Musical play highlights the life of country legend Hank Williams

    The career and life of a country music icon is presented in the musical play Lovesick Blues: An Evening with Hank Williams, Sr. at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Liberty Theater, 200 W. Park Ave., in downtown Eunice. The play features Denham Spring native Hugh Harris, who has become renowned for a performance style and stage presence that strongly resembles Williams.

Hugh Harris

    Musicians Terry Huval, Gina Forsyth, Kyle Harris, Bobby Dumatrait and Ken David are also part of the cast. Tickets are $13 and all seats are reserved. Tickets are available from the Eunice mayor’s office at (337) 457-7389.

    In other St. Landry Parish events: 

•     The Opelousas Little Theatre’s Showcase, its annual variety show, is set for Jan. 17-19 and Jan. 26-28 at the OLT Theatre Building in South City Park in Opelousas. The showcase includes actors, dancers, singers and more. Tickets are $10. (337) 351-3822. 
•     Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie play zydeco, Cajun music and more at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20 at Stallions Bar-B-Que & Seafood, 5675 I-49 S. Service Road, in Opelousas. (337) 948-2090. 
•     The weekly Saturday morning Cajun jam sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Savoy Music Center, located on Highway 190 just east of Eunice. Admission is free. (337) 457-9563, www.savoymusiccenter.com. 
•     An Art Immersion Weekend is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 at NuNu’s, 1510 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. Art instructor Stephanie Green hosts Getting Hot, a workshop on encaustic hot wax painting. An oil painting workshop, scheduled for Jan. 21, has been cancelled. For prices and more information, visit www.frederick-arts.org. 

    In upcoming events, swamp pop legends Warren Storm, Willie Tee and Tommy McClain perform at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 in the Event Center at Evangeline Downs Racetrack and Casino, I-49 exit 18, in Opelousas. (337) 594-3088, www.evangelinedowns.com. 

    The Sixth Annual Gumbo Cook-Off starts at 8 a.m. Jan. 28 at Frank’s Downtown, 603 E. Landry St., in Opelousas. The event, which serves as a medical benefit for a local six-year-old patient, includes music, an auction, fun jump and more. (337) 407-2288. 

    French speakers, or those who would like to practice the language, are invited to La Table Française will be held at 9 a.m. Jan. 28 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center. Student writers and poets show their talents in Project S.O.U.N.D., A Celebration Symphony of Words at 1 p.m. Jan. 28 at the St. Landry Parish Visitor Information Center. Admission is free. 

    The Music of Acadiana Series returns with Steve Riley and David Greely, co-founders of Cajun music’s legendary Mamou Playboys, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29 at NuNu’s, 15010 Highway 93, in Arnaudville. The event includes an open jam session and interview, followed by a music performance. 

    A preview reception for Four Artistic Visions, a Black History Month art exhibit, is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 at the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center, 315 N. Main St., in Opelousas. The mixed media exhibit, which features art by Darlene Moore, Randell Henry, Ronald Kennedy and Ella Guillory, will be on display Feb. 1 through March 31. 

    For more information on parish events, call the St. Landry Parish Tourist Commission at (337) 948-8004 or visit www.cajuntravel.com. Events are also listed on Facebook at St. Landry Parish – It’s Gumbo for Your Soul and Twitter @StLandryParish. Videos are online at www.youtube.com/StLandryParish.