Proving that Oklahoma! isn't as "fer" as you can go when you seek rusticity in an American musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers transports us to the Far West. Out in the terr'tory, Adam Pontipee becomes a dubious role model for his younger brethren when he rustles up a bride on a whim. None of the Johnny Mercer tunes will be more familiar than "Goin' Co'tin'," "Bless Your Beautiful Hide" or "Spring, Spring, Spring." But the spectacle of seven mountain Romeos forswearing abduction and learning the rudiments of chivalry will likely retain most of its quaint charm. Local faves Patrick Ratchford and Susan Roberts Knowlson lead the evolution at Pease Auditorium. The CP Summer Theatre production runs through July 2 with single tickets priced at $16. Showtimes on Wednesdays through Saturdays are at 8pm with a 2:30pm Sunday matinee on June 26 and a 7pm curtain on Tuesday, June 28. Call 704-330-6534. (Tannenbaum)
June 23 - Thursday
Philadelphia rappers The Roots built their powerhouse live rap shows on a foundation of Nu-soul, jazz and funk. The innate ability to tear it up on stage with live instrumentation separates these beat blasters from hordes of hip-hop hooligans who don't do much more than bounce around on stage with a mic. Their recent live CD and DVD release, The Roots Presents: A Sonic Event, is a fine document of the group's staying power. See them in action tonight at Tremont Music Hall with openers Floetry and Mishka. For further details, call 704-343-9494 or visit tremontmusichall.com. (Shukla)
June 24 - Friday
A far better bet than, say, Superman IV or Rocky IV, Shorts In the Spirit IV will be presented at 8pm tonight in the Booth Theater at Spirit Square. The latest batch of African-American short films includes Nsenga Burton's Wooden Nickels, about a family dealing with heroin addiction (Burton will hold a Q&A after the screening), and Kara Miller's Sundance selection Elephant Palm Tree, starring Charles Harris (The Interpreter) and described with the intriguing synopsis, "When a menopausal Miss Jamaica is shat on by an elephant, she decides to ask her cheating husband for a divorce." Admission for the evening is $8 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information, call 704-492-2519. (Brunson)
Self-touted as "the comic industry's most fun, friendly convention," Heroes Convention 2005 returns for the 23rd time to the Charlotte Convention Center during the weekend of June 24-26. This year's guest line-up boasts over 300 names, including none other than Dave Cockrum, who played a major role in reinventing the X-Men in the 70s, and Ethan Van Sciver, one of the artists on the new Green Lantern #1 relaunch. Plenty of Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh! and Heroclix tournaments will also be on hand, but the real centerpiece of this year's convention is the Indie Island, a section in the center of the Center that displays in near-mint condition some of the best and brightest people working in alternative and small press comics. Cost is $10 per day, or $20 for a 3-day pass. Kids 12 & under are free all weekend. For more information, visit www.heroesonline.com. (William Fonvielle)
Well, now we've done it. After buying out all the tickets for Charlotte Symphony's flirtation with Led Zeppelin this past spring, we Charlotteans must brace ourselves for The Music of Pink Floyd as summer begins. Guitarist/vocalist Randy Jackson and his accomplice, conductor/arranger Brent Havens, return with a full rock band to perform faithful counterfeits of "Money," "Wish You Were Here," "Another Brick in the Wall," "Comfortably Numb" and "Learning to Fly." True to Floyd's cosmic pretensions, Symphony promises a dazzling light show to complete our experience. The music begins at 8pm in Ovens Auditorium, a light show in its own right, with tickets priced at $22-$44. Student rush orders are discounted 50 percent. Call 704-972-2000. (Tannenbaum)
Catch It If You Can: If "Krumping" sounds to you like a new sugary cereal marketed directly at impressionable tots, then learn the real story by checking out the documentary Rize. This compelling feature focuses on the incendiary dance that's become all the rage on the inner-city streets of Los Angeles. For a review, see this issue's Film section; for theaters and showtimes, go to the Moviefone link at charlotte.creativeloafing.com/flicks_toc.html. (Brunson)
June 25 - Saturday
Maya Angelou, best-selling author, poet, educator, historian, civil rights activist, etc., etc., pays tribute to women who have made significant contributions in their professions at the Maya Angelou Women Who Lead Luncheon. The event, which takes place at the Ballantyne Resort Hotel at 11am today, is also a fund-raiser for the United Negro College Fund. The honorees are Jeannie Falknor, publisher of the Charlotte Business Journal; Shirley L. Fulton, former superior court judge; Rai Glover, senior vice president, Bank of America; and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, best known for her role on TV's Moesha. Other highlights of the event are a silent auction and the women's hat contest. Tickets are $125 per person. For more info, call 704-552-6565. (Vespa)
June 28 - Tuesday
These days, there are so many movies and musicals preaching the gospel of "You can do it!" But none of them, not even The Producers, does it with more youthful energy — or bigger hair — than Hairspray. After seeing the Tony Award triumph on Broadway, I found myself wondering whether the show could retain its uniqueness without Harvey Fierstein as Edna Turnblad. This is the basso blob who abandons her ironing board to assist her daughter's crusade to integrate Baltimore's hippest after-school TV dance show. Booking the road show at Belk Theater through July 10, the PAC is obviously confident in Hairspray's feel-good appeal. Whether J.P. Dougherty delivers the goods as Edna, we can certainly expect the ultrapink costumes of William Ivey Long and the cheesy sets of David Rockwell to sweeten the evening. "Good Morning, Baltimore" and "You Can't Stop the Beat" are Marc Shaiman's catchiest tunes, and Jerry Mitchell's choreography — ranging appropriately from cool to clumsy — is superb. Shows run Tuesdays through Thursdays at 8pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:15pm, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2pm, and Sunday evenings at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25-$80. Call 704-372-1000. (Tannenbaum)
June 29 - Wednesday
Forget Grisham and Turow, the most gripping and intelligent attorney-driven mysteries are being written by Lisa Scottoline. A former lawyer herself, Scottoline shot out of the literary gate, was nominated for the Edgar Award for her first novel Everywhere That Mary Went, and won the prestigious prize with her second novel, Final Appeal, in 1995. The author, who will teach a course called "Justice and Fiction" at the University of Pennsylvania Law School next year, will read from her latest thriller, Devil's Corner, tonight at 7pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers at SouthPark as part of their Girls' Night Out event series. It's free. For more information, call 704-602-9800. (Grooms)
