Blast! continues its run at Ovens Auditorium tonight. The musical celebration of 45 brass, percussion, and visual performers will run through October 21 with shows Tuesday-Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8:15pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8:15pm and Sunday at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets range from $18-$55. For more information, call 704-522-6500 or visit online at www.performingartsctr.org.
Charlotte Repertory Theatre's presentation of True Home: A Concert Musical continues at Booth Playhouse tonight. The show will run through October 28 with performances Wednesday-Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday-Saturday at 8pm, Sunday October 21 at 2pm and 7:30pm and Sunday October 28 at 2pm only. Tickets range from $19-$26.50. For more information call 704-372-1000 or visit online at www.charlotterep.org.
Actor's Theatre of Charlotte continues its season opener, Thumbs, a new comedy/thriller by Rupert Holmes. The show runs through Sunday at Spirit Square. Showtimes are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday October 21 at 2pm only. Tickets range from $14-$18. For more information, call 704-372-1000 or visit online at www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org.
The Charlotte Checkers take on the Greenville Grrrowl tonight at 7pm at Cricket Arena. Tickets are $6-19, available by calling 704-522-6500.
THURSDAY 18
Opera Carolina opens its season tonight with Il Trovatore, the Verdi opera telling the story of two brothers separated at birth who are brought together again by fate and the love of the same woman. The opera runs tonight and tomorrow evening at 8pm and October 21 at 2pm. All performances will be held in Belk Theater of the Performing Arts Center. Tickets range from $10-$68. For more information call 704-372-1000 or visit online at www.operacarolina.org.
Off-Tryon's production of Corpus Christi, a retelling of the life of Christ as a homosexual, written by Terrance McNally, continues tonight at the Off-Tryon Theatre. The show runs tonight through October 20 at 8pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For more information or to reserve your tickets, call 704-375-2826 or visit online at www.offtryon.org.
The Madwoman of Chaillot will be presented at Winthrop University's Johnson Theatre tonight through October 20 at 8pm. The play opens the University's theater season. Tickets are $7 for general admission. For more information call 803-323-2287.
Gospel singers Shirley Caesar and Yolanda Adams will perform tonight as Sisters in Spirit at 7:30pm at Cricket Arena. Tickets are $27.50, available by calling 704-522-6500.
FRIDAY 19
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, presented by Children's Theatre of Charlotte, continues its run through Sunday at Spirit Square's McGlohon Theatre. Showtimes are Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday at multiple times to suit your schedule. Tickets are $10 for general admission. For more information call 704-333-8983 or visit online at www.ctcharlotte.org.
For those already itchin' for a good scare, Carowinds' fun filled fright fest Scarowinds continues every Friday and Saturday night, 7pm-midnight. General admission is $29.99. For more information call 1-800-888-4FUN or visit on the web at www.carowinds.com.
Mystery novelist Martha Grimes, author of the new book The Blue Last, will appear tonight at 7pm at the Little Professor Book Center in the Park Road Shopping Center to sign and talk about her books. Call 704-525-9239 for more information.
The Isley Brothers, enjoying a second wind thanks to Ronald Isley's soul and hip hop cameo appearances, will appear tonight at Cricket Arena at 8pm. Tickets are $27.50 and $35.50, available by calling 704-522-6500.
The Novello Festival continues with two big draws today, Senator Robert Dole and Kathy Reichs. Dole's visit is part of a Business Book and Author luncheon at noon at the convention center tickets are $35, available by calling 704-336-2898. Reichs will appear as part of an evening dedicated to mystery and suspense at 7:30pm at the Great Aunt Stella Center. Tickets are $15, available by calling 704-336-2898.
SATURDAY 20
The Renaissance Festival continues this weekend with family fun from Medieval times. The festival is open from 10am-5:30pm rain or shine. Located at Poplar Tent Rd. the cost is just $13 for adults, $6 for kids ages 5-12, and kids under 5 are always free. For more information, call 704-896-5544 or visit on the web at www.royalfaires.com.
Opening their 24th season, Carolina Pro Musica will present The Medieval Muse at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 1510 E. 7th Street, tonight at 8:15pm. The concert will feature the Red Book of Montserrat, music of Hildegard of Bingen, and the Pilgrimages. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $6 for students and seniors. For more information or to purchase tickets call 704-334-3468 or visit online at www.carolinapromusica.org.
You so crazy! Foul-mouthed comedian Martin Lawrence, best known for his work on the hit TV series Martin, will appear at 8pm tonight at Cricket Arena. Tickets for the show are $37.75 and $47.75 in advance, with tickets purchased the day of the show costing two dollars extra. Call 704-522-6500.
The second in the Chamber Music at Queens series will be held tonight as the Friends of Music at Queens College present Hesperus: American Music. The concert will be held in Dana Auditorium at 8:15pm and will feature American music from the arrival of the Pilgrims through the founding of the republic. Tickets are $20 general admission. There will be a pre-concert lecture at 7:15pm. For more information call 704-337-2213.
SUNDAY 21
There will be a live broadcast of WBAV's Marvin Ross' Sunday Jazz Brunch radio show on the rooftop terrace of the Mint Museum of Craft + Design. The cost is $15 per person. For more information, call 704-337-2091.
The 2001 Greater Charlotte Crop Walk begins today at Memorial Stadium at 2pm. The Charlotte walk has grown into the biggest in the country, with last year's walk raising some $320,000 for hunger-relief causes. To participate in the walk or for more information, call 704-333-WALK.
Janet Jackson appears tonight with special guests 112 in a rescheduled show at the Charlotte Coliseum at 8pm. Tickets are $34.75, $52.75, and $77.75 (available by calling 704-522-6500), and tickets purchased for the August 29 show will be honored at the door.
Lupie's 15th Annual Chili Cookoff will take place today from 1pm to 4pm in the parking lot of Lupie's Cafe on Monroe Road, where cooks and chefs from around Charlotte will vie to take home top honors. Admission, which includes music and, of course, chili, is $10, to benefit Hospice of Charlotte. Call 704-374-1232 for more details.
MONDAY 22
Since 1994, Creative Loafing has presented Carolina Writers Night, an annual informal evening of free readings by some of the Carolinas' finest writers. In partnership with the Novello Festival of Reading and the Novello Festival Press, this year's event will take place tonight from 7:30pm to 9:30pm at the Great Aunt Stella Center. This year's featured writers are Jill McCorkle, Joseph Bathanti, and Allan Gurganus. In addition, The Novello Festival Press will feature three upcoming publications. See our story on the event and reviews of the featured writers' books in this issue. For more information, call 704-336-2898.
TUESDAY 23
The Charlotte Hornets take on Shareef Abdur-Rahim and the Atlanta Hawks in preseason NBA action tonight at 7pm at the Charlotte Coliseum. Tickets are $9-$39, available by calling 704-522-6500.
The Great Aunt Stella Center will host Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers tonight at 7:30pm, as part of the Novello Festival of Reading. Admission is free for more information, call 704-341-9481.
William Schultz, executive director of Amnesty International-USA, will give a free, public talk at Davidson College today at 7:30pm in the Love Auditorium of the Chambers Building. Call 704-894-2440 for more information.