theater
... AND THE BALL AND ALL. True Brew Cafe Theatre, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Ricky Graham's original comedy -- about the bickering ladies of the Mystic Krewe of Terpsichore -- returns to herald the Carnival season. Graham directs Becky Allen, Tracey Collins and others. Tickets $24. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through March 18.
BLOOD BROTHERS. Carlone's Dinner Theater, 100 N. Labarre Road, Metairie, 838-9906 Willy Russell's tale of fraternal twin brothers, parted at birth only to be reunited by Fate. Lunch and dinner included in ticket prices. Tickets $39.50. Showtimes 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, through April 8.
GREATER TUNA. True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Comedy about the third-smallest town in Texas comes alive with Ricky Graham and Michael Bennett starring. Tickets $22. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday, through March 18.
I HATE HAMLET. Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., Kenner's Rivertown District, 468-7221. Story by Paul Rudnick about a young, successful television actor who relocates to New York, is offered the part of Hamlet and must deal with John Barrymore's ghost, which has appeared in his apartment. Tickets $18 adults, $16 seniors and $8 children (6-12). Performances 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, through March 25.
art
Venues preceded by an asterisk are celebrating opening receptions this week. Call each space for information.
A Gallery For Fine Photography 322 Royal St., 568-1313 -- Vintage photogravures by Karl Blossfeldt, through May 1.
ABITA ART GALLERY 72078 Maple St., Abita Springs, (504) 867-3323 -- Works by Phillip Sage, John Akers, Roma Quartana, and Harriet Blum through March.
Academy Gallery New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, 5256 Magazine St., 899-8111 -- Drawing invitational show, through April 3.
Ariodante 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Glass work by Stephen Gartner and Danielle Blade, through March.
ART HOUSE 129 N. Hampshire St., 892-8650 -- Exhibit spotlighting Black History Month, through March 9.
Arthur Roger Gallery 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Paintings by Jim Richard, through March.
ARTIFACTS 2881 Hwy. 190, Mandeville, 626-1227 -- New works by folk artist Willie/Willie, functional lighting by Janna Ugone, through March.
ARTRESSA GALLERY 1528 Jackson Ave., 524-0100 -- Lamps by William Evans, collage by Denise Bain, mixed-media works by Gigi Robert, photographs by Meg Reilly, through April.
Barrister's Gallery 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- The Spirit of Haiti, group show, through March.
*brunner Gallery 522 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, 893-0444 -- Ponds, Creeks and the Light Upon Them, paintings by Jerry Greenberg; Clayometry, clay and canvas works by Lucille Hunter, through April 7.
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Featuring works from the Gallerie Royale collection, including sculpture by William Tolliver, paintings by Dennis Perrin and etchings by Israeli artist Bracha Guy, through March.
Carol Robinson Gallery 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- The Mississippi Landscape, featuring works by Jack Bartlett, Robert Malone and Sharon Richardson, through March.
cole pratt gallery 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- New paintings by Evert Witte and Ed Dyer, through March 30.
Contemporary Arts Center 900 Camp St., 523-1216 -- Chelsea Rising, exhibit spotlighting new works from New York's Chelsea district, through June 9.
*DELGADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE 501 City Park Ave., 483-4048 -- Student art exhibit, March 8 through March 16.
*dIllard University Art Gallery Cook Fine Arts and Communication Center, Collier Conference Center, 816-4711 -- Digital Diaspora, digital art show, through March.
DK CLAY 1943 Sophie Wright Place, 581-4700 -- Pottery by Debbie Kraemer; Luminary Confections, works by Devin Mohr.
d.o.c.s. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Sculpture by Tim Poe, paintings by Cheryl Fell, through April 5.
*fort isabel gallery 401 N. Columbia St., Covington, 892-1841 -- March into Spring, group show by gallery artists, through April 7.
GALERIE AVANCE 4202 Magazine St., 899-3995 -- Natural History, works by Donna Dufresne, through March.
GALLERY GORGON 2042 Magazine St., 2nd floor, 529-5350 -- Works by Terrance Osborne and Maggie McEleney, through March.
GALERIE LAFItTE 533 St. Louis St., 524-0105 -- Group show, through March.
Galerie Simonne Stern 518 Julia St., 529-1118 -- Silver and Gold, group sculpture show, through April 3.
Hanson Gallery 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- New works by Leroy Neiman, through March 12.
Heriard-Cimino Gallery 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- Conversion of Manners, photographs by Ernesto Pujol, through April 4.
IBERMUNDO ART GALLERY 604 Julia St., 588-9797 -- Works by Columbian artist Cecelia Vargas, through March.
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471 -- Nude Versus Nude, group show by 18 artists, through March 28.
LeMieux Galleries 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- Paintings and sculpture by Kurt Schlouge, through March.
Marguerite Oestreicher Fine Arts 720 Julia St., 581-9253 -- Prints and drawings by Nick Bubash, etchings by Tony Fitzpatrick, through March.
neighborhood gallery 1410 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 524-8800 -- Celebration of the Woman, group show by female artists, through March.
N.O. School of Glassworks & Printmaking Studio 727 Magazine St., 529-7277 -- The Ides of March, glass sculpture by Andrew Brott, gargoyles by Teri Walker, through March.
POET'S GALLERY 3113 Magazine St., 899-4100 -- They Who Cross the Night, black-and-white photography by Shannon Brinkman and Nick Vovers, Lorie Lake, through March 24.
RIVERBEND GALLERY 1000 S. Carrollton, 862-0111 -- Paintings by Wendy King, through March.
Stella jones gallery Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 568-9050 -- Dream Variations, works by Louis Delsarte and John Riddle, through March.
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Sculpture by Madeleine Faust, paintings by Diane Meyer, through March.
THOMAS MANN GALLERY 104 Magazine St., 581-2113 -- Contemporary Spanish jewelry, group show by various artists, through Feb. 10.
waiting room gallery 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Paintings and assemblage by Richard Goulis, through April 7.
Wyndy Morehead FIne Arts 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Cuban landscapes by Sharon Frazier, through April 4.
books
Tuesday 6
AUTHOR SIGNING. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-5135. Susan Bradley signs copies of Irresistible Prescription for Love. 7 p.m.Saturday 10
AUTHOR SIGNING. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Blvd., 455-5135. Steve Herman signs The Sign of Four. 1 p.m.
AUTHOR SIGNING. The Catholic Book Store, 8039 Fig St., 861-7504. Patricia M. Richard, Ph.D., will sign her new book, Crucified for Christ. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday 11
BOOK SIGNING AND READING. Our Lady of the Rosary School, Vincent Hall, 1324 Moss St., 483-0733. John Magill and John Lawrence will sign and discuss Marie Adrien Persac: Louisiana Artist. Free admission. 3 p.m.
