The Pirates of Penzance CPCC Opera Theatre presents Gilbert and Sullivan's rollicking operetta. Jan. 21-22, 8pm; Jan. 23, 2:30pm. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

Prague Symphony Orchestra Presented by Carolinas Concert Association. Mon., Jan. 31, 8 p.m. $25-$65. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Samson & Delilah Opera Carolina partners with the Urban League and Moving Poets Theatre of Dance to present a tale of faith, sacrifice, seduction and betrayal. Jan. 27, 7:30pm; Jan. 29, 8pm; Jan. 30, 2pm. $10-$81. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.THE TEN TENORS Expect anything from Verdi to "Waltzing Matilda" from these 10 mates imported from "a land down under." www.blumenthalcenter.org. Tue., Feb. 8, 8 p.m. $20-$45. Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

Comedy

Charlotte Comedy Theater Extreme Improv Comedy. Featuring high energy, fully improvised, audience interactive antics of Extreme Improv!. www.extremeimprov.com. Special all female group "Helen Baak" premiering in Jan along with student shows 8pm Fri., $10 admission. Fri. and Sat., 8pm & 10pm. 1111 - D Hawthorne Ln. 866-467-7681.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. Jan. 19-22: Hypnotist Zach Thomas. www.thecomedyzone.net. 516 N. College St. 704-348-4242.

Dilworth Neighborhood Grille The Pink Turtle Sketchprov Experience. Whose Line, Second City, and Sketchprov style improv comedy. Reservations suggested. www.pinkturtle.net. Saturdays 8pm. $5. 911 E. Morehead St. 704-301-1564.

SK Netcafe Psychotic Pooch. An evening of comedy, with two full sketch shows, improv and stand-up. Fri., Jan. 21, 9 p.m. No cover, donations accepted. 1425 Elizabeth Ave. 704-712-2059.Dance

Bruce Wood Dance Company Performance by company whose repertoire includes contemporary ballet marked by familiar music and fluid precision. www.davidson.edu/tickets. Fri., Jan. 28, 8 p.m. $15-$25. Duke Performance Hall, Davidson College, Davidson. 704-894-2135.NORTH CAROLINA DANCE FESTIVAL Martha Connerton/Kinetic Works presents a different program each night. mckineticworks.org. Feb. 3, 8 p.m.; Feb. 4, 8 p.m.; Feb. 5, 8 p.m. $15-$18. Afro-American Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. 704-338-1533.

Sheherazade Begins With SHE A one-woman show combining theater and belly dance, devised and performed by Rachel Jeffreys, WDAV announcer and actress. A benefit for the Davidson College Dance Ensemble. Room 900. Wed., Jan. 26, 8:30 p.m. $3 donation. Alvarez College Union. 704-894-2730.Museums

Charlotte Museum of History 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. Jan. 13-May 25. Stitched from the Soul. The Farmer-James collection of African American quilts. Jan. 13-March 25. Vecinos/Neighbors Exhibit. A bilingual photographic exhibition. Through February. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place IMAX Dome. Now showing Roar: Lions of the Kalahari and Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure. www.discoveryplace.org. No Grease: The Show 2005. 6th Annual Hair, Fashion, and Music Show presented by No Grease! & Honey. Sat., Jan. 22, 7 p.m. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. Rural Voices and Visions: Local Communities Speak Out About Their Landscapes. Jan. 13-April 20. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Guild of Charlotte Artists. Meeting features Jayne Johnson presenting the use of Isonography. Wed., Jan. 26, 7 p.m. North Carolina Pottery: A Restless Tradition. Jan. 13-Feb. 27. Porcelain American Style. July 31, 2004-June 14, 2005. Pottery American Style. Jan. 13-Feb. 20. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft & Design The Nature of Craft and the Penland Experience. Jan. 13-30. Speaking Volumes: Vessels from the Collections of Mint Museums. Jan. 13-April 17. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Tue.-Sun. Wine Classes. French wines vs. American wines: A comparison. Jan. 25, 6:30-8pm. $30. 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. Jan. 13-May 15. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Schiele Museum, Gastonia 1500 East Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.Readings & Signings

Beatties Ford Road Library Dr. Denyse Hicks-Ray. Author will discuss The Pain Didn't Start Here: Trauma & Violence in the African American Community. Wed., Jan. 19, 7 p.m. 2412 Beatties Ford Rd. 704-432-6706.

Borders, Stonecrest Dr. Gary Chapman. Discussion and book signing with the author of Five Love Languages. Sat., Jan. 29, 3 p.m. 7836 Rea Rd. 704-752-3782.Spoken Word

Spirit Square Slam Charlotte. A high energy poetry competition featuring local poets. Thu., Jan. 20, 8 p.m. $5. 345 N. College St. 704-331-0879.Theater: Openings

Cinderella Presented by the Davidson College theatre department and the Davidson Community Players. www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org. Jan. 21, 7:30pm; Jan. 22, 10:30am, 2:30pm & 4:30pm; Jan. 23, 3pm & 4:30pm. $5. Blackbox Theatre, Cunningham Arts Bldg., Davidson. 704-892-7953.

Fahrenheit 451 Children's Theatre of Charlotte will present Bradbury's own stage adaptation of his classic novel. Jan. 21-22 & 28, 7:30pm; Feb. 4, 7:30pm; Feb. 5, 3pm & 7:30pm. $10-$12. Children's Theatre of Charlotte, 1017 E. Morehead St. 704-376-5745.

Movin' Out This Billy Joel/Twyla Tharp collaboration brings 24 Billy Joel classics to new life as it tells the story of five life-long friends over two decades. www.blumenthalcenter.org. Jan. 25-30. $25-$75. Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd. 704-372-1000.

The Odd Couple Piedmont Players Theatre presents Neil Simon's classic. www.piedmontplayers.com. Jan. 27-29, Feb. 2-5, 7:30pm; Jan. 30, 2:30pm. $9-$15. Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St., Salisbury. 704-633-5471.Theater: Ongoing

The Body Chronicles A comedic and thought-provoking theatrical event that examines and shatters body image stereotypes. All proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run International. Jan. 18-23, Wed.-Sat., 8pm; Sun. 3pm. $20. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast Presented by the Union County Performance Ensemble. Jan. 20:22, 7:30pm; Jan. 23, 2:30pm. $5-$9. Batte Fine Arts Center, Wingate. 704-296-3020.SUITCASE BareBones Theatre Group presents the the Southeastern premiere of Obie Award-winner Melissa James Gibson's Suitcase or, those that resemble flies from a distance, directed by Allison Modafferi. www.barebones.org. Feb. 3-20. Southend Performing Arts Center, 201 Rampart St. 704-332-5300.

Visual Arts: Openings

ARTHOUSE Group Exhibition. Featuring copper works, mixed media paintings, iron sculpture and glass mosaics. Reception: Jan. 21, 7-11pm. 3103 Cullman Ave. 704-577-4587.

Belk Visual Arts Center, Davidson College Threads of Conflict. An exhibition including tapestries from around the world that illustrate social unrest and the oppression of indigenous peoples as a result of political forces. Opening Reception: Jan. 20, 7-9pm. Jan. 21-Feb. 25. 704-894-2519.

Dig Dug's Pop Art Emporium Rik Catlow & A3Design. Opening Reception: Jan. 22, 7-11pm. Through January. 917 Pecan Ave. 704-358-4880.

McColl Center for Visual Art On tactility and vulnerability. An Installation by Piet Stockmans. Opening Reception: Jan. 28, 6- 9pm. Through March 12. 721 N. Tryon St. 704-332-5535.Visual Arts: Ongoing

Art Institute of Charlotte Gallery Jason Smith. A student exhibition of NASCAR photos. Artist Reception: Jan. 19, 5-7:30pm. Jan. 13-Feb. 25. 2110 Water Ridge Parkway. 704-357-8020.

Bank of America Gallery Photography of the 1940s and 1950s. The collection includes the work of photographers whose diverse images reflect the many directions of the 40s and 50s. Through February. Hearst Tower, 114 N. Tryon St. 704-386-7324.

Center of the Earth Gallery House and Home. Group exhibition of paintings and sculpture by 12 artists. Through Feb. 26. 3204 N Davidson St. 704-375-5756.

Cosmos Cafe Violeta Moreno. An exhibition of paintings. Through January. 300 N. College St., Suite 101. 704-372-3553.

Cuvee Wine & Art Gallery Sharon Obee. An exhibition of works. Jan. 13-31. 710 West Trade St. 704-332-5548.

ElderArt Gallery Coast to Coast, The American Landscape. A group exhibition of paintings. Jan. 13-Feb. 28. 1427 S. Blvd. 704-370-6337.

The Gallery at Carillon Tanja Softic. Exhibition titled On the Nature of Things. Through Jan. 21. 227 W. Trade St. 704-334-8840.

Gallery L, Main Library Art in the Vernacular: Benjamin 'Old Folks' Davis. Jan. 13-23. 310 N. Tryon St. 704-336-2020.

Gaston County Public Library Frederick Douglass From Slavery to Freedom: The Journey to New York City. Touring exhibit. Jan. 13-31. 1555 East Garrison Blvd, Gastonia. 704-868-2167.

Hidell Brooks Gallery Hidell Brooks Gallery. Arless Day solo exhibition of collage paintings. Through February. 1910 S. Blvd. Suite 130. 704-334-7302.

Hodges Taylor Gallery Paul Harcharik: An Intimate View. The artist articulates an intimate representation of the familiar landscape. Through Feb. 26. 401 N. Tryon St. 704-334-3799.

Huntersville Town Hall Members Art Exhibit. Lake Norman Art League Artists dispay paintings, mixed media, sculpture and fine craft. Jan. 13-27. 101 Huntersville-Concord Rd. 704-875-6541.

Jerald Melberg Gallery Pablo Picasso. Lithographs, Etchings and Linocuts. Jan. 13-22. 625 S. Sharon Amity Rd. 704-365-3000.

Joie Lassiter Gallery Marc Lambrechts. An exhibition of oil and plaster works. Jan. 13-March 4. 525 North Tryon Street, Suite 140. 704-373-1464.

The Light Factory Mark Maio: Against the Grain:An American Story. Jan. 13-29. Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 704-333-9755.

Modern Eye Gallery Daniel Phill: the Botanicals. Abstract paintings exploring the world of flowers in painting and monotypes. Through March 11. 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.

Providence Frames A Group Exhibition of New Works. Through February. 601-A Providence Rd. 704-333-4535.

Redsky Gallery Contemporary Colors. An exhibition of three painters. Through January. 4705 Savings Pl., Suite 108. 704-552-5200.

Shain Gallery Bountiful. An exhibition of works by Curtis Jaunsen. Through January. 601 Providence Rd. 704-334-7744.

Waterworks Visual Arts Center Sculptural Basketry and Forest. Jan. 13-22. 123 East Liberty St., Salisbury. 704-636-1882.