Classical Music

Charlotte Civic Orchestra The orchestra's new music director will lead a performance of music from his native Republic of Georgia. First United Methodist Church, 501 N. Tryon St. Sat., March 6, 5:30 p.m. Concert $8 adults, $6 seniors/students. 704-344-0098.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Comedy. Extreme Improv at 8pm; Psychotic Pooch at 10pm. Fridays and Saturdays. www.extremeimprov.comwww.psychoticpooch.com. $10. 1958 E 7th St. 704-502-8423.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. Feb. 26-29: Ralphie May & Lanna Turner; March 3-6: Brian Bradley & Johnny Milwater; March 10-13: Scotty K & Julie Scoggins. www.thecomedyzone.net. Sean and Quay. Sean and Quay, members of "The Perch Comedy Theater" are performing a 2-man sketch comedy show. Rated R for verbal content. Sat., March 6, 11 p.m. $12. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.

Dance

A Midsummer Night's Dream Three works by Balanchine, staged by North Carolina Dance Theatre, With The Charlotte Symphony and the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte. www.ncdance.org. March 4 at 7:30pm; March 5-6 at 8pm. $10-$55. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History Charlotte Museum of History. Volunteers sought to help bring Piedmont's early history to life. Training is held at the Museum and Homesite. Call for appointment. The Faces of Our State. Through June 2004. Powerful Persuaders: World War II Posters. Guns, tanks, and bombs may have been the chief weapons of World War II, but there were other forms of warfare. Propaganda posters waged an ongoing campaign for the hearts and minds of the American people. Through Sept. 1. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Continues through Sept. 30, 2004. Where Eagles Soar. This collaborative exhibit with the Carolina Raptor Center compares and contrasts eagles in their natural habitats with their symbolic and historical importance. Through Apr. 4. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place Machine Shop. Get a lift from the pulley, spin wheels, gears and learn about inclined planes and more. Daily. Omnimax. Now showing: Space Station, Top Speed, and Journey Into Amazing Caves. Call or visit website for times, www.discoveryplace.org. A T. Rex Named Sue. A fully articulated cast of a T-Rex fossil will be on display. Opens Feb. 21. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. Courage: The Carolina Story That Changed America. The 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education (the Supreme Court declared racially segregated public schools unconstitutional), initiated massive change in race relations across the country. Feb. 28-Aug. 15. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Artful Dining. A celebration of foods through the history of art. Mar. 9, 16 & 23, 7:30-9pm. $10-15. Fashions of the Crinoline Era: 1840-1865. Eight mid 19th century crinoline fashions, featuring wide hoop skirts, from the museum's costume collection are currently on display. Through May 2004. Margaret Bourke-White. The photography of design, 1927-1936. Feb. 28-May 2. Through the Eye of the Camera. 19th and 20th century photography. Feb. 28-May 2. VantagePoint II. Julie Heffernan: Interior Transformations, featuring large scale paintings. Mar. 15: Heffernan will discuss her paintings at 3pm. March 6-Sept. 5. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Artful Teapot: 20th Century Expressions from the Kamm Collection. An exhibit examining the chameleon-like form of the teapot and how it has become an inventive vehicle for artistic expression in the 20th century. January 31-May 30, 2004. Spectrum: The Sculpture of Jon Kuhn. Works in blown glass. Through Mar. 21, 2004. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Piecing a Quilt of Life: World Connections. Features contemporary art quilts made by 23 women with stories to tell. Exhibit runs through Apr. 25, 2004. Student Art Competition and Exhibition. 23rd Annual exhibit. March 9-April 11. Vernon Grant. An exhibit of Grant's work, Storybook Village. Jan. 31-Oct. 31. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Spoken Word

Tea Rex Teahouse Poetry Open Mic. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Fri., March 5, 7:30 p.m. 2102 South Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Tonic The Soul Movement. An underground nite for Spoken Word/Poetry, Soul Classics, Neo-Soul, Deep/Soulful House, Urban Grooves & Underground Hip-Hop. www.thesoulmovement.com. Sundays. $5 before 9:30pm. 1427 E. 4th St. 704-580-7187.

Theater: Openings

Art An art lover purchases a totally white painting for an astronomically large sum of money. Presented by Davidson Community Players in C. Shaw Smith 900 Room, Knobloch Campus Center. March 4-6, 8pm. $15, $13 seniors/students; Mar. 5 $35 (includes dinner at 6:30). Davidson College. 704-892-7953.

The Cemetery Club The comedy follows three widows who meet once a month to have tea before visiting their late husbands' graves. Mar. 4-6, 11-13 at 8pm; Mar. 7 at 2:30pm. $15 for adults and $8 for children 12 years. Old Courthouse Theatre, 49 Spring Street, NW, Concord. 704-788-2405.

The Full Monty Once a movie, now a Broadway musical, The Full Monty boasts a comical score, witty choreography and a zany cast. Adult content. www.blumenthalcenter.org. March 9-11, 8pm; March 12, 8:15pm; March 13, 2pm & 8:15pm; March 14, 2pm & 7:30pm. $23-$67. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Lobby Hero Off-Broadway hit is set in the lobby of a Manhattan high-rise, where a security guard tries to make the most of the graveyard shift when he is confronted with a mind-bending problem. Presented by Actor's Theatre of Charlotte. www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org. March 3-27, Wed. & Thu. at 7:30pm, Fri. & Sat. at 8pm, March 21 at 2:30pm. March 9 at 7:30pm is "Pay What You Can Night.". $17-$22. Actor's Theatre, 650 E. Stonewall Street. 704-342-2251.

Reservations A new play by local playwright April Turner, examining issues relevant to the lives of women in America. March 5; March 6, 8 p.m. $7-10. Afro-American Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. 704-374-1565.

Theater: Ongoing

Glengarry Glen Ross David Mamet's 1984 Pulitzer Prize winning Drama is being held over. March 5-6, at 8pm; Feb. 29 at 3pm. $15 adults, $12 Students/Seniors. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542.

Too Many Cooks in the Kitchen What happens when some well known chefs and television personalities compete against one another in a cooking contest? Murder Mystery Dinner Theater produced by About Town Tours. Through Mar. 31, Wed - Sat, 7pm. $32.95 adults, $21.95 children 6-12 (Wed & Thu); $38.95 adults, $24.95 children 6-12 (Fri & Sat). Ovations, 3014 East Independence Blvd. 704-602-2595.

Visual Arts: Openings

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Multi-media student works. Included in the exhibit will be artwork from students in Interior Design, Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design and Multimedia & Web Design. Through March 31. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Art Preserve Group Exhibit. Currently showing contemporary abstact paintings by Jan Kinslowe, furniture by Beth Phillips, sculptural pieces by Linda Vista and paintings by Eric Olsen. Through March. 3200 A North Davidson. 704-358-8882.

Blue Pony Gallery & Press Sign Art. Three artists use billboard ads to create large scale mixed-media. March 5-27. 3202A N. Davidson St. 704-334-9390.

Christa Faut Gallery Searching The Past To Resolve The Future. Solo exhibition of recent watercolor paintings by Denise Lisiecki. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6:30-8:30pm. Through April 6. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.

Cone Center Gallery, UNCC Pattiy Torno. Surreptitious Repitition: A Quilt exhibit. Through March. 704-687-3315.

Cosmos Cafe Dan Allegrucci / Ashley Lathe. Prints, drawings and watercolorlandscapes. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6-8:30pm. Through March. 300 N. College St., Suite 101. 704-372-3553.

ElderArt Gallery Woman, Water, Rome, Italy. A new series of paintings by internationally recognized artist, Carole Robb. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6-9pm. Through April. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

The Evening Muse Inner Visions. A retrospective of original fine art works by Charlotte artist, Jessica Deltac. Opening Reception: March 5, 6-8pm. March 5-April 30. 3227 N. Davidson St. 704-376-3737.

George A. Batte Jr. Fine Arts Center, Wingate University Setsuya Kotani. An exhibit of ceramics. Through Mar. 27. 704-233-8300.

Green Rice Designs & Studio Wet Paint. A solo exhibition featuring the works of local artist Nancy Prator. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6:30pm:9:30pm. Live Music by Nichole Atkins & Ian Thomas. Through April 1. 510 E. 35th St. 704-344-0300.

Hart-Witzen Gallery NoDa Gallery. Featuring a new exhibition of original works by regional artists each month. Works from Florence, Italy, by Osiris Rain, through the month of February. Singer-Songwriter Open Mic every Wednesday. Reaching. Quiet. Reaching. Quiet. Designs an exhibition of custom contemporary furniture and architectural interiors. Live music. Singer songwriter open mic every Wed. March 5, 6 & 19, 8pm - midnight. 136 E. 36 St. 704-334-1177.

Hidell Brooks Gallery Eric Aho. A solo exhibit entitled Recent Paintings. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6-8pm. March 5-May 1. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Hodges Taylor Gallery 2 exhibitions. Jayne Johnson: New Paintings, is a body of work that demonstrates the use of oil paint. Extravagant Imagination: Teapots features artists who highlight the teapot, both as a functional object and as a sculptural form. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6-8pm. March 5-May 1. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

The Light Factory Industrial Light. The photography exhibit by Brownie Harris will be on view in The Light Factory's Middleton-Macmillan Gallery in Spirit Square. www.lightfactory.org. Spirit Square, Knight Gallery, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

Maddi's Gallery Lizzy Williams & Ann Finley. Featuring two Georgia folk artists. Opening Reception: Mar. 6, 10am-6pm. Through March. 1530 East Blvd. 704-332-0007.

NoDa Artist Network The Essence of Women Without Homes. In honor of Women's History Month, 13 works by and about area residents of the Salvation Army Center of Hope Homeless Shelter. Meet artists: Mar. 19, 8pm. Through March. 2424 N. Davidson St. 704-358-4210.

Queen's Gallery & Art Center Student Exhibition. Featuring a Braitman Studio student exhibition. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6-9pm. Through Mar. 31. 1212 The Plaza. 704-372-2993.

Redsky Gallery Teapot Extravaganza. An exhibit of teapots from current gallery ceramic artists and members of the Carolina Claymatters pottery guild. March 4: Judging and live auction of winning teapots. Reception: March 5, 6-8pm. Through March 29. 4705 Savings Pl., Suite 108. 704-552-5200.

Rowe Arts Galleries, UNCC Bethanne Hill. Exhibit: "Recent Works and Inclement Weather." Through Mar. 26. Rowe Arts Building, 9201 University Blvd.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center Bridgwood, Crum, Oliveira. Exhibits featuring ceramic sculptures and paintings. Through April 17. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.

Watkins Gallery, Queens Sister artists. An exhibition of drawings, prints and pottery by sister artists Pauline Doveand Selma Dove Krones. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 3:30-6:30pm. A sale of artists' work: Mar. 6, 10am-2pm. Through Mar. 30. 1900 Selwyn Ave. 704-509-1689.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Bank of America Plaza Surface Matters. Artists from the Southeast explore surface and materials challenging the viewer to look deeper and stretch their awareness, using newspaper, steel, concrete, monofilament, fiber, acrylics and oil. Curated by Joie Lassiter Gallery. Also at First Citizens, 128 S. Tryon. Through Nov 15. 101 South Tryon Street. 704-373-1464.

Breathe Art Space Journey Within. An exhibit by Group Doshi featuring works in oil, ceramics, paper collage, ink andphotography. Runs through Mar. 6. www.breathe-artspace.com. 228 Caldwell Lane, Suite B, Davidson. 704-896-1799.

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Georgie Pocheptsov. An exhibit of drawings and paintings by Georgie Pocheptsov, an eleven-year-old artist. Feb. 28-March 27. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

Das Maultier Art Gallery Store/Gallery. Art and design shop located in NODA with affordable art for novice to the serious collector. In the Colony. 3472 N. Davidson St. 704-333-0277.

The Gallery at Carillon Fiber Images. This exhibition of contemporary fiber will feature 11 wall works by 8 artists. Feb. 28-April 16. 227 W. Trade St. 704-334-8840.

Gallery L, Main Library Gettin' Along: A View of Racial Integration in America. An exhibit of photographs taken in the 1930s and 1940s by Joe Schwartz. www.plcmc.org/galleryL. Feb. 28-March 28. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.

Joie Lassiter Gallery Joe Walters. Selected works from Charleston-based artist featuring works with intricate and complex natural forms, shifting between formalism and realism. Through March 26. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.

Lesbian & Gay Community Center Francisco Gonzales. An exhibit of Charlotte printmaker, a gallery artist with Blue Pony Gallery and Press. Through March 13. 1401 Central Ave. 704-333-0144.

The Light Factory Michael Harrison, An Italian Diary & Frank Hunter's Sunflowers. Harrison, a Charlotte based artist, made the pictures in the show while teaching in Italy. Feb. 28-March 13. Spirit Square, Knight Gallery, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

Merrill-Jennings Galleries Addie James. A one woman show called A Home of My Own by NC folk artist to benefit Our Towns Habitat for Humanity. Through March. 463 S. Main St., Davidson. 704-895-1213.

Noel Gallery Mammy How I Love You. Paintings by Beverly McIver & photographs by Ernie Button. Opening Reception: Mar. 5, 6-8pm. Through March. Transamerica Square, 401 N. Tryon St. 704-343-0050.

Pottery Central Pottery Central Gallery. Functional, sculptural and decorative pottery by local potters. Friday & Saturday 10-5 or call for appointment. 3534 Central Ave. 704-537-4477.

Shain Gallery Small Paintings. A beginning collectors show. Through March 3. 601-B Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

W.D.O. Post-Industrial Romanticism. A group exhibit featuring works in clay, glass and metal. Through March 13. Hearst Plaza Suite No. 1, 214 North Tryon St. 704-333-9123.

Winthrop University Galleries Zanne Hochberg. An exhibition titled Seeking The Center : The Paintings, Prints, and Constructions of Zanne Hochberg (1931-2001). Rutledge and Elizabeth Dunlap Patrick Galleries. Feb. 28-March 26. 107 McLaurin, Rock Hill. 803-323-2493.