Arts Agenda 

American Guild of Organists Recitals sponsored by Guild. August 24: Robert McDermitt, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 101 Colville Rd. All at 8pm. Free. 704-333-9071.

Brightstar Music Festival Chamber Music Series featuring Johannes Quartet, Jeremy Denk, Chee-Yun, Soovin Kim, Sheryl Staples, Jennifer Sperry and more. www.brightstarfestival.org. Aug. 22-23, 8 p.m. $25. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.

First Tuesday Concerts Tchaikovsky, Trio in A Minor, Opus 50, for violin, cello, and piano. Calin Lupanu, Concertmaster, Charlotte Symphony, Phillip Bush, Assistant Professor of Piano, U. of Michigan, Alan Black, cello. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 115 W. 7th St. Sep 2, at 12:10pm, After Work Concert & Reception (Hodges Taylor Gallery) at 5:30pm. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 115 W. 7th St. 704-332-7746.

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. 1-866-467-7681.

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 Pauly Shore. Performing live on Thursday, August 21, 2 shows (8 & 10:15pm), tickets are $25. Also appearing live: Jeff Dunham (Ventriloquist) and Peanut, Aug 22 & 23 (8 & 10:15 pm), tix are $20. www.thecomedyzone.net. 516 N. College St., Visit www.thecomedyzone.net. 704-348-4242.

The Perch Theatre Smokin' Bear Tour Featuring Talking Baby. Presented by The Perch at various venues while a new location is scouted. Shows are rated "R" for verbal content. Aug 21: The Steeple, 9:30pm; Aug 29: The Visulite, time tbd. Call for reservations. $12. 704-372-7724.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite The Faces of Our State. Photographic exhibit showcasing 70 years of North Carolina people as seen in Our State: North Carolina magazine. Through June 2004. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Continues through Sept. 30, 2004. Regular Museum admission. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 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. Pen and Ink Politics: Thomas Nast's Reconstruction-era Cartoons and African American Equality. Continues through Sept. 29. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art All Aglow. An exhibition featuring 300 years of candlesticks on display. Through February 15, 2004. Burlon Craig and His Legacy. Continues through Oct. 19. Fashions of the Crinoline Era: 1840-1865. Eight mid 19th century crinoline fashions, featuring wide hoop skirts, from the museum's costume collection are currently on display. Through May 2004. Passing. Selected artists from the 2002 Juried exhibition Celebrating the Legacy of Romare Bearden are invited for in-depth presentation of their work. Through September 7. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000 or 704-333-MINT.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design Currents In Craft. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Sculptural Radiance: The Jewelry & Objects of Linda MacNeil. A fusion of glass and gold, featuring 25 works. August 16 - November 23. 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. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Theater: Openings

24 Hour Theatre Project BareBones Theatre Group will present theatre created in a day. Five playwrights are given a theme Friday, August 29, at 9pm, from which they must write a ten minute play to be staged, rehearsed and performed on Saturday, August 30, at 9pm. Actors must show up to audition and will spend the ENTIRE DAY getting acquainted with the script. The culmination of the these events will be presented in front of a live audience (in a completed state...or not). Call for details. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Down Home Play Festival Playwrights from the region will have original productions of their plays presented at the Gettys Center in Rock Hill in a dinner theater setting. The audience will vote for their favorite play and a media favorite will also be selected. Features dinner/drinks at Kinch's Restaurant at 5:30pm. Reservations by Aug 19. Fri., Aug. 22, 7 p.m. Tickets for dinner/show are $45 a couple and $25 for individuals. Rock Hill Arts Council, 121 E. Main St., Rock Hill. 803-328-2787.

Feeding the Moonfish Laden with danger, mystery, and the quest for love, Feeding the Moonfish is an engaging story that illuminates the coming together of two people, both struggling to end generations of violance and abuse. Play is being performed in the Johnson Hall Studio Theatre. Aug. 30, 8 p.m. & 12 a.m.; Aug. 31, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. $5, Proceeds benefit student scholarship fund. Winthrop University, Rock Hill. 803-323-2399.