theater
ACT I NEW ORLEANS BLACK THEATER FESTIVAL. Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 469-6532. Alliance for Community Theaters Inc. presents this 19th annual festival featuring performances of The Color of Self (Wednesday), Songs in the Key of Life (Thursday), Joi and Pain and Common Sense (Friday), and Eddie Francis: Lovefest at the Blackfest and Hobo (Saturday). Tickets $10 general admission, $8 students, seniors and CAC members (except The Color of Self); festival pass $25 general admission, $20 students, seniors and CAC members. Performances 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, Nov. 14-17.
ANTON IN SHOW BUSINESS. Lupin Theater, Tulane University, 865-5106. Tale of three struggling actresses in a disastrous production of Chekhov's Three Sisters. Tickets $10 general, $8 faculty and staff, $6 students. Performances 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
ART. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St., 522-9958. Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play centers around three friends' reactions to an all-white painting. Shelley Poncy directs Bert Pigg, Paul Shearhorn and Russell Hodgkins. Tickets $21 adults, $16 students. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through Nov. 25.
THE CRUCIBLE. Jesuit High School Theater, 4133 Banks St. 483-3877. Season begins with Arthur Miller's play about circumstances in 1692 Salem, Mass. Chase Waites directs Blake Baudier, Collin Murray and others. Tickets $10 reserved seating, $8 general. Performances 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
THE MAN WHO CAME TO DINNER. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St., (800) 965-4827. Staged reading of 1939 classic tale of a radio orator forced to reside with a Midwestern family after an accident. Proceeds benefit the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and Le Petit. Stars Ricky Graham and a host of local celebrities. Tickets $35. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. NOCCA/Riverfront, 2800 Chartres St., 940-2787. New Orleans Center for Creative Arts/Riverfront Department of Theatre performs Shakespeare's mystical tale. Tickets $5 donation at door. 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
MONOLOGUES & MUSIC FOR MONEY, HONEY. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Nell Nolan Young's original production returns with Michael Harold and Dr. Quinn Peeper. Tickets $17. Performances 3 p.m. Sunday and 8 p.m. Monday.
MORNING'S AT SEVEN. Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., Kenner, 468-7221. Paul Osborne's play deals with the rivalry and marital issues of four sisters who live as next-door neighbors. Keith Briggs directs Lois Crandell, Pearl Meltzer and others. Tickets $20 adults, $18 seniors, $10 students and children. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. Loyola University, Marquette Theater, 865-3824. Battle of the sexes, gossip and mistaken identity are at the heart of this Shakespeare play performed by the Department of Drama and Speech. Tickets $10 general, $7 students and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
PRIESTS KNOW MORE. The Pickery, 433 Orange St., 779-5317. Chronicles the paths of three seminarians from New Orleans as they work to spread the "new" era of Catholicism mandated by Vatican II. Kris Shaw directs. Tickets $10 general, $8 seniors and students. Performances 8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 5 p.m. Sunday.
RAISIN. Drama Hall, Isaac Delgado Hall, Delgado Community College, 501 City Park Ave., 483-4817. Musical based on the play A Raisin in the Sun follows the struggles of three generations of the Younger family. Timothy Baker directs Darrin Nelson, Yolanda Ratcliff and others. Tickets $14 general, $12 seniors. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
SIMPLY IRMA. Anthony Bean Community Theater and Acting School, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave., 862-PLAY. This original musical play about the musical career of New Orleans' Queen of Soul, Irma Thomas, has been extended one final week. Anthony Bean directs Thomas, Gabrielle Porter and others. Music by Allen Toussaint. Tickets $20 general, $18 students and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed in this issue.)
TRAVELS WITH JACK LEMMON'S DOG. North Star Theatre, 347 Gerard St., Mandeville, 626-1500. Chambers Stevens' newest play combines the story of his journey to Vancouver with Jack Lemmon's dog with John Steinbeck's novel Travels With Charley. Lori Bennett directs Linda DiLeo, Dan Burkarth and Ladson Deyne. Tickets $22 adults, $20 seniors. Performances Friday-Saturday 8 p.m.
TROUBLED WATERS. Dillard University, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., 816-4857. The intentional flooding of St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes in 1927 is the foundation for this original play by Yvette Sirker about corruption and greed. Stars Bob Edes, Kara Hadigan and others. Tickets $10 general, $8 students with ID and seniors, $5 children, Dillard students free. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Monday and Thursday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
UPTOWN, DOWNTOWN, LAKESIDE, RIVERSIDE. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Mike Smith, Ken Ferguson, Peter Gabb and Carol Sutton look at New Orleans from its many skewed frames of directional reference. RoachOpera's Chris Champagne appears on Friday. Tickets $18 general admission, $10 actors and students. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, through Dec. 1.
WHEN YA SMILIN'. True Brew Theater, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Award-winning playwright Ricky Graham offers this new comedy about growing up in New Orleans, as seen through the eyes of 10-year-old Paul Dufour Jr. Graham directs Sean Patterson, Becky Allen and others. Tickets $24.50. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
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; Snaps, photographs by Elliot Erwitt, through Feb. 1.
*ABITA ART GALLERY 72078 Maple St., Abita Springs, (985) 867-3323 -- New work by John Akers, through December.
Academy Gallery New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, 5256 Magazine St., 899-8111 -- 2001 Annual Miniature Exhibition, through Dec. 8.
ACME GALLERY 5700 Magazine St., 891-0357 -- Color of Magazine, new work by Jennifer Lindsley, through November.
akkas gallery 535 Decatur St., 523-0106 -- Large selection of Louisiana-related prints.
Ariodante 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Aria, group show by gallery artists; furniture art by Darrin Butler and Paul Troyano, through November.
Arthur Roger Gallery 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Moment, recent paintings and works on paper by Allison Stewart, through Nov. 24.
Barrister's Gallery 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- Group show featuring work by Arceneaux, Faust, LaLaude and Tanner, through November; Gathering Evidence, paintings by Myrtle Von Damitz III, through December. (Reviewed in this issue.)
Bassetti Fine Art Photographs 233 Chartres St., 529-9811 -- New photographs by Mona Kuhn, through Dec. 15.
brunner Gallery 522 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, 893-0444 --Paintings by Rhea Gary, monoprints by Chris Clark, through Dec. 15.
Bryant Galleries 316 Royal St., 525-5584 -- Paintings by Leonardo Nierman, through November.
CAMERON JONES 2127 Magazine St., 524-3119 -- Group show featuring 12 local artists, through November.
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Fresh, group show of emerging artists, through November.
Carol Robinson Gallery 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- Still Lifes, new paintings by Lon Earns, through Nov. 27.
cole pratt gallery 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- Watercolors by Rob Erdle, new works by Wayne Packer, through November.
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 Dec. 30.
CRESCENT GALLERY 531 Wilkinson Row, 525-5255 -- Winter into Spring, paintings by Rolland Golden, through Nov. 29.
DELGADO FINE ARTS GALLERY 615 City Park Ave., 483-4512 -- Installation by Shawn Hall, through Nov. 29.
d.o.c.s. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Ceramic sculpture by Cara Moczygemba, through Nov. 29. (Reviewed in this issue.)
du Monde Gallery 318 Royal St., 523-0078 -- New work by Linda Lesperance, through November.
ERTH GALLERY 8311 Oak St., 865-8126 -- Sanctuary, ceramic sculpture by Matteo Neivert, through November.
EVANS GALLERY 3815 Magazine St., 897-2688 -- New Visions, paintings by Adele Sypesteyn, through November.
GALERIE AVANCE 1420 Annunciation St., 568-9133 -- American Beauty, recent work by Denice Bizot, through November.
GALLERY CARROLL 4817 Prytania St., 861-8838 -- Paintings by Richard Benz, Carroll Becker, JoAnn Saucier and MacDonald Eaton; photographs by George Saucier, through November.
GALLERY GORGON 2042 Magazine St., 2nd floor, 529-5350 -- Works by Maggie McEleny and Terrence Osborne, through November.
GALERIE LAFItTE 533 St. Louis St., 524-0105 -- El Sol Series, mixed-media, paintings and collages by Mollyne Karnofsky, through November.
Galerie Simonne Stern 518 Julia St., 529-1118 -- Sculpture by Chakaia Booker and Jeffrey Cook, through Nov. 27.
ANTON HAARDT GALLERY 2858 Magazine St., 891-9080 -- Saints, Haints and Monsters, group show of folk artists, through November.
Hanson Gallery 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- Paintings by Peter Max, through November.
Heriard-Cimino Gallery 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- New sculpture by Martin Payton, through November.
JOHN PRODUCT GALLERY 2027 Magazine St., 581-5280 -- In a Tangle, contemporary Scottish art by Angus Hood and Christine Frew, through Nov. 30.
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471-- From Stillness to Frenzy, new works by Sandy Chism, through Nov. 29.
Kurt E. Schon 510 St. Louis St., 524-5462; 523 Royal St., 523-5902 -- Paintings of historical scenes by artists of the Royal Academy and French Salon, through November.
LeMieux Galleries 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- City Sights, paintings and drawings by Shirley Rabe Masinter, through November.
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 -- Drawings, paintings and collages by Katharine White, through Nov. 27.
mario villa gallery 3908 Magazine St., 895-8731 -- Pitches and Entrances, bronze sculpture by Gyuri Hollosy, through November.
McINNIS fine art 404 Chartres St., 581-3608 -- New works by J. Ellie Joseph Rigaud, through November.
Morgan West studio/gallery 3326 Magazine St., 895-7976 -- Environmental Jewelry, works in glass, metal, and wood, through November.
*M.S. RAU ANTIQUES 630 Royal St., 523-5660 -- Silver through the Ages, 1700-1930, through Dec. 15.
Newcomb Art Gallery Tulane University, 865-5328 -- Works from the collection of Alfred Moir, through November 18.
N.O. School of Glassworks & Printmaking Studio 727 Magazine St., 529-7277 -- Glass & Metal Harvest Cornucopia Exhibit, group show by various artists, through November.
RARE BEAUTY 3650 Magazine St., 891-9009 -- Antique prints of New Orleans; local and international maps, through November.
Rhino Contemporary craft co. 927 Royal St., 523-7945; Canal Place Shopping Centre, 523-7945 -- Illumination, works by artists interpreting light, through November (Canal Place).
RIVERTOWN FINE ARTS GALLERY 409 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 468-7231-- Recent works by gallery artists, through Jan. 2.
SOREN CHRISTENSEN 400 Julia St., 569-9501 -- Crossroads, new paintings by Paula Landrem, through Nov. 24.
Southwest designs 230 Chartres St., 522-4345 -- Acrylics by Pat Woodhall, through November.
Stella jones gallery Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 568-9050 -- Collages and drawings by Benny Andrews, through November.
STEVE MARTIN STUDIO/GALLERY 624 Julia St., 566-1390 -- Paintings and drawings by Zella Funck, through November.
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Abstract Impressions, new work by Tore Wallin; Small Packages, exhibit by Lisa Houha, through November.
Touchstone Fine Art 308 Royal St., 525-1537 -- New works by Mora, Gantner & Ellis, through November.
VINCENT MANN GALLERY 713 Bienville St., 523-2342 -- French Post-Impressionist Still Lifes, paintings by George-Andre Klein, through November.
waiting room gallery 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Unstilled Waters, recent photographs by Nancy Laskowski, through Dec. 8.
Wyndy Morehead FIne Arts 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Paintings by Stuart Yankell, through Nov. 28.
spare spaces
SLIDELL CULTURAL CENTER 444 Erlanger St., 646-4375 -- Louisiana nature photographs by Julia Sims, through November.
WORLD TRADE CENTER No. 2 Canal St., 581-4888 -- Group exhibit featuring artists from the Metairie Art Guild, through Nov. 17.
museums
New Orleans African-American Museum of Art, Culture and History 1418 Gov. Nicholls St., 527-0989 -- Holiday exhibit and expo featuring a suite of Kwanzaa paintings by Roy Ferdinand, African-American dolls, and seven themed Christmas trees, through December.
New Orleans Museum of Art 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 -- A Passion for Paper: Prints and Drawings from the Joel and John Weinstock Collection; Scottish Treasures: Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Scotland, through Dec. 9; From Myth and Reality: Animals in Japanese Edo-Period Painting, through Nov. 25; BELLEEK: Innovation, Form and Technique -- the Geraldine Colby Zeiler Collection, through Dec. 9; Magnificent Marvelous Martele, silver exhibition, through Jan. 13.
OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART 603 Julia St., 539-9600 -- Crafts from the Carolinas: Extending the Tradition, through Nov. 21.
old u.s. mint 400 Esplanade Ave., 568-6990 -- Sight of Music, exhibit spotlighting diverse visual works on the theme of music, through April, 2002.
SLIDELL MUSEUM 444 Erlanger St., Slidell, (985) 646-4375 -- Early Aviation in Louisiana: 1910-1936, through Dec. 8.
books
Wednesday 14
BRUCE FEILER. Jewish Community Center, 5342 St. Charles Ave., 897-0143. Author discusses his book Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Thursday 15
DR. VIKKI ASHLEY. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Author signs copies of How to Be a Bitch With Style and Alan's Song of Love. Free admission. 7 p.m.
JOE HOWARD AND JOSEPH BOYDEN. UNO Downtown Theatre, 619 Carondelet St., 280-3133. Poet Howard reads his work along with fiction author Boyden. Free admission. 7 p.m.
EDWIN BLACK. Jewish Community Center, 5342 St. Charles Ave., 897-0143. Author discusses his book, IBM and the Holocaust: The Strategic Alliance Between Nazi Germany and America's Most Powerful Corporation. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Friday 16
DAVID SEDARIS. Orpheum Theatre, 129 University Place, (713) 693-2744. David Sedaris, author of Naked and Me Talk Pretty One Day, holds court for an evening of readings. Call for ticket prices. 8 p.m. (Featured in Hot Seven.)
WHITNEY STEWART. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Local children's author reads and signs Blues Across the Bay. Free admission. 7 p.m. (Featured in this issue.)
Saturday 17
ARTHUR HARDY. Borders, 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 835-1363. Local Mardi Gras historian signs Mardi Gras in New Orleans, An Illustrated History. Free admission. 10 a.m.
ARTHUR HARDY. Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St., 895-2266. Local Mardi Gras historian signs copies of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, An Illustrated History. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
CYNCIE SMITH. The Catholic Book Store, 8039 Fig St., 861-7504. Author signs The Joyful Shepherd and her advent calendar The Journey. Free admission. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
ALAN GERSON. Beaucoup Books, 5414 Magazine St., 895-2663. Authors sign Habeas Circus: Illegal Humor, a book of law cartoons. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
STELLA AND PAUL LA VIOLETTE. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Authors read and sign Blueberry Peaches, Red Robin Pie: An Annotated Cookbook of Mississippi Gulf Coast Recipes and Where the Blue Herons Dance: New Tales from the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Free admission. 1 p.m.
Sunday 18
RICKEY PITTMAN. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Louisiana author signs Red River Fever. Free admission. 1 p.m.
MADELINE LEE ROSTEN. Jewish Community Center, 5342 St. Charles Ave., 897-0143. Author discusses her book, The New Joys of Yiddish. Free admission. 10 a.m.
