Flash player is required to view weather conditions. Download

There's no entry for Virtue Hampton Whitted in the Journal's archives. Probably because she and her family moved from Middletown in 1938.

Still, it was what Whitted did after she left Middletown that made her famous. She became a legendary jazz musician in Indianapolis. She died there Jan. 17, after suffering a stroke, according to the Indianapolis Star. She was 84.

The story on her passing says Whitted, who was famous for playing the upright bass, began playing music as a child with the family band.

Hampton was especially well known for performing with her sister, Aletra, who played piano. They played mostly live music in Indianapolis, although the sisters released an album called "The Hampton Sisters, a Jazz Tribute" in 2003.

According to the Indianapolis Star, the music the sisters played had a simple message as Whitted had put it: "If you have problems, leave them outside at the door."

Lyric Theatre

names 'Alice' cast

"Alice in Wonderland" has always been somewhat of an odd story, but just because two girls will play Alice in Lyric Theatre's upcoming show doesn't mean you'll be seeing double.

Instead, Zoe Boehner and Lee-Ann Hall are sharing the title role. Other cast members include Dana Svensson, Samantha Lee, Annie O'Neill, Marissa Lipscomb, Brianna Collins, David Jenkins, Drew Marks, Bill Shumate, Maureen Patterson, Amber Passen, Wayne Stacy, Sarah Chaney, Skylar Gambel, Shannon Price, Sydney King, Alyssa Stegmaier, Pam Steiniger, Dan Caudill, Katie Meyers, Mary Maines, Pam Harris, Ellie Earls, Daniel DuVal, Brandi Baird, Reba Casey, Melissa Patrick, Jeff Nye and 20 other assorted cards, soldiers and guests. The show will be held Feb. 23 and 24 and March 2 and 3 at the 1530 Central Ave. site.

Meanwhile, Lyric Theatre is also preparing its next show, "A View From the Bridge" by Arthur Miller.

Auditions will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 8 and 9 at the theater. The cast requirements are a woman aged 40-60, a woman aged 17-24, a man aged 17-25 and six men aged 30-60. New York/Italian accents will be helpful for the auditions.

The play concerns a longshoreman who runs into trouble when he meets his two cousins, who are illegal immigrants. The show runs May 11, 12, 18 and 19.

Elvis impersonator makes contest finals

The State Journal Register of Springfield, Ill., reports that Middletonian Bradley Scott made the finals of the Midwest Tribute to the King Competition in that city.

The winner of the contest was Irv Cass of Fenton, Mich. Placing second was another southwest Ohio Elvis impersonator, Russell Dennis of Kettering.

Scott, 35, performs his act locally and nationally. This August marks the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.