KRCU to air holiday specials over next week

KRCU will air a variety of holiday programming during the coming week in honor of the holiday season. Programming starts tonight at 8 p.m. with seasonal selections on "A Musical Meander," followed Saturday at 9 p.m. by the "Jazz at Lincoln Center Red Hot Holiday Stomp," a radio adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" on Christmas Eve at 8 and 11 p.m., "Christmas with the Philadelphia Singers" on Christmas at 9 a.m., "A Taste of Chanukah" Monday at 8 p.m. and "New Year's Eve Live from the Fitzgerald Theater with Garrison Keillor" on New Year's Eve at 10 p.m.

Cape man pens political, metaphysical thriller

Cape Girardeau-area native P.A. "Andy" Leonard has published a book through Publish America called "Presence." The book follows a plot to institute a coup in the U.S. government, using political intrigue and the metaphysical to tell its story. The book is currently available at Amazon.com and www.PublishAmerica.com.

John Prine to appear in Carbondale in March

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Singer/ songwriter John Prine will perform at Carbondale's Shryock Auditorium on March 11. Prine's Americana sound has made him an American icon with a career spanning decades. Tickets for the performance are available now by calling (866) 646-8849 or visit the Web site www.ticketmaster.com.

St. Louis celebrates Kwanzaa Wednesday

ST. LOUIS -- The Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis will host a celebration of Kwanzaa this year with the "Festival of the First Fruits" event Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m. The festival will feature African drumming, music and storytelling along with craft and jewelry-making demonstrations. For more information on the festival, call (314) 577-9400.

'Annie' production comes to Fox Theatre in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- The Fox Theatre in St. Louis will bring in "Annie" for the holidays, showing the classic musical from Wednesday through Jan. 1. Weekday and Friday shows are at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday shows start at 1 p.m. For more information regarding tickets and schedule, call (314) 534-1111.

New arts programs approved at Southeast

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents recently approved new academic programs in the arts. The board approved a musical theatre option for the bachelor of fine arts in performing arts at the university. The new degree program allows students to obtain a degree with training in three separate disciplines -- dance, acting and voice. No additional cost is associated with the new option.

-- From staff reports