Casting Crowns ... Friday

It's a long way from youth pastor to Grammy Award winner, but not for Mark Hall. Hall is the founder of Grammy and Dove Award-winning Christian rock band, Casting Crowns, performing Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Giant Center. What Hall began in 1999 as part of a youth group has now become a staple in contemporary Christian music. Its multi-member vocals and heartfelt songwriting has earned it legions of fans and Gold- and Platinum-selling records. And Hall still serves as a youth pastor. Members of Casting Crowns are Hector Cervantes (lead guitar), Megan Garrett (piano and keyboard), Chris Huffman (bass guitar), Hall (lead singer and songwriter), Brian Scoggin (drums), Melodee DeVevo (violin and cello) and Juan DeVevo (guitar), and most contribute to vocals. They are touring in support of their newest album, "Come to the Well." The inspiration for the album's concept came through Hall's teaching of the story of the woman at the well. "Your friends aren't the well. They aren't always going to do the right thing or be there for you," Hall explains. "You draw from Jesus. You pour into your friends." The band will be pouring into its audience Friday. Tickets are $21.50 to $75. For tickets, call 534-3911 or visit www.giantcenter.com. For band information, visit www.castingcrowns.com.

Comic Survivor ... Friday

Brett Butler, the star of the 1990s sitcom "Grace Under Fire," is bringing her standup comedy to the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center Friday at 7:30 p.m. A native of Alabama, Butler worked as a cocktail waitress before she tried her hand at stand-up comedy. Audiences liked her wry sense of humor and she got a job as a writer/performer on Dolly Parton's variety series, "Dolly." Although the show didn't last long, it led to "Grace Under Fire," which was based on her semi-autobiographical comedy routine. She played a recovering alcoholic trying to get her life together after divorcing her abusive husband. The show, which ran from 1993 to 1998, was produced by Carsey-Warner, which was also at the helm of "Roseanne" and "The Cosby Show." Like those shows, it was a huge hit, but Butler's serious problems with drugs and alcohol caused a lot of upheaval on the set and a number of her co-stars left. Eventually, Butler was dismissed from the show for her erratic behavior. She has had a troubled life, which she wrote about in the 1996 book, "Knee Deep in Paradise," which ended right before fame and fortune arrived with her hit TV show. But after the show's cancellation, Butler fell on hard times. In 2008, she talked to a reporter about being homeless for a time, her past drug addiction and her current life living on a farm. She also reported being sober since 1999. Expect Butler to find the humor in the drama of her life. Tickets are $24, $26 and $28. Go to strandcapitol.org for ticket information.

Music For Music ... Saturday

A who's-who of local musicians will be performing Saturday for a fundraising concert to benefit the Lancaster Conservatory of Music's 88 Keys Campaign. "Voices of Spring" will be held at 8 p.m. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church, 517 N. Queen St. A free will offering will be received. Participants include violinist Netanel Draiblate, the concertmaster for the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra (as well as the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra); Murray Foreman, who is the organist for Grace Lutheran; cellist Sara Male, a founding member of the Newstead Trio who teaches cello at both Millersville University and Franklin & Marshall College, and Dr. Neal Harnly, who is both a pianist and a composer (as well as a physician). Harnly attended the Lancaster Conservatory of Music when he was young and went on to graduate from the Juilliard School. His "Light Unseen" will be performed by the entire ensemble, which also includes Peter Kenote, who has been playing viola with the New York Philharmonic since 1983. He will be joined by his daughters, soprano Rebekah AuYeung and mezzo-soprano Ruth Kenote. Go to the conservatory's website, lcmincpa.org, for more information.