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 Gary Rucker, John Hammons, Amy Alvarez and others. Tickets $22 adults, $20 seniors and students, $12 children. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; through May 26. (Reviewed in this issue.)
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. Performance benefits the Louisiana Lesbian & Gay Political Action Caucus. Reservations recommended. Tickets $30, $50 couples. Performance 6 p.m. Sunday.
COLD READ. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Theater for writers features reading of submissions for the 2002 One Act Play Competition. Free admission, one drink minimum. 6 p.m. Wednesday.
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.
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 and musician Spencer Bohren. Perry Martin directs John McConnell. Tickets $21. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, through May 26.
HURLYBURLY. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. David Rabe's award-winning Broadway play focuses on the relationships between friends, lovers, enemies and strangers. Dane Rhodes directs Christopher Lee, mikko, Veronica Russell and others. Tickets $16 Thursday, $19 Friday and Saturday, $11 students. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, through June 1.
LA NUIT. Loyola University, Roussel Hall, 568-0770. Stage adaptation of Elie Wiesel's holocaust text in French with English subtitles. Claude Vajda directs Alain Mottet of the Comedie Francaise. Tickets $15 general, $10 Alliance Francaise members, $5 students. Performance 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
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.
MAN IS MAN. A.R.K. Theatre, 511 Marigny St., 947-0982. Dark comedy by Bertolt Brecht tells of the machinations and madness of war through the transformation of one man by a group of soldiers into a completely different person. Daniel Kahn and Sara Clifford direct Claudia Baumgarten, Kevin Fricke and others. Tickets pay-what-you-can on Thursday, $10 Friday and Saturday. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, through May 25.
MIDGETS FROM URANUS. Cowpokes Theatre Space, 1030 Marigny St., 948-9924. Returning from a square-dance convention, a blue-haired woman is mistaken for a lesbian and kidnapped by small space invaders. Stars Blake Balu, Katharine Sprecher and Marinda Woodruff. Tickets $8 advance, $7 students with ID, $10 at door. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. East Jefferson High School Auditorium, 400 Phlox Ave., 455-8228. Rodgers and Hammerstein's comedy tells the story of Queen Aggravain's attempt to find a "true" princess for her son, Prince Dauntless. Stars students from the Jefferson Talent Theatre Education Program and the Jefferson Academy of Fine Arts. Tickets $5. Performances 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 522-5555. Tony Manero, a Brooklyn kid with dancing ambitions, hopes to make it big in Manhattan in Robert Stigwood's musical based on the 1977 film. Arlene Phillips directs and choreographs Richard H. Blake, Aileen Quinn and Jeanine Meyers. Tickets $34-$60. Performances 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
THE SHIM SHAM REVUE. Shim Sham Club, 615 Toulouse St., 606-9903. Burlesque dancers the Southern Jezebelles are joined by Ingrid Lucia and Ronnie Magri's Shim Sham Revue Band, with emcee Bob Edes. Tickets $15 advance, $18 at the door. 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. (Reviewed in this issue.)
THE STY OF THE BLIND PIG. Ethiopian Theater Company, 3911 Gen. Pershing St., 891-6191. Set in Chicago during the rising civil rights movement in the South, a mother-daughter relationship is challenged by a blind street singer who briefly touches their lives. Stars Venora Legaux, Jerrelda Drummer and Floyd Bean. Call for ticket info. Performances 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
cabaret
Sunday 19
CYNTHIA OWEN AND LYLA HAY OWEN. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Mother-daughter team reprises cabaret show. Tickets $16. 8 p.m.
Monday 20
CYNTHIA OWEN AND HARRY MAYRONNE JR. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Duo performs Broadway favorites. Tickets $16. 8 p.m.
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 -- Recent paintings and etchings by John Akers, through June 17.
ARIODANTE 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Family Affair, jewelry by Maureen and Rebecca Worth, through May.
ARTHUR ROGER GALLERY 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Glass work by Dale Chihuly, through May 25.
AXELLE FINE ARTS GALERIE ROYALE 709 Royal St., 299-1666 -- Works by Michel Delacroix, Adre Bourrie and others, through May.
BARRISTER'S GALLERY 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- The Second Coming, new work by John Lawson, through June; Lenin: BUSTed, group show, through May 27.
BASSETTI FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS 233 Chartres St., 529-9811 -- Photos by Shelby Lee Adams, through May.
BRUNNER GALLERY 215 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 893-0444 -- Spatiotempora, clay work by Lucille Hunter; paintings by Bryan Gill, through June 1.
*BRYANT GALLERIES 316 Royal St., 525-5584 -- Paintings by Dean Mitchell, through June 18.
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.
CAROL ROBINSON GALLERY 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- Photographs by Elliot Snellings, through May 28.
COLE PRATT GALLERY 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- Paintings by Bill Creevy; Mary, paintings by Emily Hogan, 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.
CRESCENT GALLERY 531 Wilkinson Row, 525-5255 -- Exhibition of work by National Arts Club Members, through May 30.
D.O.C.S. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Bronze works by Charles Fritchie, through May.
EVANS GALLERY 3815 Magazine St., 897-2688 -- Paintings by Jean Geraci, through May.
FRENCHY GALLERY 319 Royal St., 561-5885 -- New abstract paintings by Frenchy, through May.
GALLERY CARROLL 4817 Prytania St., 861-8838 -- New work by August Martens, George and JoAnn Saucier, Carroll Becker, MacDonald Eaton, and Eva McDaniel, through May.
GALLERY INFERNO 3336 Magazine St., 891-1006 -- Work by Pat Juneau, through May.
GALERIE LAFITTE 533 St. Louis St., 524-0105 -- Paintings by Gustavo Duque, Christina Juran, and Jordan Ivanov; sculptures by Cauvin Eustis, through May.
GALERIE SIMONNE STERN 518 Julia St., 529-1118 -- Landscapes and Heroes, paintings by Nicole Charbonnet, through May. (Reviewed in this issue.)
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.
HUBER HOUSE GALLERY 1522 St. Charles Ave., 561-0628 -- New work by Christi Simoncioni, 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.
MARGUERITE OESTREICHER FINE ARTS 720 Julia St., 581-9253 -- Recent bronzes and sculpture by John Geldersma, through May.
MARIO VILLA GALLERY 3908 Magazine St., 895-8731 -- Cloudscape Series, paintings by Kelly Jones, through May.
MY MAMA 'NEM ARTISTS' STUDIO 4129 Magnolia St., 894-0634 -- You Done Good Baby, works by Charles Collins Jr., through June 10.
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.
PELIGRO 305 Decatur St., 581-1706 -- Works by visiting Colorado artist Pard Morrisox.
POET'S GALLERY 3113 Magazine St., 899-4100 -- Altared Images, group show of artists' interpretations of altars, through May 18.
SOREN CHRISTENSEN 400 Julia St., 569-9501 -- Black-and-white photographs by Michael Book, through May.
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 -- Windows of the Soul, new work by Faith Ringgold, through June 28.
STEVE MARTIN STUDIO/GALLERY 624 Julia St., 566-1390 -- Mixed digital prints by Don Maitland, through May.
SYLVIA SCHMIDT GALLERY 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- Dramatic Moments, paintings by Genevieve Liljeberg; Blues Boxes, mixed media constructions by Martha Ferris, through May.
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 June 8.
WYNDY MOREHEAD FINE ARTS 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Allegory of Color, paintings by Haitian artist Vidho Lorville, through May 29. (Reviewed in this issue.)
spare spaces
DEUTSCH, KERRIGAN, AND STILES, 755 Magazine St., 593-0601 -- Jazz Legends at Preservation Hall circa 1962, photographs by Bob Coke, through May.
LESBIAN & GAY COMMUNITY CENTER 2114 Decatur St., 945-1103 -- Works by Omar Angel, through May.
museums
NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM 945 Magazine St., 527-6012 -- Experiences of American Women in World War II, through May 27.
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 -- Southern Graphics Council Printmakers Emeritus, 1978-2002, through June 23; Bingo! Photographs by Andrew Miksys, through June 9.
NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY 219 Loyola Ave., 596-2567 -- Mardi Gras: A Louisiana Celebration, through June 5.
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
Wednesday 15
BARRY GIFFORD. Beaucoup Books, 5414 Magazine St., 895-2663. Author reads from and signs American Falls. 6:30 p.m.
Thursday 16
ALEXIA LEWNES. de Ville Books and Prints, 344 Carondelet St., 525-1846. Author signs Misplaced: New York City's Street Kids. 12:30 p.m.
GEORGE ALEC EFFINGER MEMORIAL READING. Octavia Books, 513 Octavia St., 899-7323. Friends and fans of the recently deceased, award-winning science fiction writer read selections of his work. Readers will include authors Barbara Hambly, Laura Joh Rowland and O'Neill De Noux. 7 p.m.
Saturday 18
JUDY COLLIER. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Author signs Quit Kissing My Ashes. 1 p.m.
RILEY SAMSON. Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 455-4929. Author signs Politically Correct Bible Stories. 2 p.m.
Sunday 19
RICHARD CAMPANELLA. Our Lady of the Rosary School's Vincent Hall, 1324 Moss St., 483-0733. Author discusses and signs Time and Place in New Orleans: Past Geographies in the Present Day. 3 p.m.
