PORT ARTHUR —

Stay away from jazz and liquor, a “Chicago” character advises.

My tip: Catch this show.

Catchy tunes, the chance to see your friends in neighbors in racy roles and an evening out at a new showpiece theater are reasons to reserve a seat at the Beaumont Community Players’ production of “Chicago.”  This is the first production in the new Betty Greenberg Theatre at the old UA Phelan movie theater in Beaumont, noted a proud relative associated with a cast member. She pointed out several local talents who graduated from Port Neches-Groves and Nederland high schools are in the show, including Robert Fong, Genevieve Nutt Brassard, Heidi Kloes and Heather Rushing.

The orchestra remains on stage, so the audience can watch play the music for dancers and singers pleading their cases in “Cell Block Tango.” As a journalist, I’m tickled at the notion of dancers-turned-murdresses-turned-reporters as they take notes in black lingerie in “Both Reached for the Gun.”

Fong is a dancer listed in the program as “The Jury.” How does one guy play a whole jury? You gotta see.

BCP is justifiably proud of transforming a movie house that had fallen into disrepair into an elegantly-appointed playhouse. The lobby has tall and small tables designed to encourage social encounters.

Catch the show and all that jazz at 7:30 p.m. March 11-13 and 18-20 and at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13. The theatre is at 4155 Laurel Avenue, behind a Market Basket, in Beaumont. For information, call 833-4664.



Glowing Heart

Paul Lemoine is spreading word about his son, Brad, a freshman at Dallas Baptist University, who is headed to Russia.

“He is a vocalist in the Glowing Heart Ministry. They do Disciple Now Weekends three weekends a month across the state. These are basically youth ministries.  They just arrived in Hawaii for a mission trip through spring break. This summer they are going to Bryansk, Russia on a mission trip for the third year in a row for Glowing Hearts,” Lemoine said.

Anyone interested in helping him raise $2,800 for the mission may get more information by e mailing Brad@glowingheart.org



Cajuns ready to jam

A music-loving woman left a flyer at my desk. She’s already promoting an April event.

The Cajun French Music Association of Louisiana, Golden Triangle Chapter, will present Cajun Jam and Car Show in the Park, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 10, at the Port Neches Park gazebo, off Grigsby Avenue.

Admission is free. There will be food and drinks. For information, call MIke Phelps at 753-3929.

If you want to join up with this woman and her gang, consider that family memberships are $20 a year.



Get cooking

Now that I’ve spied the goody bag paraphernalia and cookbooks that will be for sale at the upcoming cooking school, I’m excited for the calendar to hit March 16.

The News will present the Taste of Home Cooking School at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center. The News offered these years ago and they were packed. Tickets are $8 in advance from The News and $10 at the door.



Gumbo time

I’m working Saturday, and I sure hope I get assigned to cover Taste of Gumbo.

The Rotary Club of Port Arthur will present the 23rd annual Taste of Gumbo, Etc. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 13, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center, along Texas 73. Restaurants and other groups will provided tastes of their specialties. There will be a silent auction. Tickets will be $8.

ddoiron@panews.com