Community arts and events calendar

Southwest Missouri State University libraries present folk storyteller Gladys Coggswell as part of the “‘Tell Me Another …’ Tales to Celebrate our Multicultural Heritage” series. Coggswell’s program begins at 7 p.m. in Room 313 of Plaster Student Union. Coggswell’s stories range from historical to hysterical, and she blends songs, wit and wisdom to share African American and personal stories. The program is free and open to the public. Free parking is available 6:30-9 p.m. in the visitors’ parking lot at the corner of National Avenue and Monroe Street.

Feb. 2

Marimbist Naoko Takada performs at 7:30 p.m. at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts on the campus of SMSU. Her performance is the second in this season’s Don Wessel Emerging Concert Artists series. Tickets are available for $20, and can be purchased by calling (417) 836-SMSU or visiting www.hammonshall.com.

Feb. 4–26

“Uncommon Threads: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art Quilts” will be on display at Hawthorn Galleries Inc., 214 E. Walnut. The exhibit features the work of 10 regional fiber artists: Lucy Silliman, Pam RuBert, Emmie Seaman, Merrilee Tieche, Susan Leslie Lumsden, Cathy Jeffrey, Diane Kelsay, Lettie Blackburn, Maureen Ashlock and Rosemary Claus-Gray. Hawthorn Galleries’ regular showing hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Feb. 4

First Friday Art Walk, a program of the Springfield Regional Arts Council, will be held 7-10 p.m. in downtown Springfield. Featured galleries for the event include Good Girl Art, 215 W. Olive; Hawthorn Galleries, 214 E. Walnut; Keyes Gallery, 229 S. Market Ave.; Mudhouse, 323 South Ave; Park Central Gallery, 122 Park Central Square; Drury University’s Pool Art Center, 940 N. Clay; Randy Bacon Photography Studio & Gallery, 320 Park Central West; Springfield Hot Glass Studio, 314 S. Campbell; Springfield Pottery, 416 S. Campbell; SMSU’s Student Exhibition Center, 838 E. Walnut; SMSU Art and Design Gallery; 333 E. Walnut; Studio 405, 405 W. Walnut; Walnut Street Gallery, 225 E. Walnut; Well-Fed Head Books, 331 S. Campbell; and The Gillioz Theatre, 325 Park Central East. First Friday Art Walk is a free event.

Feb. 5

Big Smith performs at 8 p.m. at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts on the SMSU campus. Following an opening performance by The BelAirs, Big Smith will blend acoustic country, bluegrass and gospel genres. Tickets range from $16 to $24. Tickets to a pre-show barbecue, served in the hall lobby, are $8 each. All tickets may be purchased by calling (417) 836-SMSU or by visiting www.hammonshall.com.

Mudhouse Coffee and Tea Co. at 323 South Ave. begins its tea-tasting series at 3 p.m. Exploring Tea, featuring hour-long tastings and discussions, will meet on Saturdays. The Feb. 5 event will focus on black tea. Space is limited, but reservations can be made by calling (417) 832-1720.

Feb. 8

Fun Night at Panera Bread, a fund-raiser for The Arc of the Ozarks, is held 5- 8 p.m. at Panera Bread, 1570 E. Battlefield. During the event, the organization will receive 10 percent of all sales when patrons mention The Arc of the Ozarks. There will be drawings to win Panera gift certificates every 15 minutes.

Scholastic’s “The Magic School Bus” is presented at 7 p.m. at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts on the SMSU campus. It is the second performance of this season’s Youngblood Chrysler Kia Volkswagen Family Theater Series. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children, and may be purchased by calling (417) 836-SMSU or visiting www.hammonshall.com.

Feb. 10

“Ladies of the (Comedy) Night II” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts on the SMSU campus. Performers will be Maryellen Hooper (“The Tonight Show,” Lifetime’s “Girls Night Out” and A&E’s “An Evening at the Improv”), Retta (“Dickie Roberts, Former Child Star”), and Alexandra McHale (NBC’s “Late, Late Show,” Comedy Central’s “Premium Blend”). Ticket prices range from $16

to $24 and are available by calling (417) 836-SMSU or by visiting www.hammons

hall.com. The performance will contain adult language and subject matter.

Broadway opera tenor Larry Wayne Morbitt performs a recital at 7:30 p.m. in the Barnett Fine Arts Recital Hall at Evangel University. For six years, Morbitt has played the role of Ubaldo Piangi in Andew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway. The concert is part of Evangel’s Artist Series and is free and open to the public. Susan Smith, an assistant professor of music, and Linda Ligate, a professor, will perform with Morbitt – Smith providing soprano vocals on some pieces, and Ligate providing piano accompaniment.