HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BILL: Yes, the official day of celebration is here: For a year, the city has been celebrating the 100th anniversary of William Saroyan's birth, and now it's time for the party. The William Saroyan Centennial Committee has put together a program tonight at -- where else? -- the Saroyan Theatre celebrating the favorite-son author. The program includes a concert with the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia and performances by Edna Garabedian, Rhonda Grove and the Fresno Choral Artists.

Pre-concert festivities start at 6 pm. The concert starts at 7:30, and birthday cake will be served at 9:30. Tickets are $25-$50.

I talked to organizer Larry Balakian this afternoon, and tickets for tonight's event are still available. (Pictured: A watercolor from Pat Hunter's book ""William Saroyan: Places in Time.")

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LAST WEEKEND: Children's Musical Theaterworks closes out its summer season with "Once Upon a Mattress." There are four performances left: 7:30 p.m. tonight and Friday, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. I haven't yet had a chance to catch this show, but I'm going to make an effort. Do CMT patrons recommend it? Let me know.

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AN INTERESTING READ: The UK's Guardian newspaper theater blogger, Natasha Tripney, has a post on a timely topic: How can young people be encouraged to get into the theater groove? Low prices aren't the only answer. Tripney writes:

There are other social and cultural factors that play a role in keeping young people away from the theatre that also need to be addressed, things that run deeper than price alone, like the perception of the medium, by some, as elitist, worthy, and maybe, just a tad dull, a form of entertainment that is for people "other than us."

Tripney also points to an interview with British playwright David Eldridge, who describes how he didn't attend the theatre until he was in his late teens but, when he did, the experience was revelatory. Tripney asks her readers: Was theater part of the fabric of your childhood or something you came to love later?

Interesting question. Fresno theater folks: What's your answer?

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AUDITIONS: From Friday's 7 section (updated 9/2 to include Something's Afoot and Foot Loose):

• Something's Afoot and Foot Loose, 10 a.m. Saturday. Roger Rocka's Dinner Theater, 1226 N. Wishon Ave., 266-0211, gcplayers.com.


• Portable Dance Troupe: 4 p.m. Thursday 9/4, Fresno State, Music Building, Room 124, 278-7512, 278-5108.


• Youth Orchestras of Fresno, call to schedule a time, Saturday 8/30 and Sunday 8/31. Fresno State, Music Building, Room 165, 275-6694, www.youthorchestrasfresno.org.