Entertainment

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for a fun local show to watch will soon have just that opportunity thanks to the Liberal High School Drama Department.

The LHS Drama Department will be performing "Emma: A Pop Musical!" at 7 p.m. March 6 and 7, and at 2 p.m. March 8. All performances will be in James W. Maskus Auditorium at Liberal High School, and general admission tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. The show is a jukebox musical adaptation of Jane Austen's novel "Emma" and follows Emma Woodhouse, a high school senior at Highbury Prep who plays matchmaker for her friends while ignoring her own desires and creating some humorous chaos along the way. As Director Kathy Harris tells it, the show should be fun and familiar to many in the audiences.

“People should recognize a lot of the songs, and I would say 'Chapel of Love' is the oldest out of the songs in the show, and there's also 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun,' Shania Twain's 'Man! I Feel Like A Woman' and Katy Perry's 'Roar,' among many others,” Harris said. “I think all of that will be fun for the audience. It's been fun for the kids, they've definitely enjoyed it all.”

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Those looking for a night of stories and musical entertainment will soon have just that chance thanks to Community Concerts of Liberal.

The Aria Nouveau duo comprised of Laura Auer and John Riesen will be performing Friday, Feb. 27 in Maskus Auditorium at Liberal High School as part of this year's Community Concerts of Liberal series. The show will start at 7:30 p.m., and tickets will be available at the door that evening. 

Auer and Riesen said the show and subsequent tour came about rather organically a couple years ago.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and a new book seeks to tell the story of the man who inspired the holiday, St. Valentine.

The book, “The Legend of Valentine,” written by Sheldon Collins, follows the story of Valentine, a once fearsome warrior reborn from the brink of death, who sheds his violent past for a new destiny inspired by his blind lover, Agatha. Amidst the ruthless rule of a merciless emperor, Valentine undertakes a clandestine mission – uniting couples in secret ceremonies and defying imperial decrees that threaten to obliterate the Christian faith. As Valentine’s covert acts of defiance grow bolder, he challenges the tyrannical order, planting the seeds for a celebration of love that will echo.

Collins said the book took a while to put together.

ELLY GRIMM

   • Leader & Times

At some point in our lives, we all ask ourselves how we think we would fare if we were to get stranded on a desert island, though the odds of that happening are rather remote. Recently, however, long-time film director Sam Raimi tackled just that with his newest film, “Send Help,” which was released last Friday.

The film follows long-time undervalued employee Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) and her new boss, Bradley (Dylan O’Brien), who become stranded on a deserted island after surviving a terrible plane crash and attempt to survive while tension rises between them as time goes on.