Up & Coming Weekly

10 UCW FEBRUARY 10 - 16, 2010 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Ahhhh, Valentine's Day. Love might be in the air, but in the world of weddings 'the devil is in the details.' With 2.2 million couples getting married each year, and 10 percent of those proposals taking place on Valentine's Day, there's a whole lot of wedding planning going on. To get the newly engaged off on the right path toward the perfect wedding, the 2010 Bridal Extravaganza will be held on Feb. 20 at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux. The 2010 Bridal Extravaganza, the largest bridal expo in Fayetteville with at least 50 vendors, expects record turn-out again this year. Last year, more than 500 people attended the event to glean ideas for their weddings. "Every bride who walks in the door gets a bag of goodies — samples, magazines, gift certifi cates, coupons, just everything," according to Heidi Politi, sales manager for the Holiday Inn Bordeaux. Brides-to-be will also leave with a wealth of information and ideas. A fashion show, presented by David's Bridal, will be held from noon to 1 p.m. The show is expected to be "fast-moving, fun, professional and very upbeat." The models will feature hair styles created by Flawless Visions Hair Studio. Makeup for the models will be done by Mary Kay Cosmetics. Learning opportunities will be offered throughout the day as rotating seminars will be held every hour. Seminar topics will range from creating a timeline for wedding planning to etiquette, and will even include a home decor session offering insight on how to blend "his" and "hers" into "ours." "The free information at the seminars is so valuable because it keeps you from making silly mistakes," explained Politi. "And at the Extravaganza, you'll get great ideas that are not just exclusive of weddings. They can really be applied to planning any event." Vendors from all areas of wedding expertise will be on display in the grand ballroom. Day spas, including the Renaissance European Day Spa and Cape Fear Aesthetics, will provide ideas on pampering your wedding party before your special event. To help you fi nd the perfect dress and tux for your event, experts from David's Bridal, Ruth Davis Tuxedos and Cape Fear Formal Wear will be on hand. Flowers from Bordeaux Florist and Owen's Florist, planning by GC & Company, and special touches from Things Remembered and Slumber Parties will all make your big day something to be remembered. To capture your memories for eternity, photographers will include George Joel Photography and New Creation Photography. But of course, the highlight of any event is the food. "You really can eat your way through the room," said Politi. "There are lots of samples of wedding cakes, party favors and other sweet confections, plus the catering experts at the Holiday Inn Bordeaux will have hors d'oeuvres for sampling. Come hungry and with comfortable shoes!" Not only will attendees leave with a full belly and a mind full of ideas, but also with prizes. Prize drawings occur every three to fi ve minutes and include such treats as wedding cakes, spa treatments, formal wear, photography packages, dining certifi cates, hotel accommodations and more! "Vendors give us a lot of door prizes," explained Politi. "Last year we ran out of time to give them all out. Everyone walked away with something." The 2010 Bridal Extravaganza runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are available at the door the day of the event for $7, or in advance for $3 up until Feb. 15. To pre-register or for more information on the event, call 910-221-2251. Beautiful maiden. Jealous stepmother. Jiving mirror. It's a classic fairy tale — with a twist — when Fayetteville State Theatre brings Snow White to the stage of Butler Theatre on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 18 and 19, at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., with an additional show on Friday at 7 p.m. All seats for the shows are $3.00, and teachers are free. "This is not Disney's Snow White," said Phoebe Hall, director of theatre and associate professor of speech and theatre. Written by Tim Kelly and directed by Susan B. Paschal, assistant director and assistant professor of speech and theatre, this version of the beloved tale of enchantment features not only a jive-talking mirror, but also "a band of happy minors," Hall said. "Sarge, Gabby, Gloomy Gus, Ticklish, Spritely, Snore and Slowpoke. It has a slightly different spin than Disney's version." The play is an annual event that started in 2001. Each February, FSU offers the community a children's play. Paschal has a special interest in children's theatre. She teaches a course, Children's Theatre for School and Community, and is also director of the children's worship arts program at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church. "Periodically we do new scripts and adaptations," said Hall. "Snow White features students and community members performing for elementary students. It is a one- act play and lasts about an hour. It is open to the public only on Friday night. In fact, the morning shows are sold out." The February performance is only part of the theatre company's commitment to sharing live theatre with children and the rest of the community. The FSU Touring Company, as part of the performance laboratory class, can arrange to bring impromptu theatre presentations to schools, organizations and meetings, enhancing curriculum or meeting topics while making learning fun and entertaining. Anywhere from three to a dozen actors can present students with an opportunity to participate with improvisational actors to practice skills in creative, critical and imaginative thinking on their feet. The program members can even arrange to customize their exercises to fi t a special topic. In addition to offering children the magical experience of live theatre and that special interaction between audience and performers that one simply can't derive from television or movies, the FSU Theatre Company makes a Snow White study guide available for teachers. "Just email me at phall@uncfsu.edu for a copy," Hall said. "It includes all kinds of activities for children." And the company's Web site offers a guide to theater etiquette for those who have never attended a live performance — or may need a little reminder — at www.uncfsu.edu/theatre/fsu_drama_guild.htm. For more information, call (910) 672-1006, and for reservations for Friday evening's performance, contact FSU's ticket manager, Antoinette Fairley, at (910) 672-1724. And come share a bite of the "Big Apple." Snow White: Classic Fairy Tale With A Twist at FSU by KAREN POPPELE JOY KIRKPATRICK, Associate Publisher COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 106 or Editor@upandcomingweekly.com. KAREN POPPELE, Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or Editor@upandcomingweekly.com Fashion, Food and Freebies at Bridal Extravaganza by JOY G. KIRKPATRICK

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