NETHER PROVIDENCE — This spring, return to a simpler time and enjoy an old-fashioned fair as the Rose Valley Chorus and Orchestra presents the musical, “State Fair,” from March 29 to April 6 at Strath Haven Middle School, 200 S. Providence Road, Wallingford.

The show has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Tom Briggs and Louis Mattioli. The musical is co-directed by Kathy Michael and Robert Moore, with musical direction and conducting by Florrie Marks.

“State Fair” features an Academy Award-winning score by Rodgers and Hammerstein, including “It Might as Well Be Spring,” “A Grand Night for Singing” and “Our State Fair.” RVCO’s talented cast and large orchestra perform the music that expresses the Frake family’s dreams.

“State Fair” is one of only two Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals that premiered as movies before their stage musical counterparts. The other one was “Cinderella,” performed by RVCO last spring.

RVCO’s version is based on a 1945 movie starring Dana Andrews, Jean Crane and Vivian Blaine. The Broadway premiere of “State Fair” in 1996 earned both Rodgers and Hammerstein their final, posthumous Tony nominations. Interestingly, the movie was set in Texas and the musical in Iowa.

Behind the scenes the set designer and production crew are creating sets that will transform the stage into 1946 Iowa, complete with fair booths filled with pickles, pies and pigs, all hoping for that blue ribbon.

“State Fair” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.

Shows on Saturdays, March 29 and April 5 at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sundays, March 30 and April 6 at 2 p.m.; and Wednesday, April 2 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are general admission and good for any performance. Online tickets can be purchased at www.rvco.org . Cash, checks, and online payments are also available at the door.

For other questions, e-mail [email protected] or call the RVCO hotline at 610-565-5010.

The Community’s Foundation welcomes new president

The Community’s Foundation announced the appointment of Dierdre Konar as its new president, effective April 7.

Konar’s extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, coupled with her dedication to community enrichment, will help her to lead TCF into its next chapter of impact and growth.

Konar brings a background in philanthropy, community development, and organizational leadership. Her proven track record of fostering strategic partnerships and driving meaningful change aligns with TCF’s mission to support and strengthen local communities.

The new president is a life-long resident of Delaware County and has spent her career in non-profit management and fundraising.

She holds a master’s in arts administration from Drexel University and a bachelor’s in business administration from Babson College, Wellesley, Mass.

Konar spent the first half of her career at Musicopia, a nonprofit music education organization, and most recently worked in the Advancement Office at Swarthmore College. Konar and her husband are members of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County and graduates of the Rose Tree Media School District, where her two children now attend.

Konar will work closely with TCF’s interim president, Lauren Sustersic, during a two-month handover period. According to TCF, “Sustersic has led the organization with dedication and skill during her tenure, and TCF expresses its heartfelt gratitude for her invaluable contributions.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Dierdre Konar as our next president,” said Beth Naughton-Beck, board chair of TCF. “Her visionary leadership and commitment to community well-being will undoubtedly guide TCF as we continue to serve and support Delaware County. We also extend our deepest thanks to Lauren Sustersic for her outstanding leadership and dedication during this transitional period.”

TCF is a community foundation based in Ridley Park that provides administrative and financial services to community-minded groups in Delaware County. TCF’s aim is to empower everyday citizens to take philanthropy into their own hands.

TCF will mark its 40th anniversary on Tuesday, April 29, at the Springfield Country Club during the annual Community Celebration.

For more information on The Community’s Foundation or the Community Celebration, or to donate to TCF and make a difference in the local community, visit https://tcfhelps.org .

Get ready to laugh during April Fools’ Day’s one-of-a-kind livestream

A lineup of hilarious standup comedians from all over the country — including Jermaine Dolly, Marty Simpson, Mathew Hudson, Shanell Renee, June Colson and more — will take the stage with surprise performances and a live band at this one-of-a-kind, livestream April Fool’s Comedy Special following a VIP red carpet reception from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, for anyone in need of a good laugh.

Registration is free and open to the public at https://gathr.com/events/10051f6b/funny-amen-april-fools-comedy-special . The full comedy lineup and details on how to be chosen for the exclusive live VIP red carpet experience are available at www.FunnyandAmen.com. Attendance at the live event is limited.

“For those who crave hilarious, roll-on-the-floor, clean humor, the mission of the nonprofit http://FunnyandAmen.com organization is to ensure that laughter remains free,” said Kevin Hackenberg, board member, filmmaker, and director. “Through high-quality films and live productions, we provide entertaining content for anyone who loves to laugh.”

Neumann University opens Alessi and Friends art exhibit

Neumann University is hosting an exhibition of artwork by Annette Alessi and her studio friends in the McNichol Gallery from now through April 22.

The opening reception for the artists is scheduled for Saturday, March 29, from 2-4 p.m. in the gallery, which is located in the Bruder Life Center on Neumann’s campus.

Alessi, an award-winning fine artist, defines her job as “opening the heart of another.” Her diverse body of work includes commissioned children’s portraits, figure drawings, landscape paintings, seascapes, florals, animals and book illustrations.

Trained as a fashion illustrator, Alessi spent the first 10 years of her career in the fashion advertising industry before teaching herself how to paint landscapes with pastels.

In 2006, she met Karl Kuerner, a protege of Andrew Wyeth, at the Darlington Art Center. Kuerner became a mentor, introducing Alessi to oil painting, which eventually became her primary medium.

Her work, including a large “Brandywine Valley Landscapes” collection, has exhibited locally and nationally and appeared in numerous published collections.

Alessi welcomes visitors to her home studio in Garnet Valley, where many works can be seen and purchased. To contact the artist, visit www.alessicreations.com.

The exhibition will also include works by two of Alessi’s studio friends, Roberta Gerard and Carol Slocomb Strukelj.

Gerard is a Delaware representational fine artist who enjoys painting landscape and figurative subjects. She works in studio and in plein air in a variety of mediums but most often in oil and pastel. She attended college at the Pratt Manhattan Center and Long Island University where she studied illustration, fine art and art education.

Strukelj developed an interest in watercolor while studying at the Delaware Art Museum and the Omega Institute (USC, Long Beach). She studied Impressionist Art at the Barnes Foundation and art therapy at Southwestern College in New Mexico and Allegheny University.

After raising her children and living in Shanghai, China, Strukelj returned to Delaware and began drawing and painting again in 2013.

She joined the Howard Pyle Studio Group in June 2023. Her style employs a loose realism leveraging bright colors and light, with the goal to create beauty and serenity in her paintings. Strukelj exhibits her work at various shows in the Delaware area.

McNichol Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and by appointment by calling 610-558-5626. To see the full arts schedule at Neumann University, visit www.neumann.edu/arts.

PA CareerLink of Delaware County to host spring job fair Thursday

PA CareerLink Delaware County, in partnership with the Delaware County Office of Workforce Development, will host a job fair on Thursday, March 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Springfield YMCA, 194 W. Sproul Road, Springfield.

The job fair will feature more than 70 businesses from Delaware County and the surrounding area looking to fill hundreds of full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions. Job seekers will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face with human resources professionals from a range of industries, including health care, retail, hospitality, education, manufacturing and transportation.

“With so much uncertainty facing our local health care industry and federal workforce, I’d like to commend PA CareerLink Delaware County and our Delaware County Office of Workforce Development for providing this set of opportunities for our residents,” said Delaware County Council Vice Chair Richard Womack. “I’d also like to thank the businesses and hiring institutions that are choosing to participate for stepping up and for knowing that Delaware County is the best place to look for a workforce that’s trained, talented, and ready to tackle any challenge that’s put before it.”

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and bring multiple copies of their résumé. Some employers may conduct on-the-spot interviews and hiring, so job seekers should be prepared to present themselves professionally.

Additional resume and job search support will be available at the resource table. Career experts will provide resume reviews, interview tips, and job search strategies. People can also get expert advice and print an updated version on site.

A representative from Unemployment Compensation will also be on site to answer questions.

CareerLink offers free workshops, including Résumé Review; Successful Interview Tips, Networking; Navigating Career Portals, and Delivering an Elevator Pitch. CareerLink also offers free job fair preparation workshops throughout the year. Visit https://pacareerlinkdelco.org/events for a full schedule.

With more than 20 health care-related employers participating, this job fair provides a unique opportunity for those seeking careers in nursing, home health, behavioral health, allied health services and hospital administration.

To register, visit www.pacareerlinkdelco.org . Registered attendees will receive in advance, a list of all participating employers and their open positions.