NICEVILLE — With music spanning the spectrum from ABBA to Ol' Blue Eyes, and American icons as diverse as Dolly Gallagher Levi and Gomez Addams, Northwest Florida State College has a  2013-14 Broadway and Artists series to please any taste.

The Mattie Kelly Performing Arts Center on the school's Niceville campus is the venue for the eight-show season. Individual show tickets go on sale Friday.

Here's a rundown. Ticket prices include a $2 box office processing fee. Curtain is 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12, 'This is the '60s’; includes pre-show gala reception, $37 show only: Featuring the timeless music of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Supremes, Monkeys, Cream, Simon and Garfunkel and more, the event celebrates not only classics of rock-and-roll, but NWFSC's 50th anniversary. Tickets: $52

Oct. 15, 'Mamma Mia!': A walk down the aisle awaits a former rock singer’s daughter, but only after she determines which of three men is the dad who will escort her. More than 50 million theatergoers around the globe have enjoyed the romantic comedy, set to super pop group ABBA’s music. Tickets: $51.

Oct. 28, 'Beyond Glory’: Stephen Lang's brilliant one-man show presents the stories of eight veterans from World War II, Korea and Vietnam, sharing stirring firsthand accounts of incredible valor resulting in the Medal of Honor.Tickets: $37.

Nov. 12, 'The Addams Family’: They're creepy and they're kooky, and now they're live on stage in the altogether ooky hit Broadway musical as Wednesday brings her "normal" boyfriend and his folks home for dinner with her Gothic family. Tickets: $51.

Nov. 25, 'Hello Dolly!': Into shoes famously filled by Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Ethel Merman and Barbra Streisand steps two-time Emmy winner Sally Struthers as Yonkers' most renowned matchmaker. The long-running Jerry Herman hit includes such showstoppers as "Before the Parade Passes By," "Put on Your Sunday Clothes" and the title song. Tickets: $47.

Dec. 14, Spencer's Theater of Illusion: The Spencers, internationally acclaimed illusionists, present a mind-boggling twist on magic including walking through a sheering industrial fan and a solid brick wall accompanied by dazzling lights, complex set designs and their famous “Spikes of Doom.” Tickets: $27 adult, $22 youth.

Jan. 23, 2014, 'Bring it On’: This high-flying, hyper-gymnastic and savvy-sweet musical unites explosive dancing, aerial stunts and a hilariously universal story about the challenges and unexpected bonds formed through the thrill of extreme competition. Tickets: $42.

Feb. 22, 2014, 'Memphis’: One of Broadway's newest, hottest Tony Award winners, "Memphis" was inspired by the story of the legendary 1950s disc jockey Dewey Phillips and music that became known as rock 'n' roll. What happens when Dewey plays black music for his white audience? Is Memphis ready? Is America? Tickets: $47.

March 8, 2014, 'The Rat Pack is Back’: The music of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Joey Bishop bursts to life once more by a cast of exceptional celebrity impersonators in a tribute show dedicated to the fabulous days of Vegas show rooms. Tickets: $37.

Want to go?

WHAT: Ticket sales for the Mattie Kelly Arts Center Broadway and Artists Series

WHERE: Arts Center box office

WHEN: Season tickets available now; individual show tickets go on sale Friday. Box office hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.

COST: Custom Season Package discount for five or more national shows. Discount of $5 per ticket for groups of 10 or more.

CONTACT: 729-6000or www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Season packed with hits at Mattie Kelly Arts Center, Niceville

CRESTVIEW — The View From the Stage community theatre troupe seeks upward of 40 actors, singers and dancers of all ages eager to recreate Dickensonian London.

The company will hold auditions next weekend for its third production, a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens' holiday classic, “A Christmas Carol” to run Dec. 12-15.

The only part cast is Ebenezer Scrooge, whom Nick Trolian will portray, Director Sandra Peters said. Trolian appeared in Northwest Florida State College’s summertime production of "Les Misérables.”

Up for grabs are roles including Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley’s ghost, Cratchit family members, Fan Scrooge, the Fezziwigs, townspeople, businessmen and the ghosts of Christmases past, present and yet-to-come.

"British 'upper crust' and Cockney accents are a plus," VFS publicist Berit Faust said.

"We'd love to have a nice big group at auditions," Peters said, adding if enough talented people audition, she may double-cast some of the lead roles.

Backstage and production crewmembers are also needed, Faust said.

Rehearsals for the Michael DeMaio musical will start the second week of September, Peters said. Jerry Paul Cadenhead is the musical director.

"The music is not easy, so we want to get started right away," she said. "We really like this version. The music has an almost 'Les Miz' feel to it."

Want to audition?

WHAT: Open auditions for the Michael DeMaio musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol"

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7; 5 p.m. Sept. 8

WHERE: Journey Java Connection, 269 N. Main St.

Actors age 7 and up wanted. Prepare 16 bars of a song demonstrating vocal range. Bring accompanying CD or sheet music, recent head shot and résumé. Production crewmembers and sponsors also sought. Call 420-6723.

Contact News Bulletin Arts & Entertainment Editor Brian Hughes at 850-682-6524 or brianh@crestviewbulletin.com. Follow him on Twitter @cnbBrian.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: View from the Stage casting for ‘A Christmas Carol’

Archaic Cannon Records artist Nate Currin is wrapping up his 60-date U.S. tour for his sophomore full-length album, “The Pilgrim,” released Aug. 6.

He’ll stop in Crestview along the way, performing at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31 at Grace Redeemer PCA Church, 2799 Goodwin Ave. Admission is free.

 “The Pilgrim” is an 18-song concept album centered on “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” written in 1678 by English writer and preacher John Bunyan. Currin’s album is his non-religious musical interpretation of this work.

“What I really wanted to do was weave my own life into Bunyan’s story. It’s about a man — in some cases, me — on a journey and allof the struggles he endures, the hardships he faces, the people he meets, all of the various things that happen along the way.”

The Atlanta-raised and now San Francisco-based singer-songwriter has traveled to more than 20 countries, toured with Blues Traveler and Neon Trees, been featured on MTV and received a first ballot Grammy nomination.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Nate Currin to visit Crestview during ‘The Pilgrim’ summer tour

Okaloosa County 4-H members each October can participate in our North Florida Fair at the Fort Walton Beach Fairgrounds. This year’s fair is Oct. 7-12.

A 4-H youth could participate many ways. For instance, Okaloosa County 4-H holds livestock shows during the fair. This year we will have poultry and rabbit showmanship, and goat, beef and dog shows. All of these require pre-registration; you must enroll as an Okaloosa County 4-H member by Sept. 1.

We also have opportunities for members uninterested in showing animals. Exhibit entries include anything from photography, canning, sewing and knitting to poster creation. The fair premium book contains categories all exhibit entries. 

Each Okaloosa County 4-H club enters a club booth in the fair. The exhibits and club booths are judged and, depending on where you place, there are opportunities to win a bit of money.

You must complete a pre-registration form to join 4-H. You can find the forms, and the premium book, at www.nwffair.com/fair/fair.htm or http://okaloosa.ifas.ufl.edu/4hy/. When filling out the form, use the fair premium book to write down your entries’ categories.

Okaloosa County 4-H is always excited to have new members join our program and experience a great 4-H opportunity at the North Florida Fair. 

If you are interested in joining and participating in the fair, or if you just want some more information on what 4-H has to offer, please contact me at the Okaloosa County Extension Office, 689-5850, or hbworley@ufl.edu. 

Haley Worley is an agent at the Okaloosa County Extension office in Crestview.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EXTENSION CONNECTION: 4-H fair coming to Okaloosa in October

NICEVILLE — 'Jake's Women', a comedy written by Neil Simon, will be produced this fall at the Mattie Kelley Arts Center in Niceville.

Auditions are Aug. 28, with sign-in at 6:30 in the Sprint Theater at the center. Actors must prepare a one-minute comic monologue.

For more information, contact director Clint Mahle, 729-6007 or mahlej@nwfsc.edu.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Auditions Aug. 28 for Neil Simon comedy at Mattie Kelly Arts Center