COMMUNITY BRIEFS

     'Unequally Yoked!' opens
     gospel theater season
      The Las Vegas Black Gospel Theatre opens its 1997 season with Broadway actor Lanyard Austin Williams directing a revised production of one of its most popular plays "Unequally Yoked!"
      "Unequally Yoked" tells the tale of a young street dancer who finds more than shelter and protection from her abusive boyfriend when she uses a credit card to sneak into her neighbor's apartment.
      Performances will be at the West Las Vegas Library Theatre, 951 W. Lake Mead Blvd., at 8:15 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and at 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
      The theater, a nonprofit operation, was founded by Mary-Etta Sayles Clinton in 1990 and has averaged two plays each year since 1991. Originally presented by invitation in local churches, high schools and various theaters, the plays -- often with gospel singing, a live band and liturgical dancing -- are now mainly presented in the Clark County library theaters.
      The productions showcase the talents of a non-denominational, multicultural group of actors, dancers and musicians. Some members of the theater have performed professionally in movies, network television, on and off Broadway and in community theater.
      Clinton is a graduate of Bishop Gorman High School and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
     
     Drama workshop group
     plans first actor showcase
      Joe Behar's Community Drama Workshop will present its first actor showcase for 1997 at 2 p.m. April 13 in the Whitney Library theater, 5175 E. Tropicana Ave.
      Admission is free to all, although the program is not recommended for children under the age of 6.
      The purpose of the semiannual showcases is to present new talent to representatives of casting, advertising and talent agencies; producers; and directors.
      The program consists of scenes and monologues, featuring both comedy and drama.
     
     Company announces plans
     for Green Valley art show
      The American Nevada Corporation will sponsor the 13th semiannual Green Valley Fine Arts Festival April 19-20 at the Green Valley Library, 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson.
      Admission and parking are free.
      Sixty artists from throughout the Western states will present their original traditional, contemporary and Southwestern work in oils, acrylics, watercolors, photography, sculpture, raku and other media. All work on display will be available for purchase.
      Show hours will be from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. both days. The festival is presented by West Coast Artists. For more information, call the American Nevada Corporation at 458-8855.
     Clark County Fair to
     feature big livestock show
      One of the top livestock shows in the region will be featured at the Clark County Junior Livestock Show and Sale during the 1997 Clark County Fair April 10-13 in Logandale.
      The 1997 Clark County Fair's livestock show and sale allows youngsters between the ages of 9 and 21 to display the work and effort they exert to raise high quality livestock.
      The livestock judging begins at 4 p.m. April 9, followed by lamb and beef shows and contests on April 10. A round robin showmanship contest is scheduled for 9 a.m. April 12, followed by the awards program at 11 a.m. and a buyers' appreciation luncheon at noon.
      The junior livestock sale begins at 1 p.m.
      For more information on livestock entries, call the Clark County Fair office at 398-3247.
     
     Polish dance ensemble
     to perform at university
      The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Family Affair Series presents the popular Polish musical dance ensemble, Mazowsze, at 8 p.m. March 24 in the Artemus Ham Concert Hall on the UNLV campus, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway.
      The Mazowsze ensemble has given nearly 2,800 performances in Poland and over 2,500 performances abroad, for a total of 14.3 million spectators. It has performed in 40 countries, before crowned heads and presidents.
      Mazowsze's repertoire includes songs and dances from 38 different ethnographic regions of Poland and is mainly based on Tadeusz Sygietynski's compositions and arrangements of popular music. Sygietynski's compositions are original in the sense that they do not refer to any specific popular melody but were inspired by popular motifs and themes.
      Dances performed by Mazowsze are designed by choreographers who are experts in Polish national dances: Elwira Kaminska, Eugeniusz Paplinski, Michal Jarszk, Zhigniew Kilinski and the current chief choreographer Witold Zapala.
      Collected over the years and made of pure wool, linen, cotton and silk, the costumes for Mazowsze are ordered especially from popular handicraft masters. Others are bought in the countryside, where they are hand-embroidered, appliqued, coral beaded and sequin ornamented.
      Tickets are available at the UNLV Performing Arts Center box office and Dillard's department stores from $17.50 to $43. UNLV and group discounts are available.
     
     YMCA sponsors a variety
     of spring break day camps
      Children ages 6 to 11 can participate in any of four YMCA Spring Break Day camps March 24-28. Camps include Wacky Y Week, Swim Camp, All-Sports Camp and Tennis Camp.
      Camps are from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, which includes extended drop-off and pickup times. Fees range from $60 to $75 per week, plus an annual basic membership fee.
      For information, call 877-9622
     
     Entries now accepted
     for annual rodeo queen
      Entries are being sought for the Clark County Fair Rodeo Queen Contest March 29 at the Virgin River Hotel in Mesquite. Winners will represent the fair and rodeo at events throughout Southern Nevada.
      The contest is open to unmarried women ages 14 to 24 who reside in Clark, Lincoln or Nye counties. Contestants will compete for a chance to reign over the 10th annual PRCA rodeo at the fair, held April 10-13 in Logandale, Nevada.
      The contest will be divided into the Queen division, ages 18 to 24, and the Princess division, ages 14 to 17. Winners receive cash and prizes.
      Official judging will begin at 9 a.m. March 29 at Virgin River Hotel in Mesquite. The contest continues at 1 p.m. with horsemanship judging at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Logandale.
      Entries for the contest can be obtained by calling Brenda Cloud at 294-1475, or can be picked up at local feed and Western stores. Entries must be received by March 22.