THEATER
A WALK IN THE WOODS. True Brew Cafe, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Lee Blessing's political comedy/drama centered on an American negotiator and an eccentric Soviet diplomat. Perry Martin directs Bob Edes and Randy Cheramie. Tickets $21, $31 for A Walk in the Woods and Sea Marks. Performances 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, and 6 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 24.
HAMLET. Tulane University, Dixon Hall, 865-5105. Special performance of Shakespeare's classic as part of Tulane's Shakespeare Festival. Aimee K. Michel directs Tony Molina, Clare Moncrief and others. Tickets $20 adults; $15 teachers, seniors and Tulane staff with ID; $5 students with ID. Performances 7:30 p.m. Friday.
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.
MONOLOGUES AND MUSIC FOR THE MONEY, HONEY. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Five original monologues about different women written and performed by Nell Nolan and directed by Carl Walker. Reservations recommended. Tickets $18 plus tax. Performances 8 p.m. Monday.
NUNSENSE. Skyfire Theatre, 332 N. New Hampshire St., Covington, (985) 875-7577. Comedy about the Little Sisters of Hoboken, their benefit performance to raise money to bury four nuns who are in the freezer, and an impending visit by the Board of Health. Rita Stockstill directs Grace Marshall, Joan Spraggins and others. Tickets $18. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
PIPPIN. NORD Theatre, 705 Lafayette St., 565-7860. Musical comedy and Tony award-winning Broadway production. Ty Tracy directs Leo Jones, Bryan Wagar and others. Tickets $10. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, through Jan. 20.
SEA MARKS. True Brew Cafe, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. Gardner McKay's Irish comedy/drama about star-crossed lovers. Stars Dane Rhodes and Mary Lee Gibbons. Tickets $21, $31 for Sea Marks and A Walk in the Woods. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday, 9:30 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Sunday, through Feb. 24.
SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN. Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., Kenner, 468-7221. Gospel musical by Connie Ray about a Baptist pastor's attempt to help build up his congregation in Mount Pleasant, N.C. Chip Stelz directs Kyle Daigrepont, Leslie Limber and others. Tickets $22 adults, $20 seniors and students, $12 children. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 27.
SOUTH PACIFIC. Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 524-2490. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony-winning musical about love and prejudice during World War II. Scott Faris directs Michael Nouri, Erin Dilly and others. Tickets $28.50-$55.50. Performances 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
VISITING MR. GREEN. Le chat noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. A young man and an older gentleman are brought together by a court order and begin to learn about themselves through each other in this off-Broadway hit. Keith Briggs directs Roy Dumont and Michael Simpson. Tickets $12-$18, depending on day. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, through Jan. 26.
WHEN YA SMILIN'. The North Star Theater, 347 Gerard St., Mandeville, (985) 626-1500. Ricky Graham's popular comedy about growing up in New Orleans opens for a limited run. Stars Becky Allen and Sean Patterson. Tickets $23.50. Performances 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday.
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 -- Snaps, photographs by Elliot Erwitt, through Feb. 1.
ACME GALLERY 5700 Magazine St., 891-0357 -- Comic book art by Vernon Smith, through January.
Ariodante 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Group show, through January.
Arthur Roger Gallery 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Constructions by Al Souza, paintings by Matthew Sontheimer, through February.
Barrister's Gallery 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- Psychomanias, paintings by Michael Collins and Bill Komodore; Paperweights, handmade artists' books, through Jan. 25.
Bassetti Fine Art Photographs 233 Chartres St., 529-9811 -- Group show of gallery artists featuring David Halliday and new work by Jack Spencer, through January.
Bryant Galleries 316 Royal St., 525-5584 -- A Celebration of Light, group show by gallery artists, through Jan. 19.
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Fourteenth anniversary of the Galerie Royale collection, featuring works by William Tolliver, Wren Panzella, Verna Hart and more, through January.
Carol Robinson Gallery 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- Paintings by Michael Ledet, through January.
cole pratt gallery 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- Abstract paintings by James Beaman, landscapes by Andrew Bucci, through January.
*Contemporary Arts Center 900 Camp St., 523-1216 -- Expanding Universe: The Recent Paintings of Al Held; Bodyworks: An Exhibition by Studio Matrixx featuring works by Ila Berman and Michelle Fornabai, through March 24.
*DELGADO FINE ARTS GALLERY 615 City Park Ave., 483-4512 -- Seeing Around the Periphery, paintings by Ellen Burgin; Trail Signs, recent paintings by Amie Oliver, through Jan. 10.
d.o.c.s. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Sculpture by Allen Wynn, paintings by Michael Fee, through Feb. 28.
du Monde Gallery 318 Royal St., 523-0078 -- New work by Linda Lesperance, through January.
ERTH GALLERY 8311 Oak St., 865-8126 -- Out of the Frying Pan, ceramics by Alex and Cindy Williams, through Jan. 30.
GALLERY CARROLL 4817 Prytania St., 861-8838 -- Paintings by Richard Benz, Carroll Becker, and MacDonald Eaton, through January.
GALLERY GORGON 2042 Magazine St., second floor, 529-5350 -- Works by Maggie McEleny, through January.
GALERIE LAFItTE 533 St. Louis St., 524-0105 -- Group show featuring work by Karen Cauvin Eustis, Gustavo Duque, Christina Juran, and Jordan Ivanov, through January.
Galerie Simonne Stern 518 Julia St., 529-1118 -- Paintings by George Dunbar, through Feb. 27.
Hanson Gallery 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- Group show by gallery artists, including Peter Max, through January.
Heriard-Cimino Gallery 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- On Imagined Occasions, paintings by Carlos deVillasante, through Feb. 23.
HUBER HOUSE GALLERY 1522 St. Charles Ave., 561-0628 -- Works by Garland Robinette, through January.
J. Pierre fine art gallery 1562 Magazine St., suite 5, 586-1997 -- Paintings, sculptures and monoprints by Jamar Pierre, through January.
JOHN PRODUCT GALLERY 2027 Magazine St., 581-5280 -- Group Show, through Feb. 2.
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471 -- Louisiana Landscapes and Surreal Settings, paintings by Roberto Ortiz, through Feb. 6.
Kurt E. Schon 510 St. Louis St., 524-5462; 523 Royal St., 523-5902 -- Exhibition of French post-Impressionist artists including Eugene Montezin, Jacques Martin-Ferrieres and more, through January.
LeMieux Galleries 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- New Constructions, new work by metal artist Thomas Mann, through Feb. 26.
Marguerite Oestreicher Fine Arts 720 Julia St., 581-9253 -- Wood engravings and paintings by Orren Kickliter, through January.
mario villa gallery 3908 Magazine St., 895-8731 -- Oil and Water, paintings by Melissa Bonin, through January.
Newcomb Art Gallery Tulane University, 865-5328 -- Materials of Africa: African Art from New Orleans Collections, through Feb. 17.
N.O. School of Glassworks & Printmaking Studio 727 Magazine St., 529-7277 -- Sculpted boxes by Gerald Haessig, crackle glass by Atom Ridge, glass cars by Andrew Brott, prints by Janelle Trosclair, through January.
SOREN CHRISTENSEN 400 Julia St., 569-9501 -- Paintings by Rose Casterline, through January.
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Baselines and Elevators, new paintings and a sculpture installation by Kathleen Ariatti-Banton; works on paper and canvas by Patricia Fairfield, through January.
waiting room gallery 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Commuting Textiles, wall pieces by Oliver, through Jan. 26.
Wyndy Morehead FIne Arts 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Paintings by Jim Pennington, through February.
MUSEUMS
New Orleans Museum of Art 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 -- Magnificent Marvelous Martele, silver exhibition, through Jan. 13; O Say Can You See: Great American Photographs from NOMA.
NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY 219 Loyola Ave., 596-2567 -- A Career in Jazz: The Photography of Herman Leonard, through Jan. 15.
OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART 603 Julia St., 539-9600 -- Then & Now: 1941-2001, exhibition of Southern artists' work on war and peace, through Jan. 18.
BOOKS
Saturday 12
LEILANI HENO. Borders Books, 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 835-7925. Author signs copies of Smothering the Soul, written to motivate readers about weight-loss goals. Free admission. 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
