Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir The choir will present a concert entitled "The African in American Music." Sat., July 30, 7 p.m. Free. Friendship Memorial Baptist Church, 3301 Beatties Ford Rd. 704-392-0392.

Comedy

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 22-23: James Gregory; Aug: 3-6 Russ Nagel & Tim Rowlands; Aug 12-13: Jeff Dunham & Peanut; Aug 17-20: Louis CK & Johnny Millwater; Aug 26-27: Rich Voss. 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 invite the public to watch rehearsals of works in progress for SummerDance 2005. Sat., July 23, 12:30-2 p.m. $5 donation suggested. Open Door Studios, 1221-B The Plaza. 704-338-1533.

SummerDance Dance concert performances presented by Kinetic Works. www.mckineticworks.org. Also Special Seniors Dress Rehearsal July 28, 7:30pm. July 29, 8 p.m.; July 30, 8 p.m. $17-$20. Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd. 704-338-1533.

Museums

Charlotte Museum of History 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 14-Sept. 6. Summer Heritage Craft Series: Beginning Basketweaving. This session will introduce basket-weaving skills that will culminate in a basket to take home. 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. Power Lunch: Re-Accessorize Your Wardrobe. Chico's clothing consultant Aby Smith leads this month's program on breathing new life into an old wardrobe. Lunch-goers receive a $10 Chico's coupon. Reservations requested. Wed., July 27, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free; box lunch $10. Project Hometown: Create. Don't Hate. Featuring a music documentary video, which tells the story of hometown experiences through the eyes, movement and voices of Charlotte teenagers and their local heroes, created by teen artists from Project Hometown, the Moving Poet's educational and youth outreach program. Through July. 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 14-Aug. 7. 2730 Randolph Rd. 704-337-2000.

Mint Museum of Craft + Design Murano: Glass from the Olnick Spanu Collection. July 14-Dec. 31. Point of View III: North Carolina Artists as Collectors. July 14-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.

Readings & Signings

Barnes & Noble, Arboretum Ron Chepesiuk. Author will discuss and sign Drug Lords: The Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel. Thu., July 21, 7 p.m. 3327 Pineville-Matthews Rd. 704-341-9365.

Barnes & Noble, Huntersville Brooks Agnew. Author will discuss his new book, The Ark of Millions of Years. Tue., July 26, 7 p.m. Free. Birkdale Village, 8725 Townley Rd., Huntersville. 704-895-8855.

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.

Spoken Word

Dilworth Playhouse Café Open-Mic. An evening of spoken word. Sat., July 23, 7:45 p.m. 1427 South Blvd., Suite 103. 704-632-0336.