JLT to hold “Leading Ladies” auditions

7 p.m. Jan. 16-17 at Joplin Little Theatre

 Auditions for “Leading Ladies” by Ken Ludwig will be held at 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 16-17, at Joplin Little Theatre.

Directors Michaela West and Tegan Whited will be casting three females and five males (two males must have a British dialect). Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script of the play.

In this hilarious comedy by the author of “Lend Me A Tenor” and “Moon Over Buffalo,” two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, find themselves so down on their luck that they are performing “Scenes from Shakespeare” on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, Pa., is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, they resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. The trouble is, when they get to York, they find out that the relatives aren’t nephews, but nieces! Romantic entanglements abound, especially when Leo falls head-over-petticoat in love with the old lady’s vivacious niece, Meg, who’s engaged to the local minister. Meg knows that there’s a wide world out there, but it’s not until she meets “Maxine and Stephanie” that she finally gets a taste of it.

Performance dates are March 15 – 19.

For more information, call the Joplin Little Theatre office at (417) 623-03638 during office hours – Monday through Thursday – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, “Proof,” by David Auburn will be performed by Joplin Little Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 11 – 14, and at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 15.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.joplinlittletheatre.org or by calling the office.

Empire Market seeks chili cookoff contestants

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Jan. 21 at Empire Market

Joplin Empire Market will host its fourth annual Chili Cookoff on Jan. 21. It will be held during normal market hours, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at 931 E. Fourth St. 

Applications for contestants are now open through Jan. 14 at https://forms.gle/QFXmoz8E7WEPr49x8 or through the Facebook Event Page.

Contestants will bring their homemade chili for judging by a panel, and also for public tasting. Cash prizes and trophies will be given for first-third places, and a people’s choice will also be awarded. 

For more information, reach out to Lindsay Gagnon at lindsay@downtownjoplin.com.

Polling places announced for Jasper County Extension Council election

Voting from Jan. 17 – 31

The 2023 public election of ten new members for the Jasper County University of Missouri Extension County Council will take place Jan. 17-31.

Every county in Missouri has an extension council made up of elected and appointed members who represent the broad educational needs and backgrounds of people in that county.

The county extension council works with University of Missouri Extension staff members in planning and making recommendations for educational programs.

Citizens over the age of 18 residing in Jasper County can vote at one of five locations within the county. Locations include: the University of Missouri Extension office in the basement of the Jasper County Courthouse; Midwest Ag Supply, Central and Grant, Carthage; Lottie’s Soda Shoppe, 139 Springfield St., Reeds; Carl Junction Community Center, 303 N Main St.; and the Joplin Public Library, 1901 E 20th St. 

Beginning Jan. 17, registered voters also have the option of casting a ballot online by going to http://extension.missouri.edu/jasper or printing a ballot from the Jasper County University of Missouri Extension website to either mail or deliver to University of Missouri Extension, Courthouse Basement, Carthage, MO 64836. Voting at the polling places will begin at noon on Jan . 17 and end at noon on Jan. 31. The postmark deadline for mailed ballots is Jan. 27.

Ten positions on the Council will be filled from the following nominees: Lisa Daoud, Sarcoxie; Tom Harter, Joplin; Douglas Joyce, Carterville; Lee Ann Keeling, Gail Lawrence, Dale Lawrence, John Marshall, Tericia Mixon, and Wayne Wilson, Carthage; and Bruce Waggoner, Webb City.

For more information, call the Extension office at (417) 358-2158.