We often comment that we are overwhelmed by the amount of information which we receive about nearby performances, especially because most of it arrives too late to be included in our publication.
This week there is a back-breaking stack of news releases which are in time for inclusion, so if you're beginning to feel a touch of cabin fever, from being huddled inside, here is a whole column of Winks, to tempt you out and to demonstrate how much may be passing you by.
WINKS
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This week, the column overflows with artistic possibilities, within a reasonable drive of either Jamestown or Dunkirk.
From time to time we print our policies for your information. Any organization wanting a performance or exhibition reviewed should request, preferably in writing, that The Post-Journal review. In the case of conflicting performances, the sponsor requesting first will be reviewed.
No organization will be reviewed which doesn't request to be reviewed. Telling us that a performance will happen will get you an announcement. You have to ask for a review to get one.
Performances whose intent is religious rather than artistic cannot be appropriately reviewed.
Children and youth through high school will not be reviewed, and if they appear in a performance with adults will be named, but not evaluated.
Material intended for publication in The Critical Eye and its ''Winks,'' must be received at least 10 days before the Saturday on which you wish the information to appear. Exceptions are impossible.
Drop announcements in our night mailbox, or mail them to The Post-Journal, P.O. Box 190, Jamestown, NY 14702-0190. Make certain that my name or the name of the column is marked clearly on the outside of the envelope.
You may e-mail them to this address: pjcritic@yahoo.com. Please note, I cannot be reached through the Post-Journal virtual newsroom.
Suggestions for the subjects of full columns are welcome, but please be aware, they are usually booked very far in advance.
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Next Saturday, the Weeks Gallery at Jamestown Community College will open a new art show titled ''Dan Reidy and Nathan Naetzker: Fact Fiction, and Fantasy,'' with a reception, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The artists will speak at that time. Celtic Rock band Scythian will begin performing at 7 p.m. A food service will begin at 8:30 p.m., featuring hors d'oeuvres, wine, and beer tasting, for those of legal age.
Admission is $15 for the general public, $10 for area students and senior citizens, $8 for members of the JCC Faculty-Student Assn., and $5 for those ages 12 and younger. Reservations for the reception may be made through the JCC Box Office. Phone 338-1187.
The gallery will be open for viewing the art show, Monday through Friday, beginning at 11 a.m. Closing time is 5 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Thursday, and 3 p.m. on Friday. The show will be available for viewing through March 18.
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Upcoming performances by the School of Music at the State University of New York at Fredonia. Performances take place in the Rosch Recital Hall inside Mason Hall, and are free of charge, unless otherwise indicated.
Today at 8 p.m., hear a faculty recital, featuring electronic music by Jeremy Sagala and Paul Coleman.
Tuesday at 6 p.m. enjoy a recital on euphonium by guest artist Jason Ham.
Friday at 7 p.m. in Diers Recital Hall, hear voice student Patricia Carpenter.
Friday at 8 p.m., soprano Tony Arnold will sing settings of poetry by Walt Whitman and compositions by composers and poets from the University.
Next Saturday at 5 p.m. in Diers Recital Hall, hear a recital by violinist Jeffrey State.
Feb. 6 at 3 p.m., attend a pre-concert talk by conductor Glenn Cortese, in the lobby of the Rockefeller Art Gallery. At 4 p.m., attend a concert in King Concert Hall by the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, featuring cellist Natasha Farny. Admission is $20 for the general public, $8 for students from other institutions, and free for SUNY Fredonia students, with I.D.
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The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford presents an exhibition of paintings and sculptures on sacred themes, through Feb. 25, in the KOA Art Gallery.
Diane Marie Kramer is the creator of the 27 works in the show. The gallery opens at 8:30 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. Closing time is 8:30 p.m., except Fridays, when the gallery closes at 6 p.m. No weekend hours are offered.
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The Mary D'Angelo Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Mercyhurst College, in Erie, invites you to a number of performances and presentations, in the near future:
Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. or 7:15 p.m. see a showing of the Academy Award-winning film ''The Kids are All Right.'' Tickets are $6 for the general public, $5 for senior citizens and students, $4 for President's Cardholders, and free for students of Mercyhurst.
At 6:30, if you are age 21 or older, stop into the Cummings Art Gallery, which is adjacent to the D'Angelo Center, for snacks and micro-brew tastings. Event is open to film ticketholders, only.
Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. hear Love Songs, as performed by jazz artist Kathy Kosins. Admission is $15 for everyone but Mercyhurst College students, who may purchase tickets for $7.50.
Feb. 12 at 1 p.m., enjoy the opera ''Nixon in China'' in a live, high definition simulcast from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, in New York City. Tickets are $30 for the front row of the balcony, $18 for the general public, $15 for senior citizens and students, and $10 for youth.
Tickets for all events may be purchased by phoning (814) 824-3000 or by computer at pac.mercyhurst.edu.
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This evening at 5:30 p.m., attend an interactive comic performance at the Station Dinner Theatre, in Erie, titled ''Spare Nothing.''
In the same venue, Feb. 4-19, see ''Getting Sara Married,'' a comedy in which an attractive young female attorney finds herself too busy for romance, until her aggressive Aunt Martha decides to take things into her own hands.
Tickets or more information for either show may be obtained by phoning (toll free) 866-848-2022.
The theater is located at 4940 Peach St., in Erie.
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Readers who are available during the typical business day may want to attend lunch time showings of locally-made films, presented with discussions with the film makers, presented by Squeaky Wheel, at the Ring of Knowledge, at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square, in Buffalo.
Every Thursday in February and March, except March 3, a film will be shown, dealing with Social Change Initiatives. Subjects range from urban gardening, through prisoners' rights, the preservation of historic buildings, and more.
Showings begin at noon, and end at approximately 1 p.m. No admission fee is charged. For additional information, phone 884-7172 or e-mail office@squeaky.org.
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Subversive Theatre presents the play ''I Am a Man,'' by playwright Oyamo, through Feb. 5.
The play deals with the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers' Strike, which was the reason why Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was in Memphis, where he was assassinated.
Performances are Thursdays through Saturdays at the Manny Fried Playhouse, on the third floor of the Great Arrow Building, at 255 Great Arrow Ave., in Buffalo. Admission is $15 for the general public, $10 for students, senior citizens, and members of Subversive Theatre. Admission to all Thursday performances is pay-what-you-can.
For additional information, phone 408-0499 or visit their web site at www.subversivetheatre.org.
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The University of Buffalo's Center for the Arts offers a long list of coming events. These include:
His band will perform five works from the Davis Album, plus other music by Miles Davis, and by Coltrane and Adderley.
Members of the (David) Parsons Dance ensemble, which performs a work choreographed to music from ''Kind of Blue'' will appear live, for a one-time-only collaboration of dancers with musicians.
Tickets are $34.50 for the general public, or $21.50 for students of any school.
Tickets are $32 for the general public and $22 for students of any school.
Purchase tickets for any of these events in person at the Center for the Arts Box Office, which is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Charge tickets by phone through Ticketmaster, at (800) 745-3000, by computer at www.ubcfa.org. or in person at any Ticketmaster outlet.
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The Buffalo Philharmonic may just light your fire with their Feb. 25 concert, featuring The Music of the Doors.
Guest artists will be Windbourne Music, a group which regularly tours the country with music of class rock artists.
Together the ensembles will perform 24 songs associated with the Doors, including ''Light My Fire,'' ''Riders On the Storm,'' ''Roadhouse Blues,'' and the rarely-performed ''Spanish Caravan.''
Admission for the general public starts at $29, and may be purchased by phoning 885-5000 or going by computer to www.bpo.org.
Special ticket packages are available for $75, which include seating in one of the first four rows, free parking at the Kleinhans Hall Lot, admission to the pre-concert party, a chance to win prizes at that party, admission to the Meet the Band opportunity at a post-performance party, and free snacks and drinks at both parties.
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Tickets are now on sale for ''1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo and Friends,'' which will be performed at Shea's Performing Arts Center, in downtown Buffalo.
Performances are twice per day, March 3-6. For specific curtain times, phone 847-0850, or visit www.sheas.org. Regular tickets range in price from $15 to $20. A few Gold Circle tickets can be purchased for $27. Purchase Sunny Seats, which include prime seating location plus an opportunity for a meet and greet with two members of the Sesame Street Performing Company.
Information about the show itself is available at www.sesamestreetlive.com.
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster at outlets of that organization, or by telephone at (800) 745-3000, or by computer at www.ticketmaster.com.
Shea's is located at 646 Main St., in the downtown Buffalo Theater District.
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Speaking of Shea's, one of the most popular shows they have ever presented was the professional touring company of the Broadway musical ''Wicked.'' That is a show based in the magical Land of Oz, before a girl named Dorothy arrives to turn things around.
The company is returning to Shea's, in the spring of 2011, from April 27 to May 22,and tickets for the shows will go on sale to the general public on Feb. 12. Opening day sales will take place only at Shea's Box Office, which is located directly to the right of the Main. Street entrance to the theater. From 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., there will be a special opening day event, featuring refreshments and prize giveaways.
After Feb. 12, purchase tickets in person at Shea's or at any Ticketmaster outlet, or by phone at (800) 745-3000 or by computer at www.sheas.org.
For more information about the show or the performing company, go to www.wickedthemusical.com.
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The Niagara University Theatre will present a reader's theater production of the contemporary play ''The Credeaux Canvas,'' by Keith Bunin, which will take place inside the Castellani Art Museum, where a specially-curated exhibition has been prepared to accompany the performances.
The play concerns the son of a successful art dealer who convinces two of his friends to create a forgery of a painting, which he believes he can sell to one of his father's wealthy clients. A reader's theater production is presented with only minimal costumes and sets. The production does not include any nudity, which was present in the professional productions of the play.
Performances will be Feb. 17 through 20. Curtain times are 7 p.m. on Thursday, 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Ticket prices are $10 for the general public, $8 for those age 62 and older and members of Friends of NU Theater, and $7 for those age 21 and younger. Some price levels will be discounted on opening night, including general admission.
Purchase tickets in person at the Clet Hall Box Office, by phone at 286-8685, or by sending an e-mail to theatre@niagara.edu. The phone number takes you to voice mail, and a return call will be made as promptly as possible.
