AVC PLAY SHOULD APPEAL TO KIDS, ADULTS.

Byline: Joanne Pepiak Education Columnist

LANCASTER - The Antelope Valley College Theater Department will present ``The Emperor's New Clothes'' April 26 at 7 p.m. and April 28 at 2 and 5 p.m. at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd.

Tickets, available at the center box office, are $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors citizens over 62.

To charge tickets by phone, call 723-5950.

The children's theater production, directed by new AVC theater program director Rick Roemer, is a musical adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale by the same name, college public relations director Steve Standerfer said.

The play is suitable for second grade and up, but the presentation is not only for youngsters, Roemer said.

``I think this is a production the parents will enjoy as much as the kids, because there's just enough of the tongue-in-cheek humor,'' he said.

The story involves the efforts of a vain and prideful emperor to have a new wardrobe created, only to be duped by two villains, Standerfer said.

Along with the characters who make up the magical ``Kingdom of Mango Chutney'' and the ``loyal subjects of the Emperor,'' the audience will enjoy the colorful set - described as ``toned down Toon Town'' - put together by Roemer and set designer Jonet Buchanan, Standerfer said.

Besides the public performances, free school-day presentations are being scheduled for pupils who will be bused to the center from area schools, he said.

LANCASTER - The Paraclete High School Class of 1986 will hold a reunion July 6 at 6 p.m. at the Ramada Inn, 300 W. Palmdale Blvd.

Tickets for the event are $50 per person and can be purchased by sending payment to reunion coordinator Ronda Psyzk, 43930 Fenner Ave., Lancaster, Calif. 93536.

The deadline for buying tickets is June 1, Psyzk said.

The semiformal affair will consist of a ``no-host'' beverage hour beginning at 6 p.m. and a buffet dinner followed by dancing to a variety of music played by a disc jockey, Psyzk said.

The planning committee is still trying to locate about 15 class members to inform them about the reunion, she said. Some of the ``missing'' alumni include Denise Johnson, Maureen McCullough, Brent and Brian Baker, Susan Hong, Jennifer Keever, Todd Kerzie and Bruce Pokorny, Psyzk said.

Psyzk is seeking community volunteers to help organize the reunion.

Anyone interested in gaining reunion-planning experience or those seeking additional information about the reunion can call Psyzk at 948-5520.

PALMDALE - The Palmdale Education Foundation announced it collected more than $12,000 at a Feb. 24 fund-raiser, where legendary UCLA coach John Wooden spoke about securing a positive future for today's youth.

About 500 people attended the sit-down dinner and auction held at Mesa Intermediate School, said Diana Beard-Williams, Palmdale School District coordinator of public relations and development.

Wooden's speech, ``Working Together for our Children's Future,'' also served as the theme of the event, Beard-Williams said.

``The whole focus was to bring different aspects of the community together to hopefully build and support and nurture a totally healthy child,'' she said. `` . . . Not just one who focuses on sports or academics, but a well-rounded child (who) can go forth and be productive and happy in our society.''

The foundation, which works year-round to raise money for student programs, will be reviewing project funding requests from Palmdale School District principals over the next few weeks, Superintendent Nancy Smith said.

``Because of the generosity of the foundation and the community members who support its programs, the lives of our children will be enriched,'' Smith said.