theater
AMAZING PLACE, THIS NEW ORLEANS. True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 945-6789. Roberts Batson's solo performance that brings to life the history and characters that helped shape the story of New Orleans based on his Scandal Tours. Tickets $20. Performances 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, through May. (Reviewed in this issue.)
BLUE LIGHTS AND RIVER SONGS. ASHE Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 241-2840. A poetic dramatization featuring the poems of the late playwright Tom Dent, which focus on the city of New Orleans. Tickets $15 general, $10 students and seniors. Performances 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
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.
FOOTLOOSE. Jesuit High School, Auditorium, 4133 Banks St., 483-3877. One teenager rebels against the oppressive rules of the small town of Bomont in this musical based on the popular '80s movie. Tickets $12.50 reserved, $10 general, $5 Jesuit students. Performances 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
HARVEY. Columbia Players Inc., 1320 N. Morrison Blvd., Times Square Shopping Center, Hammond, (985) 542-6745. Daryl Ray directs this classic comedy about an eccentric man and his imaginary rabbit friend. Tickets $10 adults, $8 children and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through April 20.
HELL'S BELLES. Cowpokes Theatre Space, 2240 St. Claude Ave., 606-9903. Running With Scissors' latest production finds an unsuspecting wounded Union soldier in the midst of a group of naughty Confederate schoolgirls. Brian Peterson and Flynn De Marco star. Tickets $12-$15. Performances 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, through April 28.
IMPORTANT CHICKEN. Martine's, 2347 Metairie Road, 739-4091. Political satire written and directed by Christian Champagne with music by Peter Orr. Stars Christian Champagne, Phil Pisciatta and Peggy Sanders. Tickets $10. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.
LATE NIGHT CATECHISM. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, 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. Friday and Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Open run.
THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT. Loyola University, Marquette Theater, 865-3824. Jean Giraudoux's play about a group of businessmen out to swindle a neighborhood over a supposed oil discovery, and the cafe owner who plots to stop them. Tickets $10 general, $7 students and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
MONOLOGUES AND MUSIC, FOR THE MONEY, HONEY! Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Nell Nolan Young's production returns, with music by Michael Harold and Dr. Quinn Peeper. Tickets $18 plus tax. Performance 8 p.m. Monday.
RITUAL MURDER. ASHE Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 241-2840. Tom Dent's documentary-style one-act drama is partnered with a dramatization of his poetry. Tickets $15 general, $10 students and seniors. Performances 7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
SHAKESPEARE ON TRIAL. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Using the audience as the real-life jury, Shakespeare's Macbeth is tried by a team of Loyola law professors and district court judges in a mock trial. Stars Dane Rhodes, Raphaelle O'Neil and others. Tickets $12, general, $8 students with ID. Performance 8 p.m. Wednesday.
SKETCHES FOR THE WITCHING HOUR. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Three new sketches by Rob Tsarov centering on some unusual characters. Tsarov directs Greg DiLeo, Veronica Russell, Chris Lee, and others. Tickets $10. Performance 11 p.m. Friday.
SOIREE EDITH PIAF. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. M.I. Scoggin presents an evening of music to commemorate the songs and melodic voice of the first French diva, Edith Piaf. Tickets $22 general, $37 preferred seating. Performance 8 p.m. Friday and 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, new work by Louisiana artists, through April.
ARIODANTE 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Eggstraordinary Journey, painted eggs by Paul Wirhun, through April.
ARTHUR ROGER GALLERY 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Glass work by Dale Chihuly, through May 25.
BARRISTER'S GALLERY 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- Lenin: Busted, group show, through May 27; assemblage work by John Greco and Matjames; paintings by Dimitri Fouquet, through April.
*BRUNNER GALLERY 215 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 893-0444 -- Spring for Art, featuring new work by Rick Brunner and wood sculpture and paintings by Linda Dautreuil.
BRYANT GALLERIES 316 Royal St., 525-5584 -- Paintings by Alan Flattman, through April 20.
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 April.
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Paintings by Kathy Sizeler, through April 27.
CAROL ROBINSON GALLERY 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- Landscapes by Robert Malone, through April.
COLE PRATT GALLERY 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- Landscapes by Danna Ruth Harvey; Cut Flowers, monotypes by Barbara Brainard, through April.
CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER 900 Camp St., 523-1216 -- Digital Louisiana, group show featuring recent computer-processed prints, photographs, and interactive art by Louisiana artists, through June 9.
CRESCENT GALLERY 531 Wilkinson Row, 525-5255 -- Paintings by Martha Guthrie and Roy Pfister, through April 25.
D.O.C.S. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- New sculpture by Badette Wattigny, through April.
EVANS GALLERY 3815 Magazine St., 897-2688 -- Paintings of marsh scenes by Carolyn Pelligrin, through April.
FRENCHY GALLERY 319 Royal St., 561-5885 -- New abstract paintings by Frenchy, through April.
GALLERY CARROLL 4817 Prytania St., 861-8838 -- New work by August Martens, George and JoAnn Saucier, Carroll Becker, MacDonald Eaton and Eva McDaniel, through April.
GALLERY INFERNO 3336 Magazine St., 891-1006 -- Recent paintings by Jeremy Willis, through May 2.
GALERIE SIMONNE STERN 518 Julia St., 529-1118 -- Paintings and drawings by Randy Asprodites, through April.
GENESIS FINE ART 709 Royal St., 588-9020 -- Group show including paintings by Antonio Tamburro, Georges Flanet, Ferjo and Tomasz Rut; sculpture by Michael Wilkinson, Tuan, Mario Jason.
HANSON GALLERY 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- New work by MacKenzie Thorp, through April.
HERIARD-CIMINO GALLERY 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- New paintings by Columbian artist Luis Roldan, through April.
*JOHN PRODUCT GALLERY 2027 Magazine St., 581-5280 -- The Black and White photographs of Bob Compton, through May.
JONATHAN FERRARA GALLERY 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471 -- Seventh annual No Dead Artists, juried exhibition of New Orleans art, through April 23.
KURT E. SCHON 510 St. Louis St., 524-5462; 523 Royal St., 523-5902 -- Collection of paintings of children by artists from the Royal Academy, through April.
LEMIEUX GALLERIES 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- Embossed monoprints by Brandon Graving, through April 30.
MARGUERITE OESTREICHER FINE ARTS 720 Julia St., 581-9253 -- Digging for Pearls, recent drawings and sculpture by Jennifer Odem, through April 27.
MARIO VILLA GALLERY 3908 Magazine St., 895-8731 -- Legacy of Printmaker J.L. Steg, through April 30.
NEIGHBORHOOD GALLERY 1410 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 524-8800 -- Dedicated to the Second Line, paintings by Sheila Alson, through May 6.
N.O. SCHOOL OF GLASSWORKS & PRINTMAKING STUDIO 727 Magazine St., 529-7277 -- Triangle Book Arts Exhibition, featuring book art from Chicago Book Arts, New York Book Arts, and New Orleans Book Arts; glass musical instruments by Josh Cohen, through April 30.
SOREN CHRISTENSEN 400 Julia St., 569-9501 -- Necessary Sculptures, paintings by Mark Bradley-Shoup, through April.
STELLA JONES GALLERY Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 568-9050 -- Prints from the Printmaking Workshop, through April 21.
STEVE MARTIN STUDIO/GALLERY 624 Julia St., 566-1390 -- Acrylic paintings by John Kaine, through April.
SYLVIA SCHMIDT GALLERY 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Figures and Still Lifes, paintings by Robert Hausey, through April 30.
TOUCHSTONE FINE ART 308 Royal St., 525-1537 -- New works by Mora, Gantner and Ellis, through November.
VINCENT MANN GALLERY 713 Bienville St., 523-2342 -- Paintings and lithographs by Francoise Gilot, paintings of the French countryside by Luc Didier, through May.
*WAITING ROOM GALLERY 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Snooks Jazz, jazz-inspired collage paintings by Margo Kren, through May.
WYNDY MOREHEAD FINE ARTS 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Paintings by Eric Abrecht, through April.
museums
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 -- Southern Graphics Council Printmakers Emeritus, 1978-2002, through June 23; O Say Can You See: Great American Photographs from NOMA; The Sport of Life and Death: the Mesoamerican Ballgame, through April 28. (Reviewed in this issue.)
OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART 603 Julia St., 539-9600 -- Art in the South: Recent Acquisitions and Projects, through April.
SLIDELL CULTURAL CENTER 444 Erlanger St., Slidell, (985) 646-4375 -- We Shall Overcome: Photographs from the American Civil Rights Era, through April 13.
books
Tuesday 9
ROXANNE DUNBAR-ORTIZ. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St. 523-6411. Feminist activist and writer signs OutLaw Woman: A Memoir of the War Years, 1960-1975. Free admission. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Wednesday 10
ROXANNE DUNBAR-ORTIZ. University of New Orleans, University Center Ballroom, 280-7285. Author signs Outlaw Woman: A Memoir of the War Years, 1960-1975. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Friday 12
VICTOR KLEIN. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Author signs New Orleans Ghosts and New Orleans Ghosts II. Free admission. 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday 13
LALITA TADEMY. Garden District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St., 895-2266. Female author signs and reads from New York Times best seller, Cane River. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
BRIAN FEDERICO. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Author signs Our Heritage in the Making: The Origins of New Orleans' Greatest Music Festival. Free admission. 1 p.m.
DAVID HAJDU. Maple Street Book Shop, 7523 Maple St., 866-4916. Author signs Positively 4th Street. Free admission. 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
DICKIE BRENNAN. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Chef and author signs The Palace Cafe Cookbook. Free admission. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
