Artists sought for holiday show

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The Arts Centre announces a call to artists to participate in the upcoming Holiday Show and Sale held this year at 127 N. Queen St. in historic downtown Martinsburg. The 19th annual Holiday Show and Sale opens Thursday, Nov. 17, and runs through Friday, Dec. 23. Work, to be juried, will be accepted from Saturday, Oct. 15, to Monday, Oct. 31, by appointment only. Regional artisans and fine crafters may submit work via sample, photo, slide, or digitally via e-mail, to talkback@theARTcentre.org.

The business office of The Arts Centre is at 229 E. Martin St., Suite 300, Martinsburg. Call The Arts Centre for information at 1-304-263-0224 or go to www.theARTcentre.org.

CATF play nominated

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. - Sheri Wilner's "Father Joy" has been nominated for the American Theatre Critics Association's Steinberg New Play Award. "Father Joy" was one of two world premiere productions of the 2005 season.

Each year about two dozen plays are nominated by ATCA critics out of hundreds of new plays produced around the country. Any new play produced outside of New York is eligible for the award.

"Father Joy" is the second CATF play to be nominated for the ATCA/Steinberg New Play Award. Jeffrey Hatcher's "Compleat Female Stage Beauty" received a Steinberg award in 2000 after its world premiere production at CATF in the 1999 season, and subsequently was produced at many other theaters before being adapted into the major motion picture "Stage Beauty."

Six finalists for the award will be announced in January 2006 and the winner will be announced during the Humana Festival at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in April. The winning playwright will be awarded $15,000, and two runners-up will each receive $5,000.

The 2006 Contemporary American Theater Festival will run from July 7, 2006, through July 30, 2006, and its 16th season of four new plays in rotating repertory will be announced in January 2006. To learn more about CATF and to join the launching of new American theater, call 1-800-999-2283 or go to www.catf.org.

Garden class scheduled

WHEATON, Md. - The Horticulture 2005 Symposia Series will feature "Crafting the Artful Garden," how to edit, select and plant for the elusive four-season paradise Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Brookside Gardens.

The seminar will feature Paul Cappiello, Thomas C. Cooper, Judy Glattstein, Carol Klein and Nan Sinton.

The cost for subscribers/members of Horticulture is $119; and $129 for nonmembers. To register, call 1-877-436-7764, or go to www.hortmag.com.