BLT has an homage to ‘Yats’ and Carnival

Biloxi Little Theater opens its Carnival opus “And the Ball at All” tonight, and those attending the sold-out show may have smiling faces even before they enter the theater: The Lee Street playhouse is no longer on a dirt road.

Oscar Renda crews this afternoon added a level surface of pea-sized rocks to Lee Street between Division and the CSX railway, a precursor to paving in the next week or so.

But it’s inside where theater patrons will find a flashback to Mardi Gras of old, a New Orleans Mardi of old, directed by Biloxian Cliff Thompson.

Crescent City theater figure Ricky Graham, who grew up in the 9th Ward of N’Awlins, penned the opus as his sassy love letter to native “Yats” (as in “where y’at”) and it’s been a staple on stages since its 1995 premiere.

The production follows seven boisterous women, pillars of the disheveled Mystic Krewe of Terpsichore, who each year dutifully decorate the krewe’s lone truck float and organize the accompanying festivities.

Tonight’s sold-out show begins at 8, with encores Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Elsewhere this weekend: Comedian Jim Breuer will be at the Hard Rock, Olivia Newton-John is at the IP and the Zombies are at the Golden Nugget.  Of course, if you hadn’t realize it yet, we’ll have a few people in town, too, for Spring Break festivities throughout the weekend. There’s also the opening of the new splash pad – free fun – at Hiller Park, beginning at 11 Saturday morning.
See a complete listing of weekend events
Video: And speaking of east Biloxi roads

 

News and Notes

East Biloxi Seniors Center: City and county officials as well as local residents attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Harrison County East Biloxi Senior Center ribbon cutting Thursday evening.  To see a video posted by the Biloxi-D’Iberville Press, from the center at Parker Street and Bayview Avenue, click here.

City council meeting: The next scheduled meeting of the Biloxi City Council is Tuesday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. To see the lineup of municipal public meetings in Biloxi, click here

Pickle power: James Conglose from Athens, Ga., dropped in on Biloxi pickleballers this week.  He is 91, a Korean War veteran, and finds time (and energy) for racquetball three times a week and pickleball four times a week.  Of course, Biloxi pickleballers have a ringer of their own: Biloxian Frank Battaile plays three times a week. He’s going to be 91 in August. To see how you can join, call the Parks & Rec office, 228-388-7170.