Theater
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. John Slidell Park, Slidell, 595-8899. Dog & Pony Theatre Company presents its 13th season with this production of William Shakespeare's comedy. Picnics and blankets are welcome. Stars Michael Arata, Luis Q. Barroso, Martin Covert and Lara Grice. Tickets $10 (cash only), $5 students with valid ID. Performance 7 p.m. Friday.
COLD READ. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Theater for writers. John Barber, featured reader. No cover, one drink minimum. 6 p.m. Wednesday.
COUNT DRACULA. Times Square Shopping Center, 1320 N. Morrison St., Hammond, Suite 117, 542-6745. Columbia Players kick off a new season with Ted Tiller's play based on the novel by Bram Stoker. Advance tickets $10 adults, $8 children and seniors, $10 at door. Performance 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
FAUST. Mahalia Jackson Theatre of the Performing Arts, Armstrong Park, 529-2278. New Orleans Opera Association opens the season with Charles Gounod's tale of a man's lust for love and eternal youth and the price he pays to obtain both. Stars Mark Thomsen and James Johnson. Directed by David Morelock and conducted by Klauspeter Seibel. Sung in French with English supertitles. Tickets $30 to $80. Performances 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Saturday.
GENJI MONOGATARI. Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 400 Phlox St., Metairie, 885-2000. The Hiroshi Hori Puppet Theatre of Japan presents The Tale of Genji, considered the world's first novel, and told through the use of life-size puppet artistry. Tickets $12 to $18. Performance 7:30 p.m. Friday.
HELLHOUNDS. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. New one-act comedy by R. J. Tsarov about sex, murder and telemarketing. Stars Steve Zissis, Veronica Russell, Sara Stellatto, Kim Collins and Travis Acosta. Directed by R. J. Tsarov. Tickets $10. Performances 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, through Oct. 27.
HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. Lower Depths Theater, Loyola University, 861-5888. This award-winning play by Paula Vogel tells the story of a woman's ambiguous seven-year relationship with an uncle. Stars James Asmus and Jessie Terrebonne. Tickets $10 general, $7 students and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, Directors Studio, 616 St. Peter St., 522-2081. The "Sister" teaches an adult catechism class and alternately rewards and chastises her students. Amanda Hebert stars. Tickets $21 Thursday and Sunday; $26 Friday and Saturday. Performances 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Open run.
LOVE, SEX, AND THE IRS. Carlone's Dinner Theatre, 100 North Labarre Road, Metairie, 838-9906. Two guys pass themselves off on paper as married and enjoy the tax benefits for years. Suddenly, the IRS sends an investigator to determine the sex of "Leslie." Deception, cross-dressing, panic and hysteria combine for great laughs. John Brooks directs Kris Shaw, Jim Chimento, Stocker Fontelieu. Tickets $42.22, includes buffet and show. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
MR. RICKEY CALLS A MEETING. Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave., 862-7529. Play by Ed Schmidt features five historical figures (Joe Louis, Paul Robeson, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey) who meet in 1947 to discuss the strategy for dropping a historical bombshell, promoting a black man to Major League Baseball. Stars New Orleans City Councilman Oliver Thomas, Anthony Bean and Charles Bosworth. Tickets $15 general, $12 students and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.
PARTY. The Barn at Cowpokes, 2240 St. Claude Ave., 947-0505. This offbeat look at gay life takes place at a gathering of friends who work their way into a game similar to "Truth or Dare" called "Facts and Fantasies." Call for ticket info. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday, through Oct. 21.
PROPHECY. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. New Orleans native Hiram Ed Taylor's latest work is a farcical look at all things new age. Stars Kim Collins, Ryan Reinike, Christian Middleton, and Amelia Stocker. Tickets $20, $12 for students with valid ID. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, through Nov. 3.
WHEN YA SMILIN'. True Brew Theater, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Award-winning playwright, Ricky Graham, brings to the stage this new comedy about growing up in New Orleans. Stars Sean Patterson, Gavin Mahlie and Becky Allen. Tickets $24.50. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through Oct. 28.
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 -- George S. Zimbel: Photographs 1951-2001, through December.
*ABITA ART GALLERY 72078 Maple St., Abita Springs, (504) 867-3323 -- Louisiana scenes by R.C. Davis, through Nov. 13.
ACME GALLERY 5700 Magazine St., 891-0357 -- Color of Magazine, new work by Jennifer Lindsley, through October.
Arthur Roger Gallery 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Without Ceremony, installation by Linda Ridgway; works on paper by Annette Lawrence; paintings and drawings by Helen Altman, through October.
ASHé CULTURAL ARTS CENTER 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 569-9070 -- All Things Trumpet, photography by Eric Waters, through October.
Barrister's Gallery 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- Group show featuring work by Arceneaux, Faust, LaLaude and Tanner, through October.
BRUNNER GALLERY 522 N. New Hampshire St., 893-0444 -- Charles Blank: The Cybernaut Series, through Oct. 12. (Reviewed in this issue.)
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Beauty, Elegance and Dignity: A Tribute to William Tolliver, 1952-2000, prints and original works by Tolliver, through October.
cole pratt gallery 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- Mixed-media works by Steven Shores, paintings by Denyce Celentano, through October.
Contemporary Arts Center 900 Camp St., 523-1216 -- Seeing Is Believing, photographs by Vik Muniz; Cultural Fusion, group show featuring works by Kimberly Dummons, Clifton Faust, Theresa Herrera, Edie Tsong, through October.
CRESCENT GALLERY 531 Wilkinson Row, 525-5255 -- Annual group show of gallery artists, through October.
DELGADO FINE ARTS GALLERY 615 City Park Ave., 483-4512 -- Taking the Side of Things: Gouache and watercolor paintings by Richard O'Russa; Looking Down: works in various media by Tom Varisco, through Oct. 29.
EVANS GALLERY 3815 Magazine St., 897-2688 -- Paintings by Jamali, through October.
fort isabel gallery 401 N. Columbia St., Covington, 892-1841 -- Watercolors by Phil Hubbell, through Oct. 13.
GALLERY CARROLL 4817 Prytania St., 861-8838 -- Paintings by Richard Benz, Carroll Becker, JoAnn Saucier and MacDonald Eaton; photographs by George Saucier, through October.
ANTON HAARDT GALLERY 2858 Magazine St., 891-9080 -- Saints, Haints and Monsters, group show of folk artists, through October.
Hanson Gallery 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- New paintings by Charles Thysell, through October.
Heriard-Cimino Gallery 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- New paintings by Michel Alexis, through October.
jim blanchard STUDIO & DESIGN 608 Julia St., 522-4815 -- Palladian works of Henry Howard, through October.
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471 -- Lust for Life, paintings by Jason DuMouchel, sculpture by Daphne Loney, through October.
LeMieux Galleries 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- Rumors of True Things, paintings and drawings by Jesse Poimbeauf, through October.
THOMAS MANN GALLERY/ gallery i/o 1812 Magazine St., 581-2113 -- Tiaras Will Be Worn, group show of tiaras, through November.
Marguerite Oestreicher Fine Arts 720 Julia St., 581-9253 -- Objects, works by Adriana Farmiga, through October.
mario villa gallery 3908 Magazine St., 895-8731 -- Le Cirque Series, new work by glass artist Maurice Alvarado; Gozar con La Patria, paintings by Juan Carlos Quintana, through October.
neighborhood gallery 1410 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 524-8800 -- Arabella Trolleys Revisited, works by Raymond Gaines; First Sunday on the Boulevard, Art in All Places, through October.
Newcomb Art Gallery Tulane University, 865-5328 -- Works from the collection of Alfred Moir, through Nov. 18.
N.O. School of Glassworks & Printmaking Studio 727 Magazine St., 529-7277 -- Fire, Ice, Water, and Lightning, group exhibit, through October.
STAN RICE GALLERY 1314 Napoleon Ave., 897-9966 -- New paintings by Stan Rice, ongoing. (Reviewed in this issue.)
Stella jones gallery Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 568-9050 -- Collages and drawings by Benny Andrews, through October.
STEVE MARTIN STUDIO/GALLERY 624 Julia St., 566-1390 -- Photographs by George Long and Lisa Conrad, sculpture by David Thibodeaux and Evelyn Jordan, paintings by Shea Stout; paintings, drawing and sculpture by Steve Martin, through October.
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Silent Children, new work by Sibylle Peretti; ceramics by Veronique Day, through October.
VINCENT MANN GALLERY 713 Bienville St., 523-2342 -- Barbizon Through French Impressionism and Post-impressionism, group show featuring paintings by artists such as Emmanuel Damoye and Edmond Petit-Jean, through October.
waiting room gallery 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Wire and Paint, wire sculpture by Elizabeth Keithline (reviewed in this issue), abstract paintings by Ron D'Amico, through Oct. 20.
Wyndy Morehead FIne Arts 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- A Common Thread, paper assemblages by Akiko Sugiyama and ceramic sculptures by Sang Roberson, through October.
spare spaces
INTERIOR DESIGNS II 3814 Magazine St., 895-5111 -- First Light, oil paintings by Geza Brunow, through October.
*JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 5342 St. Charles Ave., 897-0143 -- Women of the Bible, works in clay by Dina O'Sullivan, through October.
books
Tuesday 9
BOOK CLUB. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Contemporary Fiction group will read Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Saturday 13
FRED SIEGEL. Book Factory, 1000 Caruso Blvd., Slidell, 985- 643-6136. WWL financial news analyst will sign copies of Investing For Cowards. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
GARRY BOULARD. Beaucoup Books, 5414 Magazine St., 895-2663. Author will sign copies of The Big Lie: Hale Boggs, Leander Perez, and Lucille May Grace, about the 1951 Louisiana gubernatorial election in which Hale Boggs was accused of being a communist. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
TOMMY McAFEE. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Local artist will sign copies of New Orleans Memories (text by Constance Snow, illustrations by McAfee). Free admission. 1 p.m.
BOOK CLUB. Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Writer's Discussion Group will meet to discuss and critique each other's material and will bring questions. Writers of all styles and genres are welcome. Free admission. 2 p.m.
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