Classical Music

Burt Bacharach With numerous chart toppers, Bacharach has penned songs like I Say A Little Prayer, and will be joined by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Oct. 1, 8 p.m.; Oct. 2, 8 p.m. $18-$68. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Canadian Brass The quintet presents works in the classical repertoire, but also performs jazz, contemporary concert music and popular songs. Belk Theater. Mon., Oct. 4, 8 p.m. $15-$65. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Davidson College Symphony Orchestra Performing Grieg's Peer Gynt Suites, Mussorgsky's Night on Ball Mountain, and Shubert's Rosemund overture. Wed., Oct. 6, 8 p.m. Free. Duke Performance Hall, Davidson College, Davidson. 704-894-2357.

Elizabeth Hainen Performance by the acclaimed principal harpist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. www.charlottephilharmonic.org. Sat., Oct. 2. $25. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 704-846-2788.

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.

First Tuesday Concerts Chamber Music at St. Peter's salute to the music of Vaughan Williams. Tue., Oct. 5, 12:10 p.m. & 5:30 p.m. Free. St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 115 West 7th St. 704-335-0009.

Macbeth Opera dinner returns with the Opera Carolina's season opening production of Macbeth. Sun., Oct. 3, 6 p.m. $65. Blue, Hearst Tower, Corner of College & 5th St. 704-927-2583.

Organ Recital Featuring organist Daniel Hannemann. Sun., Oct. 3, 3 p.m. Free. St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Fort Mill, 501 Pine St. 803-547-5968.

Phantoms of the Orchestra Joined by the Magic Circle Mime Company, watch as Alan Yamamoto directs the maestro and his terrified assistant. Pre-concert festival starts at 10 a.m. Sat., Oct. 2, 11 a.m. $8-$20. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Comedy

Bayou Kitchen Comedy. Extreme Improv, Charlotte's only professional improv comedy troupe, Fri and Sat, 8pm. www.extremeimprov.com. $10. 1958 E 7th St. 866-467-7681.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances. Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Aries Spears and Brian Cork; Oct. 8-9: Pauly Shore. 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.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History The Electoral College is Not a Party School. Author Kenneth C. Davis explores the ins and outs of the presidential process. Sat., Oct. 2, 7 p.m. $4-$6. Main Streets of Our State. A traveling photography exhibit. Sept. 23-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. Stitched from the Soul. The Farmer-James collection of African American quilts. Members Preview, Sept. 30, 7-9p.m. Sept. 30-March 25. Stitched from the Soul. Exploring antebellum slave quilts with author Dr. Gladys-Marie Fry. Tue., Oct. 5, 7 p.m. $4-$6. 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. 23-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. 23-Jan. 9. We're Still Here: Native Americans in the Southeast. Sept. 23-Jan. 9. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Charles Farrar & David Greenwood. Area artists discuss their work and artistic fields. Each talk is followed by an informal reception and opportunity to meet the artist. Tue., Oct. 5, 7:30-9 p.m. Peter Milton. Printmaker Milton and Artistic Director of North Carolina Dance Theatre Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux will discuss the imagery depicted in Peter Milton's print, Points of Departure II: Nijinsky Variations. Thu., Sept. 30, 7 p.m. $5-$15. Porcelain American Style. July 31, 2004-June 14, 2005. Pottery American Style. Sept. 23-Feb. 20. VantagePoint III: Elizabeth Turk - The Collars. Oct. 2-Dec. 31. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience. Sept. 23-Jan. 30. Speaking Volumes: Vessels from the Collections of Mint Museums. Sept. 23-April 17. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Ongoing exhibit. Tue.-Sun. Wine Classes. Session IV: Terroir, Science or Romance, Scientific Confirmation, Soils : New World : Old World, Rutherford Dust, Romance of Burgundy. Oct. 5, 6:30-8pm. $30. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Creature Feature. Program features the "Eewww, Yuck!" exhibit and will end in time for the planetarium program. Reservations suggested. Sat., Oct. 2. $3-$5. Eewww, Yuck!. Understanding Nature's Most Unhuggable Creatures. Through Summer 2005. New Footprints: Early Naturalists in the Carolinas. Lecture presented in conjunction with museum exhibit. Rudy Mancke, lecturer at the University of South Carolina will present. Reservations and payment are required in advance and seating is limited. Thu., Sept. 30, 6-7 p.m. $10-$15. 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. 23-Oct. 3. 1500 East Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.

Readings & Signings

Park Road Books Pat Blankenship. Author will sign Sweetly Southern. Wed., Sept. 29, 7 p.m. Joan Medlicott. Author will sign At Home in Covington. Thu., Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Louise Hawes. Author will sign The Vanishing Point. Fri., Oct. 1, 7 p.m. Peter Turchi. Author will discuss and sign Maps of the Imagination: The Writer as Cartographer. Sat., Oct. 2, 1 p.m. June Spence. Author will sign Change Baby. Sun., Oct. 3, 1 p.m. Catherine Landis. Author will sign Harvest. Tue., Oct. 5, 7 p.m. Park Road Shopping Center, 4139 Park Rd. 704-525-9239.

Spoken Word

ElderArt Gallery Gail Peck and Diana Pinckney. Poetry readings by Charlotte-based writers. Sun., Oct. 3, 4 p.m. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

Tea Rex Teahouse Poetry Open Mic. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Fri., Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m. 2102 South Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Theater: Openings

Blithe Spirit A modern classic, the first production of the department and directed by William Long. Oct. 6-9, 8p.m., Oct. 10, 2p.m. $5-$10. Johnson Theatre, Winthrop University. 803-323-2287.

Collected Stories A tale of two women who explore relationships, careers and creativity. Oct. 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 23 at 8pm; Oct. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23 at 2pm. $22-$25. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. 704-334-9128.

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.

Starstruck A big time Hollywood production is brought to a small town. Sept. 30- Oct. 9, Thurs.- Sat., 8 p.m; Sun. 2:30 p.m. $10-$12. Little Theatre of Gastonia, 238 S. Clay St., Gastonia. 704-865-0160.

Sylvia A modern romantic comedy about marriage and a dog. Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 8pm; Oct. 7-9, 8pm; Oct. 3, 2:30pm. $10-$15. Old Courthouse Theatre, 49 Spring Street, NW, Concord. 704-788-2405.

A Tree With Arms and G.I. Joe An evening of one-acts. Oct. 6-9, 13-16, 20-23 at 8pm. $12-$15. Carolina Actors Studio Theatre (CAST), 1118 Clement Ave. 704-455-8542.

Theater: Ongoing

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.

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.

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.

The Taming of the Shrew A presentation of Shakespearean comedy, by The Abbey Players and Belmont Community Theatre. Sept. 30, Oct. 1-2, 8pm. $10. Haid Theatre, Belmont Abbey College, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd., Belmont.

Visual Arts: Openings

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Contemporary Chinese Design. A showcase of four Chinese designers in the fields of graphic design, architecture, interior design and painting. Oct. 4-29. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

ArtHouse Nellie Ashford. Culturally significant work honoring an earlier era in the Carolinas, accompanied by iron sculpture by Theron Ross and works by five resident artists. Oct. 1; Oct. 15, 7-11 p.m. 3103 Cullman Ave. 704-577-4587.

Clay on Camden Coffee Cup Show. Show debut celebrating The Queen's Beans Coffee Shop's recent Golden Cup Award. Oct. 1-31. 1510 Camden Rd. 704-790-2326.

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Natalie Bork. Opening Reception: Oct. 4. Oct. 5-Nov. 27. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

Dalton Gallery Jubilee Juried Exhibition. Opening Reception: Sept. 30, 6pm. Through Nov. 15. Center for the Arts, 121 East Main St., Rock Hill. 803-328-2787.

Gallery L, Main Library Sharing the Chores: Works on Paper by Jonathan Green. Works by Gullah artist. Opening Reception: Oct. 3, 4-6pm. Through October. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.

Hart-Witzen Gallery Winthrop Graduate Sculpture Student Exhibition. Oct. 1; Oct. 15, 6 p.m.-12 a.m. 136 E. 36 St. 704-334-1177.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Susan Harbage Page. An exhibit of photographs. Opening Reception: Oct. 1, 6-8pm. Through October. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

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

NoDa Artist Network Ripple Marks. San Francisco based visual artist and poet Stacy Nathaniel Jackson featuring artwork and poetry reading. Opening Reception: Oct. 1, 6pm. Through October. 2424 N. Davidson St. 704-358-4210.

Redsky Gallery Glass Past and Present. An exhibit of glass and frameworks. Opening Reception: Oct. 1, 6:30-8:30pm. Through Oct. 22. 4705 Savings Pl., Suite 108. 704-552-5200.

Shain Gallery Beyond Time and Place. Luke Allsbrook. Opening Reception: Oct. 1, 6-9pm. Oct. 1-31. 601 Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

The Blue Door Group Exhibition. Paintings, sculpture and handcrafted jewelry. Oct. 1-31. 618 West Morehead st. 704-372-7726.

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. Through 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. Through 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.

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.

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, Jennifer Cannon and Frank Haas. Through October. 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.

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. 23-Oct. 30. Peter Milton: Recent Prints. Sept. 23-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. 23-30. 432 S. Main St. 704-892-7323.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Ida Kohlmeyer and Robert Peterson Exhibitions. Paintings, sculpture, prints and pastel still lifes. Sept. 23-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. 23-Oct. 3. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.

The Light Factory Henry Horenstein: Honky Tonk & Allen Hess-The Rivers Green. Sept. 23-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. 23-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. 23-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. 23-Oct. 14. 212-B W. Warren St. 704-487-0144.

W.D.O. Good Honest Work. A tribute to Penland School of Crafts. Sept. 23-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. 23-Nov. 6. Moon, Cat, Dog. Work by Emily Weinstein. Sept. 23-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. 23-Oct. 27. Etched in Memory. Highlights the "Points of Departure" series, by Peter Milton. Sept. 23-Oct. 27. 107 McLaurin, Rock Hill. 803-323-2493.