Reverence and overweening love are accepted norms for American pet worship, but in Edwin Albee's The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? our tragic hero, Martin, has drifted beyond the pale. And into the barnyard. After creating a hullabaloo that revived memories of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Albee extended his world land record for Tony Award plays with question marks, winning the 2002 prize. Actor's Theatre revives memories of Charlotte Rep by bringing us Albee and by uniting three fine actors who won CL Awards performing in Rep productions: Jerry Colbert (1997), Kim Cozort (1994) and Randell Haynes (1989). Brian Jones rounds out the cast at 650 E. Stonewall Street through April 29. Shows are Wednesdays and Thursdays ($20) at 7:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays ($25) at 8pm. One Sunday matinee ($20) on April 23 at 2:30pm and a pay-what-you-can night on Tuesday, April 18, at 7:30pm. Call 704-342-2251. (Tannenbaum)

We snuck up I-77 a week ago to see The Rimers of Eldritch at Davidson College. It should be equally potent this week at ImaginOn, presented this time by the Children's Theatre Ensemble Company directed by Mark Sutton. If you enjoy watching the collective meanness and insensitivity of small town life -- and a nice passel of eccentrics -- this Lanford Wilson drama makes a nicely intense and intricate evening. Although there's one defendant in Wilson's murder case, the whole dying Iowa town is really on trial. Shows are evenings at 7:30pm through Saturday in Wachovia Playhouse, with all tickets priced at $10. Call 704-973-2828. (Tannenbaum)

The rock and roll combo Little Feat has persevered long after founder and frontman Lowell George passed on. Ever since 1969, George died in 1979, Little Feat have propagated their amalgamation of jug band, swamp-blues, funk and rock, albeit with a revolving door of worthy and tepid recordings. Thankfully the band's two remaining original members, keyboardist/songwriter Bill Payne and drummer Richie Hayward, along with several old-timers have never strayed far from George's southern-fried wit and humor. And when the groove is in sync, they can still make the audience float. The band's "Calling the Children Home Tour" stops in the Queen City tonight at 8pm. Trevor Hall will open and tickets are $25. For

all the info call 704-358-9298 or visit neighborhoodtheater.com. (Shukla)

One person's "eclectic" can be another person's "ecccentric." Six Degrees Records is an eclectic indie label with artists ranging from contemporary classical to ambient to world music, The label, together with 10MM Omega Recordings, is putting on a reggae music party tonight at Club Eden featuring Hope Massive, a roots reggae group from Charlotte, and DJ Jah-Sun Rising. The labels will also be giving away merch during the event. Eden is located at 1400 Elizabeth Ave. For ticket price and details call 704-376-0866. (Calloway)

Busy reminiscing about the good ol' days and thinking, "Why don't I have fun like that anymore?" Then give Just Woo Me's Singles Skating Party a try. Remember when the skating rink used to be the place to be? There was always something to learn or see, like the guy you liked or fashion tips from the girls who were always dressed to impress. Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins from TLC fame has been quoted as saying she built a whole career from stuff she learned at Jellybeans, a popular rink in Atlanta back in the day. Relive those days at the Singles Skating Party featuring DJ Daddy D of V101.9 and a live performance from MikkiKawane. The place to be is Starlight Roller Rink, 8830 East WT Harris Blvd., at 11pm. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Visit www.justwoome.com/skateparty for tickets or more info. (Calloway)

Monthly concerts at Tryon and 7th have become a free and fabulous tradition, but the music mavens at St. Peter's Episcopal Church also do fine fundraisers. This year's Chamber Music at St. Peter's Benefit Concert reaches new heights, bringing superstar cellist Lynn Harrell to play in two much-admired compositions by Brahms and Schubert -- along with Harrell's wife, violinist Helen Nightengale. Expect them to begin with Brahms' String Sextet in G for pairs of violins, cellos and violas because it would be tough to follow Schubert's posthumous C Major String Quintet, widely regarded as the composer's supreme chamber work -- the extra cello, its hallmark. Principal Charlotte Symphony cellist Alan Black, who moonlights as St. Pete's artistic director, plays alongside Harrell throughout the program. Best of all, the music-making is at mellow McGlohon Theatre starting at 8pm. Concert tickets are $25, but $50 tickets get you into the concert and the ensuing reception at St. Peter's. Call 704-372-1000. (Tannenbaum)

Once upon a time there was a music and visual and performing art shindig known as ArtToxication that took place regularly at the old Steeple Lounge. The club was recently reborn as the Goblin and ArtToxication makes its comeback there tonight. The musical art will be from Autopassion, the Movement and the Talk frontman Justin Williams. Mistress Autumn Twilight will showcase her performance art, while Nicholas Bowers, ldF and Margaret Moose (Ace Tattoo) will display their visual art. DJ team the Blackout Squad (Eric and James from Elevator Action) will also spin music. Tickets are $8 and doors open at 9pm. For more details visit goblinclub.com. (Shukla)

Charlotte waits with bated breath for the April 20 opening of the new American opera Margaret Garner, the first time the opera has been staged in a state where slavery wasn't abolished until after the Civil War. Four-time regional Emmy winner Steve Crump gives the public a look behind the curtain in his new documentary, Margaret Garner's Southern Sojourn. Crump's work has collected regional and international accolades at the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian, Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications, the North Carolina Historical Archives and a number of film festivals. A free screening of the documentary takes place tonight at the Main Library, 310 N. Tryon St, 7pm. It airs on WTVI-42, April 19, 9pm, April 22, 7pm, and April 23, 5pm. (Calloway)

Toni Morrison is giving the main character of her novel, Beloved, a different voice, this time without Oprah Winfrey. The Pulitzer Prize-winning story of the runaway slave from Kentucky who killed her child in lieu of giving her up to the cold hands of slavery has made the leap from novel to the big screen and now to the opera house, of course. In conjunction with the Southeastern premiere performances of Margaret Garner, Morrison will be appearing at Belk Theater in the North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center to discuss "Legacies for Today -- The Margaret Garner Story." Students from University Park Elementary School will also be performing a ballad from the show, "A Quality Love." Tickets range from $15-$55 and are available by calling 704-372-1000. (Karyn Jester)