Forget SparkNotes, because All the Great Books Abridged smashes 86 popular books from all ages into 90 minutes of humorous theatrics that go by faster than the turn of a page. OK, maybe not that fast, but you definitely don't have to worry about the small print. Stephen Seay Productions, the Charlotte-based, LGBT-friendly organization that's produced Matt & Ben, Beyond Therapy and The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged) stages four performances of the literary-based show at Wine Up in NoDa. It's slated to star actors Brandon Ballard, Christopher Jones and Jay Russell, portraying a range of charismatic characters from Sherlock Holmes, Frankenstein and The Wizard of Oz. For tickets, call 704-372-1000 or visit www.carolinatix.org.

Anita Overcash

Price: $10 in advance