Playwright Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning Cat On A Hot Tin Roof is the old boy's most blistering indictment of hypocrisy, greed and, well, the human race -- and specifically, the white Southern version of said race. Ex-jock alcoholic Brick Pollitt is husband to hot stuff Maggie (the cat in question) and the son of Big Daddy, the outlandish, overbearing patriarch of one of literature's classic dysfunctional families. The Southern gothic tale revolves around the return of Big Daddy's kids when they hear he's ill (gotta protect their share of the inheritance, you know). Williams really let loose in this play, filling it with broadly drawn characters, infidelity, latent homosexuality, guilt, hatred, depression, addiction, and all the other things that make life worthwhile. Theatre Charlotte's production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof starts today and continues Thursdays-Sundays through February 9. Tickets are $20 for Friday and Saturday performances, and $15 for Thursday and Sunday. Call 704-334-9128. (Grooms)
JAN 24 . FRIDAY
The Charlotte Checkers have a tough run ahead as they set to face the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (against whom they're 0-1 so far this year) tonight at 7:35pm, the Roanoke Express (2-2 thus far) tomorrow night at 7:35pm, and the Columbia Inferno (0-1 again) on January 29 at 7:05pm. Though 0-1 isn't bad and an even split is even better, there's no clear victor in the cards as the Checkers enter this stretch. Keep your eyes peeled, it could be close! Tickets range from $6-$19. For more information, call 704-522-6500 or visit online at www.gocheckers.com. (McKinney)The Children's Theatre of Charlotte is set to present a unique stage version of Cyrano starting tonight. The plot (a tale of a nose in love) has been altered a bit to allow audiences to focus on the three key players: Cyrano, Christian and Roxanne. Recommended for ages 10 and up, the show will run at various times (see website for explicit details at www.ctcharlotte.org) at the Children's Theatre through February 1. Tickets are $10 for center seats and $8 for side seats. For more info, call 704-333-8983. (McKinney)
JAN 25 . SATURDAY
Coldplay, one of the only mega-hyped next-big-thing English pop bands to actually warrant their accolades, appear tonight at Ovens Auditorium. Ron Sexsmith, who released on of last year's best records with I>Cobblestone RunwayP>, will open the show. Tickets for the 8pm show are $30.00, available by calling 704-522-6500. (Davis)Today, Discovery Place will open an exhibit celebrating the history and science of flight, as the 100th anniversary of Orville and Wilbur's fateful hop fast approaches. Flight: Where Adventures Take Off will combine flight simulators, real aircrafts and interaction to help visitors understand and appreciate how flight works. Admission to the exhibit is free with admission to Discovery Halls (ranges from $5-$7.50). For additional information, contact Discovery Place at 704-372-6261 or visit online at www.discoveryplace.org. (McKinney)
In the early 70s, counterculture types (i.e., damned hippies) who had been looking to rock & roll for their salvation suddenly, and unexpectedly, started making a real connection to bluegrass, old-time Appalachian tunes and hard-twangin' country music. Pretty soon, small fiddlers' conventions were being overrun by the great stoned unwashed, and the rest is history. In the South, where most of this music originated, the undisputed pioneers of the revival were Chapel Hill's Red Clay Ramblers. The group has gone through changes in personnel, but the current Ramblers keep doing what they've always done: play American roots music, show off their great sense of humor, and make audience members' jaws drop. More than a band, or a Carolina legend, they're kind of like a force of nature that likes to have a good time. The Red Clay Ramblers will light up Spirit Square's McGlohon Theatre at 8pm. Tickets are $22-25. Call 704-372-1000. (Grooms)
BareBones Theatre, always one for the unconventional, is set to present The 24 Hour Theatre Project. It will feature five playwrights and directors who have 24 hours to write, stage and rehearse five brand new, 10-minute plays revolving around the same theme. The end results, polished or not, will be presented at the SouthEnd Performing Arts Center (201 Rampart St.) starting at 9pm. Tickets are $10 at the door and include live music following the show and complimentary coffee. For more information, call 704-375-2536 or visit online at www.barebones.org. (McKinney)
JAN 26 . SUNDAY
It's that time again, Super Bowl Sunday, America's favorite secular holiday. Super Bowl XXXVII will be broadcast today from San Diego starting with the ever-exciting pre-game nonsense at 2pm on ABC (channel 9). The mighty Oakland Raiders will face off against the defense-minded Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what should actually be a good game. The "entertainment," which seems to get worse every year, will feature -- are you ready? -- Celine Dion singing "God Bless America" (hey, isn't she Canadian?) at the Pre-Game show. The Dixie Chicks will "perform" the national anthem and, just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Shania Twain will be the halftime entertainment. If you can make it through all that, then the second half of the game should be cake! (McKinney)
JAN 27 . MONDAY
The human book machine, Joyce Carol Oates, one of the most prolific writers in history, three-time nominee for the Nobel Prize in Literature, and largely known to the American masses because one of her books was chosen by Oprah, will speak at Davidson College tonight at 8pm in the Duke Family Performance Hall. Tickets are free but required. For more information, call 704-894-2135. (McKinney)
