It’s almost here. The Texas Ghost Show opens to the public at 8 a.m. Saturday at the Beaumont Civic Center.

The Orange Community Players will host auditions for the satirical comedy, “Urinetown:the Musical” March 15-16 at 7 p.m. at the Orange Community Playhouse, 708 W. Division Ave. Those interested in auditioning should prepare, memorize and perform a musical solo and bring their own recorded accompaniment. There will be readings from the script. The production will be directed by Kevin Doss. The show will be performed in early May, dates to be announced. The play is described as “an earnest fable of love, greed and revolution set in a town plagued by drought.

Twenty-eleven may seem like next year to you, but to the members of the Service League of Orange, 2011 is just around the corner.
The organization is focused on “The Follies;” a musical and entertainment event held every three years to raise funds for the league’s community service projects. 

Orange's Mardi Gras Parade took to the streets Saturday. They roads were lined with people waiting to catch beads. Little children brought plastic bags to put their bounty in.

Ken Marvel describes swamp pop as taking a country song, “changing the bass line and kick drum and adding triplets on the piano.”

Two classic children’s bedtime tales will come to life on the Lutcher Theater stage at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17.

The 23rd Annual Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame Show will be headlined by this year’s inductee, Marcia Ball.

Jim Brickman celebrates his 14th year of Holiday Music Concerts at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Lutcher Theater.

Skipper Free drives a beat-up compact car, but doesn’t complain.
Like the theme of her favorite show, “My Name is Earl,” she paraphrases, “Live the right kind of life and good things will come to you.”

After the death of her father, June Muldoon prayed for a town doctor – and no one would ever have to die again.

Living in Ville Platte, La., Floyd Soileau doesn’t hear about the Gulf Coast Music Hall of Fame very much. He vaguely knew of it because Johnnie Allan, his friend and one of the artists he produced in the ‘60s, is a member.

Susan Pierce of Little Cypress has that infectious Janis Joplin laugh. 

“It’s probably something in the water here,” she says.

After years of success, Ball makes GC Hall of Fame

Marcia Ball says she claims “dual citizenship” between Orange and Vinton.

 Make the most of an evening out in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. With the impending holidays, some events or hours may be subject to change. We encourage everyone to call for information and hours of operation before heading out. Here are just a few events in the area.

Kids seemed to be spellbound with “The Wizard of OZ” onstage at the Lutcher. I have never been in a theater with that many children (at least a third of the audience, if not half), when the audience was so silent and attentive.

Spend Christmas with the Futrelle Sisters in Fayro, Texas; on stage at the Orange Community Playhouse. Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye put the fun in dysfunctional as the trio and their families survive Christmas Eve.