Arts Agenda 

Classical Music

Lucia Di Lammermoor A bel canto opera based on the novel by Sir Walter Scott. www.operacarolna.org. May 20, 7:30 p.m.; May 22, 8 p.m.; May 23, 2 p.m. $10-$79. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

The Singers of Renaissance Charlotte-based choral group's annual Piccolo Spoleto concert, featuring Brahms and other composers. Dilworth UMC, 605 East Blvd. www.singers-renaissance.org. Sat., May 22, 8 p.m. $10-$12. 704-333-3698.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Comedy. Extreme Improv: Fridays 8pm - Chicago Style long form improv "The Gallery"; Saturdays 8pm - "Who's Line Is it?" style improv; Psychotic Pooch at 10pm. Fridays and Saturdays. www.extremeimprov.comwww.psychoticpooch.com. $10. 1958 E 7th St. 866-467-7681.

CJ's, Adams Mark Blue Light. Talent show with stand-up, musicians and more. Thursdays, 8pm. 555 S. McDowell St. 704-506-3156.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. May 19-22: Mike Mesemer with Scott Oseycheck. www.thecomedyzone.net. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.

Ovations Comedy Variety Show. "The Waki Tiki show" featuring the Kahunas of Comedy. In the Luau Lounge. Fri & Sat, 10pm. 3014 East Independence Blvd. 704-602-2595.

The Perch Theatre New Location. Sketch comedy club/theater. www.theperch.com. 1111-P Hawthorne Ln. 704-372-7724.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History The Faces of Our State. Through June. Powerful Persuaders: World War II Posters. An exhibit of propaganda posters. Through Sept. 1. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Through Sept. 30. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place Mix & Max: Omnimax after hours. The program is aimed at anyone looking for something different. Live music, Omnimax films, food and cash bar. Third Friday of every month. $10 members $12 (non-members). Omnimax. Now showing: Ocean Oasis, NASCAR: The IMAX Experience, T. rex: Back to the Cretaceous, and Lost Worlds: Life in the Balance. Call or visit website for times. www.discoveryplace.org. A T. Rex Named Sue. A fully articulated cast of a T. Rex fossil now on display. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. Courage: The Carolina Story That Changed America. Brown vs. Board of Education exhibit. Through Aug. 15. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Fashions of the Crinoline Era: 1840-1865. Through May 2004. Here's Lookin' At You Kid. Prosperity America Incorporated (PAI), an organization helping at-risk youth throughcommunity-based programming, will host its kickoff event. Proceeds benefit PAI. Wed., May 19, 7 p.m. Jazzy Ladies 2004. A series of evenings featuring picnics, live jazz and classic New York City films. June 1: Breakfast at Tiffany's, Bill Gerhardt Trio performs; June 8: Tootsie, Evans & Coppola perform. www.youngaffiliates.org/events/jazzyladies. $5-$7, free for Young Affiliates members. VantagePoint II. Julie Heffernan: Interior Transformations, featuring large scale paintings. May 12-Sept. 5. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Art of Gold. Exhibit presents 80 contemporary gold objects. Apr. 3-Aug. 8. The Artful Teapot: 20th Century Expressions from the Kamm Collection. Through May 30. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Wine Class. Petite Sirah, Syrah, Shiraz: Triangular tasting, geography, climate, soils and more. www.carolinawineclub.com. Tue., May 25, 6:15-8 p.m. $30. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Rock Hill From A to Z. May 22-Aug. 15. Vernon Grant. An exhibit of Grant's work, Storybook Village. Through Oct. 31. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Schiele Museum, Gastonia 1500 East Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.

Readings & Signings

Beatties Ford Road Library Robin Edgar. Author will read and signIn My Mother's Kitchen. Tue., May 25, 7 p.m. Free. 2412 Beatties Ford Rd. 704-432-6706.

Books-A-Million, Concord Mills Connie Nelson & Floyd Harris. Authors will sign Film Junkie's Guide to North Carolina. Tue., May 25, 1-3 p.m. 8301 Concord Mills Blvd., Concord Mills Mall.

Costco Ruby Ann Boxcar. Author of Dear Ruby Ann. Sat., May 22, 1-3 p.m. 500 Tyvola Rd. 704-501-2403.

Main Library Carlos Eire. Author will read and sign Waiting for Snow in Havana. Thu., May 20, 7 p.m. Free. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2074.

Park Road Books B.J. Mountford. Author of Bloodlines of Shackleford Banks. Wed., May 19, 7 p.m. Greg Lilly. Author of Fingering the Family Jewels. Thu., May 20, 7 p.m. Judson Mitcham. Author of Sabbath Creek. Fri., May 21, 7 p.m. Floyd Harris. Author of The Film Junkie's Guide to North Carolina. Tue., May 25, 7 p.m. Sheri Lynch. Author of Hello, My Name is Mommy. Wed., May 26, 5:30 p.m. Park Road Shopping Center, 4139 Park Rd. 704-525-9239.

Spoken Word

Queens University Poets' Night at Queens University. Hosted by Main Street Rag and featuring Maureen Ryan Griffin. Open Mic follows. www.mainstreetrag.com. Sat., May 22, 7 p.m. 1900 Selwyn Ave. 704-573-2516.

Tonic The Soul Movement. An underground nite for Spoken Word/Poetry, Soul Classics, Neo-Soul, Deep/Soulful House, Urban Grooves & Underground Hip-Hop. www.thesoulmovement.com. Sundays. $5 before 9:30pm. 1427 E. 4th St. 704-580-7187.

Theater: Openings

Holding Talks This theatrical production explores universal human tendencies, set in a barbershop in Africa. May 21, 8 p.m.; May 22, 8 p.m.; May 23, 2 p.m. $7-$10. Afro-American Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.

Theater: Ongoing

CEO/DOA Mystery Dinner Theater featuring comedy, murder and mayhem. Thu & Fri, 7pm; Sat, 6:30pm & 7:30pm. $35. Ovations, 3014 East Independence Blvd. 704-602-2595.

Lullaby of Broadway A high-energy concert of the Best of Broadway featuring a top notch Broadway cast. May 17-30, 8pm; Sat-Sun, 2pm matinees also. $35-$39. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Rumors This fast-paced Neil Simon comedy will be presented by Theatre Charlotte. May 20-23, Thu-Sat 8pm, Sun 2:30pm. $17-$22. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. 704-376-3777.

White Man Dancing A Romantic comedy triangle about one actor, one writer, and one wife. www.nccast.com. May 13-May 29, Wed - Sat, 8pm. $12-$15. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542.

Why We Have a Body Delve into the female psyche, presenting the struggle and search of four women in a kaleidoscopic form, shifting space and time. A co-production of Chickspeare & BareBones Theatre Group. www.barebones.org. May 20-22 at 8pm, May 23 at 3pm. $12-$15. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Wonder of the World Life changes in one minute for Cass when she discovers something shocking in her husband's sweater drawer. Recommended for mature audiences. Apr. 28-May 23; Wed & Thur at 7:30pm, Fri & Sat at 8pm; May 23 at 2:30pm. $17-$22. Actor's Theatre, 650 E. Stonewall Street. 704-342-2251.

Visual Arts: Openings

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Charlotte Foust. Mixed media exhibition Abstract Vision. Opening Reception: May 21, 5:30-7pm. Through June 30. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Thomas McNickle. Liberating Convention, new oil paintings and watercolors. May 22-July 3. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.

McColl Center for Visual Art Clayworks Gallery 18 Months Marked in Clay. A group exhibit. Opening Reception: May 21, 6-8pm. Through June 26. 301 E. 9th St. 704-332-5535.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Afro-American Cultural Center The Pride Collection. An exhibit of extensive collection of art of the late Dr. Harold S. Pride, Sr. Through June. 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Abstract Vision. An exhibit by Diane Foust. Opening Reception: May 20, 5:30-7pm. Through June 30. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Art Preserve Herb Jackson. A showing of Jackson's small oil paintings on panel, in conjunction with Christa Faut Gallery. Through Jun. 5. 3200 A North Davidson. 704-358-8882.

Bank of America Gallery Objects of Contemplation. An exhibition of selected still life worksfrom the permanent collection of the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Through July 5. Hearst Tower, 114 N. Tryon St. 704-386-7324.

Bank of America Plaza Surface Matters. Artists from the Southeast explore surface and materials challenging the viewer to look deeper and stretch their awareness, using newspaper, steel, concrete, monofilament, fiber, acrylics and oil. Curated by Joie Lassiter Gallery. Also at First Citizens, 128 S. Tryon. Through Nov 15. 101 South Tryon Street. 704-373-1464.

Blue Pony Gallery & Press Fragments. A selection of new monotypes and multi-media work by Margret Kuehni. Through June 19. 3202A N. Davidson St. 704-334-9390.

Breathe Art Space East Wind. An exhibit of paintings, embossings, woodcuts and calligraphy by Mona Wu. Through July 3. 228 Caldwell Lane, Suite B, Davidson. 704-896-1799.

Center of the Earth Gallery Louis St. Lewis. NC native St. Lewis is known for colorful bold pop art collages on glass. Through June 19. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.

Christa Faut Gallery Hot Glass Paris / Cold Glass Murano. Glass Exhibition featuring Philip Baldwin and Monica Guggisberg. Through June 30. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.

Clay on Camden Robert Hasselle / Tom Speck. An exhibit of ceramics and sculpture. Through May. 1510 Camden Rd. 704-790-2326.

Cosmos Cafe Dual Hemispheres. Paintings and assemblages by JeffMangum. Through May. 300 N. College St., Suite 101. 704-372-3553.

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Theron Michael Ross / Michael Weeks. Sculpture by Ross and images of blues and jazz by Weeks. Through May. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

Das Maultier Art Gallery Store/Gallery. Art and design shop located in NODA with affordable art for novice to the serious collector. In the Colony. 3472 N. Davidson St. 704-333-0277.

ElderArt Gallery The Russians Are Coming. An exhibit of select group of Russian paintings by twenty artists who were from Charlotte's Sister City, Voronezh, Russia. Through June 30. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

The Evening Muse Violeta Moreno. An exhibition of recent paintings. Through July 1. 3227 N. Davidson St. 704-376-3737.

Foust Studio Recent. New contemporary artwork by Charlotte Foust and Raed Al Rawi. Through May 28. 5200 Park Rd., Suite 115. 704-525-7989.

The Gallery at Carillon Landscapes. An exhibition of paintings, large-scale drawings and wall mounted sculptures by Shaun Cassidy. Through July 16. 227 W. Trade St. 704-334-8840.

Green Rice Designs & Studio Echoes. An exploration into the concept of echoes as it relates to the artwork. Through June 10. 510 E. 35th St. 704-344-0300.

Hidell Brooks Gallery Tony Hernandez. A solo exhibition titled Reflection in King's Blue. Through June 12. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Hodges Taylor Gallery The Figure: Inside Out, A Psychological Survey of the Human Form. Also on exhibit: Bob Trotman: Recent Sculpture. Both explore the human figure with various media. Through June 27. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Joie Lassiter Gallery Jimmy O'Neal. Primacy of Movement: Works from the Rose Museum "Painting 4" exhibition. Through June 11. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.

JS Pottery Group Exhibition. Featuring painters, jewelers and clay artists. Through May. 27 South Main Street, Belmont. 704-829-0360.

The Light Factory Robert Sulkin & Alice Sebrell. A photographic exhibition. Through June 11. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

Main Library Theater Posters of James McMullan. An exhibit of work by a graphic artist, whose clients include Lincoln Center Theater, NYC. Through May. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-6217.

McColl Center for Visual Art NC Arts Council Fellowship Recipients. An exhibit of contemporary art by NC Artists. Through June 5. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.

Merrill-Jennings Galleries Loren DiBenedetto. One-woman show featuring still-life paintings. Through May. 463 S. Main St., Davidson. 704-895-1213.

Noel Gallery Fernando Porras. An exhibit of art entitled A Fish Story. Through May 29. Transamerica Square, 401 N. Tryon St. 704-343-0050.

Pottery Central Pottery Central Gallery. Functional, sculptural and decorative pottery by local potters. Friday & Saturday 10-5 or call for appointment. 3534 Central Ave. 704-537-4477.

Redsky Gallery Experiencing the Wonder in the Common. A group exhibit. Through June 30. 4705 Savings Pl., Suite 108. 704-552-5200.

Shain Gallery Vacation Vistas. A new collection of European landscapes and village scenes by Henry Barnes. Also on exhibit new works by five artists. Through May. 601-B Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Therapy Marketplace & Cafe Pura Vida Gallery. Collection including Dali, LeKinff, Warhol, Besner, and Chemiakin. Through May. 401 N. Tryon Street, Ste 102. 704-333-1353.

W.D.O. Mitomemoria. Cristina Cordova's clay sculptures. Through June 5. Hearst Plaza Suite No. 1, 214 North Tryon St. 704-333-9123.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center Collective Expressions. Multimedia exhibition featuring Guilford College Art Faculty. Through June 19. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.

Winthrop University Galleries Undergraduate Juried Exhibition. Artistic talent of undergrad students from all disciplines. Through June 25. 107 McLaurin, Rock Hill. 803-323-2493.