Play It to the Hambone

If you walk by Monterey Peninsula College's Morgan Stock Stage Monday evening, do not be mystified by the illogical sequence of sounds.

Do not be concerned that the wailing sobs you hear are being followed by sardonic laughter and that "A Surrey with A Fringe on Top" segues into a Janet Jackson number. It's simply Monterey County's talent pool pedaling its wares for the Monterey County Theatre Alliance.

I don't mean to imply that this is a designated, established and exclusive talent pool. If you can sing, act or dance (or any combo thereof), by all means, show up at the aforementioned location on Monday between 7 and 9pm (preferably with a current résume and headshot) and perform your heart out before a critical audience of local directors and producers.

This could be your big break.

The specifics are as follows. Come with a one or two monologues and/or a 16-bar song. If you are dancing or want musical accompaniment, bring a cued cassette tape or CD. Do not exceed a total of six minutes for your performance.

These general auditions serve as a symbiotic way for both the performers and the theaters to profit. Everyone is under one roof assessing the options and chances increase for a more perfect fit.

For any performer in Monterey County, this a not-to-miss audition. For the rest of you who live in your head and not on the stage, you need to quit waiting in the wings and leap into the spotlight, even if it's not as gracefully as you would wish.

For more info, call Julie Hughett at 622-7206.

--Alexis Seccombe

Book 'em

Wondering what to do with all those books and videos gathering dust on your bookshelf? The answer is now here.

Put them to use and do your good deed of the day at the same time by donating underthumbed and underviewed relics to the Friends of the Salinas Public Library, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the Salinas library system.

The organization is seeking donations of new and used books for its annual book sale, which raises money to fund library projects not covered by the city budget.

Past book sales have raised money to underwrite many valuable projects, like the Children's Summer Reading program, and to pay for needed equipment, such as the furniture for the library's computer lab.

The goal of this year's sale is to raise $5,000, but they need your help to do it.

All new and used books, audio/video items--and any related items (such as bookcases, etc.) in good condition--are welcome.

If you really want to be the hero of the day then donate non-fiction, newer fiction and books in Spanish, since these are particularly needed.

However, there are a few things that can be left at home: magazines, textbooks, outdated reference manuals and computer manuals. This is a donation drive, not a dump.

Donations can be dropped off at the John Steinbeck Library, 350 Lincoln, Salinas. The actual sale will be held Saturday , April 21, at the Salinas Recreation Center, 320 Lincoln.

If you're still not convinced, all donations are tax deductible. Now you really have no excuse.

For more info about the booksale, call Lauren at 443-6059.

--Behnaz Hejazian