theater
1776. Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., Kenner, 468-7221. Award-winning musical based on the book by Peter Stone, recreates the formation of the Declaration of Independence by Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Richard Henry Lee. Stocker Fontelieu directs John Brooks, John Hammons, Reggie Hendry and others. Tickets $22 adults, $20 seniors and students, $12 children. Performances 8 p.m. Friday through Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, through May 19.
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.
DINAH WAS ... Southern Repertory Theatre, Shops at Canal Place, Third Floor, 522-6545. Musical biography of jazz and blues singer Dinah Washington, the "Queen of the Blues." Tommye Myrick directs Sandra Anderson Richards, Tynisa Palmer, Daniel Laforce, and others. Tickets $20 and $25. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through May 26.
DRIVING MISS DAISY. Oak Alley Plantation, Vacherie, (800) 442-5539. Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize-winning play about the relationship between an aging Jewish widow and her black chauffeur in the pre-civil rights South. Tickets $25-$35. Performances 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, through May 11.
EARL LONG IN PURGATORY. True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 524-8440. One-man show that looks at Earl Long's unique personality as told by author Jason Berry with music by Spencer Bohren. Perry Martin directs John McConnell. Tickets $21. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through May 26.
GOODNIGHT, IRENE. Anthony Bean Community Theater, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave., 862-PLAY. Biography of the legendary blues guitarist. Anthony Bean directs Chris Thomas King. Tickets $18 general, $16 students and seniors. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday. (Reviewed in this issue.)
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. Friday and Saturday, 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday. Open run.
SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, LIVE! Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St., 522-2081. Popular kids cartoon offers musical numbers and lessons in history, science and language. Brandt Blocker directs C. Patrick Gendusa, Aimeé Fortier, Bryan Wagar and others. Tickets $8. Performances 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and May 18.
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.
ACADEMY GALLERY New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, 5256 Magazine St., 899-8111 -- Ceramics by Jo Ann Greenberg, paintings by Kate Samworth, through May 11.
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. (Reviewed in this issue.)
BASSETTI FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS 233 Chartres St., 529-9811 -- Photos by Shelby Lee Adams, through May.
BERGERON STUDIO & GALLERY 516 Natchez St., 522-7503 -- Lost Plantations: late 1880s-1960s stereoviews and lithographs, through May.
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.
CALLAN GALLERY 3506 Magazine St., 899-8782 -- New collection of 19th and early 20th century French Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings, through May.
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 May.
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.
*D.O.C.S. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Bronze works by Charles Fritchie, through May.
FRENCHY GALLERY 319 Royal St., 561-5885 -- New abstract paintings by Frenchy, works by Steve Lowery.
GALLERY INFERNO 3336 Magazine St., 891-1006 -- Recent paintings by Jeremy Willis, through May 2.
HANSON GALLERY 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- Paintings by Patterson & Barnes, Christian Vey, through May.
*HERIARD-CIMINO GALLERY 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- David's Dilemma, photography and sculpture vignettes by Elizabeth Shannon, through May.
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 -- The New Soul of Jazz, paintings and drawings by David "Lebo" Lebatard, through May 25.
KURT E. SCHON 510 St. Louis St., 524-5462; 523 Royal St., 523-5902 -- Collection of paintings by artists of the 19th century French Salon, through May.
LALLYBROCH 240 Pelican Ave., Old Algiers Point, 362-2226 -- Group show of New Orleans architecture, through May.
*LEMIEUX GALLERIES 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- New sculpture and reliefs by Arthur Silverman, through May 25.
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 -- Pressing Matters: A Print & Book Arts Exhibit, featuring pop-up books by multiple artists; Southern Graphics exhibit, through May.
POET'S GALLERY 3113 Magazine St., 899-4100 -- Altared Images, group show of artists' interpretations of altars, through May 18.
SOUTHWEST DESIGNS 230 Chartres St., 522-4345 -- Works by Navajo artist R.C. Gorman and Taos artist Joseph Sparks.
STELLA JONES GALLERY Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 568-9050 -- Congo Square Poster exhibit with artist James Denmark, through May 11.
VINCENT MANN GALLERY 713 Bienville St., 523-2342 -- Paintings and lithographs by Francoise Gilot, paintings of the French countryside by Luc Didier, through May.
*VINTAGE 429 429 Royal St., 529-2288 -- The Art of Dr. Seuss, through May.
WAITING ROOM GALLERY 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Snooks Jazz, jazz-inspired collage paintings by Margo Kren, through May.
spare spaces
CAFE DEGAS 312 Esplanade Ave., 945-5635 -- In Character, portraits by Andrea Tomasovsky, through May 13.
*DEUTSCH, KERRIGAN, AND STILES, 755 Magazine St., 593-0601 -- Jazz Legends at Preservation Hall circa 1962, photographs by Bob Coke, through May.
ESPLANADE MALL 1401 W. Esplanade Ave., 465-2161 -- Work by the Metairie Art Guild, through May 12.
INTERNATIONAL HOUSE 221 Camp St., 553-9550 -- Mixed-media assemblages by Christopher Porche West, through May 10.
*LESBIAN & GAY COMMUNITY CENTER 2114 Decatur St., 945-1103 -- Works by Omar Angel, through May.
museums
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 --Southern Graphics Council Printmakers Emeritus, 1978-2002, through June 23.
OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART 603 Julia St., 539-9600 -- Art in the South: Recent Acquisitions and Projects, through May.
SLIDELL CULTURAL CENTER 444 Erlanger St., Slidell, (985) 646-4375 -- The Slidell Art League's 40th Annual Spring Juried Art Exhibition, through May 18.
books
Thursday 2
JOSH RUSSELL. Maple Street's Old Metairie Book Shop, 200 Metairie Road, Metairie, 832-8937. Author joins book club group and reads from Yellow Jack. Free admission. 7 p.m.
Sunday 5
DEBORAH OUSLEY KADAIR. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Author signs There Was an Ol' Cajun. Free admission. 11 a.m.
Monday 6
C.W. CANNON. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Author signs Soul Resin. Free admission. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
