Classical Music
Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir A concert event entitled Retrospection: African-American Sacred Songs. Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Rd. Sat., July 24, 7 p.m. Free. 704-392-0392.
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 ($5) and Saturdays ($10). www.extremeimprov.com www.psychoticpooch.com. 1958 E 7th St. 866-467-7681.
The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances. July 14-17: Pat Godwin & Azeem. www.comedyzone.net. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.
Tyber Creek Pub The Pink Turtle Sketchprov Experience. Reservations suggested. www.pinkturtle.net. Fridays, 8pm. $5. 1933 S. Blvd. 704-301-1564.
Dance
Summerreach Open Rehearsals Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works invites the public to watch rehearsals of works in progress for SummerDance 2004 concerts. Saturdays, 12:30-2pm. $5. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-338-1533.
Museums
Charlotte Museum of History Main Streets of Our State. A traveling photography exhibit. July 8-Jan. 2. 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. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.
Levine Museum of the New South Charles Ogletree. Author will read and sign All Deliberate Speed: Reflections on the First Half-Century of Brown v. Board of Education. Fri., July 16, 4 p.m. 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 Revelation: A Fresh Look at Contemporary Collections. July 8-Sept. 19. Sam Gilliam. An installment of commissioned work, a large scale, suspended cloth sculpture. Mon., July 19. VantagePoint II. Julie Heffernan: Interior Transformations, featuring large scale paintings. July 8-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 Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience. July 16-Jan. 30. 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 Eewww, YUCK! Understanding Nature's Most Unhuggable Creatures. Through mid August. Rock Hill From A to Z. July 8-Aug. 15. Summer Movies for Children. Awesome Animals. July 13-14: Finding Nemo; July 20-21: 101 Dalmatians. Tues. & Wed. at 11am & 2pm. 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
Barnes & Noble, Arboretum Wade Timmerson & Suzanne Caplan. Authors will discuss and sign Building Big Profits in Real Estate. Thu., July 15, 7:30 p.m. 3327 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-341-9365.
Borders, Morrocroft Yasmin Shiraz. Author will discuss and sign The Blueprint for My Girls. Thu., July 22, 6:30 p.m. 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-6261.
Borders, Stonecrest Ric Flair. Will sign and discuss To Be the Man. Thu., July 15, 7 p.m. 7836 Rea Rd. 704-752-3782.
Levine Museum of the New South Charles Ogletree. Author will read and sign All Deliberate Speed: Reflections on the First Half-Century of Brown v. Board of Education. Fri., July 16, 4 p.m. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.
Newsstand International Patrick Minges. Author will sign Black Indian Slave Narratives. Wed., July 14, 1 p.m. 5622-128 E. Independence Blvd. 704-531-0199.
Park Road Books Jonathan Farlow. Author will read and sign Holy War. Sat., July 24, 1 p.m. Park Road Shopping Center, 4139 Park Rd. 704-525-9239.
Spoken Word
Mama's Caribbean Grill Uptown Saturday Nite. Featuring singers, rappers, and poets. Sign up for the Open Mic Showcase. Details: www.freewebs.com/motifentertainment. Every second and last Saturday of the month at 10pm-until. $7 cover. 1504 Central Ave. 704-375-8414.
Southend Performing Arts Center BareBones Poetry Project. SPAC will feature regional authors reading selections of their poetry, short stories and performance poetry. Third Tuesday of every month, 8 p.m. 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.
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
Drift Presented by BareBones Theatre Group. Jul. 15-17, 8pm; Jul. 18, 2pm. $19.99. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.
The Friar and the Nurse Presented by Epic Arts Repertory Theatre. Jul. 22-24, 8pm; Jul. 25, 2pm. $19.99. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.
Into The Woods, Jr. A comical take on the Brothers Grimm and fairytale characters. www.rhcommunitytheatre.org. July 16, 8pm; July 17, 2:30 & 8pm; July 18, 2:30pm; August 23, 8pm; August 24, 2:30 & 8pm; August 25, 2:30pm. $5-$8. Rock Hill Community Theatre, 236 West Main St., Rock Hill. 803-324-2578.
Kill Your TV A dark comedy about media propaganda, read by Theatre for Change. Wed., July 14, 7:30 p.m. Free. The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson St. 704-376-3737.
Mamma Mia! The story-telling magic of ABBA's songs propels this tale of love, laughter and friendship. Jul. 27-29, 8pm; Jul. 30, 8:15pm; Jul. 31, 2pm & 8:15pm; Aug. 1, 2pm & 7:30pm. $22-$63. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.
Quickspeare A medley of scene vignettes from the Bard's favorite plays presented by Chickspeare. July 15 : 24, Thu-Sat, 8pm. $15. Hart-Witzen Gallery, 136 E. 36 St. 704-334-1177.
Tim Conway & Harvey Korman Conway and Korman will re-create favorite classic sketches with the help of comedian and impressionist Louise DuArt. Sun., July 25, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. $25-$60. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.
West Side Story A landmark Broadway musical, presented by Central Piedmont Summer Theatre. July 21-31, Tues (7pm), Wed-Sat (8pm), Sun (2:30pm). $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.
Theater: Ongoing
Bel Canto An audience interactive murder mystery. www.rhcommunitytheatre.org. July 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16 at 7pm. $30. Station Bar & Grille, Rock Hill, 122 S. Oakland Ave. 803-324-2578.
The Deliverer Willing to lose his life for his religion, Barabbas finds himself fighting the God he defends. July 23-24, 8pm. $5-$15. King's Arena, Fort Mill, 2175 Gethsemane Ct., Fort Mill.
The Foreigner A comedy for the whole family, presented by Central Piedmont Summer Theatre. July 7-17, Tues (7pm), Wed-Sat (8pm), Sun (2:30pm). $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.
Visual Arts: Openings
Bank of America Gallery Decades. Art from the Collection of Bank of America 1940-1990. July 14-Oct. 30. Hearst Tower, 114 N. Tryon St. 704-386-7324.
ElderArt Gallery New Artists Exhibition. Works included are abstract, impressionistic and mixed media. July 16-Aug. 31. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.
Gallery 45 Framing, Cornelius Carolyn Saine & Brian Coleman. Featuring originals in contemporary, abstract and realism. July 23, 6-9pm. Southlake Shopping Ctr., Torrence Chapel Rd. 704-892-5838.
Jerald Melberg Gallery Brian Russell & Ramon Urban. Exhibits New Sculpture & New Constructions. Through Sept. 4. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.
Joie Lassiter Gallery John Nickerson. Hotter than July II: Unusual blown and cut glass forms. July 16-Aug. 31. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.
Lesbian & Gay Community Center Wendy Blue. An exhibition featuring the work of printmaker. Opening Reception: July 16, 6-8pm. Through August. 1401 Central Ave. 704-333-0144.
Microcosm Gallery Rod Wimer. Exhibit Just Looking, new Mixed Media Paintings featuring Abstracts, Figures and Landscapes. Through August. 300 N. College St. #101. 704-372-3553.
Visual Arts: Ongoing
Afro-American Cultural Center Juried Artists. Exhibit features local, state and national artists. Through August. 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.
Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Group Exhibit. Life drawings by second-quarter students. July 8-30. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.
Art Preserve The Animal Farm. A group exhibit featuring animal related paintings and 3-D objects. A portion of proceeds benefit N. Meck. Animal Rescue. Opening Reception: July 16, 6-9pm. July-August. 3200 A North Davidson. 704-358-8882.
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.
Center of the Earth Gallery Scott Upton. An exhibit of mixed media paintings. July 8-Aug. 20. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.
City Hall Rotunda Gallery, Rock Hill Anne L. Rhodes. An exhibit of paintings. Through July. 803-328-2787.
Clay on Camden Shelly Johnston. Through July. 1510 Camden Rd. 704-790-2326.
Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Sky Hixson. Through July. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.
Dalton Gallery Ray Moose. A series of sculptures inspired byNative American forms and culture. July 8-Aug. 23. Center for the Arts, 121 East Main St., Rock Hill. 803-328-2787.
Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Fania Greenwood. A photographic exhibit titled Blooming Windows. July 8-15. 6500 S. New Hope Rd., Belmont. 704-825-4490.
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.
Depot Visual Arts Center, Mooresville John Brady. An exhibit of paintings. Through July. 103 W. Center Ave. 704-663-6661.
ElderArt Gallery Philip Mullen. A solo exhibition of oil paintings. Also a group exhibit of paintings and sculpture by gallery artists. Through August. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.
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.
Gallery L, Main Library Dali. The Halsman photographs. July 8-Aug. 1. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.
Hidell Brooks Gallery Barbara Fisher. Balanced, a solo exhibit. July 8-24. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.
Icehouse Center Gallery, Davidson Work From The Wood Studio. A look at woodturning and wood working. Opening: July 9, 6pm. July 9-Aug. 10. 432 S. Main St. 704-892-7323.
Joie Lassiter Gallery Amy Lixl-Purcell. An multi-media exhibit titled Bounce. July 8-15. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.
The Light Factory Anderson Scott / Jeff Murphy. Prints and photographs. Jun. 18-Jul. 24. Kindertransport. An exhibition of photographs documenting the effort that saved 10,000 children from the Nazis. Through Aug. 18. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.
McColl Center for Visual Art Summer Affiliates Artists Exhibition. Through Aug. 21. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.
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.
Queen's Beans Coffee Shop Daniel Coston. An exhibit of Johnny Cash photos. In the Left Wall Gallery. Through July. 1510 Camden Rd. 704-790-2326.
Stretch Gallery N Studios Henryk Fantazos. Against Modern Art An exhibit of new and retrospective works. Through July 30. 10726 Pineville Rd, Pineville. 704-552-5678.
Synergy Studios, Shelby All That's Glass. An exhibit featuring ten regionalglass artists. July 8-Sept. 3. 212B W. Warren St.
The Artists Gallery Nature. Featuring the watercolors, acrylic paintings and underwater and wildlife photography. Through July. 7824-C Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-541-6944.
W.D.O. Summer Exhibition. A group exhibit of crafts. Through July. Hearst Plaza Suite No. 1, 214 North Tryon St. 704-333-9123.
Waterworks Visual Arts Center Bert Hawley & Karen Parker. Exhibit of paintings. July 8-Aug. 21. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.