Short films created by Western Carolina University students will be featured at WCU’s third annual Controlled Chaos Film Festival on Wednesday, April 27, in WCU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center.

The festival begins at 7 p.m. and will feature short pieces from documentaries to TV spots as well as three senior project films written, directed and produced by student filmmakers from the motion picture and television production program. All of the narrative films feature members of the WCU theatre arts and musical theatre programs.

Western Carolina University’s Concert Choir and University Chorus will present a free concert at 8 p.m. Monday, April 25, in the Coulter Building recital hall.

For Robert Holquist, director of choral activities, this will be the final concert before he retires after more than 30 years of teaching at WCU. Graduate assistants Anne Schwabland, Maggie Jennings and Ashley Setzer also will conduct, leading the two choral ensembles through a wide range of pieces including “Gloria” from Schubert’s Mass no. 2 in G Major, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Pie Jesu” and the spirituals “I’m Gonna Lift My Voice and Sing” and “I Hear a Voice A-Prayin’.”

The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts will stage Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” April 14-16 at 7:30 p.m. and April 17 at 2:30 p.m.

“The Sound of Music” is presented by Franklin’s own Overlook Theatre Company, under the direction of the center’s Artistic Director Scotty Corbin. The production is sponsored by Christian Training Center International (also known as “The Inn”), located in Franklin.

This beloved, classic musical, set in Austria during World War II , tells the story of a young woman, Maria, who is struggling to find her way as a nun. On the advice of the Mother Abbess, Maria leaves the convent to determine what she wants from life and takes a position as governess to the seven children of a rigid widower, Captain Von Trapp. Love blossoms between Maria and the Captain as the young nun fills the lives of the Von Trapp family with music and joy.

Franklin’s stars came out for Relay Idol last Saturday night at the Franklin Fine Arts Center to raise money for Relay for Life.

Cancer survivor Brenda Wooten emceed the event.

The winners were determined by how much money they collected. Every dollar was counted as one vote.

Rhonda and Luke Bateman were the winners, and Keirsten Hedden was the runner up.