Conducting an orchestra was a job Seattle pianist Dean Williamson never wanted to tackle.

Richland High drama teacher Ellicia Mertens went out on a limb when her drama department presented the ever-so-clever Seussical musical to Tri-City theater lovers a few months ago.

Greg Ashby's artistic talents are all across the board. His themes touch on just about anything -- musical imagery, mystical mind games, pastoral sanctuaries, ghostly apparitions and stately manors.

Consort Columbia will celebrate spring with an inaugural May Festival packed with enchanting music, a children's chorus, Mozart's revered Requiem and the premiere of a Richland student's poem put to music.

I've got to admit that I've been mildly obsessed with MTV's latest reality offering, Rock the Cradle. The show pits the not-so-famous offspring of notable singers and performers against each other in an Idol-style throwdown. But with less forgiving judges, it's a juicy free-for-all with even the seemingly sweet Belinda Carlisle unsealing her lips to take on the role of Simon Cowell -- at least when it comes to bashing Dee Snider's (Twisted Sister) son Jesse Blaze.

Get ready kiddies! Elmo's coming to town and he's bringing all his Sesame Street pals.

The annual UnTapped Blues Festival happens Saturday at the Benton County Fairgrounds in Kennewick.

Arts in brief for Friday, May 9.

Mid-Columbia happenings for the week of Friday, May 9, 2008

Some of the finest young musicians in the Mid-Columbia will strut their musical prowess this weekend when Camerata Musica presents its Young Artists of Distinction concert.

The writings of Shakespeare never get old, having entertained theater buffs for more than 400 years.

Arts in brief for Friday, May 2.

Mid-Columbia happenings for the week of Friday, May 2, 2008

The only thing missing from the Academy of Children's Theatre's latest production of Grease will be John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.

It'll be all that jazz and more Saturday when the Mid-Columbia Ballet presents its Spring Showcase in Richland.

It looks like Green Day has gotten an early jump on what could be the album of the summer. They just don't want any credit for it.

If you love the sounds of romantic strings, you won't want to miss the next Camerata Musica concert featuring world-class musician Petar Jankovic.

Hold your breath, fashionistas. Those knock-'em-dead threads the Ebony Fashion Fair is famous for will strut down the runway next week right here in little ol' Tri-Cities.

Arts in brief for Friday, April 25.

Mid-Columbia happenings for the week of Friday, April 25, 2008

Clover Island Inn will bring some rockin' musicians to town this summer.

If you go and don’t find yourself singing almost all the words to at least one song in the Richland Light Opera’s Hooray For Hollywood, you’ve been living in a vacuum.

Chicago will be the opening act at the Benton Franklin Fair this year and country band Emerson Drive will headline Saturday night's closing show.

I thought I had my opening line already written about this production.

The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are based on a Disney theme park ride.

I'm singin' in the Rain, just singin' in the rain. What a glorious feeling, I'm happy again.

How kids think, act, move and interact with each other is at the heart of the play Friday, Saturday, Sunday, which continues tonight at the Academy of Children's Theatre.