Arts Agenda 

Charlotte Symphony A concert of three American landmark compositions featuring Canadian pianist Ian Parker. March 18, 8 p.m.; March 19, 8 p.m. $14-$68. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-972-2000.

Lalgudi GJR Krishnan & Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi Classical Music Association of Charlotte present a performance of Carnatic music by violin duo accompanied by Neyveli Venkatesh (Mridangam) and Thirupanithura Radhakrishnan (Ghatam). Sun., March 20, 2 p.m. The Hindu Center Auditorium. 704-814-9355.

Le Chemin de la Croix A performance by organist and director of parish music at St. Paul's. Sun., March 20, 3 p.m. Free. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fort Mill, 501 Pine St. 803-547-5968.

Luna Nova Ensemble Concert Series performance at Davidson will include the premiere of "Crossing Rivers IV." Mon., March 21. $10-$15. Davidson College. 704-894-2135.

Comedy

Charlotte Comedy Theater Extreme Improv. High energy, interactive improv comedy, rated R. www.extremeimprov.com. Fri & Sat, 8pm & 10pm. $10. 1111 - D Hawthorne Ln. 866-467-7681.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. Mar. 16-19: Billy Gardel. www.thecomedyzone.net. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.

Dilworth Neighborhood Grille The Pink Turtle Sketchprov Experience. Whose Line, Second City, and Sketchprov- style improv comedy. Reservations suggested. www.pinkturtle.net. Sat., 8:30pm. $5. 911 E. Morehead St. 704-301-1564.

SK Netcafe Stand-up Comedy. Featuring acts and open mic. Wed., March 16, 10 p.m. 1425 Elizabeth Ave. 704-334-1523.

The Perch The Perch Sketch Live Comedy. At Charlotte Comedy Theatre, 1111 Hawthorne Ln. www.theperch.com. Thursdays, 9pm (non-smoking); 10:30pm (smoking). 704-566-0053.

Dance

Spring Renewal CPCC'S Dance Central's presentation of jazz and modern dances. March 18, 8 p.m.; March 19, 8 p.m. Free. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6882.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History A City of Neighborhoods. A three-part workshop exploring the NoDa and Plaza Midwood communities, in a creative examination of the forces that shape a culturally and environmentally vibrant neighborhood. Pre-registration is required. March 18, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; March 19, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; March 20, 1-4 p.m. $25. Enterprising Women. Featuring dramatic monologues of storiesof intriguing women who helped shape the landscape of American business. Reservations required. Sat., March 19, 2-4 p.m. Girl Scout Weekend. A weekend for Brownie Girl Scouts featuring guest speakers, presentations, hands-on activities, and a sleepover. Reservations required. March 18; March 19. Our Changing Landscape: Early Views of People and Place in the Carolina Piedmont. An exhibition that illustrates and interprets the changes in the Carolina Piedmont landscape. March 10-May 25. Politics, Policy, and Reality: What's Really Going On in Washington. Featured guest speaker is reporter Gwen Ifill. Seating limited. Priority reservations available for museum members, all other reservations taken after March 15. Tue., March 22, 7-9 p.m. Free. Stitched from the Soul. The Farmer-James collection of African American quilts. March 10-25. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place If These Walls Could Talk. The exhibit investigates the science and history of the structures that human create. March 10-May 31. IMAX Dome. Now showing Roar: Lions of the Kalahari, Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure and Forces of Nature. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. Rural Voices and Visions: Local Communities Speak Out About Their Landscapes. March 10-April 20. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Creighton Michael: Patterns of Perception. March 12-July 3. The Guild. Monthly meeting with Carolyn DeMeritt presenting: "The Impact Photography has on Human Emotions." Guests welcome. Wed., March 23, 7 p.m. Free. Porcelain American Style. July 31, 2004-June 14, 2005. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design Speaking Volumes: Vessels from the Collections of Mint Museums. March 10-April 17. Third Thursdays at the Mint Museum of Craft and Design. Topical programs, refreshments and evening hours for viewing exhibitions. Learn kitchen tips with the culinary department of the Art Institute of Charlotte. Thu., March 17, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Tue.-Sun. Wine Classes. Spanish Renaissance. Mar. 22, 6:30-8pm. $30. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Eewww, Yuck!. Understanding Nature's Most Unhuggable Creatures. Through Summer 2005. Our Changing Landscapes: Early views of people and places in Carolina Piedmont. March 10-May 15. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Readings & Signings

Barnes & Noble, Arboretum Ann B. Ross. Question and answer session with author of the Miss Julia series. She will also read and sign her latest book, Miss Julia's School of Beauty. Mon., March 21, 7 p.m. Free. 3327 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-341-9481.

Borders, Stonecrest Koh. Author will discuss and sign Click, Click, Who's There?. Sat., March 19, 2 p.m. 7836 Rea Rd. 704-752-3782.

Davidson College Novelist and Critic David Galef. Author will give a public reading of his work and present student writing awards. Room 900 of the Alvarez College Union. Tue., March 22, 7:30 p.m. Free. 704-894-2441.

Spoken Word

Spirit Square SlamCharlotte. Competitive spoken word/poetry event where poets battle against each other trying to become members of the 2005 Charlotte National Poetry Slam Team. Thu., March 17, 8 p.m. $3-$5. 345 N. College St. 704-563-0519.

Theater: Openings

Freedom Train Educational performance presented by TheatreworksUSA for students in York County. Reservations required. Wed., March 23, 10:30 a.m. $3. Byrnes Auditorium, Winthrop. 803-328-2787.

Lord of Light A re-creation of the Easter story performed outdoors. www.narroway.net. Mar. 18-19, 24-25 & 26, 8:30pm. $5-$10. King's Arena, Fort Mill, 2175 Gethsemane Ct., Fort Mill. 803-802-2300.

Pardon My Southern Accent A theatrical concert by Jim Wann celebrating the South, performed by a seven-piece band and three lead singers, including Beth Chorneau, Don Dixon, Jamie Hoover, Jim Brock and others. Sat., March 19, 8 p.m. $13.50-$17.50. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.

Theater: Ongoing

The Blue Room BareBones Theatre Group presents the NC premiere of David Hare's adaptation of Arthur Schnitzler's Reigen. Mar. 10-Mar. 26, Thu-Sat, 8pm. $12-$15, Mar. 14 is Pay What You Can. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Godspell Fort Mill Community Playhouse celebrates 25 years with the musical production of Godspell. www.fortmillplayhouse.org. Mar. 11-12, 17-19, 7:30pm; Mar. 13, 3pm. $7-$10. Banks Street Theater, Fort Mill, 513 Banks St. 803-548-8102.

Our Town Life, death, and the hereafter as experienced by the people of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. Mar. 10-12, 17-19, 8pm; Mar. 13 & 20, 2:30pm. $17-$22. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. 704-376-3777.

Vampire Love The Actor's Gym present a play by Tony Wright. Mar. 11-Mar. 26, Thu, 8pm; Fri & Sat, 8:30pm. $10. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542.

Visual Arts: Openings

Art Preserve Osiris Rain. Opening Reception: Mar. 18, 6-9pm. 3200 A North Davidson. 704-358-8882.

ArtHouse Exploring the Unknown. An exhibition of in-depth abstract paintings by Robert Langford. Fri., March 18, 7-11 p.m. 3103 Cullman Ave. 704-577-4587.

Colchester Place Gardens Patrisha Windrow. An exhibit of Hyper-realist paintings. Reception: Mar. 19, 2pm. 10605 Park Rd. 704-341-2200.

Gallery L, Main Library Jack Weil's World. Tour the globe through the lens of a camera and photographs of nature, landscapes and human interest - all taken by Charlotteans. March 20-April 17. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Daniel Douke. An exhibit of Rose Paintings. March 19-April 16. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.

McColl Center for Visual Art Puppets, Ghosts and Zombies: The Sculpture of Pat Keck. One-person exhibition. Opening Reception: Mar. 25, 6-9pm. March 25-June 11. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.

Modern Eye Gallery Non-Objective Energies. An exploration of abstract painting styles featuring multiple artists. March 19-April 30. 1923-A South Blvd. 704-333-3190.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Afro-American Cultural Center Women of a New Tribe II. This project features b&w photos by photojournalist Jerry Taliaferro, who has done a series celebrating the beauty of African American women. March 10-31. 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Victoria Burke. An exhibit of paintings. March 10-30. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Bank of America Plaza Within Our Walls. A group exhibition of contemporary artwork. March 10-Nov. 1. 101 South Tryon Street. 704-373-1464.

Center of the Earth Gallery Duy Huynh. An exhibit of new paintings. March 10-April 24. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.

Charlotte Art League Furnishings. Through Mar. 25. 1517 Camden Rd. 704-376-2787.

Christa Faut Gallery Scott Duce. A solo exhibition of paintings and drawings. March 10-April 18. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.

Clay on Camden Barbara Strasberg. An exhibit of sculptures. The adjoining Queen's Beans Coffee Shop will also debut paintings by Linda Brown. March 10-31. 1510 Camden Rd. 704-790-2326.

Dalton Gallery The South Carolina Watercolor Society Show. Through March. Center for the Arts, 121 East Main St., Rock Hill. 803-328-2787.

Davidson College Break Thy Leg. A multi-media exhibition of art and design from the Royal Shakespeare Company. March 10-April 15. 704-894-2344.

ElderArt Gallery Javier Lopez Barbosa. Solo Exhibition of paintings. Through March. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

Gallery 620 Middle East meets Middle America. An exhibit of large-scale digital photographic montages. March 10-31. 620 W. Morehead St. 704-618-9966.

Gaston County Public Library Forever Free: Abraham Lincoln's Journey to Emancipation. A national touring exhibition. Through Apr. 15. 1555 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia. 704-868-2167.

Green Rice Designs & Studio Fig. An exhibit of works by Michele Norris and Michelle Sutton. Through Apr. 23. 510 E. 35th St. 704-344-0300.

Hayes George Gallery Land and Light. A group landscape exhibition by gallery artists. March 10-April 9. 225 East Worthington Ave. # 100. 704-332-3278.

Hidell Brooks Gallery Christopher Terry. Artifacts & Interiors, a solo exhibition. Through April. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Wayne McDowell. Exhibition: A Fixed Gaze. Through April. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Jerald Melberg Gallery The Monoprint in Three Directions. An exhibition of prints by Romare Bearden, Wolf Kahn and Robert Motherwell. Through March. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.

Joie Lassiter Gallery Contemporary Masters Print & Work on Paper Show. Exhibit entitled "From the South and Beyond." March 10-April 30. From the South and Beyond. Contemporary Masters Print & Work on Paper Show. March 11-April 30. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.

The Light Factory Nobel Portraits: Celebrating Innovation and Creativity. Photographs by Peter Badge. March 10-25. Industry of Form. A group exhibition of industrial images. March 10-25. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

Merrill-Jennings Galleries Addie James. One-woman show by folk artist. Through March. 463 S. Main St., Davidson. 704-895-1213.

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.

Shain Gallery Connie Winters. Exhibit Reflections. Through March. 601 Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center Lewellen Padgett / Travis Conrad Erion. An exhibit of shadow boxes and paintings. Through Mar. 26. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.

Winthrop University Galleries Group Exhibition. Contemporary quilts, sculptural basketry and Iron crafts. March 10-25. 107 McLaurin, Rock Hill. 803-323-2493.