[naviga:h3]BLT opens ‘Swim Club’[/naviga:h3]

Butler Little Theatre opens “The Dixie Swim Club” by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten on Friday at the BLT at One Howard St.

The comedy/drama centers around five Southern women who become friends during their college swim team years and continue their friendship each year for a week in August.

The show runs through March 9.

Curtain is at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Tickets are $13 online at Bltgroup.org or at the door 45 minutes prior to curtain. Call 724-287-6781.

[naviga:h3]Mardi Gras party slated[/naviga:h3]

The 31st annual Mardi Gras Celebration with live music is planned at Hotel Saxonburg, 220 W. Main St.

Music on Friday will be The Banjo Club from 7 to 10 p.m.; on Saturday, Joe & Jackie from 7 to 10 p.m.; and then on Tuesday, Miss Freddye’s Home Cookin’ Trio from 6 to 9 p.m.

Complimentary carriage rides will be offered on Friday and Saturday.

For more information, call 724-352-4200.

[naviga:h3]‘Prodigal Sons’ staging planned[/naviga:h3]

A production of “Prodigal Sons” by playwright Jeannie Allen of Valencia will be staged at 1 p.m. March 24 at First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, 320 Sixth Ave.

“Prodigal Sons” is a modern day musical drama of a father’s redemptive love.

Cast includes area actors Brian Louttit as the Prodigal, Sam Bartley as the older brother and Jonathan George as the father. Also in the show is Davlin Smith, David Allen, Skip Cooper, Judy Kurtzrock, Aaron Rose, Jim McKee and Lynn Walsh.

Refreshments will be available before and after the production.

For tickets, call 412-443-7319 or email deniceclaudon@gmail.com.

Proceeds benefit First Presbyterian Church’s Walk-In Ministry Food Pantry.

For more information, visit www.jeannieallenproductions.com.

[naviga:h3]Dancers part of spring gala[/naviga:h3]

Two Butler area dancers are part of the La Roche College Dance Department’s annual Spring Gala.

Elektra Davis of Harmony and Joe Hartman of Prospect will perform in the 8 p.m. show Friday at the Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St., Pittsburgh.

The performance will include a restaging of an abbreviated version of the third act of Marius Petipa’s iconic “La Bayadere, Kingdom of the Shades” by faculty members Kirstie Corso and Melissa Tyler. The students will perform as the corps de ballet in this advanced piece, creating a scene where a warrior can once again reunite with his love who met a tragic end.

The evening event also will feature international U.K. guest artist Callum Newman, who will premiere a new work, as well as student pieces created in dance composition I & II courses.

Tickets are available at www.trustarts.org or 412-456-6666.