Francis Scott Key High School, at 3825 Bark Hill Road in Union Bridge, will present "Little Women," beginning this weekend.
The play will be held at 7 p.m. April 15, 16, 22 and 23, with a 2 p.m. matinee April 23. Tickets are $6 for students and seniors, and $8 for adults, and can be purchased either in advance at carrollk12.org/fsk/boosters/choral or at the door.
People might assume that the play, based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott, is "pretty low key," said Sharon Garcia, co-drama director at FSK and director of the production. But, she said, they'd be surprised.
"I would say more than anything it's unexpectedly exciting because you feel like you're going to see a sweet little play about a family of girls and their mother while their father is away at war, but there's drama, there's tension, and it's about Jo's fight to become what she wants to be in a world when women have certain expectations imposed upon them," Garcia said. "The characters clearly come through in the music and it's a wonderful ensemble piece but yet each of the characters stand out on their own."
The show first hit Broadway in 2005 and because it's so new, the music is actually quite modern, she said.
"It starts off forward moving fast-paced and then we have a flashback to spending time with her family — you get to see Jo working through her writing process, working through her relationships with her sisters, working through her relationships with the men in her life," she said. "It's a period play set during the Civil War period but it has a modern twist to it so it is definitely not tame."
The play is made even more relatable by the relationship of the actresses playing lead character Jo and her sister, Beth, who dies during the story.
The part of Jo is played by senior Kristi Freundel, and Beth is played by her close friend Emily Akey, also a senior.
Garcia said their bond as friends is evident through their portrayal of the characters.
"You can see them kind of thinking, 'what would happen if I lost this person?'" Garcia said.
And, she said, they actresses can relate to the idea of separation and change as they prepare to move on to new stages of their lives.
"They sing this really beautiful song about having to say good-bye and they're both seniors so I think it hits them on a lot of different levels," she said.
Garcia said the play offers something for everyone, from contemporary music to snazzy dance moves.
"There's just a lot to see and the music is wonderful," she said. "It's very catchy. I'm very surprised at what a modern, up-beat production it is."
For more information about the production, visit the drama boosters' Facebook page, "Francis Scott Key HS Choral And Drama Boosters."
Pints & the Past
The New Windsor Heritage Committee will host Pints & the Past from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, April 23.
The event will be hosted by Uncle Matty's Eatery, at 142 Church St. in New Windsor. It will feature a five-course farm to table dinner catered by Uncle Matty's, a brewer's presentation and selection of Maryland ales by Flying Dog Brewery, in Frederick, and an oral history of New Windsor's 19th-century Brower Tavern presented by the New Windsor Heritage Committee.
Tickets are $45 per person. There is limited seating and reservations are required.
The New Windsor Heritage Committee, which was formed about three decades ago to help preserve the area's history, has been raising funds to purchase the building housing the New Windsor Museum for the past year, said heritage committee member Frank Batavick. The building is currently owned by New Windsor State Bank, which rents it to the nonprofit. Funds raised will be split between Uncle Matty's Eatery, to cover the cost of the food, and the nonprofit's building fund.
Batavick said there are several reasons the community should come out to the event.
"One is to enjoy the good food that Uncle Matty serves; the second is to taste some delicious beer that's locally brewed … and the third reason is to learn more about the tavern life in New Windsor circa 1800-1810," he said.
For more information about the event or to reserve a seat, call 410-635-6777.
Spring Dance
Carroll County Breaking News
The Union Bridge fire company is inviting the community to get into the spirit of the season with a Spring Dance Saturday, April 23.
The event, for ages 21 and older, will be held at the fire hall at 8 W. Locust St. from 8 p.m. to midnight.
"I usually try to do one [event] in the spring because usually by the end of March, middle of April everybody is tired of being cooped up inside so they like to get out and just kind of have a good time," said Cheryl Keeney, activities chairman for the fire company.
Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased in advance or at the door. Attendees can look forward to a classic rock hits performed by The Sideways Rock Band, as well as beer, sodas and snacks, all of which are included in the ticket price. People can also bring their own alcoholic beverages.
The event is a fundraiser, so proceeds raised will go toward the fire company.
"We just purchased a brand new engine, so it's going to be used to help pay for that," Keeney said.
For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Keeney at 410-596-7652 or clkeeney@gmail.com.