Announcements

+ Tickets are now available for Elton John and Tim Rice's "AIDA," Aug. 9-19 at Artpark in Lewiston. Tickets are $22.50, $29.50, $34.50 and $39.50. Other concerts include the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, June 25; Junction West Big Band, July 23; and Glenn Miller Orchestra, Aug. 6. All tickets purchased prior to March 1 will receive a 20 percent early bird discount. For tickets, call 754-4375 or visit www.tickets.com and www.artpark.net. Artpark also offers special group rates with the purchase of 20 or more tickets to any Mainstage Theater performance.

+ Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, for Harry Connick Jr., "My New Orleans Tour," April 13, at Shea's Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com (852-5000), all Ticketmaster outlets and the box office, 650 Main St., Buffalo.

+ New classes are now being offered at the Community Music School, including "A Bit of Broadway," for teens and adults; "Music & Me" for children from 6 months to 3 years old; "In The City (music and art) for children 3-6; "Acoustic Jam 101" for teen and adult string players; "Seniors Sing"; and others. For more information, call 884-4887 or visit www.communitymusicbuffalo.org.

+ The Charles E. Burchfield Nature and Arts Center's will announce the winners of the "It's All in the Close-Up" photography contest from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 at 2001 Union Road, West Seneca. The photo exhibit will be on display through March 2. For more information, visit www.thebnac.org or call 677-4843.

+ An opening reception for the Burchfield Nature & Art Center's "The Vision of Watercolor by the Pratt Family," will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16 with the Pratt Family on hand. The exhibit will be on view through March 30 at 2001 Union Road, West Seneca. For more information, call 677-4843 or visit www.thebnac.org.

+ The Amherst Players Inc. is accepting play submissions by local directors for consideration for its 2007-2008 theatrical season. Full length plays of any genre written by notable playwrights with single unit set or less are preferred. The 2007-2008 season will be its 60th anniversary year, so play titles befitting this milestone event are sought. In addition, The Amherst Players will be accepting original, one act plays, 10 to 40 minutes in length, for consideration for the annual "Festive Evening of One-Act Plays V." All interested directors should mail a script of their recommended play by March 12, to The Amherst Players Inc., Attn: Play Reading Committee, P.O. Box 42, Amherst, N.Y. 14226. Provide a self-addressed, self-stamped envelope for return of script. For more information, contact Bob Alonzo at 684-6279.

+ "DISCS," a music-rich dramatic series pilot, will be shot in the Elmwood Village in February. The series takes advantage of the Elmwood area's creative bent by using mostly home-grown talent to lead the production. The series is written and created by Buffalonian Norman Toy. It will be produced by 3C Multimedia and Bidwell Productions and directed by Bidwell's co-founders Milly and Norman Toy. "Setting the show in a record store/cafe seemed like the best way to capture the broad mix of styles and cultural groups that make up the Buffalo urban landscape," said Norman Toy. The first band featured in the "DISCS" pilot will be Last Conservative. Many scenes will take place at New World Record and Spot Coffee.