NC Dance Theatre will present Innovative Works, which is usually their most exciting, creative program of the year. This time, it's presented in two parts. Program A opens tonight at 6:30pm and will continue through Saturday, April 6, with the rest of the shows beginning at 8pm. There will also be a 2pm matinee on April 6. Program B opens April 10 at 6:30pm and will continue with 8pm performances through Saturday, April 13. A 2pm matinee will also be offered April 13. Each program showcases the works of five choreographers and offers audiences an opportunity to experience a broad range of dance styles and contemporary choreography. Tickets range from $18-$25. For more information, call 704-372-1000.
The Charlotte Hornets hit the floor against the surging Miami Heat, who are competing against the Hornets for a playoff spot, tonight at 7pm at the Charlotte Coliseum. Tickets are $9-39, available by calling 800-4NBA-TIX.
Cirque Du Soleil's beautiful, surreal presentation Quidam continues its run tonight. The wonders before you will blow your mind, the costumes are magnificent, the music haunting and melodic. This is a show that must be witnessed to be believed. Quidam will be performed at Lowe's Motor Speedway at 8pm. The show continues on a limited run of engagement following a regular performance schedule. The schedule is as follows: Monday --- dark, Tuesday/Wednesday --- 8pm, Thursday/Friday --- 5pm and 9pm, Saturday --- 4pm and 8pm, Sunday --- 1pm and 5pm. For more information, call 1-800-678-5440 or visit online at www.cirquedusoleil.com.
Book of Days, an award-winning play by Lanford Wilson, will be presented by Actor's Theatre of Charlotte tonight through April 14 at Spirit Square. Showtimes are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm, and Sunday April 14 at 2pm only. Tickets range from $14-$18. For more information, call 704-372-1000.
THURSDAY 4
Rossini's eternal comedy The Barber of Seville will be presented by Opera Carolina at the Performing Arts Center starting tonight at 8pm. The show will run again tomorrow night at 8pm, and on Sunday at 2pm. Tickets range from $10-$68. For more information, call 704-372-1000 or visit online at www.operacarolina.org.
The Food Lion Auto Fair runs today through Sunday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. Featuring over 2,000 cars, loads of memorabilia and parts vendors, the gold medal bobsled, and the traction-propelled Turbinator, a rocket on wheels capable of speed over 450 miles per hour. Hours are 8am-6pm Thursday through Saturday, and Sunday from 8am until 4pm. Admission is $8, with children 12 and under in free with a paid adult. For more information, click on lowesmotorspeedway.com.
Johnson C. Smith University is hosting the Wonderful World of Words, which continues today. The school will hold a writing workshop with Davidson professor Alan Michael Parker at 4pm in the Humanities Building, Room 108. Parker will also read his poetry at 7pm in Grimes Lounge. Tomorrow, Quraysh Ali Lansana will give a workshop at 4pm and read at 7pm in the same locations as Parker. Friday wraps up the festival with a panel discussion on poetry at 4pm in Humanities Room 108, followed by a JCSU student reading at 7pm in Grimes Lounge. For more information, call 704-378-1022.
It's still going! Victory Pictures' Terra Nova, the story of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's tragic trek to the South Pole, continues tonight. The epic Antarctic drama runs through April 7, all shows are at 8pm in the Matthews Community Center. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors. For more information, call 704-455-8542 or visit online at www.victorypictures.net.
Off-Tryon Theatre will present their next production the Miss Firecracker Contest starting tonight in the Off-Tryon theatre at 3143 Cullman Ave. The show will run at 8pm, Thursday-Saturday through April 13. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and students. For more information, call 704-375-2826 or visit online at www.offtryon.org.
FRIDAY 5
Tonight, Factory Films presents a Carolinas Filmmakers Showcase at the McGlohon Theater. The event starts with a Meet-the-Filmmakers Reception at the Levine Museum of the New South beginning at 6pm. It then continues with a screening of several films at the McGlohon Theatre beginning at 7:30pm. Films include The Truce by Eric Rolnick, Noble Chrome Pirates by Jeff Nichols, Armor of God and Non-Abductee's Anonymous by Philip Powell. Tickets are $7 and are available at the Spirit Square box office. For more information, call 704-333-9755.
The Charlotte Hornets take on Michael "Ooh, my knees" Jordan and the Washington Bullets tonight at 7:30pm at the Charlotte Coliseum. Tickets are $9-39, available by calling 800-4NBA-TIX.
The Third Annual Social Justice Conference will take place today through Sunday at the Universalist Church of Charlotte on Sharon Amity Road. There will be over 45 speakers addressing five sessions: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender; Peace and Justice; Economic Justice; The Death Penalty, and a "Final Panel Session." Awards will be given for service in some of the areas. For more information, call 704-364-3835.
SATURDAY 6
Put down that bong and head over to the Charlotte Marriott City Center today and tomorrow and check out the groovy Jerry Garcia: A Visual Journey, a touring art exhibition featuring artworks by the late Grateful Dead guitarist. Hours are 10am-10pm today and 10am-6pm tomorrow. For more information, log onto www.imagemakersart.com or call 215-487-0234.
Flat picker extraordinaire Doc Watson, American music icon and Deep Gap, NC resident, will play the McGlohon Theatre of Spirit Square tonight at 8pm. Tickets are $22-25, available by calling 704-372-1000.
The Charlotte Museum of History will celebrate the completion of the homesite's historic log barn with a Spring Barn Frolic today from 11am-4pm on the museum grounds. Featured attractions including clogging, bluegrass music, craft exhibitions, food, storytelling, and more. Admission is free with regular museum admission ($6 for adults, $4 for students and seniors, and $2 for ages 6-12). For more information, call 704-568-1774.
Today is Run for Youth Day presented by the Mecklenburg Council on Adolescent Pregnancy, Substance Abuse Prevention Services, the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation, and Protecting
Kids...Everybody's Job. The day will begin at the Greenville Community Center, 1330 Spring St. and will include two events; the 3rd Annual 5K Run For Youth plus a 1-Mile Fun Walk/Run. The fun walk begins at 8:55pm and the 5K run begins at 9am. The 5K run is open to young people ages 10-18 and adults. The fun run is open to all ages. Pre-registration is required for both events. The entry fees are $1 for the fun walk, $5 for adults and $2 for youth on the 5K run. For more information and entry forms call 704-332-6721.
The play Looking For Mr. Do Right will be performed at Ovens Auditorium today at 3pm ($20.50) and 8pm ($24.50). For more information, call 704-522-6500.
Carolina Voices presents vocal jazz group Impromptu! doing a tribute of rock hits from the 60s and 70s in their showcase, "Takin' it to the Limit...One More Time!" held tonight and tomorrow night at Theatre Charlotte. Showtimes are 8pm on Saturday and 3pm and 7pm on Sunday. Tickets are $14 in advance and $16 at the door. For more information, call 704-374-1564 or visit www.carolinavoices.org.
Celebrate Poland: Old and New, an evening of Polish folk music, dance, culture and art will be presented at Queens College in Dana Auditorium. The Wroctaw Folk Ensemble will perform 18th and 19th century patriotic songs of Poland in traditional regional costumes. A reception showing the work of Polish painter Maja Godlewska will follow the performance. The show starts at 8:15pm. Tickets are $20 per person. For more information, call 704-337-2213.
The television show Carolina Calling, hosted by local music and TV legend Arthur Smith, will air for the first time this week on the UNC-TV network at 8pm. The first show will feature Smith, composer of the all-time biggest selling banjo hit, "Dueling Banjos," alongside Earl Scruggs, the most influential (and famous) banjo player in the world.
Cat lovers, unite! The CFA Cat Show, a presentation of Friskies and The Crafty Cat, will leave loads of hair all over the Charlotte Merchandise Mart today and tomorrow. Featuring mucho vendors, all sorts of rare breeds of cats, and other goodies, the show is open from 10am until 4pm each day. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for seniors, and $3 for
children 12 and under. For more information, call 336-643-5246.
SUNDAY 7
International star Angela Dimitriou of Greece will perform with her 15-piece orchestra at the Palomino Club tonight at 8pm. Advance tickets are $60, $65 at the door. Ticket purchase includes a buffet of heavy hors d'oeuvres. For more information, call 704-904-7846 or 704-904-9094.
The Beach Boys, minus the Wilson brothers and plus some tacky shirts, bring their oldies act to Ovens Auditorium tonight at 7pm. Tickets are $39.75, $45, and $55, available by calling 704-522-6500.
MONDAY 8
Temple Beth El will hold a Holocaust Remembrance Day event, "The Holocaust in Context" tonight from 7-9pm at, you guessed it, Temple Beth El. A service commemorating Holocaust victims will be followed by an "intergenerational dialogue" and a discussion examining past and contemporary issues of the Holocaust as they pertain to each generation. Survivors, liberators, scholars, clergy and teens will participate in the discussion and a question and answer session. The public is invited and encouraged to attend. For more information, call 704-366-1948.
TUESDAY 9
The Charlotte Knights, who are looking better all the time as a sports bargain and a potential citywide rallying point, begin their season tonight against the Indianapolis Indians at 7:15. The team will take on the Indians nightly at 7:15pm through Friday. Tickets are $6-9 (really!) and are available by calling 704-36-HOMER.
Fiddler on the Roof, one of the most beloved musicals of our time, is back on tour with a celebrated new production starring Theodore Bikel as Tevye, the humble milkman who struggles to preserve his family traditions in the face of a changing world. The production opens tonight at Ovens Auditorium and will run through April 14. Showtimes are Tuesday-Thursday at 8pm, Friday and Saturday at 8:15pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday shows at 7:30pm. Tickets range from $20-$58. For more information or to purchase tickets call 704-522-6500.
The Grigorovich Ballet Company will perform Spartacus tonight at 8pm in the Belk Theatre of the Performing Arts Center. The performance is presented by the Carolinas Concert Association. Tickets range from $25-$75. For more information, call 704-527-6680 or visit online at www.carolinasconcertassoc.com.
WEDNESDAY 10
UNC-Charlotte's Department of Dance and Theatre will present one of Bertolt Brecht's best-loved and most-performed plays, The Threepenny Opera, starting tonight at 8pm in the university's Rowe Theatre. The play will continue at 8pm April 11-13 and 17-20 and at 2pm on April 14. Tickets are $10 for the general public. For more information, call 704-687-2599.
The Charlotte Hornets hit the floor against the Atlanta Hawks in what may be one of the team's last Charlotte games ever tonight at 7pm at the Charlotte Coliseum. If anyone still cares, tickets are $9-39, available by calling 800-4NBA-TIX. *
