Alfonso Lopez Violinist Lopez, concertmaster of the Venezuelan Symphony orchestra in Caracas, will perform with Michelle Tabor (piano) in a program of European and Hispanic music. Mon., Sept. 27, 8 p.m. Free, donations accepted. Belmont Abbey Basilica, 100 Belmont-Mount Holly Rd., Belmont. 704-334-3468.

Celebration of Sacred Music Featuring eight area choirs, choral and instrumental musicians. Sun., Sept. 26, 6 p.m. Free. Providence Baptist Church, 4921 Randolph Rd. 704-529-1616.

Fall Gala with Renee Fleming Making her first orchestral debut, Fleming will sing accompanied by conductor Christof Perick and the Charlotte Symphony. Wed., Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. $40-$70. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

The Three Sopranos A series featuring faculty performers. Sun., Sept. 26, 4 p.m. Free. Tillman Auditorium, Winthrop U, Rock Hill. 803-323-2255.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Comedy. Extreme Improv, Charlotte's only professional improv comedy troupe, Fri and Sat, 8pm (866-467-7681); Psychotic Pooch performs bizarre sketch comedy, Fri and Sat, 10pm (704-502-8423). www.extremeimprov.com www.psychoticpooch.com. $10. 1958 E 7th St. 704-332-2256.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances. Sept. 22-25: Grandma Lee, Joe West and Alan King; Sept. 3-Oct. 2: Aries Spears and Brian Cork. www.comedyzone.net. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.

Tyber Creek Pub The Pink Turtle Sketchprov Experience. "Whose Line" type short form improv. Reservations suggested. www.pinkturtle.net. Fridays, 8pm. $5. 1933 S. Blvd. 704-301-1564.

Dance

Beatles, Barbeque and Balanchine Two world premiere ballets, one set to music by the Beatles and the other inspired by the Southern writer Flannery O'Connor. The third piece is George Balanchine's Divertimento No.15 by Mozart. Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Sept. 24, 8 p.m.; Sept. 25, 8 p.m. Belk Visual Arts Center, Davidson College. 704-894-2519.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History Main Streets of Our State. A traveling photography exhibit. Sept. 16-Jan. 2. Our Changing Landscape: Early Views of People and Place in the Carolina Piedmont. An exhibition that illustrates and interprets the changes in the Carolina Piedmont landscape. Sept. 25-May 25. Soldier's Stories: War in the First Person. Through Sept. 30. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place Communication Exhibit. Follow electronic messages around the world, see your voice, and get a glimpse at the next generation of the information age. Sept. 16-Jan. 10. Omnimax. Omnimax is closed for renovations through mid-November. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. Focus on Justice: Carolina Photographers and the Civil Rights Movement. Through Oct. 17. Living Traditions. Folk Arts of the American South. Sept. 16-Jan. 9. We're Still Here: Native Americans in the Southeast. Sept. 16-Jan. 9. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Guild of Charlotte Artists. Meeting with slide demo by Brad Thomas Dir. Art Gallery at Davidson College. Guests welcome. Wed., Sept. 22, 7 p.m. Porcelain American Style. July 31, 2004-June 14, 2005. Pottery American Style. Sept. 18-Feb. 20. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience. Sept. 16-Jan. 30. Speaking Volumes: Vessels from the Collections of Mint Museums. Sept. 16-April 17. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Wine Classes. Session III: Taste and Flavor : The Biology of Tasting; Gustatory System; Active Smelling; Olfactory vs Tactile Descriptors. Sept. 28, 6:30-8pm. $30. Young Affiliates of the Mint. Join the Young Affiliates and young Charlotte professionals for an evening on the MMC+D rooftop. Enjoy the city skyline with music by Jah Creation. Fri., Sept. 24, 6-9 p.m. $10-$15. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Eewww, Yuck!. Understanding Nature's Most Unhuggable Creatures. Through Summer 2005. Our Changing Landscapes: Early views of people and places in Carolina Piedmont. Sept. 25-May 15. Vernon Grant. An exhibit of Grant's work, Storybook Village. Through Oct. 24. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Schiele Museum, Gastonia Within These Hills. A photographic exhibition. Sept. 16-Oct. 3. 1500 East Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.

Readings & Signings

Union County Public Library, Monroe Cathy Pickens. Author will discuss and sign Southern Fried. Mon., Sept. 27, 7-8 p.m. 316 East Windsor St. 704-283-8184 ext. 241.

Spoken Word

Mama's Caribbean Grill Uptown Saturday Nite. Featuring singers, rappers, and poets. Sign up for the Open Mic Showcase. Details: www.freewebs.com/motifentertainment. Every second and last Saturday of the month at 10pm-until. $7 cover. 1504 Central Ave. 704-375-8414.

Queens University Poets' Night. Hosted by Main Street Rag. Gail Peck will read from her new poetry collection, Thirst. Open Mike will follow. www.MainStreetRag.com. Sat., Sept. 25, 7 p.m. 1900 Selwyn Ave. 704-573-2516.

Theater: Openings

Capitol Steps Performed by a team of former congressional aides who are the Weird Al Yankovic of political satire. Sun., Sept. 26, 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. $12.50-$32. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Centerstage Scenes, monologues, and poetic performances that depict the Gay American Experience. For Mature Audiences Only. Sat., Sept. 25, 7:30 p.m. $10. Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 1401 Central Ave. 704-333-0144.

The Faculty Room A drama depicting a school where violence is the norm, weapons are commonplace and teachers are lost burned out souls. Sept. 22-25 at 8pm. $12-$15. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 705-455-8542.

Fishes & Loaves: the Stories Jesus Told The story of Jesus comes to life in this interactive event. Reservations required. www.narroway.net. Sept. 24, 8 p.m.; Sept. 25, 8 p.m. $19.95, dinner show. King's Arena, Fort Mill, 2175 Gethsemane Ct., Fort Mill. 803-802-2300.

Harvey A classic comedy featuring a six-and-a-half-foot rabbit. www.yorkvilleplayers.com. Sept. 24-25, Oct. 1-2, 8pm; Sept. 26 & Oct. 3, 3pm. $8. McCelvey Center, York, 212 E. Jefferson St., York. 803-628-5025.

Vanities One of the longest running off-Broadway plays in American history, depicts the loss of innocence and coming of age in America. Sept. 22-25, 8p.m. $5-$10. Johnson Theatre, Winthrop. 803-323-2287.

Theater: Ongoing

Cabaret A visual metaphor for the depraved and dangerous place of Berlin as the Nazis are beginning to come to power. Sept.9-26, Thurs., Fri., Sat., 8:00 p.m.; Sun., 2:30 p.m. $17-$22. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. 704-334-9128.

Over the River and Through the Woods A comedy about change, individual choices, and the invisible ties that bind us to those we love. Presented by Charlotte Rep. Sept. 17-Oct.3, Wed-Thur, 7:30pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm; Sun 2pm. $31.50-$37.50. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Pageant Depicts the trials and tribulations of six regional beauty contestants. www.offtryon.net. Sept. 16-18, 22-25, Sept 30- Oct. 2. $12-$15. Off-Tryon Theatre, 3143 Cullman Ave. 704-375-2826.

Psycho Beach Party A spoof of 60s beach movies. www.barebones.org. Sept. 9-26, Thurs-Sat 8pm; Sun 3pm. $12-$15. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Take Me Out An ode to baseball and the story of a popular baseball player. Contains adult content & partial nudity. www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org. Sept. 15-Oct. 2, Wed/Thurs at 7:30pm; Fri/Sat at 8pm; Sept. 26 at 2:30pm. $17-$23. Actor's Theatre, 650 E. Stonewall Street. 704-342-2251.

You're A Good Man Charlie Brown The Peanuts gang is back in a newly revised version of this family favorite musical. Presented by CPCC Theatre. Sept. 17-18, 24-25, 8pm; Sept. 26, 2:30pm. $12. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

Visual Arts: Openings

Depot Visual Arts Center, Mooresville Nell Landers and Mary Setzer. A mixed-media exhibition. Opening Reception: Oct. 3, 2-4pm. Through October. 103 W. Center Ave. 704-663-6661.

Visual Arts: Ongoing

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Alex Radin. An exhibit of illustrations. Through September. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Art Preserve Jim Nilsen Photographs. Through October. 3200 A North Davidson. 704-358-8882.

Bank of America Gallery Decades. Art from the Collection of Bank of America 1940-1990. Through October. Hearst Tower, 114 N. Tryon St. 704-386-7324.

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.

Belk Visual Arts Center, Davidson College Jim Dine Prints: 1985-2002. Forty-six lithographs will be on display by one of America's greatest printmakers. Through Oct. 7. 704-894-2519.

Blue Pony Gallery & Press Sherry Beatty. Exhibit of new paintings. Through Oct. 16. 3202A N. Davidson St. 704-334-9390.

Breathe Art Space Susan Harbage Page. "Women Waiting" features digital prints of found photographs with rust on paper. Through Oct. 22. 228 Caldwell Lane, Suite B, Davidson. 704-896-1799.

Center of the Earth Gallery Page H. Laughlin: The Interiors Series. Through Oct. 31. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.

Christa Faut Gallery Elizabeth Bradford. Dreams And Metaphor, solo exhibition of paintings. Through Oct. 5. 19818 N. Cove Rd., Cornelius. 704-892-5312.

Clay on Camden Celena H. Christos. Clay works. Through September. 1510 Camden Rd. 704-790-2326.

Cone Center Gallery, UNCC Maja Godlewska. Paintings 2000-2004. Sept. 16-Oct. 2. 704-687-3315.

Cosmos Cafe See the Light. An exhibit of paintings by Violeta Moreno. Through Oct. 15. 300 N. College St., Suite 101. 704-372-3553.

CPCC Art Gallery New Work. Artwork by Peggy Rivers. Sept. 16-Oct. 1. Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6480.

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Cher Glisson Cosper. An exhibit of paintings. Through Oct. 2. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

Dalton Gallery Do What You Want To Do. Invitational Gallery Exhibition and Silent Auction. Sept. 16-23. Center for the Arts, 121 East Main St., Rock Hill. 803-328-2787.

ElderArt Gallery Romantic Impressions by Tom Perkinson. Paintings centered around urban landscapes. Through Oct. 30. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

Foust Studio Silhouette. Figurative and abstract paintings by Charlotte Foust. Through October. 5200 Park Rd., Suite 115. 704-525-7989.

Gallery 620 Rusk Masterton and Frank Haas. Through September. 620 W. Morehead St. 704-618-9966.

The Gallery at Carillon Paris/Charlotte. Photos by Mitchell Kearney showing the visual, tactile and pedestrian qualities of two cities. Through Oct. 16. 227 W. Trade St. 704-334-8840.

Gallery L, Main Library Lunch Box Memories. A rare collection of 75 metal lunch boxes. Sept. 16-26. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.

Gaston County Public Library Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature. A nationally touring exhibit. Through Oct. 15. 1555 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia. 704-868-2167.

Hidell Brooks Gallery Sherrie Wolf. New still life paintings by Portland, Oregon artist. Through Oct. 30. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Gather 'Round the Table. Featuring 50 Penland artists. A portion of sales go to the Preserve Penland Campaign. Sept. 16-Oct. 30. Peter Milton: Recent Prints. Sept. 16-Oct. 30. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Icehouse Center Gallery, Davidson Icehouse Center Instructors. A group exhibition of ceramics, wood, painting, drawing, baskets and more. Through Sept. Susan Webb Lee: Artistic Quilts. Sept. 16-30. 432 S. Main St. 704-892-7323.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Ida Kohlmeyer and Robert Peterson Exhibitions. Paintings, sculpture, prints and pastel still lifes. Sept. 16-Oct. 16. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.

Joie Lassiter Gallery Maja Godlewska. Rich hues and textures make her linen paintings show inspirations of Rococo artists in her Templates exhibition. Sept. 16-Oct. 3. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.

Lesbian & Gay Community Center John Zerbarini. An exhibit of paintings. Through September. 1401 Central Ave. 704-333-0144.

The Light Factory Henry Horenstein: Honky Tonk & Allen Hess-The Rivers Green. Sept. 16-Oct. 21. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

McColl Center for Visual Art Fall 2004 Artists-in-Residence. Through Nov. 22. Likeness: Portraits of Artists by Other Artists. 60 visually and conceptually diverse works in a range of mediums. Sept. 16-Nov. 6. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.

Merrill-Jennings Galleries Southern Folk Art and Fantasy Art. 463 S. Main St., Davidson. 704-895-1213.

Middleton-McMillan Gallery, Spirit Square My Place, My Choice, My Ride, My Story. An exhibition of the South Corridor Light Rail Project Public Art Proposals. Through Oct. 23. 345 N. College St.

Modern Eye Gallery Introductions. Group exhibit featuring paintings and photography. Also mid-century furniture by Modernica. Through Oct. 22. 1923-A South Blvd. 704-333-3190.

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.

Rauch Gallery, Gaston College Dr. Andrew Jay Svedlow. An exhibition of painter and printmaker. Through Oct. 1. 201 Highway 321 South, Rauch Science and Fine Arts Bldg., Dallas. 704-922-6245.

Rowe Arts Galleries, UNCC Craig Potton. An exhibit of photographs. Through Oct. 2. Rowe Arts Building, 9201 University Blvd.

Rutledge Gallery, Winthrop Building Modernism. Two exhibitions that explore modernist themes through the printmaking medium. Sept. 16-Oct. 27. 1898 Alumni Dr. 803-323-2493.

Shain Gallery Timeless Passage. New works by Henry Barnes. Sept. 10-30. 601 Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Stretch Gallery N Studios Jenny Kimball. Through October. Sabrina Fadial. New & retrospective works. Through Sept. 30. 10726 Pineville Rd, Pineville. 704-552-5678.

Synergy Studios, Shelby Places and Faces. Acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and collage by Susan Carlisle Bell. Sept. 16-Oct. 14. 212-B W. Warren St. 704-487-0144.

W.D.O. Good Honest Work. A tribute to Penland School of Crafts. Sept. 16-Oct. 9. Hearst Plaza Suite No. 1, 214 North Tryon St. 704-333-9123.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center The North Carolina Connection. Featuring Jim Moon, Sergei Andreevski and five additional Macedonian artists. Sept. 16-Nov. 6. Moon, Cat, Dog. Work by Emily Weinstein. Sept. 16-Oct. 30. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.

WCNC TV Sim Malden. An exhibit of figurative paintings. Through September. 1001 Wood Ridge Center Dr. 704-520-6306.

Winthrop University Galleries Building Modernism with Prints. People, places, passions 1750-1950. From the Mint Museum's Permanent Collection. Sept. 16-Oct. 27. Etched in Memory. Highlights the "Points of Departure" series, by Peter Milton. Sept. 16-Oct. 27. 107 McLaurin, Rock Hill. 803-323-2493.