Charlotte Comedy Theater Live Improvised Comedy. Interactive, improvisational comedy similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway. Rated R. www.charlottecomedy.com. July 15-16: Comedy Battle. The 1st two teams will perform July 15, 10pm and 2nd two on July 16, 8pm. Championship July 16, 10pm. $10. 1111 - D Hawthorne Ln. 866-467-7681.

The Comedy Zone Upcoming Performances:. July 13-14: Keith Alberstaadt. 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. Fri. & Sat., 8:30pm. $5. 911 E. Morehead St. 704-301-1564.

SK Netcafe Stand-Up Wednesday. Stand-up comedy featuring acts and open mic. Wed., July 20, 10 p.m. 1425 Elizabeth Ave. 704-334-1523.

The Perch Live Sketch Comedy. Rated "R" for verbal content. At CCT, 1111 Hawthorne Ln. # D. www.theperch.com. Thursdays, 9 & 10:30pm. 704-566-0053.Dance

Feel the Pulse ... Catch the Action! Martha Connerton and Kinetic Works invites the public to watch rehearsals of works in progress for SummerDance 2005. July 16, 12:30-2 p.m.; July 23, 12:30-2 p.m. $5 donation suggested. Open Door Studios, 1221-B The Plaza. 704-338-1533.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History Hands-on History: Cooling Colonial Desserts. Bring children to help create their own Colonial summer treat! Sat., July 16, 2-4 p.m. Regular Museum admission. Kid's Fun Night at the Museum. Spend the evening exploring the Museum after hours with a pizza party, scavenger hunt with prizes, hands-on activities and more! All ages. Reservations required. Tue., July 26, 5-7 p.m. $5 per person. Kites to Kitty Hawk. A multi-media interactive exhibit. July 7-Sept. 6. Nii Tettey Tetteh and the Kusun Ensemble. Although rooted in traditional African music, the group has developed a new brand of music, "Nokoko," and has performed for audiences around the world. July 16, 2005. 6:30 and 8:30pm. $10 for members; $15 for non-members. Summer Heritage Craft Series: Beginning Basketweaving. This session will introduce basket-weaving skills that will culminate in your very own basket to take home with you. All supplies and lunch provided. Reservations required. Sat., July 23, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $25 for Museum Members; $35 for Non-Members. Vecinos/Neighbors. A bilingual photographic exhibition. Through Aug. Whatzit?. This exhibit challenges the visitor to identify unique and unusual artifacts rarely on public display. Through Sept. 3500 Shamrock Dr. 704-568-1774.

Discovery Place Grossology. Exhibit exploring good, bad and ugly about how the body works. Through July. IMAX Dome. Now showing Roar: Lions of the Kalahari, Bugs! A Rainforest Adventure, Forces of Nature and Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag. www.discoveryplace.org. 301 N. Tryon St. 704-372-6261.

Levine Museum of the New South Cotton Fields to Sky Scrapers. Tue.-Sun. 200 E. 7th St. 704-333-1887.

Mint Museum of Art Ancient Egyptian Art for the Afterlife. Local collector offers a glimpse of ancient Egypt. July 15-Dec. 4. Retrospective of Prints by Chuck Close. July 7-Aug. 7. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft + Design Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection. July 7-Dec. 31. Point of View III: North Carolina Artists as Collectors. July 7-Oct. 9. Tradition & Change: 19th and 20th Century Craft At The Mint. Tue.-Sun. 220 N. Tryon St. 704-337-2009.

Museum of York County Eewww, Yuck!. Understanding Nature's Most Unhuggable Creatures. Through Summer 2005. Liberty or Death. An exhibit of rebels and loyalists in the Southern Piedmont. Through May 7, 2006. 4621 Mount Gallant Rd., Rock Hill. 803-329-2121.

Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia Rainforest Alive!. July 7-Sept. 4. 1500 E. Garrison Blvd. 704-866-6900.

Readings & Signings

Joseph-Beth Booksellers Kathy Reichs. Bestselling author Kathy Reichs will sign Cross Bones. Tue., July 19, 7 p.m. 4345 Barclay Downs Dr. 704-602-9820.

Park Road Books Jude Theriot. Author will sign Cajun Low-Carb and will present a cooking demo. Wed., July 20, 7 p.m. Park Road Shopping Center, 4139 Park Rd. 704-525-9239.

The Bookmark Barbara Busey. Join Barbara Busey as she reads and signs her book Stand Out When You Stand Up. Fri., July 15, 12-1:30 p.m. Free. 100 N. Tryon St., Suite 265. 704-377-2565.

Spoken Word

Jackson's Java Poetry Open Mike. Hosted by Jonathan Rice. Thu., July 14, 8 p.m. 8544 University City Blvd. 704-595-9526.

Wine Up Soultry Tuesday's. Open-mic style poetry reading with R&B/Soul and Jazz playing in between and after the poetry set. Tuesdays, 9pm. $5. 3306 - C N. Davidson St. 980-721-5715.

Theater: Openings

Cats CPCC Summer Theatre presents the local premiere production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Cats. July 20-23, 27-30 at 8pm; July 26 at 7pm; July 24 at 2:30pm. $16. Pease Auditorium, CPCC, 1200 Elizabeth Ave. 704-330-6534.

King Lear The Old Courthouse Youth Theatre will present the Shakespeare classic. In the Fallout Shelter Theatre. www.oldcourthousetheatre.org. July 13-16 at 8pm; July 17 at 2:30pm. $10. Old Courthouse Theatre, 49 Spring Street, NW, Concord. 704-788-2405.