Thursday, January 5

Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents In the Book Of… -- Through January 22
Written by ASF’s playwright in residence John Walch. In this contemporary reimagining of the Biblical tale of Ruth, two women, an Army lieutenant and her Afghan immigrant friend, settle in Mississippi, where they become the targets of a rampaging local conservative talk radio personality. Family, friendship, and the American Way are tested in this often funny, touching, and unforgettable story. Recommended for ages 17+ due to mature language and themes and sexual content. Call 271-5353 or visit www.asf.net for tickets.

Montgomery Chorale Presents The 12th Night
Also January 6
The evening highlights the traditions of the holiday season with pageantry, music and dance, followed by a festive reception in the Hall of the historic Garden District Episcopal Church of the Ascension. Presented by the Montgomery Chorale and Friends. Participation by the Montgomery Youth Chorale, Montgomery Ballet, Alabama Dance Theatre, Montgomery Symphony, Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, ClefWorks, Cloverdale Playhouse and the St. Andrew’s Society. Tickets are $25. Call (334) 265-3737 or visit montgomerychorale.org

Friday, January 6

Late Night with YMCA Goodtimes
Also January 13, 20 & 27
A weekly Parents’ Night Out program for parents of five-to 12-year-olds offered at the YMCA Goodtimes Center on Bell Road. Time is 6:30-11:30 p.m. and supper is included. Cost is $15 per child and no reservations are required. Child to staff ratio is 15:1. Call 279-8878 for more info.

Saturday, January 7

Home Depot Kids’ Workshop
Free workshop teaches children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. This month’s project is “Make a Savings Shed.” Start the year off by saving. In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates’ aprons, and an achievement pin. 9 a.m.-noon. Ages 5-12. Free.

Breastfeeding Class
Breastfeeding and lactation education designed for expectant mothers, fathers, and/or support persons. Class includes benefits, basic breastfeeding techniques, and prevention of common problems. 10 a.m.-noon. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. $15 fee covers mother and support person. Pre-registration required. Call 293-8497 or visit www.jackson.org/events to register or for more info.

Wetumpka High School Softball Diamond Run
9 a.m. Wetumpka High School. We will have a 5K and 10K. All are welcome. Runners, walkers, strollers ... we will even have a kids’ dash! $25 pre-registration online at onestoprace.com or mail the registration form to: WHS Softball Booster c/o WHS Softball Diamond Run, PO BOX 1056, Wetumpka AL 36092
Onsite Registration - $30; WMS and WHS Athletes - $15. T-shirts for all pre-registered, $10 day of race!
Visit http://about-time-events.com/whs-softball-diamond-run/ for details.

Montgomery Performing Arts Centre Presents Comedian Lewis Black
8 p.m. Black executes a brilliant trifecta as stand-up comedian, actor and author. Receiving critical acclaim, he performs more than 200 nights a year to sold-out audiences throughout Europe, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S. For ticket info, visit www.mpaconline.org or call 481-5100.

Wednesday, January 11

Montgomery Performing Arts Centre Presents Gregg Allman with Opening Act Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band
7:30 p.m. Gregg Allman is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 2006. For ticket info, visit www.mpaconline.org or call 481-5100.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Class sponsored by Baptist Health
Provides expectant mothers with information about breastfeeding. Partners are welcome to participate. Class meets 6-8:15 p.m. in the classroom at the Baptist Breast Health Center, Winton Blount Blvd. $15 per family. A 25 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. ID required. Class sizes are limited and pre-pregistration is required. For more info, call 273-4445.

Friday, January 13

Parents’ Night Out at the Wetumpka Family YMCA
A monthly Parents’ Night Out program for parents of kids 12 years and under offered the 2nd Friday of each month from 6-10 p.m. Games, arts and crafts, a movie and hot dogs are offered. Cost is $10 per child for members and $15 per child for non-members. You must register by the Thursday prior. Call 567-8282 for more info.

ECHO (Elmore County Homeschool Organization) Monthly Meetings -- Also January 27
ECHO is a support group for homeschooling families in the tri-county area. The group usually meets the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month year-round from 10 a.m. to noon at Coosada Baptist Church on Coosada Road, Coosada. Membership is free. For more info, please visit http://www.onlineecho.com

Saturday, January 14

Baby Boot Camp
An abbreviated version of the Childbirth Preparation/Lamaze Class offered by Baptist Health. Registered nurse instructors discuss birthing methods (including Cesarean), comfort measures for labor, medications and anesthesia options (including epidurals), postpartum care and baby care basics. Coping techniques (including Lamaze) are included in this class. This class meets from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Baptist Breast Health Center Classroom, Winton Blount Blvd. The fee is $45. A 25 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. ID required. Class sizes are limited and pre-pregistration is required. For more info, please call 273-4445.

Maternity Area Tour @ Baptist Medical Center East
A tour of the Labor/Delivery/Recovery (LDR), Postpartum and Nursery areas is offered to those not attending the Childbirth Preparation Class (a tour is provided as part of that class). Please meet in the main lobby of Baptist Medical Center East, 400 Taylor Rd., 10 minutes before the scheduled tour. The tour is at 10:30 a.m. Tour sizes are limited and pre-pregistration is required. For more info, call 273-4445.

Cultural Crossroads: “Steps To Becoming Alabama” at the Department of Archives and History
8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. The program, composed of talks and tours of the new Museum of Alabama exhibits at the Archives, is another in the Cultural Crossroads series focusing on Alabama history and is a part of the ongoing multi-faceted BECOMING ALABAMA programs.

Gigantic Flea Market in Prattville
6 a.m.-Noon; Doster Center. Call 361-3640.

Old Alabama Town Saturday Jam Sessions
Also January 28
9 a.m.-noon at the 1840s Rose House. Musicians, bring your acoustic instruments and join the fun! Admission to the jam sessions is free; tickets to tour Old Alabama Town are available at the Reception Center. For more info, call 240-4500 or visit www.oldalabamatown.com.

Etiquette Matters & More -- Weekly sessions ending February 4
Register at Prattville’s Doster Community Center. 10-11:30 a.m. $30 per child. Grades 1-6. Sessions Include: Etiquette in Public Places, Proper Introductions, Social and Communication Skills, Posture, Dining Do’s and Don’ts, Place setting, Communicating 101 & More. Class session ends with a field trip to a restaurant, a certificate and picture in the newspaper. Call 361-3640.

Monday, January 16

AUM Hosts 3rd Annual MLK Reflections Breakfast
Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, will serve as keynote speaker at 9 a.m. in Taylor Center 230. The event is free and open to the public, but guests must register by Jan. 11. In addition to Stevenson’s speech, guests will hear from Auburn Montgomery students, faculty and staff as they share reflections on King’s dream and philosophy. The AUM community will also participate in numerous community service projects on Jan. 12, 13 and 16 in honor of King’s commitment to community. Learn more or register for the event at www.aum.edu/diversity or by calling 244-3904.

Thursday, January 19

ArchiTreats: Food For Thought
The Alabama Dept. of Archives & History, 624 Washington Ave. Noon-1 p.m. Bring a lunch and join us every third Thursday for these FREE lectures sponsored by Friends of the Alabama Archives. Tea and coffee provided. Today’s topic is “The Gathering Storm: The Alabama Civil Rights Scene, 1962,” presented by Glenn T. Eskew. Call 353-4726 or visit www.archives.alabama.gov.

“Apps for Getting Things Done” at Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
Do you want to learn more about what you can do with your iPhone and iPad? This two- hour workshop will focus on apps that are used to create content for a variety of subject areas. 6-8 p.m. Instructor: Tim Brown, Curator of Education. Cost: $15 members, $25 nonmembers. Visit www.mmfa.org or call 240-4333 for details.

Millbrook Players Present Fiddler On The Roof
Through January 21 and January 26-28 at 7:30 p.m.; also January 22 at 2 p.m.
Based on Sholem Aleichem’s stories by special permission of Arnold Perl. Book by Joseph Stein; music by Jerry Bock; lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Directed by Karen Black with musical direction by Chris Perry and choreography by Beth Crumbley. In the little village of Anatevka, Tevye, a poor dairyman, tries to instill in his five daughters the traditions of his tight-knit Jewish community in the face of changing social mores and the growing anti-Semitism of Czarist Russia. Rich in historical and ethnic detail, “Fiddler On The Roof” has touched audiences around the world with its humor, warmth and honesty. Please call 782-7317 or visit www.millbrooktheatre.com for ticket information.

Saturday, January 21

Alabama Nature Center General Public Weekend
Also January 22
Enjoy hiking five miles of scenic ANC trails while learning about the fascinating natural history of central Alabama. You can even add to the outdoor experience with a tasty picnic under or around the ANC pavilion. Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. Call 285-4550 or visit www.alabamawildlife.org.

Cruising The Creekwalk 5k & 1 Mile
5K at 9 a.m./ 1 Mile at 10 a.m. Pre-registration online at Active.com ends at Midnight Jan.15. Early registration through snail mail ends January 13. Early Registration is $22. Day of Registration is $25. New this year….Chip timing for every runner! Immediate results online. Facebook: Cruisingthecreekwalk. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Long sleeve t-shirt GUARANTEED to all pre-registered runners. For more information, contact Thea Langley, 334-365-0295, or Mike Miller, 334-491-8000.

Sibling Preparation
This fun one-hour class is designed for expectant “big brothers and sisters” ages 3-8. They will learn about the arrival of their new baby through an introduction to the hospital experience and the early days at home. Parents should plan to attend with their child. This class meets from 1-2 p.m. in the classroom at Baptist Medical Center East, 400 Taylor Rd. The fee is $10 per family. A 25 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. ID required. Class sizes are limited and pre-pregistration is required. For more info, please call 273-4445.

Sunday, January 22

Folk Art Festival at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
2-4 p.m. Bring the entire family to this FREE Museum program! Families will work as a team in the studios to create fun “make and take” art projects related to temporary exhibitions in the galleries, or to works in the Museum’s Permanent Collection. At this festival, view folk art from the permanent collection and create “earth” paintings and sculptures from recycled materials. Visit www.mmfa.org or call 240-4333 for details.

Tuesday, January 24

Montgomery Performing Arts Centre Presents Monty Python’s Spamalot
7:30 p.m. Monty Python’s Spamalot tells the legendary tale of King Arthur’s quest to find the Holy Grail. However, diverting a bit from the true story, this hilarious musical features a line of beautiful dancing girls, a flatulent Frenchman and killer rabbits. Outside there is plague with a 50% chance of pestilence and famine. Throughout the show Arthur, traveling with his servant Patsy, recruits several knights to accompany him on his quest, including Sir Beldevere, Sir Robin, Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad. They meet such characters as the Lady of the Lake, Prince Herbert, Tim the Enchanter, Not Dead Fred, the Black Knight and the Knights who say Ni in this hilarious musical ripped off from the beloved motion picture. For ticket info, visit www.mpaconline.org or call 481-5100.

Thursday, January 26

The Newcomers Club of Montgomery Monthly Luncheon
Women who are new residents in the area are invited to attend our monthly luncheon from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Country Club. Cost is $15 and reservations must be made by noon Monday, Jan. 16, to Sheila Thomas at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 365-3463. Visit www.newcomersmontgomery.com.

Friday, January 27

Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents The 39 Steps Through February 7
Four actors play 140 roles in the double Tony award-winning Broadway smash. Richard Hannay’s dull life becomes anything but when he meets up with a mysterious female spy. When she is murdered in his home, an organization called the 39 Steps goes hot on his trail. This comedy thriller – adapted by Phillip Barlow from the novel by John Buchan and inspired by film legend Alfred Hitchcock – is filled with fever-pitched gasp-a-minute fun. Recommended for ages 13+ due to mild adult language. Call 271-5353 or visit www.asf.net for tickets.

Miss Alabama USA and Miss Alabama Teen USA Pageants -- Also January 28
Montgomery Performing Arts Centre. The pageants are the Official State Preliminaries to the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA Pageants, which are part of the Miss Universe Organization, an NBC Universal and Donald J. Trump partnership. They will feature contestants between the ages of 14-26, who will compete in interview, swimsuit and evening gown competitions. The two winners will have the experience of representing the state of Alabama at the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. Every contestant competing in the year’s pageant has the opportunity to receive a full scholarship to Troy University. www.missalabamausa.com.

Monday, January 30

Broadway at the MPAC presents In the Heights
7:30 p.m. In The Heights tells the universal story of a vibrant community in New York’s Washington Heights neighborhood – a place where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. It’s a community on the brink of change, full of hopes, dreams and pressures, where the biggest struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you, and which ones you leave behind. For ticket info, visit www.mpaconline.org or call 481-5100.

Friday, February 3

Alabama Shakespeare Festival Presents Travels with My Aunt -- Through February 7
Adapted from Graham Greene’s classic novel, Henry Pulling’s dull life is turned upside down at his mother’s funeral when he is reunited with his long lost and eccentric Aunt Augusta. The two begin an around-the-world adventure in which they encounter spies, thieves, smugglers, and a long-held family secret. Four actors play 20 roles in this comical tour de force. Recommended for ages 17+ due to mild adult language and adult situations. Call 271-5353 or visit www.asf.net for tickets.

Saturday, February 4

Prepared Childbirth Class at Jackson Hospital
Topics include: basic labor and delivery terminology, discussion of the stages of labor, the role of a support person, and options for pain relief in labor. This class is a basic overview of the labor and delivery process and does not prepare someone for “natural” or unmedicated childbirth. 10 a.m.-noon. Jackson Hospital, Classroom 1. Pre-registration required. Cost is $25. Call 293-8497 or visit jackson.org/events.
 

Monday, February 6

Infant Safety/CPR sponsored by Baptist Health
Also February 7
Childproofing methods, care of the choking infant, infant rescue breathing and infant CPR skills are covered with hands-on practices using ACTAR CPR doll for class participants. Class meets at 6 p.m. on designated Mondays or Tuesdays in the classroom at the Baptist Breast Health Center, Winton Blount Blvd. $10 per person. A 25 percent class discount is available to Baptist Health employees and members of the military. ID required. Class sizes are limited and pre-registration is required. For more info, call 273-4445.
 

Thursday, February 9

Faulkner Dinner Theatre Presents Big River -- Also February 10-11, 16-18; and 23-26
Ticket price is $25 (for the dinner and the show), $20 for 30 or more in your party. Military Discount price $20. Theatre doors open at 6 p.m. with dinner being served from 6:15 until 7 p.m. The show begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Reservations must be paid in advance. Reservations may be made by calling 386-7190 or e-mailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wednesday, February 22

Prevention Alabama in the River Region Hosts Dr. David Phillips
10 a.m. at Messiah Church, Pratts Mill Center in Prattville, exit 23. 7 p.m. at a location in Montgomery TBA. For medical professionals, coaches, trainers, athletes, weekend warriors, or anyone interested in a healthy lifestyle. For more information and location, contact Lucy Grice, 318-4095.