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Restaurant at the Depot entertainment for December

[NOV. 29, 2001]  The December entertainment schedule at The Depot, 101 N. Chicago, features these musicians performing in the lounge from 6:30 until 10 p.m. (no cover charge):

Saturday, Dec. 1 — Thomas Anthony Quinn; acoustic folk/rock guitar and vocals

Friday, Dec. 7 — Thomas Anthony Quinn; acoustic folk/rock guitar and vocals

Saturday, Dec. 8 — to be announced

Friday, Dec. 14 — Eleanor Gunderman and Dr. John Raffa; piano and violin

Saturday, Dec. 15 — Thomas Anthony Quinn; acoustic folk/rock guitar and vocals

Friday, Dec. 21 — Eleanor Gunderman; piano

Saturday, Dec. 22 — Jason Yarcho and Allison Leonard; piano and vocals

Friday, Dec. 28 — Jason Yarcho and Allison Leonard; piano and vocals

Saturday, Dec. 29 — Jason Yarcho and Allison Leonard; piano and vocals

Monday, Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) — Jason Yarcho, Allison Leonard, Thomas Anthony Quinn and Kim Quinn; piano, acoustic guitar and vocals. Dancing in the IC Room from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Restaurant hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (lounge stays open later); Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

[DEC. 5, 2001]  ^"Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling. Scholastic Press, 1999, 341 pages.

"Chamber of Secrets" is the sequel to the smash hit "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone."

As the story opens, Harry is on summer break after completing his first year at Hogwart’s School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is back with the Dursleys, and his aunt and uncle and cousin are as rotten as ever.

Now that Harry knows about his life outside of the Dursleys, being with them is almost unbearable. He has never felt lonelier in his life. He has had no contact with his friends from Hogwart’s since summer break began.

Harry’s aunt and uncle do everything they can to prevent him from fulfilling his destiny as a wizard, and they are unknowingly aided by Dobby, the house elf, who warns Harry not to return to Hogwart’s, because disaster will. Dobby performs some magic that not only gets Harry in trouble with the Dursleys but also gets him a stern warning from Hogwart’s. Harry is once again locked up with bars on the bedroom windows and a cat-flap on the door so that food can be pushed through.

Just as Harry is wondering if he will even survive the summer, he is rescued by his friend Ron Weasley and Ron’s brothers, Fred and George, in a flying Ford. They take Harry to their home for the rest of the holiday. Harry has never been in a loving family environment so he really enjoys the Weasley home, especially the attention from Mrs. Weasley.

Despite the warnings, Harry returns to Hogwart’s to begin a second year. Harry, Fred, Ron and George end up missing the Hogwart’s Express and, without their father’s permission, take the Weasleys’ flying car and crash it into the Whomping Willow at Hogwart’s.

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The school term does not begin well and the legend of the Chamber of Secrets begins to be a reality. Someone or something is scaring the Hogwart’s residents with threatening messages referring to the Chamber of Secrets and the heir to Slytherin. Harry is present for most of the attacks and is even suspected for a while of being the perpetrator.

Draco Malfoy is back for a second year as well and is even more despicable than last year. We are also introduced to some new, interesting characters, like Moaning Myrtle, a ghost that haunts the girls’ restroom, and a pompous new faculty member named Gilderoy Lockhart.

It is revealed that the lovable Hagrid has a mysterious past and Harry must save him. Harry is again forced to confront his archenemy, Voldemort, and his evil plan. The story climaxes with Harry in a battle for his life in the depths of the Chamber of Secrets.

In the midst of the intrigue and fantasy emerge some important truths about bravery, loyalty, choice and the power of love. In the last chapter of the book, Dumbledore, the headmaster, tells Harry, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

"Chamber of Secrets" is recommended for grades three through eight, but I believe it will be enjoyed by Harry Potter fans of all ages. It is a real page-turner!

For more information visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217) 732-8878.

[Linda Harmon, Lincoln Public Library District]

• Lincoln Community Theatre

• Logan County Arts Association

[DEC. 1, 2001]  The romance of the classical guitar, steeped in the warmth of an Old English setting, should intrigue any music lover. When the artist has his roots anchored in Lincoln, it is doubly exciting to welcome him.

Christian Culleton brings almost 30 years of musical experience to his fingertips. He has over 15 years of professional experience performing in the Chicago metropolitan area. While his interests lie in painting sound from a broad palette of musical styles, the guitarist’s program will be centered around core works from the lute and classical guitar repertories and traditional holiday favorites.

Culleton began his formal study of the guitar with Joseph Breznikar at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Later, private instruction with Norman Ruiz of Columbia College in Chicago led to master class performances before Pepe Romero and Manuel Barrueco at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra in Cordoba, Spain. The artist is presently codifying his own guitar method based on the teachings of Sor, Carcassi and Carulli combined with the modern teachings of Francisco Tarrega, Julio Sagreras and Pepe Romero.

The only child of Carson Culleton and Cheryl Miles Culleton, Christian was born in Springfield on Aug. 16, 1965. They made their first home in Lincoln on South Hamilton Street, down in "the valley." Carson was killed in action in the Republic of South Vietnam on July 25, 1968. His stepfather, Shawn Simpson, lives in Lincoln, and his mother now resides in Springfield. Although he and his family moved to and from Lincoln more than once, Christian’s childhood memories, and several family members, remain in the Land of Lincoln.

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His talents can be heard in concert at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 402 Pekin St. in Lincoln.

Ticket for the concert, sponsored by the Logan County Arts Association, are $5 and may be purchased from association board members and at the Lincoln Library Annex, Serendipity Stitches and Gossett’s Design Studio. Seating is limited. Tickets may be available at the door the day of the performance.

A "meet the artist" reception will follow the concert. A holiday gift will be furnished by Miss Jessie’s Gallery. For further information, contact Jean Gossett at (217) 732-7542.

A more complete interview with Christian Culleton will follow in Lincoln Daily News next week.

[News release]

[Click here for Dec. 5 LDN posting, "Hometown boy bringing his refined talents back for a concert."]

[NOV. 30, 2001]  Lincoln Community Theatre is pleased to announce three productions selected for the summer of 2002.

Kicking off the 31st of entertainment will be the irresistible musical "Hello, Dolly!" the story of the beloved matchmaker Dolly Levi and her whirlwind efforts to marry Horace Vandergelder, the well-known millionaire, and send his money circulating among the people.

"And what do you do for a living, Mrs. Levi?" asks Ambrose Kemper in the first scene of this delightful musical comedy.

Dolly replies, "Some people paint, some sew … I meddle."

This family show will please audiences of all ages.

The July production, "Dearly Departed," is described as a comedy revolving around a colorful and dysfunctional group of Southern eccentrics dealing with an unexpected death in the family. The struggle to get Papa buried involves the whole clan, including the not-so-grieving widow, who wants to put "Mean and Surly" on the tombstone.

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LCT’s final production of the summer will be "The King and I," a delightful musical story of an attractive English widow employed by the king of Siam to teach English and other Western ideas and philosophies to members of the royal family, including the king’s many wives and many more children.

The unforgettable Rodgers and Hammerstein score includes "Shall We Dance?" "I Whistle a Happy Tune," "Hello Young Lovers" and "Getting to Know You."

To help kick off the holiday season, Lincoln Community Theatre is offering holiday gift certificates for season memberships to the summer 2002 season. Certificates may be mailed directly to the receiver or to the gift giver.

Certificates for adult memberships are $20 each; for children through eighth grade, $12. Requests for gift certificates may be sent to LCT, Box 374, Lincoln, IL 62656. Further information is available at (217) 732-2640.

[Judy Rader, LCT publicity chairman]

[NOV. 28, 2001]  Auditions for "Deathtrap," a production sponsored by Behnke and Company, will be at Theatre 7’s headquarters, 131 N. Water St. in Decatur, on Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 3 and 4, at 7 p.m. Director Anne Thompson has put together the following brief descriptions of the show’s characters:

Sidney Bruhl — Middle-aged, has air of confidence, rather impressive, well-groomed. Successful playwright.

Myra Bruhl — Sidney’s wife. Slightly younger than Sidney. Somewhat self-effacing. Supportive of her husband.

Clifford Anderson — Young man, seemingly talented, attractive. Casual in appearance. Appears to be impressed by Sidney.

Helga Ten Drop — Somewhat off-the-wall psychic. A lot of room to create. Very compassionate toward Myra. Can be any adult age.

Porter Milgrim — Sidney’s friend and attorney; also his contemporary. Open to interpretation.

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The "Deathtrap" plot revolves around a successful writer of Broadway thrillers struggling to overcome a "dry" spell when he receives a script from a student. Suspense mounts steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness that will hold you enthralled until the final, startling moment of the play.

Performances:

•  Feb. 8-9 and 15-16, 2002, at 7:30 p.m.

•  Feb. 10 and 17, 2002, at 2 p.m.

    at the Decatur Civic Center Theatre

This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Decatur Area Arts Council and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

[Theatre 7 news release]

[NOV. 21, 2001]  Logan County Arts Association presents classical guitarist Christian Culleton at a concert and artist reception on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 402 Pekin St. in Lincoln.

The performance will include works by Pilkington, Bach, Carcassi, Sor, Granados, Tarrega, Villa-Lobos and traditional holiday favorites.

This is a limited seating engagement. Tickets at $5 are available from board members, Lincoln Library Annex, Serendipity Stitches and Gossett’s Decorator Studio.

[Logan County Arts Association news release]

Lincoln Community Theatre’s website is at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html. Pictures from past productions are included.  The LCT mailing address is Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln, IL  62656.  E-mail: lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com.

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