GOOD NEWS: The Pearl to open March 13 in West Ashley

Staff reports  |  The grand opening of the Pearlstine Theatre, Charleston Stage’s 130-seat space in West Ashley that will be known as “The Pearl,” is set for March 18.

A special grand opening performance will feature music by Charleston Mayor and jazz pianist John Tecklenburg as well as tunes from the Hungry Monks and the Plantation Singers.  There will be offerings by Charleston Stage’s resident professional acting company and members of  Charleston Stage’s 8th and 9th Grade Performance Troupe featuring clarinet player Julie Mathias.

The show benefits Charleston Stage’s education programs, which reach more than 18,000 Lowcountry students every year.

• Tickets for the show, which will be at 1401 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in Charleston, cost $175 per person with several other prices. Cocktails start at 6:30 p.m. with the show starting an hour later.

Also in Good News:

New location.  Fox Music House marked 90 years in business with a grand opening celebration at its new location at 4248 Dorchester Road.  The opening program featured a ribbon-cutting and remarks from North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey and Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg, as well as remarks by Fox Music executives Charles Fox, Joan Fox and Joseph Fox.  The new 22,000 square foot sales floor features  Yamaha, Seiler, Steinway and more than 110 new and used pianos and organs.  A space is also designated for events with staging/production, a recording studio, and nine teaching rooms operated by Black Tie Music Academy.  Fox Music House now  officially is the oldest and largest Yamaha retail storefront on the East Coast.

Little Black Dress.   The Junior League of Charleston will hold its 2019 Little Black Dress Initiative on March 11 to March 15 as a week-long advocacy initiative that uses the iconic “little black dress” to raise awareness of the less fortunate.  The organization hopes to raise $20,000 as members wear the same black dress for five consecutive days to illustrate the lack of resources many women face due to financial hardship.  Visit www.jlcharleston.org to find out more information. Among the events:

March 12 :  Percentage Night at Charles Towne Fermentory, 809 Savannah Highway  Charleston

March 14, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Shot and support at Ivy Rowe, where 10 percent of proceeds will be donated.  3 Vincent Dr. #101, Mount. Pleasant.

Quest awards.  Some 1,400 students from 42 public schools throughout Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties battled for top honors at the 33^rd Annual Quest Academic Competition, which was held Saturday at Trident Technical College Thornley Campus in North Charleston.

Students, who competed in our levels from grades 6 to 12, earned points in team competitions in math, science and social studies, and in individual competitions including composition, public speaking and visual arts. Special competitions were held in automotive, computer aided design, computer programming, culinary, engineering design and construction, horticulture, Spanish, video/film and welding. Schools whose students earned the most total points won overall awards at each level.

Overall awards were given to 15 schools. At Level I (grade 6), Camp Road Middle School won first place, Thomas C. Cario Middle School placed second and DuBose Middle School finished in third place. At Level II (grades 7-8), Moultrie Middle School took top honors, while Rollings Middle School of the Arts placed second and Palmetto Scholars Academy finished third. At Level III (grades 9-10), Academic Magnet High School claimed first place with Hanahan High School in second. There was a four-way tie for third place between Fort Dorchester, James Island Charter, Philip Simmons and Wando high schools. At Level IV (grades 11-12) Ashley Ridge High School won first place with Wando and Stratford high schools finishing in second and third places, respectively.

Big gift.  A big community thanks to Susu and George Dean Johnson Jr. of Spartanburg, who last week donated $1 million to support the creation of the International African American Museum.  Founders of The Johnson Collection, a nationally-renowned collection of art from the American South, the couple has a longstanding interest in advancing the study and appreciation of African American culture.

Budget debate. The House will begin debating the state’s $9.3 billion budget today on the floor. House members aren’t expecting it to take too long to pass — Tuesday or Wednesday could be the day they wrap up, sources said. They give credit to freshman budget writer Rep. Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, for working with many other lawmakers and stakeholders during the budget process.