Jacksonville is a town populated by interesting people in general as well as students and faculty who live in the stimulating environment of an expanding university. This variety of people and their individual talents fuel the whirlwind of events we all enjoy, a full schedule that is never-ending. For example, we had three openings to attend last week: A studio display, a gallery exhibit, and musical at McClellan by CAST with Jacksonville involvement, and all three showings continue for the public. Come out to the banquet. Everyone's invited and the table is laden with events and people to appreciate.

One weekend remains for Annie Get Your Gun by CAST Theatre with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin. With each passing year at CAST, more and more Jacksonville actors capture roles in these productions. An active theater department at JSU certainly bolsters this success. But let's not forget it was CAST founding member George Whitesel, now a retired librarian at JSU's Houston Cole Library, who gave CAST its name: Community Actors' Studio Theatre. And Kim Dobbs, CAST's artistic director, is a graduate of JSU.

The plays at CAST regularly feature Jacksonville people — and this musical, which continues through Sept. 20 is no exception. While this community theater is becoming a regional in scope, Jacksonville is a dependable resource of vital abilities in acting, singing, dancing and in orchestral accompaniment.

In the cast of Annie Get Your Gun are Judy Shealy, the lead, as Annie Oakley, who has performed with the JSU Drama Department in several productions, and is now pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Whitney Clifton, JSU graduate who plays a can-can dancer, Kimberly Davenport, can-can dancer, Anthony Dickson, a cowboy and porter, Heather Garlick, drama major at JSU, familiar to CAST audiences, portrays Winnie Tate, and Howard Johnson, retired faculty at JSU, plays Charlie Davenport. Linda Lee, originally from California who settled in Jacksonville in 2008 (to be with her son who is in Homeland Security,) portrays Mrs. Sylvia Potter-Porter.

High school student Zach Mashburn, born and raised in Jacksonville, plays a waiter/ and cowboy and Andrew Sprayberry, is seen as a messenger and cowboy. He is a sophomore at JSU. Also in the cast is Mike Stedham, (Pawnee Bill) who is manager of Student Media at JSU and a founding member of CAST. Scott Van Patton, who has taken part in the JSU Children's Theatre, plays Buffalo Bill Cody. Robin Bauer, a dancer, plays Mrs. Schuyler Adams. Dawn Hurst is on the stage management team, and in the band are Tracy Tyler, percussion and Emmy Hengeveld, bass.

Art Exhibits

The current art show at Hammond Hall Gallery presents works from the two newest faculty members. "Equiloberium," the title of the exhibit, represents the balance of thought from two opposing forms of art. The exhibit will be up through Sept. 30.

Allison McElroy and Anne Wedler are the artists behind the workmanship on canvas. The works are representational and abstract.

Art exhibits open the mind, if one takes the time to really observe what is seen. "I want people to open their minds to the fascinating things around them," said McElroy "I hope that after someone looks at my work they will leave the gallery and look at things differently. For example, a spider web is a beautifully made architectural structure that resembles man-made maps. I tell my students that as long as they pay attention to detail they will see inspiration all around, even in the smallest spaces."

Everyone is invited to see JAX Printmakers Ink, the studio space at 9 Public Square here, and see the works of four artists. Also to notice the parallels between the very different techniques. Works on paper is theme by artists Diana Cadwallader, Allison McElroy, Jauneth Skinner and Anita H. Stewart. The show will be up through November 13.