Arts Agenda 

Summer Pops at Symphony Park The annual series presented by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. On the Lawn. www.charlottesymphony.org. June 5, 12, 19, 26 at 7pm. Admission is free. SouthPark Shopping Center, 4400 Sharon Road. 704-972-2000.

Comedy

Big Chill Queen City Comedy. Hosted by Chris "FunnyMan" Robinson. Wednesdays, 9pm. 911 E. Morehead St. 704-358-9888.
Charlotte Comedy Theater Live Improvised Comedy. Interactive, improvisational comedy similar to Whose Line Is it Anyway. Rated R. www.charlottecomedy.com. Fri & Sat, 8 & 10pm. $10. 1111 - D Hawthorne Ln. 866-467-7681.
The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. June 1-4: Debi Gutierrez. June 8-11: Tammy Pescatelli. 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. Fri. & Sat., 8:30pm. $5. 911 E. Morehead St. 704-301-1564.
SK Netcafe Stand-Up Wednesday. Featuring acts and open mic. Wed., June 1, 10 p.m. 1425 Elizabeth Ave. 704-334-1523.
The Perch Live Sketch Comedy. Rated "R" for verbal content. At CCT, 1111 Hawthorne Ln. # D. www.theperch.com. Thursdays, 9 & 10:30pm. 704-566-0053.

Dance

Afro-Caribbean Dance Lena Blou will present a recital with guests Tropical Flavor Band. www.aacc-charlotte.org. Fri., June 10, 7:30 p.m. $15-$20. Afro-American Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History Kites to Kitty Hawk. A multi-media interactive exhibit. May 25-Sept. 6. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.
Discovery Place Grossology. Exhibit exploring good, bad and ugly about how the body works. Opens May 28. If These Walls Could Talk. The exhibit investigates the science and history of the structures that humans create. May 25-31. IMAX Dome. Now showing Roar: Lions of the Kalahari, Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure and Forces of Nature. Also Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.
Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.
Mint Museum of Art Creighton Michael: Patterns of Perception. May 25-July 3. Music and Movies at the Mint. Music by Evans & Coppola and the film Vertigo, presented on the lawn by Young Affiliates of the Mint. www.youngaffiliates.org. Tue., June 7, 6 p.m. $2-$5. Porcelain American Style. Through June 14. Retrospective of Prints by Chuck Close. May 25-Aug. 7. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.
Mint Museum of Craft + Design Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection. May 25-Dec. 31. Point of View III: North Carolina Artists as Collectors. May 25-Oct. 9. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Tue.-Sun. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.
Museum of York County Eewww, Yuck!. Understanding Nature's Most Unhuggable Creatures. Through Summer 2005. Family Film Festival. Films for folks of all ages. June 7-8: The Rescuers Down Under; June 14-15: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey; June 21-22: The Sword in the Stone; June 28-29: Johnny Tremain. All at 11am & 2pm. www.chmuseums.org. Free after museum admission. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.
Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia Rainforest Alive!. June 4-Sept. 4. 1500 E. Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.

Readings & Signings

Barnes & Noble, Arboretum Ronda Rich. Author will discuss and sign her new books The Town that Came a Courtin' and What Southern Women Know About Flirting . Fri., June 3, 7 p.m. Free. 3327 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-341-9365.
Borders, Stonecrest Gene Cheek. Author will discuss and sign his debut novel The Color of Love. Sat., June 4, 2 p.m. 7836 Rea Rd. 704-752-3782.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers Toby Bost. Author will sign Carolinas Gardener's Guide. Thu., June 2, 7 p.m. Lori and Tony Karayianni. Authors will read from and sign one of their books from the series Sofie Metropolis. Fri., June 10, 7 p.m. 4345 Barclay Downs Dr. 704-602-9820.
Monroe Library Jonathan Farlow. Author will read from and sign his latest novel Brouhaha. Mon., June 6, 6:30 p.m. 316 East Windsor Street, Monroe. 704-283-8184.

Spoken Word

Tea Rex Teahouse Poetry Open Mike. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Fri., June 3, 7:30 p.m. 2102 South Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Theater: Openings

Fishes & Loaves: the Stories Jesus Told Outdoor dinner show presented by Narro Way productions. Saturdays in June, 7pm. King's Arena, Fort Mill, 2175 Gethsemane Ct., Fort Mill. 803-802-2300.
Oklahoma! A new touring production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's landmark musical. May 31-June 5, Tues-Thu, 8pm; Fri-Sat, 8:15pm; Sun, 7:30pm; Sat-Sun, 2pm. $23-$61. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.
Orphans The drama follows the plight of two brothers orphaned at an early age. www.nccast.com. June 15-July 12. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542.
Piedmont Players A presentation of two complete comedies in one evening. The Actor's Nightmare by Christopher Durang and Real Inspector Hound by Sir Tom Stoppard. June 9-11, 15-18, 7:30pm; June 12, 2:30pm. $9-$15. Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St., Salisbury. 704-633-5471.
Quicker Than the Eye Murder mystery dinner theater presented by About Town Tours' ComeSolveIt-Charlotte Players. Sun., June 5, 6 p.m. $50 includes dinner. Palomino Restaurant, 525 N. Tryon St. 704-373-9499.
The Tale of the Allergist's Wife A production of the Actor's Theatre. www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org. June 1-18. Wed. & Thurs, at 7:30pm; Fri. & Sat. at 8pm; June 12 at 2:30pm. $17-$22, June 7 is "Pay What You Can Night". Actor's Theatre, 650 E. Stonewall Street. 704-342-2251.
Threads of Hope A play written to honor the women and men who toiled in Southern textile mills. www.rhcommunitytheatre.org. June 15-18, 8pm; June 18-19, 2:30pm. $5-$8. Rock Hill Community Theatre, 236 West Main St., Rock Hill. 803-324-2578.
Torch Song Trilogy The Off-Tryon Theatre Company presents Harvey Fierstein's Tony-Award Winning play. Thur-Sat, June 9-25, 8pm. $12-$15, June 15 "Pay What You Can". Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-3500.

Theater: Ongoing

Forever Plaid Four guys, one dream… and whole lot of Plaid. A hilarious, yet touching musical. Through June 26: Wed-Thu, 7:30pm; Fri, 8pm; Sat, 4pm & 8pm; Sun, 3pm & 6:30pm. $30-$40. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-372-1000.

Visual Arts: Openings

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Student Art. A cross-disciplines exhibit. June 4-29. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.
Big Toe Studio Show Up!. A mixed media group exhibition. Fri., June 3, 6 p.m. 3123 Cullman Ave. 704-578-8529.
ElderArt Gallery Form and Substance. Exhibit of works by Karen Roberson Powell & Leandro Manzo. Opening Reception: June 3, 6-9pm. June 3-July 16. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.
Green Rice Designs & Studio Rik Catlow. An exhibit of Pop Art Works. Opening Reception: June 3, 7-9pm. June 3-30. 510 E. 35th St. 704-344-0300.
Hayes George Gallery Poetry & Art. A group exhibition. Opening Reception: June 3. June 3-July 8. 225 East Worthington Ave. # 100. 704-332-3278.
Jerald Melberg Gallery Raul Diaz: New Paintings and Sculpture. Ernesto Berra: New Works on Paper. June 4-July 23. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.
Pura Vida Gallery Art & Culture. Featuring live performances and art fromlocal and international artists. 2nd Friday, 7-10pm. 1521 Central Ave. 704-335-8587.
Skillbeck Gallery Second Wave: New Works By Clayton Venhuizen. Opening Reception: June 3, 5-8pm. June 3-18. 248 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Cotswold Village Shops, Courtyard. 704-366-8613.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Bank of America Gallery Decades 1940-1990. Art from the Bank of America Collection. May 25-July 9. Hearst Tower, 114 N. Tryon St. 704-386-7324.
Bank of America Plaza Within Our Walls. A group exhibition of contemporary artwork. May 25-Nov. 1. 101 South Tryon Street. 704-373-1464.
Center for the Arts, Rock Hill Senior Showcase. A group of graduating Winthrop art majors will display recent works. Perimeter Gallery. Through June 11. 121 E. Main St.
Center of the Earth Gallery Jacob Cooley. Solo exhibition of paintings. May 25-June 25. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.
Christa Faut Gallery Paintings. Solo exhibition of acrylic paintings by Herb Jackson. May 25-June 17. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.
Cosmos Cafe Contrary Views. A solo exhibit by Charlotte artist Mike Watson. Through July. 300 N. College St., Suite 101. 704-372-3553.
Dalton Gallery Works by Karen Simpson. May 25-June 27. Center for the Arts, 121 East Main St., Rock Hill. 803-328-2787.
ElderArt Gallery Step by Step. An exhibition of works by Leonel Matheu. May 25-June 1. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.
Farvan International Gallery Cindy Austin. An exhibit of oil paintings. Through June. 119 E. 7th St. 704-375-1424.
Gallery 620 Ballad of the Yellow House. A solo exhibition of paintings by Jerry Lee Kirk. Meet Artist: June 3, 6pm. May 25-June 26. 620 W. Morehead St. 704-618-9966.
The Gallery at Carillon Janos Eneydi. Exhibition: Made in America. Through June 11. 227 W. Trade St. 704-334-8840.
Gallery L, Main Library Mythic Visions: Yarn Paintings of a Huichol Shaman. Through June 27. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.
Hidell Brooks Gallery David Kroll. An exhibit of recent paintings. May 25-June 25. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.
Hodges Taylor Gallery Richard Fennell, Mary Engel. An exhibit of new paintings and recent works. May 25-July 1. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.
Jeanne Rauch Gallery, Gaston College Carmella Jarvi. An exhibition of paintings. May 25-June 17. Rauch Science and Fine Arts Bldg., Dallas Campus, 201 Highway 321 South, Gastonia.
Joie Lassiter Gallery Eric Anderson. A solo exhibition of works. Through June. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.
The Light Factory Family Matters. Images by Deborah Willis and Hank Willis Thomas. In the Knight Gallery. May 25-June 30. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.
Mayo's Ristorante Gallery, Statesville Walt McGervey. An exhibit of mixed media. May 25-June 15. 123 N.Center St. 704-872-5557.
McColl Center for Visual Art Puppets, Ghosts and Zombies: The Sculpture of Pat Keck. One-person exhibition. May 25-June 11. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.
Modern Eye Gallery Two Women: Two Visions. An Exhibit of East meets West. Through June. 1923-A South Blvd. 704-333-3190.
Rutledge Gallery, Winthrop Undergraduate Juried Exhibition. 17th annual exhibit. May 25-June 24. 1898 Alumni Dr. 803-323-2493.