SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Friday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 20 at 1 p.m., Home Made Theater’s Youth Conservatory will present Mean Girls Jr. at the Saratoga City Center. 

Based on the 2004 film, this musical from book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde) and composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) is packed with keen wit, catchy score, and a sincere message for everyone.

Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naive newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George, Cady and her friends devise a “Revenge Party” to end Regina’s rein with Cady going undercover as an aspiring Plastic. When the lines between the real Cady and her Plastic-self get blurred, she must find her way back to herself and her true friends.

Home Made Theater’s Youth Conservatory program gives kids an exciting, creative and supportive environment in which to experience the thrill and exhilaration of performing. No experience is necessary and children ages 12 to 18 of all levels are welcome.

The Director, Musical Director, and Costume Designer of Mean Girls, Jr. is Laurie Larson, who has directed over 20 Youth Theater Conservatory productions, as well as numerous other Home Made Theater’s productions including A Charlie Brown Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, 9 to 5: The Musical, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Charlotte’s Web, and this season’s The Lifespan of a Fact.

 Production staff for the show includes Choreographer Olivia Larson, Scenic Designer Kevin Miller, Lighting Designer Jacob Pickett, Sound Designer Tom Moeller, Properties Designer Maura Pickett, and Production Stage Manager Susan Turner.

Tickets for Mean Girls, Jr. are $15. Seating is general admission. Tickets may be purchased online at www.HomeMadeTheater.org, or by calling 518-587-4427.

GLENS FALLS — The Hyde Collection, Chapman Museum, and World Awareness Children’s Museum celebrate International Museum Day on Thursday, May 18. This day is meant to celebrate the importance of museums as they preserve the worlds natural and cultural heritage.

Each museum will offer free admission and extended hours. At each location, visitors can pick up their passport to International Museum Day. Collect a stamp in your passport by visiting each location. Once all stamps have been collected, you can enter to win a free Family Membership to one of these three organizations.

At the Chapman Museum, visitors can explore the exhibits and build their own family trees. The Chapman will be open for extended hours until 7 p.m. 

At The Hyde, visitors can play Gallery Games. There will be a number of prompts that lead visitors throughout the museum and engage with art and each other. 

At the World Awareness Children’s Museum, visitors can curate their own gallery with art from the Museum. Admission to the Museum will be free from 3-8 p.m. Note, free admission does not include registration to events and classes. CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGE — Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education has won $279,000 in NY State Council on the Arts funding in support of artist housing and updated sound equipment. 

The funds come from NYSCA and Governor Kathy Hochul’s $42 Million investment in Small and Mid-Sized Capital Projects for Arts and Cultural Organizations.

“Strengthening our creative sector increases tourism, boosts our economy, and enhances the rich heritage and cultural life of New York State,” Gov. Hochul said, in a statement. “These record grants will support a wide range of diverse and innovative projects at our arts and cultural organizations across the state, helping ensure all who visit will continue to have wonderful experiences for years to come.”

“In the last two years, with NYSCA’s extraordinary support, we have completed several facilities projects that have greatly improved patrons’ experiences, including new HVAC systems in three of our buildings and new restrooms in Hubbard Hall,” said Executive & Artistic Director David Snider, in a statement. “The addition of artist housing and new sound equipment are critical steps in our growth in serving our community and the field at large. We are so grateful for the Governor’s leadership and NYSCA’s amazing support on these projects. We could not do any of this without them or without the support of our local community. These additions will continue to make Cambridge a destination for artists and audiences.” 

The Lovejoy building on the Hubbard Hall campus will be restored and renovated to provide artist housing, while new sound equipment on the main stage will better support artists and audiences for years to come. The $279,000 will be matched by Hubbard Hall existing funds as well as an additional $100K yet to be raised over a three-year period. The hope is to complete the artist housing portion of the project by July 2024, with new sound equipment to be implemented later this year. New artist housing will strengthen Hubbard Hall’s ability to support artist residencies, develop new work, and bring world-class artists to Cambridge, for a variety of presentations and productions. 

Hubbard Hall plans to begin work on the artist housing in July. The architect on the project is Geoff Metcalfe of Keefe and Wesner, with engineering provided by Engineering Services of Vermont, LLC.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Caffè Lena is located on Phila Street in Saratoga Springs. For a full list of upcoming shows and events, go to: caffelena.org. 

Emerging Artists of the Month: The Sweet Lillies. Sunday May 7. An acoustic string-band lineup of guitar, viola, and upright bass give flight to ethereal, vocal harmonies that float like a dream.

Blues & Folk-influenced singer/songwriter Andrew Duhon. Wednesday, May 10. New Orleans native Andrew Duhon is a writer with an undeniable voice: weighted and soulful. His release, The Moorings, was nominated for a Grammy.

Open Stage: Jam Sessions and Workshops. Bluegrass Jam with Blue Spruce. Wednesday May 17. The Bluegrass Jam is about sharing songs, making new friends, and enjoying a relaxing and casual evening of irresistible string band music. Open jam session and all are welcome. $5 at the door. 

Must See: The Slambovian Circus of Dreams – Unplugged! Saturday May 27. Hudson Valley, New York-based band which is sometimes described as “Hillbilly Pink Floyd,” or “Punk Classical Hillbilly Floyd.”

Additional upcoming notable appearances: Gil Gutiérrez Trio (May 12); The Ballsoom Thieves (May 18); Garnet Rogers (May 20); Al Olender (May 21). 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Voices will present an afternoon of 19th and 20th Century French choral masterpieces at Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 13.

The program features guest Artistic Director Dr. Michael Lister, who has designed the program to showcase the powerful works of composers Gabriel Fauré (Pavane and Cantique de Jean Racine), Frances Poulenc (Gloria), and Maurice Duruflé (Requiem).

Lister explains that the three connect in Poulenc’s and Duruflé’s “inspiration toward the new and individualistic that they inherited from Faure, who began to explore new musical tonalscapes in his music of the Romantic Period.”  

Tickets are available online at www.tickets.proctors.org or www.saratogavoices.org and will be sold at the box office on the day of the concert.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Shaken & Stirred Celebrity Bartender Party is returning in May to benefit Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. Chris Onorato, morning show anchor from NewsChannel 13, will join the event as the host. 

Teams from local businesses up to compete against each other, bartending for the most tips. The team that raises the most during their shift wins. This year’s event will be 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, May 18 at the Saratoga National Golf Course. There is no cover charge and no tickets necessary. 

All proceeds raised go toward education programs at UPH and the Collaborative School of the Arts. 

For more information, go to universalpreservationhall.org.