Arts Agenda 

In the Beat of the Night N. Meck Community Chorus present their Spring Show. May 23-24 Hodson Hall, Davidson College. May 30-31 Mooresville Citizens Center. Shows are at 8pm. $10. 704-947-0438.

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.

Matthew Noonan American Guild of Organists present free recital. First Baptist Church, 301 S. Davidson St. Sun., June 1, 8 p.m. 704-333-9071.

The Orient-African Express A Musical Passport to the World! Presented by Carolina Voices choral group. Sun., June 1, 5 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Great Aunt Stella Center, 926 Elizabeth Ave. 704-374-1564.

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.

Central Ave Playhouse Psychotic Pooch. Live Sketch Comedy and improv. Material is NC-17, seating is limited. Call for reservations. Fri., Sat., 11 p.m. $10. 1118 Clement Ave. 704-502-8423.

The Comedy Zone 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. Wednesdays. 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. Performances are rated R for verbal content. www.theperch.com. Fri., Sat. $10/$9 with students/military I.D. 1500 B. Central Ave. 704-372-7724.

Southend Performing Arts Center Late Night Improv. Co-produced by Extreme Improv and Bare Bones Theater. Featuring the Desperate for Attention Players. Saturdays, 11 p.m. $5 at the door. 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Dance

American Dance Art Two premieres by Artistic Director, Sabrina Sandvi Berry: Pas de Famille and In Limbo. Featuring the live music of Baleen. May 30-31, 8 p.m. $15. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-348-5800.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite & American Freedom Bell Expressions from the Palette. The Guild of Charlotte Artists Spring Show. Continues through June 8. 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. Fourth Ward Twilight Tour. Discover Victorian gems in Charlotte's first official Historic District with historian Dr. Tom Hanchett. One hour tour starts at museum. Reservations required. Fri., June 6, 5:30 p.m. $4 members $6 (non-members). Fourth Ward Twilight Tour. Discover Victorian gems in Charlotte's first official Historic District with historian Dr. Tom Hanchett. One Hour tour starts at museum. Reservations required. Fri., May 30, 5:30 p.m. $4 members $6 (non-members). 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. The People of Highway 601: Life in the Slow Lane. May 21-June 12. 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. Continues through June 1. Edward Hopper: The Paris Years. Continues through June 1. Guild of Charlotte Artists. Members will show slides of their work and talk about their techniques. Wed., May 28, 7 p.m. Free. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000 or 704-333-MINT.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design Constructing Elozua: A Retrospective. Ceramics, photography, 3-D computer-generated artwork & sculpture. Continues through Aug. 3. Currents In Craft. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Point of View: Public and Private Collecting Part II. Continues through 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. Virtue Leads and Grace Reveals: Embroideries and Education in Antebellum South Carolina. Continues through 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 MFA 2003: The Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition. Continues through June 1. Spring Garden & Tate Streets, Greensboro.

Spoken Word

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 at 11pm. $7 cover. 214 N. College St. 704-623-0058.

Talley's Cafe Verde Peace Night at Talley's. Open mic for musicians, artists, poets and storytellers. June 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m.; June 12, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Donations welcome. 1408 E. Blvd. 704-953-1326.

Urban Ministry Center Community Open Mike. Artists from the homeless and greater community will play music, read poetry and show off art work. First Friday of every month this summer, 5-8pm. 945 N. College St. 704-575-7716.

Theater: Openings

1776 Piedmont Players Theatre presents a musical with music & lyrics by Sherman Edwards. May 29,30,31, June 4,5,6,7 at 7:30pm. June 1 at 2:30pm. Wed $9 (everyone); Adults $14, Sr./students $12. Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St., Salisbury. 704-633-5471.

Best Little Crackhouse in Philly Half-hour musical by Stan Peal. Adult content. May 30, 8 p.m.; May 31, 8 p.m. $15 adults; $12 for students. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Diamond Studs, the Life of Jesse James Book by Jim Wann, songs by Jim Wann and Bland Simpson. May 29-31, June 1, 5-7, 12-14, 18-20 nightly 8 pm. May 31, June 7 & 14 late shows at 11:30pm. Sunday matinees June 1, 8 & 15 at 3pm. $20. Honest Pat's Playhouse, 1410 10th St. 704-400-6400.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch Actor's Theatre of Charlotte presents a rock musical written by John Cameron Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen Trask. Wed & Thu 7:30pm; Fri & Sat 8pm; Sun June 15 at 2pm. Tue June 3 at 7:30 pm 'pay what you can night.' May 28-June 15. $15-20. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.

Life Goes On directed by Debra Ware, $12 adult $10 student and senior. June 5, 7 p.m.; June 6, 7 p.m.; June 7, 7 p.m.; June 8, 7 p.m.; June 12, 7 p.m.; June 13, 7 p.m.; June 14, 7 p.m. Little Theatre of Gastonia, 238 S. Clay St., P.O. Box 302, Gastonia. 704-865-0160.

The Music Man Meredith Wilson's classic musical is full of memorable characters, a barbershop quartet and more. June 4-7 & June 11-14 at 8pm, June 8 at 2:30pm and June 10 at 7pm. $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

Shuffletown USA A new stage work by Generations Theatre Group based on Judy Rozzelle's "Memories of Shuffletown." Adapted for the stage and directed by Robert Tolan. June 6, 8 p.m.; June 7, 8 p.m.; June 8, 3 p.m. $8 at the door. Cook's Memorial Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 3413 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Rd. 704-504-5044.

Theater: Ongoing

Disney's The Lion King From director and designer Julie Taymor. Score from Elton John and Time Rice. Limited number of tickets available only at box office! May 23- June 22: Tues.-Thurs. 8pm; Fri. 8:15pm; Sat. 2pm & 8:15pm; Sun. 2pm & 7:30pm. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-348-5800.

Visual Arts: Openings

8th Street Warehouse Homeland Insecurity. Artists draw the first line of defense. Local artists in various mediums present a satiric look at the encroaching police state. May 31, 7 p.m.; June 1, 1 p.m. 305 E. 8th St. 704-258-7814.

ElderArt Gallery Leon A. Makielski, A Journey of Creativity. Exhibit will feature portraits and landscapes painted over a 50 year period by Makielski (1885-1974). May 31-July 25. Hours: Tues - Fri: 10 am - 6 pm. Saturdays: 10am - 2 pm. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

Lassiter Gallery Peggy Rivers, Maja Godlewska, Linda Fantuzzo & Marlene Lenker. Works by 4 women artists. May 28-June 30. 318 E. 9th St. 704-373-1464.

Stretch Gallery N Studios Plastic Response, Package STCH. An installation artwork by ceramic artist Fred Spaulding. Reception May 30 6-8:30pm. stretchgallery.com. 10726 Pineville Rd, Pineville. 704-552-5678.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Afro-American Cultural Center Bridging Cultures: From Africa to Latin America. Annual Juried Exhibition. Over 30 original pieces of work from 14 local, regional and national artists. Continues through June 29. 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery My First Set of Wheels. Featuring illustrations by Wil Bosbyshell, Joan Faison, Roger Hicks, Alease McClenningham, Mike Watson & Pam Winegard. Continues through May 30. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Bank of America Gallery Art of the Southwest & Native American Cultures. Continues through June 21. Hearst Tower, 114 N. Tryon St. 704-386-7324.

Bank of America Plaza Maker versus Material. A two-location exhibit. Also on display at the First Citizens Building, 128 S. Tryon St. Continues through Nov. 21. 101 South Tryon Street. 704-373-1464.

Beatties Ford Road Library Images of the Past: Rural Roots of Nellie Ashford. Continues through May 31. 2412 Beatties Ford Rd. 704-432-6706.

Center of the Earth Gallery Roberto Azank. An exhibition of new paintings. Continues through June 28. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.

Charlotte Art League Spring Into Art. Juried competition. Continues through May 31. 1517 Camden Rd. 704-376-2787.

Christa Faut Gallery Locust Grove. By John Borden Evans. Solo exhibition of paintings. Continues through May 31. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.

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.

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Asher Webb & Kara Dahlberg. B&W and color photography. Meet the Artist May 29, 2003 from 6-9pm. Continues through June 14. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

Farvan International Gallery Rosa Maria Costa Delgado & Costa Tur. Oil Paintings by artist Rosa Maria Costa Delgado of Malaga Spain of archeological images. Oil Paintings by artist Costa Tur of Spain. Landscapes of Spain's coastline and people. Through June. 119 E. 7th St. 704-375-1424.

Galatique Alan Pries and Scott Van Hatten. Continues through May 31. 26 North Main St., Belmont. 704-608-1868.

Gaston County Public Library Introspection Mirrors. Original art mirrors created by Teresa Shirley & Donna Black. Continues through May 31. 1555 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia. 704-868-2167.

Hidell Brooks Gallery David Kroll: Recent Paintings. Continues through June 7. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Byron Baldwin. New images from Cuba. Continues through May 30. Kevin Kennedy & Robert Stuart. Continues through June 28. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Jeanne Rauch Gallery, Gaston College Lambeth W. Marshall. Ceramic. Continues through June 20. Rauch Science and Fine Arts Bldg., Dallas Campus, 201 Highway 321 South, Gastonia.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Robert Motherwell. Works on Paper by Motherwell (1915-1991), featuring over thirty lithographs, etchings, ink drawings and paintings. Continues through July 12. 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-3000.

Joie Lassiter Gallery The Gardener's Diary Annexed. Joan Bankemper. In this one woman show, she steps out of the garden into a conservatory showing vases, ferns and pedestal. Continues through the end of May. 318 E 9th. 704-373-1464.

The Light Factory Stillwater: William Wylie; Reflections: Donna Foster. Continues through June 14. Spirit Square, Knight Gallery, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

McGregor Downs Galleries Boris Tomic. Charlotte sculptor, artist and designer. Continues through May 31. 10801 Johnston Rd., Suite 219. 704-333-6699.

Merrill-Jennings Galleries The Nature Show: Flora, Feathers & Fur. Works by Jayne Braxton, Charles Jay, Paula Wright, Katherine J. Nelson, Jodi John, Amy Queen, Dan Mitra & Jay Gould. Continues through May 31. 463 S. Main St., Davidson. 704-895-1213.

Myersart Gallery John and Jan Myers. Works in clay. Continues through May 31. 1510 Camden Road. 704-790-2529.

NBC-6 Stefan Duncan. Impressionistic paintings. Continues through May 31. Billy Graham Pkwy.

Noel Gallery Mayday, Mayday: A Distress Call From Nature. Paintings by Tommie Robinson. Continues through June 28. Transamerica Square, 401 N. Tryon St. 704-343-0050.

Pope's Gallery Hale Trotter. Plein-air works of restful places. Continues through May 31. 1035 Providence Rd. 704-342-1774.

Rising of the Eagle Native American Art Gallery. Chief Richard Eagle Thomas will be on premises dressed in full regalia and telling short stories. Hours Sat 10-6pm, Sun 12-6pm. 4742 East Hwy 27, Iron Station.

Sanctuary Art Studio & Galleries Chaos Troubadour. Featuring paintings and photography by local and national artists. Continues through May 30. 3440 North Davidson St. 704-877-2692.

Shain Fine Art Originals Josh Grant & Sharon Obee. Continues through May 30. 601-B Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Stewart's Village Gallery American Crafts. Featuring pottery by Bill Stewart, Sylvia Coppola, Lambeth Marshall & Bill Campbell. Daily. 116 McDonald St., Waxhaw. 704-843-5638.

W.D.O. Peter Petrochko, Alex Bernstein & Greg Fidler. WDO's first major glass show in its Hearst Plaza location. Continues through May 31. Hearst Plaza Suite No. 1, 214 North Tryon St. 704-333-9123.

Winthrop University Galleries 15th Annual Undergraduate Juried Exhibition. Rutledge Gallery. Continues through June 30. 107 McLaurin, Rock Hill. 803-323-2493.