theater
AMAZING PLACE, THIS NEW ORLEANS. True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 945-6789. Roberts Batson's solo performance brings to life the history and characters that helped shape the story of New Orleans, based on his Scandal Tours. Tickets $15. Performances 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
ANYTHING GOES. NOCCA/Riverfront, 2800 Chartres St., 940-2787. Debut musical comedy by the Department of Music Theatre. $5 donation. Performances 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
BROADWAY BOUND. Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., 468-7221. Final part of Neil Simon's trilogy, following Eugene and Stanley as they try their hand at professional comedy writing and deal with their family. Chase Waites directs Julie Vorus, Jeff Riddick, Gary Rucker and others. Tickets $20 adults, $18 seniors and students, $10 children. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
COLD READ. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Lois Winter Crandell joins area writers and actors in a reading of The First of Her Kind. Free admission, one-drink minimum. 6 p.m. Wednesday.
COOKIN' WITH GUS. Carlone's Dinner Theatre, 100 N. Labarre Road, Metairie, 838-9906. Heartwarming comedy by the Sandi Roads Theatrical Production Company. Jerry Lee Leighton directs Bob Edes, Dane Rhodes and others. Tickets $39 and $26.50. Performances 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
DOROTHY AND ALAN. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Return of Michael P. Cahill's original play dealing with the life, love, and times of writer Dorothy Parker and her second husband Alan Campbell. Stars Janet Shea and Michael Cahill. Tickets $20 Friday and Saturday, $15 Thursday. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, through March 30.
EARL LONG IN PURGATORY. Southern Repertory Theatre, 333 Canal Place, Third Floor, 522-6545. One-man show that looks at Earl Long's unique personality as told by author Jason Berry and musician Spencer Bohren. Perry Martin directs John McConnell. Tickets $21. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m.. Sunday, through April 7.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Jefferson Performing Arts Society., 400 Phlox St., Metairie, 885-2000. Andrew Lloyd Weber's rock opera likens Jesus Christ's following to modern social issues and celebrity worship. Kris Shaw directs John Giraud and others. Dennis Assaf conducts. Tickets $23-$25 adults, $12 students and seniors. Performances 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 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.
THE PHANTOM OF THE SOAP OPERA. Joseph Maumus Center, 721 Friscouville Ave., Arabi, 276-1885. Mishaps and murders haunt the cast of As the Heart Burns, and a mysterious phantom is responsible. Bradley Arsenaux directs Larry St. Romain, Tim Callais and others. Tickets $6 adults, $3.50 seniors and youth. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
SELDOM SEEN. Cowpokes Theatre Space, 1030 Marigny St., 947-0505. Gay and lesbian arts organization Drama! presents lesser-known works by Tennessee Williams. Call for ticket prices. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through March 31.
SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER. Contemporary Arts Center, Freeport McMoRan Theatre, 900 Camp St., 528-3805. Tennessee Williams' tale about a young woman who must recount a tragic event she witnessed. John Grimsley directs Maggie Eldred, Diana Shortes and others. Tickets $18 CAC members, $20 non-members. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH. Le Petit du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St., 522-2081. Age, youth, betrayal and revenge are major themes in Tennessee Williams' play about the travels of Princess Kosmonopolous and Chance Wayne. Tickets $21. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through March 31. (Reviewed in this issue.)
WHEN YA SMILIN'. North Star Theatre, 347 Gerard St., Mandeville, (985) 626-1500. Sean Patterson and Becky Allen star in Ricky Graham's comedy about growing up in New Orleans. Tickets $23.50. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and 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 -- Photos by Henri Cartier-Bresson, through July 14.
ABITA ART GALLERY 72078 Maple St., Abita Springs, (985) 867-3323 -- Spring Blooms, floral paintings by Louisiana artists, through March.
Academy Gallery New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, 5256 Magazine St., 899-8111 -- Paintings by Kathy Brombacher, photographs by Rick Lineberger, through April 2.
Ariodante 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Ceramics by Casey Willems, through March.
Arthur Roger Gallery 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- The Texture of Memory: paintings by Jacqueline Bishop, through March 27. (Reviewed in this issue.)
Barrister's Gallery 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- In Your F***in' Face, recent paintings by Roy Ferdinand, through March; Assemblage work by John Greco and Matjames, through April.
Bassetti Fine Art Photographs 233 Chartres St., 529-9811 -- Group show of gallery artists featuring David Halliday and new work by Jack Spencer, through March.
bergeron Studio & Gallery 516 Natchez St., 522-7503 -- Lost Plantations: late 1880s-1960s stereoviews and lithographs; black-and-white photography by C.F. Weber and Frances Benjamin Johnson, through April.
BOGDANOFF GALLERY 936 Royal St., 299-1500 -- Frescoes by Steve Bogdanoff, through March.
brunner Gallery 215 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 893-0444 -- Now That the Ladder's Gone: The Kantturn Bridge Works, through April 6.
Bryant Galleries 316 Royal St., 525-5584 -- Group show featuring Juan Medina, Leonardo Nierman, Alan Flattman, and Carol Katchen, through March.
CAMERON JONES 2127 Magazine St., 524-3119 -- Group show by 12 local artists including George Ufford, Marcel Flisiuk, Ruth Marie Wright and Chris Clark, through March.
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Glasslight Studios, new neon sculpture by Eric Ehlenberger, through March.
Carol Robinson Gallery 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- New Work in Clay, by Lisa Jordy, through March.
cole pratt gallery 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- Paintings by Phil Sandusky, mixed-media works by Katie Rafferty, through March.
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.
CRESCENT GALLERY 531 Wilkinson Row, 525-5255 -- Paintings by Ann Cox Strub and Eugenie Huger, and sculpture by Victoria Wilkins, through March 21.
d.o.c.s. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Paintings by Suza Talbot, ceramic sculpture by Marlene Pellerito, through April 4.
du Monde Gallery 318 Royal St., 523-0078 -- New paintings by Roger Bolzonello, through March.
EVANS GALLERY 3815 Magazine St., 897-2688 -- Paintings by Jean Geraci, Janet McGreal, and Adele Sypesteyn, through March.
FRENCHY GALLERY 319 Royal St., 561-5885 -- New work from the Olympics, through March.
GALLERY CARROLL 4817 Prytania St., 861-8838 -- New work by August Martens, JoAnn Saucier, Carroll Becker, and MacDonald Eaton, through March.
Galerie Simonne Stern 518 Julia St., 529-1118 -- What Should We Do With an Overweight Hungarian?, mixed media by Gary Brotmeyer, through March.
Hanson Gallery 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- New work by MacKenzie Thorp, through April.
Heriard-Cimino Gallery 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- Arcadia, sculpture by Beverly Penn, through March.
HUBER HOUSE GALLERY 1522 St. Charles Ave., 561-0628 -- Works by Larissa Ivakina, through March.
J. Pierre fine art gallery 1562 Magazine St., suite 5, 586-1997 -- Paintings, sculptures and monoprints by Jamar Pierre, through March.
JOHN PRODUCT GALLERY 2027 Magazine St., 581-5280 -- New paintings by Jessica Benjamin and Jeremy Olson, through April 6.
Jonathan Ferrara Gallery 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471 -- Made in Cuba: Contemporary Art from Cuba 2002, through March.
Kurt E. Schon 510 St. Louis St., 524-5462; 523 Royal St., 523-5902 -- Collection of genre paintings by artists from the Royal Academy, including Alfred Rankley, John Horace Hooper, and Richard Redgrave, through March.
LALLYBROCH 240 Pelican Ave., Old Algiers Point, 362-2226 -- Works by Neil Allen, through March.
LeMieux Galleries 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- New paintings by Billy Solitario, through April 2.
lms fine art & antiques 729 Royal St., 529-3774 -- The Best of Russia and America, featuring paintings by Valery Kosorukov and sculpture by Raymond Wiger, through March.
Marguerite Oestreicher Fine Arts 720 Julia St., 581-9253 -- Recent work by Sharon Kopriva, through March.
mario villa gallery 3908 Magazine St., 895-8731 -- The Pointe Is ..., paintings by Beth Lambert, through March.
MARTIN LAWRENCE GALLERY 709 Royal St., 588-9020; 433 Royal St., 299-9055 -- Featuring rare and unique works by Picasso, Chagall, Miro and Renoir, through March.
McINNIS fine art 404 Chartres St., 581-3608 -- Mardi Gras Daze, new oil paintings by Nicki Flynn, Claude Dussell, Peter Wood and others, through March.
neighborhood gallery 1410 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 524-8800 -- She Is the Root, Part IX, celebration of International Women's Month; Urban Swamp, paintings by Susan Norris-Davis, through March.
Newcomb Art Gallery Tulane University, 865-5328 -- Sleepwalk, collaborative video installation, through March 24.
N.O. School of Glassworks & Printmaking Studio 727 Magazine St., 529-7277 -- Glass and Garden Print party, works by Gerald Haessig, Pamela Conway Caruso, Anthony Schafermeyer, Claire Kelly and Andrew Pollack, through March.
Stella jones gallery Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 568-9050 -- Windows of the Soul, bead sculpture by Joyce Scott, drawings by Vicki Meek, through March.
STEVE MARTIN STUDIO/GALLERY 624 Julia St., 566-1390 -- Photographs by George Long, sculpture by Scott Gentry, works on paper by Steve Martin, through March.
Sylvia Schmidt Gallery 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Wit and Whimsy, works on paper, panel and sketchbooks by Hal Mayforth, through March.
Visual Jazz incorporated 2337 St. Claude Ave., 949-9822 -- Featuring Richard Thomas' We Too Sing America, the 2002 Zulu poster saluting African-American patriotism, through March.
waiting room gallery 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Recent paintings by Daniel Finnigan, through April 6.
Wyndy Morehead FIne Arts 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Gathering Up the Sparks, paintings by John Torina, through April 3.
spare spaces
Crescent City Brewhouse 527 Decatur St., 522-0571 -- Paintings by Marc Jahn Arceneaux, through March.
FIRST GUARANTY BANK 400 E. Thomas St., Hammond, (504) 375-0343 -- Art by Cullen, paintings by Cullen Washington, through March.
museums
New Orleans Museum of Art 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 -- O Say Can You See: Great American Photographs from NOMA; The Sport of Life and Death: the Mesoamerican Ballgame, through April 28.
SLIDELL CULTURAL CENTER 444 Erlanger St., Slidell, (985) 646-4375 -- We Shall Overcome: Photographs from the American Civil Rights Era, through April 13.
books
Wednesday 20
JAMES REESE. Garden District Bookshop, 2727 Prytania St., 895-2266. Author signs Book of Shadows. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
MARLENE TAYLOR. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Author signs Silver Tongue. Free admission. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday 22
JAN DAY. Bookstar, 414 N.Peters, 523-6411. Author signs Pirate, Pink. Free admission. Noon to 1:30 p.m.
LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE FESTIVAL. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Authors Florencia Levinton Schabelman, Uriel Quesada and Alessandra Molin read and sign their books. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Saturday 23
DICKIE BRENNAN AND CHEF GUS MARTIN. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Owner and chef of Palace Café sign their new book Palace Café: The Flavor of New Orleans. Free admission. 1 p.m.
MARSHALL MICHEL. Garden District Bookshop, 2727 Prytania St., 895-2266. Former Air Force colonel reads and signs The Eleven Days of Christmas: America's Last Vietnam Battle. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
