Arts Agenda 

2003 Jazz Discovery Music Festival Jazz trumpeter Marvin Stamm will perform with Bill Mays, Rufus Reid and Ed Soph followed by The Winthrop University Jazz Ensemble. In addition, the festival will also include performances by area high school bands throughout the day as well as a master class with the Marvin Stamm Quartet at 4pm. Sat., March 15, 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the evening concert are $15. Northwestern High School Auditorium, 2503 W. Main St., Rock Hill. 803-981-1225.

American Dinner Concert Presented by the Charlotte Civic Orchestra. Featuring works by Leonard Bernstein, Antonin Dvorak and Louis Spohr with guest conductor, Alexander Kordzaia. Dinner served at 6pm, concert at 7pm. Reservations for dinner are required by March 8. March 15. $8 adults, $6 seniors/students, $17 families (up to 2 adults + children). First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Tryon St. 704-344-0098.

Andy Skaggs, Trombone Recital Fri., March 7, 8 p.m. Free. Rowe Recital Hall, UNCC.

Brass Quintets Concert Thu., March 6, 8 p.m. Free. Rowe Recital Hall, UNCC.

Jazz & Classical Essentials Sunday Brunch Borders will be playing jazz and classical music from their essential catalogs. Coffee and pastry provided. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Free. Borders, Morrocroft, 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-6261.

The Jazz Review Contemporary jazz. Art on display provided by Edna Frye-grace. Featuring prize giveaways and complimentary wine. Fridays, 5-10 p.m. $5. Charlene's Cuisine & Catering, 631 N. Tryon St. 704-289-8495.

La Maurache Carolina Pro Musica with assistance from Francaise de Charlotte will host the only North Carolina visit of this Parisian ensemble. The program includes French music by Machaut and Villon and some music of the English Renaissance. Fri., March 14, 8:15 p.m. $10 general admission, $5 students. St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 1510 E. 7th St. 704-334-3468.

Liederabend Concert Davidson College students will perform art songs, oratorio arias and repertoire from the musical theatre genre. Sun., March 16, 4 p.m. Free. Sloan Music Center, Davidson College, Davidson. 704-894-2244.

Lunchtime Concert Artist Associate Diane Thornton will perform Brahm's Two Songs for Alto Voice and Piano with Viola, Op. 91. Tue., March 11, 12:30 p.m. Free. Sloan Music Center, Davidson College, Davidson. 704-894-2244.

Mediterranean Sunset The Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist Sharon Isbin joins the Charlotte Symphony with Andre Raphel Smith conducting. The concert includes works by Mendelssohn, Rouse and Ravel. March 7-8, 8 p.m. $12-$60. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-972-2000.

Organ Music Jay Oden, organist/music associate at First United Methodist in Gastonia will present a concert on the Abbey Basilica's grand organ. Tue., March 11, 8 p.m. Free. Donations will be accepted. Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mount Holly Rd., Belmont. 704-334-3468.

St. Thomas Choir of Men and Boys The choir is considered by major critics both here and abroad to be the finest choral ensemble of the Anglican musical tradition in the United States today. Tue., March 18, 8 p.m. $20. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 115 W. 7th St. 704-332-7746.

We're Off! Concert selections include favorites from The Wizard of Oz, Gershwin's An American in Paris, Alfven's Swedish Rhapsody and more. March 15, 8pm. The concert is also being performed at Unity Place in Gastonia on March 14 at 8pm. $20. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 704-846-2788.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Extreme Improv. Live improvised comedy created from your suggestions. Visit www.extremeimprov.com for more information. Call for reservations. Saturdays, 8 p.m. $5. 1958 E 7th St. 1-800-467-7681.

The Comedy Zone "The Funniest Man in America". James Gregory. March 7-8. College Night and "SIN" (Service Industry Workers) Night. Get free admission for the 8pm show and with your Comedy Zone ticket, get in free to Have a Nice Day Cafe. special showtimes for James Gregory: Fri., 8pm & 10:15pm; Sat., 7pm, 9pm & 11pm. Wednesdays. Vinnie Coppolla w/ Keith Alberstadt. March 5-6. "Song Boy" Pat Godwin w/ Mike Siscoe. March 12-15. Diane Ford. Voted best female stand-up. March 19-22. 516 N. College St., Wed. & Thurs.- 8pm, Fri. & Sat.- 8pm, 10:15pm. Visit www.thecomedyzone.net. 704-348-4242.

The Perch Theatre Perch Comedy. Cheerfully offending Charlotte since 1994. Showtimes are 9pm, 11pm, & 1am on Friday and Saturday nights. The 9pm show is non-smoking. The Talking Baby Talk Show is every Thursday at 9:30pm. Show 280- Feb. 28 & March 1. March 7 & 8: Audience Favorites at 9pm; Doug Stanhope at 11pm & 1am. Performances are rated R for verbal content. www.theperch.com. Fri., Sat. $10/$9 with students/military I.D. Stanhope tickets are $15. 1500 B. Central Ave. 704-372-7724.

Southend Performing Arts Center Extreme Improv: The Desparate for Attention Players. Call for reservations or email scott@extreme improv.com. Sat., March 8, 9:30 p.m. $3. 201 Rampart St. 1-866-467-7681.

Dance

Cinderella Presented by Charlotte Youth Ballet. Senior/student showings will be held at 9:30am & 11:30am. An evening performance for the general public will be held at 7:30pm. Fri., March 14. $10-$20 adults, $6-$16 children. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 704-335-3100.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite & American Freedom Bell Heirloom Quilts. Continues through March 30. Highways & Byways of Our State. Continues through June. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Continues through Sept. 30, 2004. Regular Museum admission. 3500 Shamrock Dr., Between Eastway and Sharon Amity. 704-568-1774.

Gaston County Museum of Art & History Carolinas Textile Exhibit- The Ties That Bind. Tue.-Sun. 131 W. Main St., Dallas. 704-852-6025.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun.
New South, Old South, Somewhere in Between. Continues through Aug. 7. Pen and Ink Politics: Thomas Nast's Reconstruction-era Cartoons and African American Equality. Continues through Sept. 29. Row Upon Row: Sea Grass Baskets of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Continues through Apr. 20. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Burlon Craig and His Legacy. Continues through Oct. 19. Distant Vistas: Images of Europe from the Mint Museum of Art Collection. Feb. 27-June 1.
Edward Hopper: The Paris Years. Feb. 27-June 1. A Salute to Fashion Legend Bill Blass. Continues through April 13. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000 or 704-333-MINT.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Artful Teapot. Jan. 31- May 30, 2004. Coming of Age. Tue.-Sun. Continues through April 6. Currents In Craft. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Point of View: Public and Private Collecting Part II. March 15-July 27. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County All About Cats. Continues through Sept. 14, 2003. Illustrator Vernon Grant: A Century of American Whimsy. Continues through Oct. 5, 2003. Student Art Competition 2003. This exhibit will be held in the auditorium. March 18-April 20. Virtue Leads and Grace Reveals: Embroideries and Education in Antebellum South Carolina. Over 20 samplers from the Carolina Piedmont dating from the early to mid-19th century. March 8-July 20. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

North Carolina Museum of History Flashback to the 60s. Continues through Sept. 28, 2003. 5 E. Edenton St., Raleigh. 919-715-0200.

Weatherspoon Art Museum Georgia O'Keeffe from Southern Collections. March 2-April 27. Seeing & Believing: The Art of Nancy Burson. Continues through May 4. Spring Garden & Tate Streets, Greensboro.

Spoken Word

Club Myxx Organik Funk. Hip-Hop, Spoken Word open mic. Featured artists and the hip-hop/neo-soul sounds of DJ Fuzz. Sundays, 9 p.m. $3 members, $5 non-members. 3110 S. Tryon St. 704-623-0058.

Mert's Heart and Soul Uptown Saturday Nite. Musical performances, spoken word artists, poets and an open mic contest. Every second and last Saturday of the month. $7 cover. 214 N. College St. 704-623-0058.

Southend Performing Arts Center BareBones Poetry Project. SPAC will feature regional authors reading selections of their poetry, short stories and performance poetry. People who would be interested in reading may submit samples of their work to Bare Bones Poetry Project, c/o BBTG, or to jdavrin@email.uncc.edu. Third Tuesday of every month, 8 p.m. 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Swing 1000 Rhythm Theory Tuesdays. Enjoy open mic poetry, music, and dancing. Doors open at 6pm. Poetry begins at 7:30pm. Tuesdays. Free before 7:15pm. 1000 Central Ave. 704-334-4443.

Tea Rex Teahouse Poetry Open Mic w/ Jonathan Rice. Fri., March 7, 7:30 p.m. 2102 South Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Visulite Theatre WordPhoria. Featured reader, Chuck Sullivan. Wed., March 19, 7:30 p.m. $5 cover waived if you call and pre-schedule. 1615 Elizabeth Ave. 704-566-6566.

Theater: Openings

All About Eve Guest Director Jimmy Chrismon helms this stage version of the popular catfight film about betrayal and show business. March 19 is Pay-What-You-Can Night. March 13-15, 8 p.m. $15 adults, $12 students. Off-Tryon Theatre, 3143 Cullman Ave. 704-375-2826.

Animal Crackers This play is the basis for the Marx Brother's second film. Presented by the Yorkville Players. Written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. March 13-15, 8 p.m.; March 21-22, 8 p.m.; March 23, 3 p.m. $10. McCelvey Center, York, 212 E. Jefferson St., York. 803-628-5025.

Catfish Moon This short comedy will be presented as part of a dinner theatre production at the Shaw Smith 900 Room in the Knobloch Campus Center. The play will be presented without a dinner on March 6. Produced by the Davidson Community Players. March 6: $15 general admission, $13 seniors. March 7 & 8: $35 with dinner at 6pm, play at 8pm. Davidson College, Davidson. 704-892-7953.

David's Redhaired Death The play deals with mature themes concerning the power of death on our lives. March 7-8, 7:30 p.m. $3 per person. Independence High School Auditorium, 1967 Patriot Drive. 704-343-6900.

Eleemosynary This drama by Lee Blessing probes into the delicate and sometimes unstable relationship between mothers and daughters. March 6 is Mother/Daughter Night: 2 for 1 tickets for mothers and their daughters. Presented by BareBones Theatre Group. March 6-8, 8 p.m.; March 13-15, 8 p.m.; March 20-22, 8 p.m.; March 23, 3 p.m. $15 adults, $12 students & seniors. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Flaming Guns of the Purple Sage A farce that mixes hilarity with horror as a modern day monster faces off against the Cowboy Code of the Wild West. Directed by Dennis Delamar. March 19-20, 7:30 p.m.; March 21-22, 8 p.m.; March 26-27, 7:30 p.m.; March 28-29, 8 p.m.; April 2-3, 7:30 p.m.; April 4-5, 8 p.m.; April 6, 2 p.m. $15-$20. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.

A Midsummer Night's Dream Strange happenings at night in a forest where the spirit world collides with young lovers in this play by William Shakespeare. March 6-8, 8 p.m.; March 13-15, 8 p.m.; March 16, 2:30 p.m.; March 20-22, 8 p.m.; March 23, 2:30 p.m. $15-$20. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. 704-376-3777.

The Mikado See the adventures of Nanki-Poo, his beloved Yum-Yum and the comic Ko-Ko in this classic operetta. This topsy-turvy story is set in the town of Titipu, where silly names, characters - and the Mikado - reign supreme. Sung in English. Performed in the Belk Theater. Presented by Opera Carolina. March 13, 8 p.m.; March 15, 8 p.m.; March 16, 2 p.m. $10-$78. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-348-5800.

The Miracle Worker Charlotte Rep's Broadway-bound production stars Academy Award-winner, Hilary Swank in the role of teacher Annie Sullivan. Performances held in Booth Playhouse. March 14-15, 8 p.m.; March 16, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; March 18, 7:30 p.m.; March 19-20, 7:30 p.m.; March 21, 8 p.m.; March 22, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; March 25-27, 7:30 p.m.; March 28, 8 p.m.; March 29, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; March 30, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $35. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-348-5800.

Theater: Ongoing

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat By Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to life in this musical parable. March 6-8, 8 p.m.; March 9, 2:30 p.m.; March 13-15, 8 p.m. $12 adults, $8 children 12 and under. Old Courthouse Theatre, 49 Spring Street, NW, Concord. 704-788-2405.

Judy Blume's Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Frustrated fourth-grader Peter narrates the action while attempting to deal with his impossible little brother, Fudge. Presented by Children's Theatre of Charlotte. March 7, 7:30 p.m.; March 8, 1 p.m., 3 p.m.; March 9, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. $10 general admission. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.

Visual Arts: Openings

Center of the Earth Gallery March/April Exhibition. New paintings by Elizabeth Marin and new wall-mounted sculpture by J. Paul Sires. Openings will be on March 7 & 21 and April 4 & 18 during the Gallery Crawl. March 7-April 30. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.

Charlotte Art League Driven to Abstraction. A show featuring abstracts of various media created by Charlotte Art League members. Artist's reception will be from 6-9pm on March 7 during the First Friday Gallery Crawl. March 5-29. 1517 Camden Rd. 704-376-2787.

Christa Faut Gallery Flora and Fauna. Solo exhibition of paintings by Elsie Dinsmore Popkin. An opening reception will be held on Mar. 14 from 6:30-8:30pm. March 5-29. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.

Cibi Two Sisters Exhibition. This show will feature photography and photo transfers by local artistGretchen Zollinger and handmade paper collages by her sister Ann Smith ofAsheville. Meet the artists at the opening on Mar. 7 from 6-8pm. March 7-22. 1601 E. 7th St. 704-344-0844.

ElderArt Gallery The Art of Food. Celebrating the beauty of food in its many stages of development. Fifteen artists including a Spartanburg group, Southern Exposure, will present their interpretation of food as art. A reception will be held on Mar. 7. March 7-April 12. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

IVAN ALLEN WORKSPACE Southend Gallery Crawl and Art Show. March 7, 6-9pm. 1426 S. Tryon St. 704-373-2250.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Tom Stanley and Thomas Sayre. New works by Stanley and paintings and sculptures by Sayre. A reception will be held on March 7 from 6-8pm. March 7-April 26. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Myersart Gallery Works by Marylinn Fairchild. Works in bronze and clay and paintings. Fairchild's work will debut on Mar. 7 during the Gallery Crawl from 6-9pm. March 7-31. 1510 Camden Road. 704-790-2529.

Noel Gallery Arthur Gonzalez 1983-2003: Twenty Years Twenty Questions. Paintings metamorphosed into three-dimensional ceramic forms. March 7-April 29. Transamerica Square, 401 N. Tryon St. 704-343-0050.

Shain Fine Art Originals Generation Gap: Charlotte Mother and Denver Son. Paintings by Connie Winters and her son, Darren Young. March 14-31. 601-B Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Art 1 Gallery Natural Roots. Photography exhibit by Eustace Conway of Deep Gap, NC held in conjunction with the 5th Annual Carolina Lens Art competition and exhibition by local and regional photographers. Continues through March 14. 170 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia. 704-854-8800.

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Trio. Work by three artists who are faculty members. Featured artists include Mike Watson, Joe Thompson and Sue Ann Johnson. The reception will be held on March 13 from 5:30-7pm. March 3-31. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Bank of America Gallery Challenging the Picture Plane. Late 20th century American landscapes from the Bank of America Art Collection. Continues through March 8. Hearst Tower, 114 N. Tryon St. 704-386-7324.

Charlotte Public Library (Main Library) The Eye of the Beholder: Charlotte's Photographers and Their Work 1867-1917. Images provide a glimpse at the technology of the period and how Charlotteans looked a century ago. Continues through May 17. Franklin Avenue House Series. Architectural photos from Carl Bergman. On display in the Carnegie Gallery. Courtesy of the artist and Hodges Taylor Gallery. On display through May 4. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.

CPCC Art Gallery Cities Under One Moon. Works by Raed Al-Rawi and Alex Clark. An exhibition of two artists living in Charlotte, coming from different backgrounds and sharing a similar message in art. Continues through March 29. P.O. Box 35009. 704-330-6480.

Crazy Jane's Local Artists. Works by Ellyn Bernstein, Mike Watson and Rod Wriner. Pottery by Ann Hamilton. Mon.-Sat. 1817 Hawkins Street. 704-332-5454.

Galatique Susan Nuttall Kaplan & Diana Hughes. Kaplan will be showing a variety of her work including her floral mixed media collection. Hughes will be showing her collection of photo and charcoal gel transfers. March 1-29. 26 North Main St., Belmont. 704-608-1868.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Tim Buchman. Photography. Continues through March 29. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Jeanne Rauch Gallery, Gaston College Africa Now. Curated by Dr. Alice Burmeister. Continues through March 28. Striking the Eye: Arts of West African Womani. This African cultural artifacts exhibit is on display in celebration of Black History Month. Continues through Mar. 10. Rauch Science and Fine Arts Bldg., Dallas Campus, 201 Highway 321 South, Gastonia. 704-922-6245.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Paul Jenkins and Alice Ballard Munn. Jenkins is famous for his method of pouring paint directly onto the canvas, as well as for pure, prismatic color fields. Munn sculpts white earthenware into natural forms. Continues through March 29. 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-3000.

JOIE LASSITER GALLERY Joe Walters. A regional artist from Charleston who works with intricate and complex natural forms. Continues through March 26. 318 E. 9th St. 704-373-1464.

The Light Factory The Space Between & Fragmented Images. Exhibits by Kristina Rogers and Michael Burman (respectively). Bring a photo for Burman and trade it for one of his photos. Continues through the second week of March. Spirit Square, Knight Gallery, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

McColl Center for Visual Art Winter 2003 Artists. Exhibition of work by the Winter 2003 Artists-in-Residence and Affiliate Artists: Albert Casayne & Matilde Grau, Bailey Doogan, Joyce Hsu, Thomas Mezzanotte, Franco Mondini Ruiz, Cedric Smith and Kristin St. Martin. Continues through March 22. $5 public, $3 students, free for McColl members. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.

McGregor Downs Gallery Various Artists. Featuring watercolor works by Elaine Rockey. Also featuring etchings and serigraphs by Guillaume Azoulay. Previously unseen in any local gallery are artifacts recovered from the Spanish Galleon Concepcion, sunk in 1641. Visit www.mdgallery.homestead.com for more information. Continues through Feb. 28. 10801 Johnston Rd., Suite 219. 704-333-6699.

Merrill-Jennings Galleries A Pretty Day. A one-woman show honoring North Carolina folk artist, Addie James. Continues through March. 463 S. Main St., Davidson. 704-895-1213.

Microcosm Gallery Passion of My Life. Exhibition of paintings by Wiesia Kot. Continues through March 8. 300 N. College St. #101. 704-641-4256.

Pope's Gallery Jim Crompton. Dynamic images in oil from all over the world [Myers Park]. March. Jim Chapman. Fruit and floral still lifes, landscapes in acrylic [Arboretum]. March. 8016-900 Providence Rd. and 1035 Providence Rd. 704-541-3199 or 704-342-1774.

Queens University Watkins Gallery Chasing Magic. An exhibition of silk paintings and kimonos by Christina Burke, and acrylic paintings on paper and canvas by Peggy Hutson Weston. Continues through Mar. 23. 1900 Selwyn Avenue. 704-337-2286.

Rowe Arts Galleries, UNCC Brian Frink: Recent Works. Paintings, drawings and watercolors. Continues through Mar. 21. Rowe Arts Building.

South County Regional Library From the Library of Congress: The African American Mosaic. This exhibit surveys the African-American experience beginning with slavery and ending with the first days of the Civil Rights Movement. Continues through April 15. 5801 Rea Rd. 704-341-1176.

Spirit Square 10 Years of History in the Making. Discover the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center's vibrant 10-year history with our commemorative 10th anniversary retrospective exhibit. Continues through July 30. Free. 345 N. College St. 704-348-5787.

UNC-Charlotte The Void Looks Back. Paintings by Pamela J. Bowers on exhibit in the Cone Center Main Gallery. A reception will be held on March 5 from 5-7pm. March 1-31. 704-687-3315.

W.D.O. Functional to Fantastic Works of Art in Wood: Furniture & Sculpture. Brent Skidmore, David Merrifield and Erik Wolken. An opening reception will be held on March 7 from 6-8pm. March 1-29. Hearst Plaza Suite No. 1, 214 North Tryon St. 704-333-9123.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center Opening Exhibitions. Featuring the work of internationally recognized artists, artists living and working in Rowan County and the region, gifted artists challenged by developmental disabilities and work representing each of the public high schools in Rowan County. Exhibits continue through March. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.

Winthrop University Galleries Benny Andrews: "The Human Spirit Series" & John Monteith. Andrews' series features oil, collage and sculptural works in the Rutledge Gallery while John Monteith's new paintings, titled "ASL/SC," are in the Elizabeth Dunlap Patrick Gallery. Continues through March 30. 107 McLaurin, Rock Hill. 803-323-2493.