theater
AMAZING PLACE, THIS NEW ORLEANS. True Brew Theatre, 200 Julia St., 945-6789. Roberts Batson's solo performance based on his Scandal Tours. Tickets $20. Performances 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Open run.
BEATLES 4EVER. W French Quarter, Bacco courtyard, 316 Chartres St., 522-2426. One-man show about a Beatles performance in New Orleans. Mikko directs Greg Di Leo. Tickets $15 for show only, $30 for show and three-course meal at Bacco. Performances 8 p.m. Monday, through May 19.
THE BLACK & WHITE BLUES. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Ricky Graham and Harry Mayronne Jr.'s musical about the service industry. Tickets $21, plus $6 one-drink minimum; discount available for service industry workers. 7:30 p.m. Monday, through May 19.
COLD READ. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. "Theatre for Writers" series
continues with Chris Champagne reading Forbidden Champagne. Free admission, one-drink minimum. 6 p.m. Wednesday.
THE DINNER PARTY. NOVA Center, 7200 Alexander St., Arabi, 271-0833. Neil Simon comedy stars Jason Meyers, Wayne McCarthy, Michael Brossette. Advance tickets $6 adults, $4 seniors and students; at door $7 adults, $4.50 seniors and students. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. Slidell Little Theatre, 2024 Nellie Drive, Slidell, (985) 643-0556. Julia and Paul Wood direct David Jacobs and others in the popular show. Tickets $15 adults, $8 children. Performances 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, through May 11.
ON THE VERGE. University of New Orleans, Performing Arts Center, 280-7469. Three female travelers embark on satirical journey across geographical boundaries during the Victorian period. Brent Surdukan directs Alexis Cooley, Heather Surdukan, Mandi Turner and Michael Santos. Tickets $8 general, $5 seniors and students. Performances 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. Riverdale Middle School Fairchild Hall-Morris Block Auditorium, 3900 Jefferson Hwy., Jefferson, 838-6227. Musical
based on the classic fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." Student cast and
crew accompanied by live orchestra. Tickets $8 adults, $5 seniors and children.
Performances 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
POWER PLAYS. Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave., 581-5812. Three one-act plays. Tickets $21 Friday-Saturday, $19 Thursday and Sunday, plus $6 one-drink minimum. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. (Reviewed in this issue.)
RAGTIME. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St., 522-9958. Concert version of E.L. Doctorow's acclaimed book. Kris Shaw directs Terri Gervais, Jerry Zachary and others. Tickets $26. Performances 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday.
SHIM SHAM REVUE. Shim Sham Club, 615 Toulouse St., 299-0666. Popular burlesque show featuring the Southern JezeBelles continues. Tickets $17 advance, $20 door, $15 students. Performances 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Sundays, through June 1.
SUGAR. Rivertown Repertory Theatre, 325 Minor St., Kenner, 468-7221. Musical comedy based on the screenplay for Some Like It Hot. Chip Stelz directs Lisette Bayle, Kate Abreo and others. Tickets $22 adults, $20 seniors and students, $12 children 6-12. Performances 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday, through May 25.
A WALK IN THE WOODS. Oak Alley Plantation, 3645 Hwy. 18, Vacherie, (800) 442-5539. Perry Martin directs Randy Cheramie and Bob Edes. Tickets $25-$35, based on seating, and include Oak Alley Restaurant-prepared meal, show, tax and gratuity. Dinner 6 p.m., show 7:30 p.m. Saturday; lunch noon, show 1:30 p.m. Sunday; through May 25.
art
Venues preceded by an asterisk celebrate opening receptions this week.
THE ACADEMY GALLERY New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, 5256 Magazine St., 899-8111 -- New work by Philip C. Thompson and Michael Prokos.
AMISTAD RESEARCH CENTER ART GALLERY Tilton Hall, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave., 865-5000 -- Masterpieces From the Aaron Douglas Collection.
ARIODANTE 535 Julia St., 524-3233 -- Works by Paul Wirhun, Anthony Schafermeyer and Claire Kelly.
*ARTHUR ROGER GALLERY 432 Julia St., 522-1999 -- Works by John Scott.
AXELLE FINE ARTS GALERIE ROYALE 709 Royal St., 299-1666 -- Pantings by Jacques Godin, new works by Michel Delacroix, Andre Bourrie, Jean-Daniel Bouvard, Jacques Godin and Philippe Vasseur.
BARRISTER'S GALLERY 1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 525-2767 -- On the Verge, by William Warren and Pati D'Amico; The Louisiana Purchase Dis-Mantled: Re-Visions of Our History.
BASSETTI FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS 233 Chartres St., 529-9811 -- Apariciones, by Jack Spencer.
*BERTA'S AND MINA'S ANTIQUITIES GALLERY 4138 Magazine St., 895-6201 -- New works by Nilo Lanzas, works by Noel Rockmore, Clementine Hunter and May Kugler.
THE BIG TOP 1638 Clio St., 569-2700 -- Southern Textures, textiles by Oliver, photographs by Renee Bigelow, and paintings by Eleanor Bernadas.
BRUNNER GALLERY 215 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 893-0444 -- Paintings by John Darling Haynes; artwork by Sarah Ashe, Thom Kittredge, Yvonne Hegney and Jeannine McCameron.
CALLAN FINE ART 240 Chartres St., 524-0025 -- Recent works by Jim Pennington.
CAMERON JONES 2127 Magazine St., 524-3119 -- Group show by 12 local artists including George Ufford, Marcel Flisiuk, Ruth Marie Wright and Chris Clark.
CARABAUX GALLERIES 3646 Magazine St., 894-1588 -- Mixed-media landscapes by Mike Klung.
CAROL ROBINSON GALLERY 840 Napoleon Ave., 895-6130 -- Data Manipulations: Hurricanes, paintings by Joan Kay.
COLE PRATT GALLERY 3800 Magazine St., 891-6789 -- New works by Evert Witte, Randy Asprodites and Carlos Zervigon.
CONTEMPORARY ARTS CENTER 900 Camp St., 523-1216 -- Comic Release: Negotiating Identity For a New Generation, group show.
DLKart FINE ART GALLERY 2027 Magazine St., (985) 727-3681 -- Works by Dr. Steven Lesser and Angel Collazo.
D.O.C.S. 709 Camp St., 524-3936 -- Digital paintings by Cheryl Fell, stone sculptures by Thomas Glover.
DUQUE ART CENTER 3218 Magazine St., 899-4554 -- Landscapes and Flowers, works by Gustavo Duque; recent paintings by Matilde Alberny and Laxman K.
ENTERTAINMENT GALLERIES 537 Royal St., 588-1777 -- Al Hirschfeld retrospective.
EVANS GALLERY 3815 Magazine St., 897-2688 -- Works by gallery artists.
FORT ISABEL GALLERY 401 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-1841 -- Spring for Art, featuring gallery artists.
GALLERY 811 811 Royal St., 524-6918 -- Jewelry by Charles Bazzel, collage and paintings by Michael Fedor.
*A GALLERY FOR FINE PHOTOGRAPHY 241 Chartres St., 568-1313 -- Sex and Landscapes, by Helmut Newton; new photographs by Jerry Uelsmann.
HANSON GALLERY 229 Royal St., 524-8211 -- Music-related paintings by Christian Vey, Gary Patterson and Marion Barnes; paintings by Steve Taylor.
*HERIARD-CIMINO GALLERY 440 Julia St., 525-7300 -- Works by Rosario Marquardt and Roberto Behar.
JOHN STINSON FINE ARTS 900 S. Peters St., 566-1944 -- The Lenses, music photographs by Skip Bolen and Steven Forster.
JONATHAN FERRARA GALLERY 841 Carondelet St., 522-5471 -- Works on paper by Teresa Cole; works in glass by Mark Morris; and Response, Reaction, Reaction: The photographs of Reggie Scanlan.
KURT E. SCHON 510 St. Louis St., 524-5462; 523 Royal St., 523-5902 -- Historical scenes by artists of the French Salon and the Royal Academy.
LA BELLE GALERIE 309 Chartres St., 529-3080 -- Items include official
2003 Congo Square and New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival posters.
*LEMIEUX GALLERIES 332 Julia St., 522-5988 -- New paintings by Nancie Warner.
NEIGHBORHOOD GALLERY 1410 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 524-8800 -- Strange Fruit, by Revalasha.
*NEW ORLEANS GLASSWORKS, PRINTMAKING AND METAL STUDIO 727 Magazine St., 529-7277 -- Glass textiles by Andrew Brott, vessels by Brandon Mansell, jazz etchings by Darlene Biggus.
OBJETS TROUVE 3713 Magazine St., 897-5066 -- Portraits and nudes by Reed and Ellis Chappell.
POET'S GALLERY 3113 Magazine St., 899-4100 -- Altared Images, the Second Coming, second annual group showing of artist interpretations of altars.
RIVERSTONE GALLERY 719 Royal St., 412-9882 -- The Sound and Color of New Orleans, group show; works by Columbian artist Ricardo Lizano.
ROYAL CAMEO GLASS 322 Royal St., 522-7480 -- New works by Ulla Darni.
SABLE V GLASS ART AND CONTEMPORARY CRAFT GALLERY 3420 Magazine St., 894-4444 -- Expressions
of Motherhood & Children's Creations, group show.
SOREN CHRISTENSEN 400 Julia St., 569-9501 -- Paintings by Tom Seghi.
SOUTHEASTERN ARCHITECTURAL ARCHIVE Tulane University, Jones Hall 3rd floor, 6801 Freret St., 865-5699 -- Drawing Inspiration: Travel Sketches From the Southeastern Architectural Archive.
*SPACE GALLERY 4528 Magazine St., 897-9119 -- Silk-screen prints and paintings by Steve Bachmann.
STELLA JONES GALLERY Bank One Center, 201 St. Charles Ave., 568-9050 -- Happy 88th Birthday, works by Elizabeth Catlett and John Scott.
SYLVIA SCHMIDT GALLERY 400A Julia St., 522-2000 -- About Shrimp Boats, work by Robert Warrens; mural titled A Bit of Louisiana History, by Robert Warrens.
THE UPHILL GALLERY 1500 Gov. Nicholls St., 539-9600 -- Catch the Colors of Our Neighborhood, artwork by students of Craig Elementary School in collaboration with Elizabeth Shannon.
VINCENT MANN GALLERY 713 Bienville St., 523-2342 -- Impressionist Landscapes, recent paintings by Luc Didier.
*VISUAL JAZZ ART GALLERY 2337 St. Claude Ave., 949-9822 -- New Orleans Floating Totem (Make Jazz, Not War), new work by Richard Thomas.
WAITING ROOM GALLERY 904 Pauline St., 949-1805 -- Works by Bunny.
WILLIAMS & JOSEPH GALLERY 713 Royal St., 566-7009 -- Glass work by Leon Applebaum, paintings by Jaline Polw and Jay Miller, metal sculpture by Debusk.
WYNDY MOREHEAD FINE ARTS 3926 Magazine St., 269-8333 -- Paintings by Laurent Hours.
museums
CABILDO Jackson Square, 568-6990 -- Exhibit celebrating the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase.
LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS 7 Bamboo Road, 488-5488 -- Sabbatical Saunterings of Edith and Edgar Stern, 1936-1937.
NEW ORLEANS AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM OF ART, CULTURE AND HISTORY 1418 Gov. Nicholls St., 527-0989 -- A Knock at Midnight, group show of artwork based on the Martin Luther King Jr. sermon; Louisiana/Congo, costumes, beadwork, sculpture and more from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, 488-2631 -- Jefferson's
America & Napoleon's France; The Masterful Art of the Transfer Print, 250 Years of American, British and Continental Ceramics; Subject and Creator: Women in Edo-Period Japanese Painting; Visions From the Soul: The Woodcuts of Hans Friedrich Grohs.
NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY 219 Loyola Ave., 596-2567 -- A Great and Growing City: New Orleans in the Era of the Louisiana Purchase.
PITOT HOUSE 1440 Moss St., 482-0312 -- A Louisiana Legacy, celebrating James Pitot's election as mayor after the Louisiana Purchase.
LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM'S PRESBYTERE 751 Chartres St., 568-6968 -- The Golden Age of Costume Design.
books
Tuesday 29
BEN NEIHART. Beaucoup Books, 5414 Magazine St., 895-2663. Author reads and signs Rough Amusements. 6:30 p.m.
DEBBIE MACOMBER. Barnes & Noble, 3721 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie,
455-5135. Romance author sings her new novel, Changing Habits. 7 p.m.
Wednesday 30
DR. SHARON CAULDER. Tower Records, 408 N. Peters St., 529-4411. African Vodun chief, shaman psychologist, educator and healer signs Mark of Voodoo: Awakening My African Spiritual Heritage. 3 p.m.
RICK BRAGG. East Bank Regional Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, 838-1100. Pulitzer
Prize-winning author presents discussion and Q&A. 7 p.m.
Friday 2
CURT ORLOFF. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Author signs Keys to the V-Door. 2 p.m.
Saturday 3
JOSH CLARK. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Editor and contributor of French Quarter Fiction: The Newest Stories of America's Oldest Bohemia. 1 p.m.
ASHLEY BLAKE. Books-A-Million, 197 Westbank Expwy., Gretna, 364-1070. Louisiana author reads and signs The Parent Killer. Call for time.
Sunday 4
SYBIL KEIN. Bookstar, 414 N. Peters St., 523-6411. Author signs Creole: The History and Legacy of Louisiana's Free People of Color. 4 p.m.
