"Christmas with the Celts," at Mount Baker Theatre has had its performance time changed to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18.

A combination of Irish-born and Nashville-based Irish American musicians, the Celts have been performing around the world for 15 years. Their repertoire consists of fiery traditional tunes from Scotland and Ireland along with hits from other contemporary artists like Van Morrison and the Chieftains.

In other news from Mount Baker Theatre, it was recently announced that the theater's season gala will feature B.B. King at 8 p.m. March 9. Tickets, $99, $79, $59 and $49, are now on sale.

One of the most influential blues musicians of all time, King is often referred to as the "king of blues," ranked number six on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. The living legend has spent more than 60 years blending blues, jump, jazz, swing and pop into the unique sound strummed on Lucille, the name given to each of his guitars.

Details: 360-734-6080, mountbakertheatre.com.

BELLINGHAM-BORN AUTHOR TO DISCUSS NEW BOOK

Bellingham-born Jan Pierson, the daughter of Bellingham Music Club founder Ethel Crook and the granddaughter of Sue C. Boynton, an early resident of Whatcom County known for her poetry; will talk about her new book, "Calamity Jan and the Russian," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Village Books.

Jan was 61 when, she says, "a 52-year-old Russian physicist walked into my life and catapulted me into a wild dance that rattled my sensible foundations and changed my life forever."

Her memoir chronicles her cross-cultural marriage and journey into primitive Russia -- a journey of passion, romance, betrayal, pain and failure. Unfortunately, she says, "candlelight, wine and shchi (Russian cabbage soup) wasn't enough to overcome the enormous spiritual, cultural and psychological obstacles that faced two people from opposite sides of the world."

Jan says that her book is more than a story about an older woman and a younger man from another culture; it's about being single, older and sometimes a little bit lonely. It's about taking risks and finding love again -- then learning how to cope when everything begins to fall apart.

>B>THEATER GUILD SEEKS SUBMISSIONS FROM DIRECTORS The Bellingham Theatre Guild is seeking submissions from prospective directors for its 85th season, 2013-2014. The play selection team will read all proposals and scripts submitted and welcomes newcomers and veterans alike. Send clearly marked submissions and scripts before the deadline of Dec. 15, to Play Selection Team, 1600 H St., Bellingham, WA 98225.

Contact Sam Creed at 360-223-3271 with questions. For more information: http://bellinghamtheatreguild.com/auditions/directors.html.

VILLAGE BOOKS EMPLOYEE WINS ESSAY AWARD I was in Village Books late one evening a few months ago when I heard a deep radio-announcer voice coming over the loudspeaker, announcing that the store was closing for the night. I ventured downstairs and saw the announcer was my friend Sam Kaas, a 2010 Squalicum High School graduate. I asked him if making that announcement was his favorite part of his job at the bookstore, and he told me - enthusiastically - that there was absolutely nothing he didn't like about his job.

Sam loves to read (real books!) and when I see him at nightspots around town he's always scribbling in his journal. He's currently studying literature at Western Washington University.

I was pleased to see that Sam was recently awarded the honor to present his "My Bookstore" essay about why he liked Village Books (similar to Skagit County author Tom Robbins' essay - Tom read his essay on Nov. 13 at Village Books), at the American Booksellers Association winter institute in Kansas City in February.

Sam has worked at Village Books since 2010, and his essay was selected from a national pool of entrants, sponsored by Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. The contest was open to ABA bookseller members; entrants were to express their feelings about why their bookstore matters. Sam will receive $2,500 to cover the expenses for his trip.

To read Sam's essay (and the other two winning essays) go to http://news.bookweb.org and scroll down to "Black Dog & Leventhal Names 'My Bookstore' Scholarship Winners."

Behind the Scenes focuses on the people who make the arts and entertainment world of Whatcom County happen. It appears in Take Five, The Bellingham Herald's entertainment section, each Thursday. Margaret Bikman is the Entertainment News Coordinator at The Bellingham Herald. Contact her at margaret.bikman@bellinghamherald.com or 360-715-2273.