Topiary artist comes to Youngstown
Topiary artist Pearl Fryar will speak at 7 p.m. today at Mill Creek MetroParks Fellows Riverside Gardens.
Fryar, the son of a sharecropper, has been creating topiary in his garden in Bishopville, S.C., since the 1980s. Using plants rescued from the compost pile at local nurseries, the garden draws visitors from around the globe. Tickets are $10 and reservations are required by calling 330-740-7116.
He also will demonstrate his topiary wizardry with an electric hedge trimmer in a program at 9 a.m. Friday. The cost for the demonstration is $5 and reservations are recommended. Both events are planned in conjunction with National Public Garden Day on Friday.
Kites fly in Canfield
A kite festival is planned Saturday at Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, 7574 Columbiana-Canfield Road, Canfield.
Members of the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites and Fly Pittsburgh will display their collections and flying skills from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those attending are encouraged to bring their own kites to participate and to enter the kite-flying contests.
For more information on the contests and kite resources, call 330-740-7107.
Percussion group celebrates CD
The Youngstown Percussion Collective will have a CD release party from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the Lemon Grove Cafe, 122 W. Federal St., Youngstown.
''Forms of Things Unknown'' is a collaboration with with composer Dave Morgan, a YSU faculty member. It is a concert-length piece for 15 percussionsists and was commissioned by the collective. It's members are: Sarah Sexton-Belz, Mineral Ridge; Keith Born, Bethel Park, Pa.; Ed Davis, Poland; Evan Gottschalk, East Palestine; Matthew Hayes, Coshocton; Dylan Kollat, North Jackson; Roger Lewis, Youngstown; Dustin May, Westerville; Moriah Placer, Warren; Nick Sainato, Boardman; Jeff Farber, Boardman; Troy Schaltenbrand, Allison Park, Pa.; Megan Seivert, Miamisburg; Robert Young, Austintown; and Eric Zalenski, Bloomingdale.
The work is available on disc and downloadable on iTunes. Admission to the CD release party is free.
Salem theater stages Disney musical
A cast of more than 20 teens and children is featured in ''Beauty and the Beast Jr.'' at Salem Community Theatre, 490 E. State St., Salem.
The musical follows Disney's version of the popular tale about a prince who is cursed and turned into a savage beast, and the young woman who is his last chance to break the spell. The production is directed by Sarah Durham with musical direction by Neil Meloro and Natalie Modarelli.
Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through May 20. Tickets are $14 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for students and can be reserved by calling 330-332-9688.
Crown Theater unmasks next production
Crown Theater Productions stages ''The Man in the Iron Mask'' for a two-weekend run at the Main Street Theater, 5 N. Main St., Columbiana
The play based on the Alexandre Dumas novel feature a cast of 20 and original music by Jim Couchenour, who is co-directing the show with Dan Haueter.
Show times are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through May 20. Tickets are $13 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 and younger. For reservations or more information, call 330-482-9915.