CIRCO COMEDIA AT THE REG

Highlighting the weekend is the final Reg Presents Series for the 2017-18 Season at the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts.

The unique circus-style performance of Quebec-based comedy duo Circo Comedia takes place Saturday at 4 p.m. in the Reg Lenna. Following in the tradition of the Quebec Circus, the duo will perform amazing stunts and hilarious antics for the audience.

Tickets start at $5 for children aged 18 and under and $10 for adults and may be purchased at the Reg box office, over the phone at 716.484.7070 or online at RegLenna.com.

In addition to the show, Len Barry from the Reg Lenna will also announce the 2018-19 season lineup.

WEEKEND AT THE MUSEUM

The owner and developer of two historic downtown buildings will be displaying several pieces of artwork that had previously been owned by the Prendergast Library.

Developer Arnold Duke recently purchased the Old Marine Midland Bank  (most recently known as The Forum)at the northwest corner of Main and Second Streets. To celebrate the purchase and raise awareness about future plans for the building, Duke will be showcasing items he purchased at auction from the Prendergast Art Collection both tonight and tomorrow at the former bank location.

The “Weekend at the Museum” theme will also feature various memorabilia, including items that belonged to first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, and Pat Garrett – the lawman who shot and killed Billy the Kid. On Saturday, free fossils will also be given out to children.

The “Weekend at the Museum” is taking place at 201 N. Main St. (northwest corner of Main and Second Streets) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday for adults only and then from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday for people of all ages.

The event is free and open to the public.

In addition to the Marine Midland Bank purchase, Duke also purchased the former Key Bank building directly across the street in 2017.

‘IT CAN’T HAPPEN HERE’ AT WILLOW BAY THEATER

The Winged Ox Players will present the thought-provoking play “It Can’t Happen Here” starting Friday as well as two shows on Saturday at the Willow Bay Theater.

The play is based on the novel by American author Sinclair Lewis and has been described as a “cautionary dark satire about the fragility of democracy and how fascism can take hold even in the land of liberty.”

• RELATED: LISTEN TO WRFA’S INTERVIEW WITH WINGED OX PLAYERS

Friday and Saturday evening performances will begin at 7 p.m. and there will also be a matinee performance Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by a panel discussion with several community members, high school and college teachers and members of the cast.

Admission to the show is free, but free will donations are encouraged.

The show will also be shown next Friday and Saturday, May 18 an 19 at 7 p.m.

SPRING GRAPES AND HOPS FEST AT NORTHWEST ARENA

Also on Saturday The 4th Annual Spring Grapes & Hops Festival will take place at the Northwest Arena from 3 to 7 p.m.

The event will feature beer samplings and wine tasting from local breweries and wineries, as well as business vendors from around the area.

Visit NorthwestArena.com for more information.

PRENDERGAST RUN FOR LITERACY

Also on Saturday morning, Prendergast Library continues its fundraising efforts with the 12th annual Run for Literacy.

The 5K race starts at the library with registration running from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. The race starts at 9 a.m. with walkers starting shortly after. Free T-shirts are guaranteed for the first 100 registrants.

Registration costs $20, and can be completed online, at the library, or on the day of the race.

To learn more or to register online, visit PrendergastLibrary.org.

ANGELA CALEY’S ‘MEET THE ARTIST RECEPTION’ AT DYKEMAN YOUNG

A Meet the Artist Reception for the new exhibit “Free: New works by Angela Caley” will be taking place Saturday night at the Dykeman Young Gallery on 2^nd St. in Jamestown. The event is free and open to the public.

LIVE MUSIC

In addition to the events listed above, there’s also a variety of live music events to choose from both Saturday and Sunday in the Jamestown area. For a complete listing, visit our Rock and Roll Rundown for this weekend.

Unpredictable thrills, side-splitting comedy, acrobatic tricks, daring feats, magic and daredevil stunts are the signature style of Circo Comedia’s Jean Saucier and Patrick Cote. Following in the tradition of the Quebec Circus, Saucier, juggles, cycles, balances and performs magic from dizzying heights while Côté clowns, skates and drums trying his best to be the (imperfect) assistant. The duo have been performing together for nearly 15 years. Both attended the Quebec’s National Circus School.

Tickets start at $5 for children aged 18 and under and $10 for adults.

Prior to the performance Reg Lenna Center for The Arts’ 2018-19 season lineup will be announced. The events will include the return of a few performers from recent seasons to the stage. Audiences can expect an international drumming ensemble, an evening of standards and stories from a well-known television actor, live seasonal music just before the holidays, an afternoon of clowning from a master of the art, a high flying circus performance and three stand-up comedians who have all performed in Jamestown. Tickets for the season will go on sale June 1.

The 2017-18 season has been the most successful since 2014 with half of the six performances selling out. The Reg also increased the number of movie showings over prior seasons, programming most Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year with the exception of a few dates around holidays and scheduled performances. Attendance at movies and live events has been just over 12,000 to date.

Throughout the season, 6 of the 7 buildings that are part of the Reg Lenna Center for The Arts have been undergoing substantial renovations. A new lobby, concession area and box office will be open before the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and the 3rd on 3rd Gallery will open in a completely restructured street level space in August. Offices for administration and both offices and studios for WRFA are on track to reopen this fall. A new multimedia arts studio and an adjacent pre-function meeting space will open to the community before the year’s end.

Demolition for the multi-million dollar project began in December, 2017 with renovation and construction following in early 2018. Funding for the project comes from Western New York Regional Economic Development Council DRI, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Gebbie Foundation and Lenna Foundation. Monthly public constructions tours will be offered until renovations are complete.

A temporary box office location is open at 215 Spring St. (between 3rd and 2nd streets) and the entrance to the theater is next door. This box office is open between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and (through May) 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. The temporary theater entrance will be open one hour prior to movies and events, at which time tickets will be available in the box office. Tickets may be purchased at our box office locations during the times listed above, over the phone at 716.484.7070 or online at RegLenna.com.

• MOBILE APP USERS: LISTEN HERE

JAMESTOWN – Reg Lenna Center for The Arts 2017-18 season to go on sale June 1.

Nationally-renowned Billboard-charting recording artists Black Violin will make their Western New York debut at Reg Lenna Center for The Arts this fall, kicking off the 2017-18 season. The duo – who have performed with Kanye West, Aerosmith, Tom Petty and Alicia Keys and who blend R&B with classical music – will perform in Jamestown on Friday, October 20 at 7 p.m. as part of their Unity Tour.

The opportunity to have Black Violin in the theater, as they are on the cusp of breaking into much larger markets, helps put Jamestown on the map for future nationally touring acts. Their latest album, “Stereo-types” features inspiring music about how we, as a community, view each other and the world. Multiple generations can enjoy this concert.

The 2017-18 season goes on sale to the general public on June 1 at 10 a.m. The rest of the season includes:

• the participatory movie screening Sing-Along-a Grease Saturday, November 18 at 7 p.m.;
• the return of local artists for the seasonal favorite live concert Home for the Holidays 2: Christmas at The Reg Saturday, December 9 at 4 p.m.;
• DIAVOLO dance troupe’s daredevil performance of VoLo Thursday, February 15 at 7 p.m.;
• America’s Got Talent favorites Lightwire Theater performing Dino-Light Saturday, March 24 at 4 p.m.;
• and the Quebec-based comedic clowning duo Circo Comedia Saturday, May 12 at 4 p.m.

Ticket prices for most levels of seating have dropped this season to $25 and $10 for adults and $12.50 and $5 for children 18 and under for Black Violin, VoLo, Dino-Light and Circo Comedia. Premium seats for those shows remain at $45. Tickets for Sing-Along-a Grease are $20 and $12 for adults and $20 and $6 for children 18 and under and include a goodie bag with props and more to use during the event. Home for the Holidays 2 tickets are $18 and $10 for adults and $18 and $5 for children 18 and under. Pay What You Can tickets will also be on sale the day of each performance based on availability.

Upgrades to the theater’s hearing assistance system will be in place this season thanks to a Community Service grant from Chautauqua Region Community Foundation that was recently awarded. The new system will feature wireless headsets that allow patrons to hear amplified sound from our live events as needed. They will be available in the lobby prior to each performance.

Due to upcoming lobby renovations, patrons will soon be able to purchase tickets and enter The Reg via Spring Street between 3rd and 2nd Streets. When the box office and entrance are temporarily re-located signage will be placed around the building to direct patrons.

For more information visit reglenna.com or call 716.484.7070. The Reg Lenna Center for The Arts is located at 116 E. 3rd St. in Jamestown, NY. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday, 10am-5pm, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and one hour prior to showtimes.