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Arts & Culture “From public venues staging full-blown, professional theatrical productions to private galleries and intimate club settings, the Greater Morgantown Area’s arts community’s reputation for presenting the liveliest performing and visual arts is well-earned.” CVB Visitor’s Guide
West Virginia Public Theatre will launch its 22nd season at the new 1,500 seat performing arts center in Morgantown’s Wharf District. Known for bringing the best of Broadway to North Central West Virginia, WVPT’s 2010 lineup will include “Hairspray”, “42nd Street”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”, “Will Rogers Follies”, “The Full Monty”, “Always Patsy Cline”, and “Carousel”. Visit www.wvpublictheatre.com for show details and performance times. Billed as “West Virginia’s most beautiful playhouse” when it opened July 24, 1924, the landmark Metropolitan Theatre in downtown Morgantown is currently closed for additional renovations that include plaster repair and painting and several other projects that were recently made possible by a generous donation from Ben & Jo Statler. Under the management of the City of Morgantown’s Board of Parks and Recreation Commission (BOPARC), the historic structure is reclaiming its status as a popular venue for live theatrical productions, musical and dance performances, classic film presentations, concerts and community events. Community theatre has a strong tradition in the Greater Morgantown Area as well, with the Morgantown Theatre Company, located at the MET Theatre, and M. T. Pockets
Theatre Company, located at the Monongalia Arts Center (MAC), showcasing talented local performers of all ages in intimate surroundings.
STUFF TO DO IN JANUARY Jan. 13 - “The Drowsy Chaperosne” - WVU Creative Arts Center
Jan. 15-17 - Annual Festival
of Food & Wine - Lakeview Golf Resort & Spa
Visual artists can display their creations year round at a variety of local display spaces that includes the MAC’s Benedum Gallery, the Morgantown Art Association’s gallery in the Mountaineer Mall, the Jackson Kelly Gallery at Arts Mon, ZENCLAY, Appalachian Gallery, Tonique’s Trilogy and Contemporary Graphics in downtown Morgantown.
Jan. 15-30 - Yesterday and
Founded in January of 1994, the Morgantown Writers Group (MWG) assists area writers in improving their writing craft, getting published, and providing “critical” positive feedback on manuscripts. The group, which includes published and awardwinning writers who share their experiences on publishing, writing, and new markets, meets regularly at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at the Morgantown Public Library, then go to the Blue Moose Cafe afterwards for coffee. MWG workshops draw 8 to 12 active writers each session from a membership list of 44 local writers. This year they will host the 3rd Literary Arts Day in Spring, 2010. Started in 2008, the event includes workshops, literary talks, networking, and manuscript critique.
WVU Creative Arts Center.
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Today (Religious symbols of the Old Testament) Exhibit - MAC
www.monartscenter.com
Jan. 17 - Mountain Stage with
Larry Groce - WVU Creative Arts Center
Jan. 19 - Small Business Council
“Personal Genius” presented by Grant Stewart at Lakeview Golf Resort (Morgantown Chamber of Commerce 304.292.3311)
Jan. 20 - “The Opera Show” Jan. 21-23 - “Love’s Looking
Good on You” - M. T. Pockets Theatre (www.mtpocketstheatre. com | 304.284.0049)
Jan. 21 - Morgantown Poets
spring kick-off event featuring three authors: T.W. McNemar, president of WV Writers, Inc. and author of the novel, “Ragdoll Angel,” and poets Matt Anserello of Morgantown and Isaac Pressnell of Keyser.
Jan. 22 - Morgantown Area Chamber Annual Dinner at Waterfront Place Hotel (304.292.3311)
Jan. 30 - Southern Italian Wine
Dinner (featuring Tre Amici Wines plus Special Guest) - Cafe’ Bacchus. For more details on this and other events, subscribe to the email list at www.cafebacchus.net