Hearing St. Charles Singers a real treat

It's a given that the St. Charles Singers are going to get deserved publicity during the holiday season. This area has been blessed with the work of Jeff Hunt and this group of singers who have performed often at their home base of Baker Memorial United Methodist Church and have entertained lovers of music for 25 years.

But the ensemble adds another dose of publicity - and a first - to its extraordinary career by performing all-Baroque concerts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church and at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Michael Church in Wheaton.

Some might recall that this 34-voice choir was called the Mostly Madrigal Singers back in 1984 - when Hunt put his Master's of music and choral conducting degree to good use in introducing the singers to the community.

Many performances and recorded CDs later, they have a different name, but deliver the same level of enjoyment. Information about the concerts is available at (630) 513-5272 or stcharlessingers.com.

Acting and auditioning: We recently mentioned that Courtney Rioux is performing in the "Taffettas" musical tribute to the 1950s being staged at Pheasant Run through April 11. The 2000 graduate of St. Charles East will also share her talents with local youths ages 8 through 18 during "The Crucible Acting Boot Camp" March 30 through April 3 at Pheasant Run.

"We'll be focusing a lot on acting techniques, using 'The Crucible' as a vehicle for teaching," Rioux said of the Arthur Miller play that was penned with the McCarthy-era witch hunt for communists in mind.

This is the first time Rioux will teach for the Noble Fools academy. Information about this camp and an "on-camera" camp about auditioning techniques is available at (630) 364-0550.

For those who wax nostalgic about 1950s music, we're going to see Rioux perform in "Taffettas" this weekend, so I'll pass along the names of a couple tunes next Wednesday.

Hearty souls at parade: We love our parades in the Tri-Cities - and we're pretty hearty about braving the elements to prove it. Last Saturday's St. Patrick's parade in downtown St. Charles was a great show once again, but it was cold and damp.

But it made me wonder, when is the best time for a parade around here? It can be bitter cold during the St. Charles Christmas parade, it can be sweltering hot and humid during Swedish Days in Geneva or Elburn Days and it can be cold and damp at Batavia's Loyalty Day parade.

So the winner appears to be the Memorial Day parade in Geneva, which tends to be short and sweet, and has the best chance for cooperative weather. Unfortunately, it can rain on our parades at any time.

Hands off, for now: I figured a quick stop at Graham's 318 in Geneva would take my mind off the ailing economy for a few minutes because it's such a nice, quiet shop.

And I spotted a treat called "Chocolate Awesomeness" that I figured would help immensely. But then it dawned on me - Doohhh!!! - I had given up sweets for Lent.

dheun@sbcglobal.net