Arts Agenda 

Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir The choir will present a concert entitled "The African in American Music." Sat., July 30, 7 p.m. Free. Friendship Memorial Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Rd. 704-392-0392.

Comedy

Charlotte Comedy Theater Live Improvised Comedy. Interactive, improvisational comedy similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway. Rated R. www.charlottecomedy.com. July 15-16: Comedy Battle. The 1st two teams will perform July 15, 10pm and 2nd two on July 16, 8pm. Championship July 16, 10pm. $10. 1111 - D Hawthorne Ln. 866-467-7681.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. July 22-23: James Gregory; Aug: 3-6 Russ Nagel & Tim Rowlands; Aug 12-13: Jeff Dunham & Peanut; Aug 17-20: Louis CK & Johnny Millwater; Aug 26-27: Rich Voss. 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. Stand-up comedy featuring acts and open mic. Wed., July 20, 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

Feel the Pulse ... Catch the Action! Martha Connerton and Kinetic Works invite the public to watch rehearsals of works in progress for SummerDance 2005. Sat., July 23, 12:30-2 p.m. $5 donation suggested. Open Door Studios, 1221-B The Plaza. 704-338-1533.

SummerDance Dance concert performances presented by Kinetic Works. www.mckineticworks.org. Also Special Seniors Dress Rehearsal July 28, 7:30pm. July 29, 8 p.m.; July 30, 8 p.m. $17-$20. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. 704-338-1533.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History Kid's Fun Night at the Museum. Spend the evening exploring the Museum after hours with a pizza party, scavenger hunt with prizes, hands-on activities and more! All ages. Reservations required. Tue., July 26, 5-7 p.m. $5 per person. Kites to Kitty Hawk. A multi-media interactive exhibit. July 14-Sept. 6. Summer Heritage Craft Series: Beginning Basketweaving. This session will introduce basket-weaving skills that will culminate in a basket to take home. All supplies and lunch provided. Reservations required. Sat., July 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $25 for Museum Members; $35 for Non-Members. Vecinos/Neighbors. A bilingual photographic exhibition. Through Aug. Whatzit?. This exhibit challenges the visitor to identify unique and unusual artifacts rarely on public display. Through Sept. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place Grossology. Exhibit exploring good, bad and ugly about how the body works. Through July. IMAX Dome. Now showing Roar: Lions of the Kalahari, Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure, Forces of Nature and 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. Power Lunch: Re-Accessorize Your Wardrobe. Chico's clothing consultant Aby Smith leads this month's program on breathing new life into an old wardrobe. Lunch-goers receive a $10 Chico's coupon. Reservations requested. Wed., July 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; box lunch $10. Project Hometown: Create. Don't Hate. Featuring a music documentary video, which tells the story of hometown experiences through the eyes, movement and voices of Charlotte teenagers and their local heroes, created by teen artists from Project Hometown, the Moving Poet's educational and youth outreach program. Through July. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife. Local collector offers a glimpse of ancient Egypt. July 15-Dec. 4. Retrospective of Prints by Chuck Close. July 14-Aug. 7. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft + Design Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection. July 14-Dec. 31. Point of View III: North Carolina Artists as Collectors. July 14-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. Liberty or Death. An exhibit of rebels and loyalists in the Southern Piedmont. Through May 7, 2006. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Readings & Signings

Barnes & Noble, Arboretum Ron Chepesiuk. Author will discuss and sign Drug Lords: The Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel. Thu., July 21, 7 p.m. 3327 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-341-9365.

Barnes & Noble, Huntersville Brooks Agnew. Author will discuss his new book, The Ark of Millions of Years. Tue., July 26, 7 p.m. Free. Birkdale Village, 8725 Townley Rd., Huntersville. 704-895-8855.

Park Road Books Jude Theriot. Author will sign Cajun Low-Carb and will present a cooking demo. Wed., July 20, 7 p.m. Park Road Shopping Center, 4139 Park Rd. 704-525-9239.

Spoken Word

Dilworth Playhouse Café Open-Mic. An evening of spoken word. Sat., July 23, 7:45 p.m. 1427 South Blvd., Suite 103. 704-632-0336.

Wine Up Soultry Tuesday's. Open-mic style poetry reading with R&B/Soul and Jazz playing in between and after the poetry set. Tuesdays, 9pm. $5. 3306 - C N. Davidson St. 980-721-5715.

Theater: Openings

Cats CPCC Summer Theatre presents the local premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. July 20-23, 27-30 at 8pm; July 26 at 7pm; July 24 at 2:30pm. $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

Don't Dress for Dinner A comedy presentation. Contains adult situations. Hodson Hall, Cunningham Fine Arts Bldg. www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org. July 28-30 & Aug. 4-6, 8pm. $13-$15. Davidson College. 704-892-7953.Peter Pan Take off with the ever-youthful Cathy Rigby and revel in the magic and whimsy of this beloved classic. July 26-31. Tues-Thurs 8pm; Fri 8:15pm; Saturday 2pm & 8:15pm; Sun 2pm & 7:30pm. $25-$80. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Sylvia Off-Tryon Theatre Company presents this hilarious tale of a man who falls in love with his dog. July28-30, 8pm; August4-6, 8pm; July31 & August 7, 2pm. $19.99. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Tom Sawyer The Community Playhouse of Lancaster County will present a musical version of "Tom Sawyer." USC Lancaster. July 23, 7:30 p.m.; July 24, 3 p.m. $7-$11. Stevens Auditorium, Lancaster, 476 Hubbard Dr. 803-285-9400.

Theater: Ongoing

Laughing Wild Biting humor intersects with touching views on the realities of lonely people struggling to find themselves and even love in a fast-paced, brutal world. July 21-23, 8pm; July 24, 2pm. $19.99. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Menopause the Musical A hilarious celebration of women & the change. www.capritheatre.com. Tues-Thurs 7:30pm; Friday-Sat. 8pm; Sat, 4pm; Sun, 2pm. $39.50. Capri Theatre, 3500 E. Independence Blvd. 704-563-3332.

Off-Tryon Theatre Company The Off-Tryon Theatre Company presents two wildly differing takes on Shakespeare with Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead and The Hamletmachine. Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead will perform July 20, 22, 23, 28 and 30 at 8pm. The Hamletmachine will perform July 21, 23, 27 and 29 at 8pm. July 23 at 3pm. July 13, 20 and 27 are Pay What You Can Nights. $12-$15. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Visual Arts: Openings

B. Brown Gallery, Matthews Painting Demonstrations. By exhibiting artists. Friday & Saturday, 11am-2pm. 131-C Matthews Station St. 704-321-0999.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Wolf Kahn / Alice Ballard Munn. An exhibit of new works in clay by Munn and summertime pastels by Kahn. July 30-Sept. 30. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Actor's Theatre Connatser, Cook, DiNello & Starr. A group exhibition. Through Sept. 650 E. Stonewall Street. 704-342-2251.

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Boundless Art. An inspirational mixed-media exhibit showcasing art of individuals with developmental disabilities. Artists' Reception & Fund Raising event: July 23: 6-9pm. July 14-30. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Bank of America Plaza Within Our Walls. A group exhibition of contemporary artwork. July 14-Nov. 1. 101 South Tryon Street. 704-373-1464.

Center for the Arts, Rock Hill Photography Competition Exhibition. Lewandowski Classroom Gallery and Perimeter Gallery. July 14-20. 121 E. Main St.

Center of the Earth Gallery Colors of Summer. A group exhibition. July 14-Aug. 20. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.

Charlotte Art League Driven to Abstraction. An exhibit of works by Holly Consol. In the Consol Design Studio. Through July. 1517 Camden Rd. 704-376-2787.

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 Murry Handler. An exhibit of recent works. July 14-Aug. 15. Center for the Arts, 121 East Main St., Rock Hill. 803-328-2787.

ElderArt Gallery Michael Strang. An exhibition of European watercolors. Through July 30. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.Gallery 620 Baghdad Reunion. Photography by an American-Iraqi during reunion with family after 24 years. Through July. 620 W. Morehead St. 704-618-9966.

Gallery L, Main Library In Hopes of Freedom. An exhibit of works showcasing black Americans' role in Revolutionary War history. July 14-Aug. 28. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.

Green Rice Designs & Studio Local and Regional Artist Fine Art, Crafts and Furniture. Through July. 451 East 36th St. 704-344-0300.

Hayes George Gallery Looking Eastward. An exhibit of landscape paintings by Bruce Park. July 15-Aug. 12. Vignettes. Group Still Life exhibition by gallery artists. July 15-Aug. 12. 225 East Worthington Ave. # 100. 704-332-3278.

Hidell Brooks Gallery Introductions 2. A group exhibition. July 14-Aug. 27. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Hodges Taylor Gallery John Skau: Sculptural Basketry. Through August 30. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Huntersville Town Hall Photo Exhibit. An exhibit marking the 40th anniversary of the Davidson Community Players. July 14-30. 101 Huntersville-Concord Rd. 704-892-7953.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Raul Diaz: New Paintings and Sculpture. Ernesto Berra: New Works on Paper. July 14-23. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.

The Light Factory John Scarlata. "Forms From The Earth" exhibition. Middleton McMillan Gallery. July 14-Aug. 4. The Members' Show. July 14-Aug. 4. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

McColl Center for Visual Art Thresholds: Expressions of Art and Spiritual Life. Through August 13. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.

Modern Eye Gallery An Abstract View. A group exhibition. July 14-31. 1923-A South Blvd. 704-333-3190.

Perris Boutique Amy Steinberg. An exibit of original artwork. Through Sept. 30. 8038 Providence Rd., Suite 200. 704-542-3850.

Pottery Central Pottery Central Gallery. Functional, sculptural and decorative pottery by local potters. Through July. 3534 Central Ave. 704-537-4477.

Shain Gallery Annual Small Paintings / Beginning Collectors Show. Through July. 601 Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Skillbeck Gallery Trio: Various Artists Showcase. July 14-27. 248 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Cotswold Village Shops, Courtyard. 704-366-8613.

The Arts Palette, Tryon Firemarks. A group exhibition. July 14-Aug. 10. 50 Melrose Ave. 864-457-5408.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center Three exhibitions. July 14-Aug. 27. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.