizens and Children
325-675-0303,
Ballet Theatre325-676-9609, Tickets
Web Site: http://www.abileneballettheatre.org

Nov. 16th George Jones in Concert
Abilene Civic Center7:30 p.m.
$36.50 and $46.50
325-676-6211, Civic Center

Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure

Carmike Park Central 6
3234 South Clack St, Abilene, TX 79606



National Geographic's giant-screen film Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure brings to life the extraordinary marine reptiles of the dinosaur age in both 3-D and 2-D. Eighty million years ago, the American Midwest lay under a great inland sea where colossal creatures ruled the waves. From giraffe-necked Styxosaurus and sea birds with teeth to the T-Rex of the ocean -- the 40-foot super-predator Tylosaurus -- these wondrous beasts defy imagination. In a remarkable journey, National Geographic immerses audiences in this unexplored world of the "other dinosaurs," delivering the creatures brought to life on the world's biggest screen.




For more information: Movie

FILM FESTIVAL

October 26-27, 2007

All screenings take place in the landmark Paramount Theatre, a restored 1930s movie palace on the National Register of Historic Places. The Paramount is located at 352 Cypress Street in Abilene, Texas. Visit the theatre’s website at: http://www.paramount-abilene.org/.

If you love films and want to get a glimpse of the “next wave” of cinema talent, then you won’t want to miss 24FPS 2007.

Festival Director Barry Smoot, who also serves as the Paramount Artistic Director, says 24fps “…was born from an idea to encourage aspiring filmmakers. As a nationally recognized historic theatre, we are dedicated to preserving and celebrating the cinematic art form. It seems only fitting that we have a hand in encouraging its future as well.”

Entries are encouraged at every level of experience. Smoot said, “…we charge the Official Jury to look at each film independently, and ask them to consider how it communicates to them individually. Method of production is less important. We ask them to consider how the artist has used whatever tools available to communicate their vision.”

24fps 2007 to introduce a new “Young Filmmaker’s Showcase”

For more information check out the following links:

The Films

The Paramount Theater

A GREAT NEW PLACE FOR THE FAMILY

Prime Time Family Entertainment Center is your source for fun in Abilene and the Big Country. Join us in our 43,000 square foot indoor facility featuring bowling, NASCAR Simulators, Laser Tag, X-D Theater, Bumper Cars, Billiards, and over 70 arcade games. OR, step outside to enjoy our 36 hole miniature golf course and 1,000 foot electric go-kart track.
Hungry? Try Skyline Oven and Grill Restaurant and see how it fits. Whether you are in the mood for some of our gourmet pizza, or some good ol' chicken fried steak, you will not leave disappointed.


Physical Address

Prime Time

Family Entertainment Center

4541 Loop 322

Abilene, TX 79602


To see everything they offer check out this link:
Attractions:

'Beauty & the Beast' has few flaws

Beauty & the Beast
From the Abilene Reporter News

Your kids will love McMurry University's production of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" so much, you'll be hearing about it for months.

You'll like it enough so that you won't mind the conversation.

McMurry's homecoming musical, directed by Philip Craik, is one of the university's biggest spectacles in years. And "B&B" almost lands a bull's-eye on the family market with impressive costumes, a two-story set, and a dazzling new light system that got a full workout at Thursday's opening night performance.

In "B&B," the lovely Belle (Robin Shaw), the daughter of an eccentric inventor, doesn't fit in in her town because she -- gasp! -- reads. Belle still manages to attract the unwanted attention of an egotistic hunter (Zac Tiedemann, reveling in his character's self-proclaimed wonderfulness), but she is most devoted to her father -- so much that when papa runs afoul of a surly, lonely Beast (Kerry Goff), Belle agrees to serve out her father's punishment.

The Beast has his own problems. Kind of a jerk himself, he must live under a spell that makes him appear as a hideous beast instead of a handsome prince forever unless he can prove 1) he can love someone besides himself and 2) get someone to love him back. Belle represents his last real hope.

In almost every case, the casting was spot-on. Shaw is a lovely singer, Goff has a powerful voice, and the reliable Hilary Hokett and Taylor Compton were the best of the supporting characters.
"B&B" wasn't perfect. You could tell some dancers were thinking to themselves "step, step, pivot, step, turn," and a big production number wobbled on the last couple of notes.
But the little girls dressed as princesses who sat near me didn't mind. McMurry's production overall is high quality. Take the family to see it.

"Beauty and the Beast" (musical)

When: 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday

Where: Radford Auditorium, McMurry University, South 14th Street and Sayles Boulevard.

How much: $12, or $7 for McMurry students/faculty/staff.

Call (325) 793-3889 from 1 to 5 p.m. weekdays for tickets.

Big Country Marching Festival set for Saturday

Big Country Marching Festival set for Saturday

When: Saturday

Where: Wylie High School Stadium, 4502 Antilley Road

How much: $2

What's going on: The sounds of brass, drums and woodwinds will resound almost all day Saturday during the Big Country Marching Festival.
The festival, featuring 18 high school marching bands, is in its 14th year, and it serves as a fundraiser for Wylie High School's Band Boosters. Band conductor Mike Lunney said money is used to pay for charter buses and scholarships.
The event serves as a tuneup for the upcoming University Interscholastic League contests that determine a state champion.
Three judges will provide taped comments to the participating bands Saturday. Directors and musicians will try to learn from those comments as they prepare for UIL.
"It helps bands prepare better for contest and resulted in better ratings overall," Lunney said.
A full concession stand will be available throughout the day Saturday.

Saturday's schedule:

11:30 a.m: Bangs (Class 2A)

11:45 a.m.: Colorado City (Class 2A)

12:15 p.m.: Stamford (Class 2A)

12:30 p.m.: Bronte (Class A)

12:45 p.m. Roby (Class A)

1 p.m.: Rotan (Class A)

1:15 p.m.: Roscoe (Class A)

1:30 p.m.: Quanah (Class A)

1:45 p.m.: Munday (Class A)

2 p.m.: Throckmorton (Class A)

BREAK

3 p.m.: Ballinger (Class 2A)

3:15 p.m.: Merkel (Class 2A)

3:30 p.m.: Eastland (Class 2A)

BREAK

4 p.m.: Olney (Class 2A)

4:15 p.m.: Anson (Class 2A)

4:30 p.m.: Graham (Class 3A)

4:45 p.m.: Mineral Wells (Class 4A)

5 p.m.: Big Spring (Class 4A)

BALLOON FEST SCHEDULE

REDBUD PARK * ABILENE, TEXAS

For more information follow this link:

Ballon Fest

The Crucible

Sep. 27th -- Sep. 29th “The Crucible”

Drama by Arthur Miller based on the events surrounding the 1692 witch trials of Salem, Massachusetts. Miller used that event as an allegory for McCarthyism and the Red Scare, which was a period of time in which Americans were in fear of communism and the government blacklisted accused communists. The Red Scare occurred in the United States in the 1950s.

8 p.m.Hardin-Simmons University, Van Ellis Theatre
$5—Adults; $3—Students, Seniors, Military; Free to HSU faculty, staff, and students
670-1405, Box Office

"Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming" (musical)

Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming" (musical)

When: Sept. 27-28

Where: Abilene Community Theatre, 801 Barrow St.

How much: $15 adults, $12 students/military personnel/senior citizens, $8 ages 12 and under, available by calling (325) 673-6271 from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday.

For more information about the musical see the Abilene Reporter News article at this link:
Musical

Texas Songwriters Concert

Friday, September 28 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. -- Paramount Theatre
(352 Cypress St.) - Free concert
Texas Songwriters ConcertFeaturing - Tony Barker, Greg Young, Samantha Allen, Elliott Park and Brian BurnsWith a special tribute to Slim Willet, "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes"


For more information you can contact the Paramount Theater at:
(325) 676-9620