Good morning, Cookeville.

Happy Wednesday. Friday is coming in fast and there's a lot going on this weekend. Cookeville High School's theater program hits the stage Friday evening with The Prince of Egypt, two Chamber ribbon cuttings are happening Friday afternoon, and TTU baseball opens a long homestand this weekend. Plenty of ways to fill the next few days.

In today's Cookeville Scoop:

Let's get to it.
-- The Cookeville Scoop Team

The Prince of Egypt at Cookeville High School — Friday, April 17 at 7 PM

Cookeville High School's choral program performs The Prince of Egypt this Friday at 7 PM. The music is by Stephen Schwartz, the composer behind Wicked and Godspell, so this is serious Broadway-caliber material in the hands of local students. It's the kind of show that surprises people, in the best way. If you've got kids who are into theater, or if you just want a Friday night out that's a little different, this is worth a look.

Two Ribbon Cuttings Friday — Wild Grove + Let's Face It Aesthetics

Two Chamber ribbon cuttings are on the calendar for this Friday, April 17. Let's Face It Aesthetics and Med Spa, which holds the top-rated med spa spot in the Upper Cumberland, is celebrating what appears to be a new location at 442 W Main St. The Wild Grove is a new business cutting the ribbon the same day. Details at the Chamber's events calendar.

Waka Flocka Flame at Revolver — This Friday, April 17

Quick reminder: Waka Flocka Flame is at Revolver on South Jefferson Avenue this Friday at 7 PM. We've mentioned this one a couple of times now because tickets were nearly sold out the last time we checked. If you're going, get your tickets today before they're gone. Grab them on Eventbrite. 18+.

The Putnam Room — Happy Hour Starts at 3 PM

If you're heading out Friday before a show or a late night, The Putnam Room runs happy hour from 3 to 5 PM on weekdays, and there's a late-night window on Saturdays from 8 to 10 PM as well. Good downtown option for a drink and a bite before heading to the high school musical or wherever else the evening takes you. theputnamroom.com

There's something worth stopping to appreciate about a high school theater program putting on a production of The Prince of Egypt.

The show is based on the 1998 DreamWorks animated film, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, who also wrote Wicked and Godspell. It's a full Broadway musical, and on Friday night at 7 PM, the students in Cookeville High School's choral program will be the ones performing it.

That's not nothing. High school theater programs at this level do serious work. They spend months in rehearsal, learning parts that demand real vocal ability, memorizing choreography, building sets, and pulling it all together for a run of shows. The Prince of Egypt in particular has big ensemble numbers, and a cast that can actually sing it well makes for a genuinely good night out.

If you haven't been to a CHS production before, this is a good one to start with. It's the kind of event that reminds you what's going on in your own backyard. The school is on Cherry Ave, and showtime is Friday at 7 PM.

This is also a natural fit for families with kids who are curious about theater, or younger kids who already know and love the movie. Hearing live performances of "When You Believe" and "Playing with the Big Boys" in a room full of people tends to land differently than the animated version.

Here's what else is on the calendar this week:

Jeopardy: US History at the Putnam County Library, Cookeville branch, 50 E Broad St — today, Wednesday April 15, 4 to 5 PM. Trivia in Jeopardy format, US History edition, with DVD prizes. Drop-in, no registration needed. Free.

Kids Can Cook: Grilled Cheese at the Putnam County Library, Cookeville branch — Thursday, April 16, 3:30 to 4:30 PM. Ages 8-12, limited to 12 participants, so call ahead to reserve a spot. Kids make grilled cheese from scratch, all supplies included. Free. Call the library at 931-526-4016 to check availability.

TTU Eagles Baseball vs SEMO at Bush Stadium, Tennessee Tech campus — Friday through Sunday, April 17-19. The Golden Eagles open what the schedule calls their longest homestand of the season, eight straight home games starting with a three-game series against Southeast Missouri State. [VERIFY: game times — check ttusports.com.] Good spring outdoor activity if you haven't been to Bush Stadium in a while.

Cookeville Green Market at Jig Head Brewing Co., 310 Newman Drive — Saturday, April 18, 8 AM to noon. Locally grown produce, baked goods, cheese, meats, herbs, handmade goods, and live music from community musicians. Good Saturday morning stop. Free to browse. downtowngreenmarket.com

Healthy Kids Day at the YMCA — Saturday, April 18. Free family programming for Healthy Kids Day, the YMCA's national spring event. Active play, STEM activities, and healthy-living programming for kids of all ages. Non-members are welcome. [VERIFY: confirm time and location with the Cookeville YMCA before publishing.] Free, open to everyone.

International Food Festival — Sunday, April 19. A community food festival is on the Chamber calendar for Sunday.

Know what you're doing this weekend? Reply and tell us. We love hearing what Cookeville is up to.

Have an event or a tip for next week? Send it our way — just reply to this email anytime.

Share this with a neighbor or coworker who wants to stay in the loop on what's happening around town.

Thanks for being here with us, Cookeville. Lots going on this week. We hope you find something worth showing up for.

-- The Cookeville Scoop Team 🧡