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September 6, 2007:

• Virginia Samford Theatre celebrates 80 years
• Roman mythology and 1930's Birmingham collide in Miss Vulcan
• Former frontman for Alabama indy rock band Verbena has a new solo CD.
• Community Calendar
• Hip-hop with a twist from Thed Weller

The year was 1927, and General Louis Clark was hard at work raising money to get a theatre built here in Birmingham - an investment, he said, in the cultural future of the region. He eventually raised a total of $74,000 to build, what is today known as the Virginia Samford Theatre. But that little theatre has gone through many, many changes over the years...changes that are documented this weekend at the Virginia Samford Theatre's 80th Anniversary Gala. Veteran performers Cathy Rye Gilmore and Jack Mann talked with WBHM's Steve Chiotakis.

Virginia Samford Theatre turns 80

Move over Desperate Housewives. Step aside Ugly Betty. Red Mountain Theatre Company and Vulcan Park say they've got a competition that'll have everyone talking! This weekend they stage "Miss Vulcan 1939". Inspired by actual events, this tale transports audiences back to the first - and only - Miss Vulcan pageant. Roman mythology and 1930's Birmingham collide when a meek dime store clerk challenges the city's debutantes in a beauty pageant to crown Vulcan's queen! Keith Cromwell directs and Morgan Smith plays Miss Vulcan.

Miss Vulcan

In the late 90s, Alabama-based indy rock band Verbena was getting a lot of national attention. Their single "Baby Got Shot" got radio airplay and their video landed on MTV. Four years ago the group disbanded and lead singer Scott Bondy - who now goes by the name A.A. Bondy -- started a solo career. He's got a new CD out this week called "American Hearts". Bondy talked with WBHM's Hunter Bell.

A.A. Bondy formelrly of Verbena

To hear the audio portion of the Community Calendar from Tapestry, click here.

Want to know more? Activeculture.info is a one-stop source for finding out what's going on in the Birmingham metro area.

Birmingham hip-hop artist Thed Weller describes his music as a little old school, a little new school --- which is pretty fitting given that his day job is teaching 6th graders at a local school. This is the song "Hip-Hop is Music" off Weller's CD "Better Than I Can Tell You"(AUDIO MONTAGE). Proceeds from Thed Weller's new CD go to the Hip Hop is Music Foundation, which works to help kids realize their musical talents.

Tapestry is produced by Tanya Ott, Michael Krall and Hunter Bell - with help this week from Steve Chiotakis and Islara Vazquez. Next week on the program, Justin Brown talks about the first concert in the Alabama Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks Series. I'm Greg Bass, and we'll see you next week.