Christmas at St. Mary's Tomm Lorenzin returns as narrator. Medieval and Renaissance music, readings and carols. Sat., Dec. 14, 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. $12 regular admission, $6 students/seniors. St. Mary's Chapel, 1129 E. 3rd St. 704-334-3468.
From Rags to Rap A series of musical sessions that reflect how black music has evolved during the 20th century. Each date will focus on one influence. The December date spotlights spiritual, blues, gospel & ragtime music. Fri., Dec. 13. $10 AACC members, $12 non-members. Afro-American Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.
Holiday Music with Emile Pandolfi The Wingate University Dinner Theatre Series will present An Evening with Emile Pandolfi (pianist) in the Hannah Covington McGee Theatre of the George A. Batte Jr. Fine Arts Center. Dinner will begin at 6pm. The performance begins at 7:30pm. Mon., Dec. 16. Dinner and performance, $35. Performance only, $15. Wingate University. 704-233-8300.
Jazz & Classical Essentials Sunday Brunch Borders will be playing jazz and classical music from their essential catalogs. Coffee and pastry provided. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Free. Borders, 3900 Colony Rd. 704-365-6261.
Messiah Celebrate the season with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. Wed., Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m. $20. First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Tryon St. 704-972-2000.
Rejoice! With Brass and Voice Presented by the Charlotte Children's Choir and Youth Ensembles along with special guest Carolina Brass. Sat., Dec. 14, 8 p.m. $12 adults, $10 students/seniors. Myers Park Presbyterian Church. 704-374-1892.
Comedy
The Perch Theatre Perch Comedy. Cheerfully offending Charlotte since 1994. Showtimes are 9pm, 11pm, on Friday and Saturday nights, and an additional show on Saturdays at 1am. The 9pm show is non-smoking. Show #275: Dec. 6-14. Audience Favorites Part 2: Dec. 20- Jan. 4. The Talking Baby Talk Show is every Thursday at 9:30pm. Performances are rated R for verbal content. www.theperch.com. Fri., Sat. $10/$9 with students/military I.D. 1500 B. Central Ave. 704-372-7724.
The Comedy Zone Hypnotist, Mike Harvey. Dec. 11-14. College Night and "SIN" (Service Industry Workers) Night. Get free admission for the 8pm show and with your Comedy Zone ticket, get in free to Have a Nice Day Cafe. Wednesdays. 516 N. College St., Wed. & Thurs.- 8pm, Fri. & Sat.- 8pm, 10:15pm. 704-348-4242.
Dance
Nutcracker Clover School District Auditorium presents Columbia City Ballet's Nutcracker. Tue., Dec. 17, 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available by phone and at the door. Clover School District Auditorium, 1625 Highway 55 East, Clover. 803-222-8018.
The Nutcracker North Carolina Dance Theatre will present Salvatore Aiello's The Nutcracker this holiday season. The Charlotte Symphony will accompany the production. Presented in the Belk Theater. Dec. 12-13, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 p.m.; Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 20, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 21, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 22, 2 p.m. $17-55. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.
The Nutcracker The Union County tradition of The Nutcracker will come to life in the Hannah Covington McGee Theatre of the George A. Batte. Jr. Fine Arts Center. Presented by the Union County Youth Ballet. Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2 p.m. Dec. 12, $10 per person; Dec. 14 & 15 matinee, $10 regular admission, $9 seniors/children; Dec. 14 evening performance, $12. Wingate University. 704-289-8300.
The Nutcracker Performed by the Charlotte Youth Ballet. The Dec. 13 performance is a student/senior showing. A Nutcracker Tea Party will be held before the show on Dec. 14 at 4pm. Dec. 13, 9:30 a.m.,11:30 a.m. & 6 p.m.; Dec. 14, 6 p.m. $10-20 adults, $6-16 children. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 704-522-6500 or 704-335-3100.
The Nutcracker Brave toy soldiers, an evil rat king and a handsome prince to save the day. Once again GDT will bring this classic tradition to life. Presented in the Pamela Kimbrell-Warlick Performing Arts Center on the campus of Gaston Day School. Dec. 13, 8 p.m.; Dec. 14, 10:30 a.m. & 8 p.m.; Dec. 15, 2:30 p.m. $15 adults, $10 students/seniors. Children 12 & under $5 for the morning performance on Dec. 14 only. Gaston Dance Theatre, 201 W. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia. 704-865-5943.
The Nutcracker Choreographed by Anne Blackwell. Presented in Johnson Theatre. Dec. 13, 8 p.m.; Dec. 14, 3 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Dec. 15, 3 p.m. $3 w/ Winthrop ID, $7 general admission. Winthrop University, Rock Hill. 803-323-2287.
Museums
Charlotte Museum of History/Hezekiah Alexander Homesite & American Freedom Bell Highways & Byways of Our State. A photographic road trip of eclectic NC sites and scenes, all viewed from the state's Highways and Byways, using archival images from Our State: North Carolina magazine. Mon.-Sun. Continues through Jan. 12. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Multimedia exhibit in the Millennium Gallery tells the personal stories of war as shared through the written and recorded war-time correspondence of soldiers from the region. A Charlotte Shout event. Continues through Sept. 30, 2003. Regular Museum admission. 3500 Shamrock Dr., Between Eastway and Sharon Amity. 704-568-1774.
