By TERRI SULLIVAN / Community Columnist

The Shelby County Arts Council is delighted to announce the grand opening of its new performance theatre at 102 Mildred St., Columbiana.

Emily Kay Herring, assistant professor in musical theatre voice in the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Alabama, will perform “Songs of Patsy Cline” live in costume with a back-up ensemble on Saturday, March 16, at 7 p.m.

Alabama’s Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey will introduce Herring on the night of the performance. The audience is invited to a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. in the Arts Council Gallery, next door to the performance theatre.

Herring was most recently seen in the title role of “Always…Patsy Cline” at the Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham. Herring has performed leading roles in national and regional tours of musicals including “The Sound of Music,” “Ragtime,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Godspell” and “A Little Night Music.” She has taught voice at Birmingham Southern College, “Rosie’s Broadway Kids” and the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and at her private studio. She is active as a concert and cabaret artist throughout the Southeast, and also enjoys singing with big bands (Just Friends, The Joe Giattina Orchestra and Celebration Winds) and at local charity events.

A Mobile native, Herring holds degrees in vocal performance from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Tennessee, and is a student of the legendary Marni Nixon. She is a member of Actor’s Equity and the National Association of Teacher’s of Singing.

Tickets may be purchased online at Shelbycountyarts council.com. Tickets are $20 each.

Shelby County Arts Council calendar of events:

-March 15 — Lunch and Learn History of Photography as Art with Hank Seigel

-March 16 — Songs of Patsy Cline starring Emily Kay Herring

-April 5 — Shelby County’s Best BBQ Cook off

-April 6 — Folk Art Exhibit and 2BLU and the Lucky Stiffs Concert

For a complete list of events and to learn more about the Shelby County Arts Council, please visit ShelbyArtsCouncil.com.

Terri Sullivan is founder and executive director of the Shelby County Arts Council.