Fall into the Arts this season with a variety of arts and cultural classes offered throught the City of Prattville's Cultural Arts Center. On Thursday, August 23rd the City will host an open house from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. for those interesed in speaking to instructors and learning about upcoming classes. Some of those classes include: Art Classes for Youth and Adults, Acting for Teens and Adults, Kindermusik, Piano and Voice Lessons, Belly Dancing, Pottery and more. Various workshops are also slated for the Fall.

A free month's tuition (valued at $40) will be drawn from those who register for classes that night. Light refreshments will also be served.

The event will take place at the Creative Arts Center, located on Chestnut Street, behind the Prattville Police Dept. For more information, call 358-0297.

Love to sing?? Well, here is your chance. You are cordially invited to join the Prattville Community Chorus. The group will resume practice after Labor Day and meets each Monday night at 7:00 p.m. The group entertains at many city events including the Prattville City Fest, the 4th of July Patriotic Program, the Fountain City Arts Festival and they also hold 2 concerts per year.

For more information, call 358-0297 or visit www.prattville.com. Look forthe Community Chorus's link under Cultural Arts/Special Events.

If you used to play an instrument in your high school band then now is the time dust it off and join the Prattville Pops - the City's non-auditioned orchestra. The group meets each Tuesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Prattville High School Band Room. THe group also recently formed a Jazz Ensemble and are looking to add a few more members. They will all resume practice afer Labor Day.

The groups are highlighted at various City events including the Prattville Christmas Tree Lighthing (November 27th), the 4th of July Patriotic Program, The Fountain City Arts Festival and the Prattville Chamber's City Fest. They play a wide variety of music including many Broadway favorites.

For more information, call 358-0297 or visit http://www.prattville.com/. Look forthe Prattville Pop's link under Cultural Arts/Special Events.

The 3rd annual Miss Fountain City Pageant will take place on Sunday, November 11th at Prattville High School. This wonderful scholarship opportunity is available to young ladies who live, work or go to school full -time in Autauga County. If the contestant is away a college, her parents must currently reside in Autauga County to be eligible. Applications are available online or by calling the number listed below.

The Pageant Committee has announced that they are currently recruiting new sponsors for this year's event. Last year, they collected over $5,000 in cash scholarships from local business leaders. Every contestant was offered a minimum scholarship just for competing in the program. The winner, Raquel Martin, earned over $2,000 in college scholarships for her participation.

The committee is also searching for new prize donors. Over 100 sponsorship requests have been sent out to area businesses, asking for prize donations. When Miss Fountain City is preparing for her trip to Miss Alabama, she is using her own resources over and above what is donated. That means her own car, oil changes and gasoline, her own wardrobe, manicures, pedicures, accessories, even the things she needs for her room, during her week stay at Miss Alabama. Gift cards to local merchants are needed and appreciated.

If you know of a business who would like to make a donation, please call the Special Events office at 358-0297 or visit http://www.missfountaincity.com/ for more information.

The Miss Fountain City Outstanding Teen Pageat will be held on Saturday, September 29th at Prattville Junior High School. The pageant, open to ages 13 - 17 yr. old high school Juniors, will begin at 4:30 p.m. The winner of this pageant will go on to compete in the Miss Alabama Ouststanding Teen pageant in March, 2008.

Contestants will be required to perform a two minute talent and a six minute interview with the judges. They will also model evening gowns and activewear.

Applictions are availalbe online at http://www.missfountaincity.com/. Click on Teen MFC for the rules and registration materials.

Prizes include a $500 pageant gown for state competition, courtesy of Lasting Impressions and the Miss Fountain City Committee, a certified Outstanding Teen crown and crown pin, entry fee into the state pageant and a scholarship. Prizes are valued at over $1,200. Runners up will receive trophies and flowers.

Pictured above is Samantha Davis, Miss Fountain City Outstanding Teen 2007.

Applications for Rising Stars Now Available

The Miss Fountain City Pageant committee has announced that applications for the Rising Star mentoring program are now being accepted for 2007-2008. The mentoring program is open to girls, 7 -11 years of age, who live in Autauga County. Space is limited. Applications are available at the Prattville Cultural Arts Center, and on the website at http://www.missfountaincity.com/. The registration fee is $75 and includes activities, parties, parades and a ticket to the Miss Alabama Pageant in June, 2008.

Participants will enjoy party in October and will be featured at the Miss Fountain City Pageant on Sunday, November 11th. The winner of the Miss Fountain City Pageant will draw the name of one Rising Star who will attend a day-long event at Miss Alabama and will be presented on stage that evening. The Rising Stars will also be featured at city functions throughout the year.

The Miss Fountain City Scholarship Pageant is open to young ladies between the ages of 17 yr. old high school senior to 24 years, who live, work or go to school full time in Autauga County. Her parents may also reside full-time in the county, even if the contestant lives in another state or is away at school. Applications, rules and other information about the pageant are available online on the www.missfountaincity.com. This scholarship pageant is a preliminary pageant to the Miss Alabama pageant. The winner of the Miss Alabama pageant will go on to the Miss America pageant.

Girls competing in the Miss Fountain City pageant will vie for local scholarship money and prizes. Miss Fountain City will serve as a local representative at area City and Chamber events throughout her reign. The representative from Autauga County will receive scholarship monies for participating in the Miss Alabama pageant and will also compete for thousands of dollars in scholarship money and prizes. Last year, the Miss Fountain City pageant offered over $34,000 in scholarships and prizes.

Applications for the Rising Star program are due no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 15th at the Prattville Cultural Arts Center. The center is located at the corner of West 4th and Court Streets, in downtown Prattville. For more information, please call Toni Dyer at 491-0056 or the Cultural Arts Center at 358-0297.

Way Off Broadway Theatre's latest production - Little Shop of Horrors, is now playing in Prattville. So, I suggest you get your tickets now and grab a front row seat. You don't want to miss a thing. Great music and a larger- than- life cast will keep you entertained the whole evening.

For those who aren't familiar with the play (and movie) Little Shop is a tongue -in -cheek horror themed musical, much like those of the 1950's. The show takes place on Skid Row, in a little flowershop that is on the slide. Seymour, a mousey floral assistant discovers a unique plant (picture a sort of Venus Fly Trap,) that he names Audrey II , who quickly develops a taste for blood. The more blood, the bigger...and more demanding it grows. Feeding this obsession leads Seymour into some interesting and entertaining situations.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. They are avaiable during regular banking hours at People's Bank (downtown). Call them at 361-3029 for more information.