MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Join artist Laura Kennedy at the Middletown Art Center for a powerful 2D mixed media workshop around the experience of love and loss this Sunday, March 17, from 1 to 5 p.m.

“Let your heart speak to heal your grief,” Kennedy said. “The creative process is a profound way to assist healing of loss, grief and other emotional stressors of any kind.”

An accomplished mixed media artist, Kennedy will provide a safe creative space, materials, tools and technical expertise to facilitate participants’ individual creative process.

Adults and children age 12 and up of all levels of art making experience, from newbies to professionals, are invited to join the class for just $5.

Bring photos, objects, writing for reference and inspiration, if desired. Please register in advance for this and all Restore classes at www.middletownartcenter.org/restore, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 707-809-8118.

Space is limited and reservations are required.

The class is part of the Restore Project, which provides low-cost classes most weekends through May in mixed media, sculpture, printmaking and creative writing.

While all classes are open to the public to attend one or many times, MAC encourages folks to come to several classes to hone skills, learn new ones, and develop a body of work.

Participants are invited to submit work for select MAC exhibits at the art center and at other locations in county, to contribute prints and writing to a new chapbook, and to collaborate in a sculptural project for Rabbit Hill and artist projects for EcoArts 2019.

Upcoming Restore classes include a writers’ workshop with Clive Matson on Saturday, March 23, from 1 to 5 p.m., followed by a spoken word gathering from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

On Sunday March 31, Restore offers “Vertical Pathways,” sculptural works in natural wood and concrete for the Rabbit Hill project lead by Emily Schiebel. Please visit www.middletownartcenter.org/restore to stay up to date on class schedules and to preregister.

The Restore Project was made possible thanks to support from the California Arts Council, a state agency, with additional support from local organizations, businesses and individuals. Visit www.ca.arts.gov to learn more about the California Arts Council’s important work in communities and schools throughout California.

Middletown Art Center is located at 21456 State Highway 175 at the junction of Highway 29. Be a part of the growing arts scene in south Lake County by becoming a MAC member, by coming to Restore printmaking this Sunday, or by attending one of the many arts and cultural events or classes at MAC.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay find out more about what’s happening at MAC.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The local musical group “Uncorked” will perform during a St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 16.

The event will take place from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at O’Meara Bros. Brewing Co., 901 Bevins St., Lakeport.

Uncorked specializes in Irish music and much more.

Members perform vocals and play fiddles, Irish banjo, accordion, mandolin and guitar.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Join artists and community to celebrate “Living Color,” a new exhibit at Middletown Art Center on Saturday, March 16, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The event is free and open to everyone.

“This is such an appropriate way to welcome spring,” said Lisa Kaplan, director of MAC. “To see the exuberant use of color in such interesting and diverse ways is a real treat. So peel away your winter layers, come join us at the opening, and feast your eyes on color!”

Artists, friends, and friends not yet met, will all gather at the MAC Gallery to share a love of art and creation while enjoying each other’s company.

The exhibit includes paintings, prints, photography, mixed media sculpture, ceramics, and glass by Lake County artists. Libations and refreshments will be available.

The MAC is located in downtown Middletown, at 21456 Highway 175 at the corner of Highway 29.

Be a part of the growing arts and cultural scene in South Lake County by attending one of the many events and classes at MAC or by becoming a MAC member.

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org or “Like” Middletown Art Center on Facebook to stay up-to-date.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Acoustic Eidolon will take the stage at the Soper Reese Theatre on Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $20 open seating.

A moving combination of Celtic, classical and contemporary folk, described by critics as pure musical poetry. That’s the art of classically trained celloist, Hannah Alkire and her husband, Joe Scott, who plays on his own double-neck string invention, a cross between a guitar and banjo.

This promises to be a performance of passionate, ethereal and lush acoustic instrumentality.

The duo are experienced and gifted musicians who quickly connect with an audience through Joe’s quick humor and Hannah’s wall-to-wall smile.

Their show has been called “a sumptuous instrumental feast” by Dirty Linen, and “contemporary instrumental music par excellence offering warm, emotional melodies,” by CD Review.

Tickets are available at www.soperreesetheatre.com; at the theatre’s Box Office, 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, two hours before show time; at The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main St., Lakeport, Monday-Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The theater telephone is 707-263-0577; Travel Center phone is 707-263-3095.

UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department will present the musical extravaganza Once upon a Mattress March 22 through 31.

This delightful family-friendly show with music by Mary Rodgers (daughter of the famous American composer Richard Rodgers) is based on the classic story of “The Princess and the Pea.”

Carried on a wave of wonderful songs, at once hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. It promises fun for all ages!

In addition to Rodgers’ enchanting score, the show features lyrics by Marshall Barer, and a book by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer, and Dean Fuller.

The original production premiered in 1959 with Carol Burnett in the leading role of Princess Winnifred (played in the Mendocino College production by Blare Elliott). The show launched Carol Burnett’s career.

Later in 2005, Disney released a television movie of the musical, this time featuring Carol Burnett as Queen Aggravain, played in the Mendocino College production by retired Ukiah High School Choral Director Denise Doering.

In that movie version, the role of the silent, but very expressive King Sextimus was played by Tom Smothers; Mendocino College Theatre Conservatory Cohort student Schuyler Marcier plays the hilarious role of King Sextimus in the Mendocino College production.

“Once upon a Mattress” presents a revisionist version of the classic tale of the “Princess and the Pea,” one in which the princess is far more strong and bold than in the original fairy-tale. Her brash demeanor appeals to the young Prince Dauntless (played in the Mendocino College production by Ukiah High theatre student August Kaster).

When director Reid Edelman initially announced that he hoped to produce this play at Mendocino College, he discovered that Ukiah High School theatre director Maria A. Monti had similarly planned to do the show at the high school in the same year.

Rather than mounting two productions of the same musical in the same year, Edelman and Monti decided to join forces. The play is now being produced by the Mendocino College Theatre Arts Department, but with tremendous collaboration and support from Ukiah High School.

Monti is not only playing the central role of the Minstrel, the narrator of the fairy-tale, but she is also collaborating with college Dance Instructor Eryn Schon-Brunner on the choreography for the production. Additionally, the musical will feature eight high school students in the cast of 25.

According to Edelman, “producing a major musical, such as ‘Once upon a Mattress,’ is always exciting. It is a joyful opportunity to collaborate with our wonderful dance and music faculty and to involve a large cast of enthusiastic performers. This is a delightful show, featuring lovely music, hilarious plot and characters, and great roles for our students.”

In addition to those mentioned above, the cast features Lindsey Chapman and Eddie Haehl respectively as the romantic leads Lady Larken and Sir Harry.

College theatre and dance major Jas Byerley is highlighted in the solo singing and dancing role of the court Jester, and theatre major Shannon Sawyer plays the magical court wizard (spoiler alert … the show involves some wizardly moments of stage-magic!).

The company includes an energetic chorus of singing and dancing knights and ladies, featuring high school students Luci Allende, Sophia Butler, Kenzie Hanssen, Sara Richardson, Martin Henebury, Philip Henebury, and Logan Runnings, and college students Gabriel Baca Meza, Yves Charles Browne, Rickie Emilie Farah, Sandra Moreno, and J. Marcus Morning.

The cast is enhanced by the additional talents of local community performers Frank Braverman, Ben Miranda, Janet Noe and Rick Rader.

In all, the radiant and enthusiastic cast includes 26 talented singers, dancers, and actors as well as a full orchestra (under the direction of music director and retired Mendocino College Professor Les Pfutzenreuter). Philip Lenberg, the new full-time music professor at Mendocino College, also collaborated on the musical direction of the show.

Mendocino College music faculty members Janice Hawthorne Timm and Marilyn Simpson served respectively as the show’s choral director and singing coach.

College Technical Theatre Professor Steve Decker is designing scenery and lighting which will be brought to fruition with the assistance of an enthusiastic crew of students in the college’s growing program in technical theatre, while college costuming instructor Kathy Dingman-Katz is creating the many costumes with the assistance of her dedicated costuming students.

College Theatre Technician David Wolf will design the sound reinforcement and effects, as well as serve as the show’s master carpenter. Devoted community volunteer Gary Hudson is stage-managing the entire elaborate production. Brittany McKemy is the assistant director.

This show is expected to be a crowd-pleaser, so audiences are encouraged to purchase tickets early. “Once upon a Mattress” opens Friday March 22 and runs through March 31 in the Center Theatre on the Mendocino College Ukiah campus. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 31, at 2 p.m. There is also a special discounted performance on Thursday, March 28, with all tickets costing only $10 for that performance only.

Tickets are available now at the Mendocino College Bookstore on the college campus, at the Mendocino Book Co. in downtown Ukiah and also online at www.artsmendocino.org. Prices are $20 for adults and $15 for students, seniors and ASMC cardholders.

For more information, call 707-468-3172 or visit http://www.mendocino.edu/the-arts/theatre. The Mendocino College Ukiah campus is located at 1000 Hensley Creek Road, Ukiah.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – In the third concert of a four-part series produced by Beth Aiken, the RossoRose violin-piano duo will perform at the Soper Reese Theatre on Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m.

Seating is open, and tickets are $20 for adults. Children 18 and under are free.

Alisa Rose and Amy Zanrosso are two expressive and powerful musicians intent on exploring what it means to be a piano and violin duo making music in the 21st century.

Striking and dramatic in their musical choices, these two women seamlessly meld their classical training with the rhythms and musical freedom of a variety of traditions that include tango and American roots music.

The pair are not shy about breaking rules in order to communicate with an audience so look forward to experiencing clashing movements of different sonatas along with Alisa's original compositions, and maybe some drums thrown in for good measure.

Sponsored by Kirsten Olson. For tickets go to www.soperreesetheatre.com or to The Travel Center, 1265 S. Main, Lakeport, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call 707-263-0577.