"CAMELOT is a beautiful way of showing that one man's dreams can make a difference -- regardless of the immediate outcome." That's director Michael Howard's take on Lerner and Loewe's final theatrical collaboration. Camelot, of course, is also the name of the court of the legendary King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. That illustrious fellowship of idealistic warriors had a nasty dilemma at its core -- a love triangle between Arthur, the king; Guenevere, his queen; and Lancelot, one of his trusted knights. (It's also a story that's being told, once again, on the big screen in the summer blockbuster King Arthur.) Camelot, which will be performed this weekend at Tulane's Dixon Hall, debuted on Broadway in 1960, just four years after Lerner and Loewe's surprise smash My Fair Lady. The King Arthur saga got off to a rough start as a musical; among other difficulties, Lerner struggled to cut an entire hour from the show's length. The Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre's difficulties are of a different order, but they are considerable in their way. "We do six performances of each show," explains Howard, "They are often sold out. That's 6,000 tickets. But we have only two weeks to put each show together." Howard, who is artistic director of Summer Lyric, has "been involved with" Camelot several times over the years, but this is his first go at directing it. Twenty years ago, at a West Virginia production, he played King Pellinore, a bad guy. Twelve years ago, at Summer Lyric, he conducted the orchestra for a production that Frank Monachino directed. Monachino is the person most often credited with originating Summer Lyric. He was also the one who brought in Howard, who was a former voice student of Monachino's at the University of Southern Mississippi. "I'm directing Camelot by choice," says Howard, who also helmed the first Summer Lyric production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado for this season. "We've got some great talent. For instance, the love triangle is Melissa Marshal as Guenevere (center), Richard Hudson as Arthur (right) and Chris Carey as Lancelot (left). And I'm excited about the visuals. We're going for the barbaric side: tree roots, Druids, chain mail, leather. The Knights of the Round Table as sort of a Dark Age United Nations." Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Tickets $29 orchestra seating and first balcony, $22 second balcony. -- Dalt Wonk

Grayson Capps & the Stumpknockers 10 p.m. Tuesday, July 13 Circle Bar, 1032 St. Charles Ave., 588-2616 Tulane grad Grayson Capps spent the early 1990s pursuing the semi-utopian creative lifestyle, living in a communal house near Tipitina's with a gang of assorted painters, writers and musicians, making art and not paying rent. Ten years later, those days (captured in a novel by Capps' father) are being recreated for the big screen. The film, A Love Song for Bobby Long, stars John Travolta and Scarlett Johanssen and was shot around New Orleans last summer. The soundtrack features six original tunes by Capps, which also appear on his recent self-titled solo release. Capps' all-American solo sound brings to mind a less theatrical Nick Cave, a serious, bluesy brand of roots-rock that showcases both his solid guitar chops (electric, acoustic and steel) and plaintive, dramatic lyrics. No cover. -- Alison Fensterstock

Bembeya Jazz 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 14 House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 529-BLUE Last year, Guinea's Bembeya Jazz recorded Bembeya (World Village), its first album in 14 years. The Afro-pop band formed in 1961, and there are no signs of rust on the tracks, as evidenced by new recordings of songs from the band's 1970s heyday, when it was named the national band by the country's first president, Sekou Touré. In its prime, Bembeya Jazz played up to six nights a week, and when being the national band hurt its chance to make a living, Touré gave the band a club, Club Bembeya. The group is noted for its multi-voice, multi-horn lineup led by three guitarists, the most prominent being Sekou 'Diamond Fingers' Diabaté. He's back on lead guitar and Hawaiian steel guitar along with three other longtime members merging hypnotic highlife guitar patterns with punctuating horn parts over genial grooves. Tickets $14. -- Alex Rawls

Howie Day and Matt Nathanson 8 p.m. Thursday, July 15 House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., 529-BLUE This is earnest-young-man night at the House of Blues, Howie Day and Matt Nathanson being a couple of pop singer-songwriters who are young and handsome with something to say. Day's story is a model for success these days, winning his audience one download at a time. As he toured colleges, students checked him out via Napster, decided they were interested, and showed up in droves. To further spread the word, he gave copies of his album to his street teams and those who sold 10 copies got in to the shows free. Nathanson's major-label debut, Beneath These Fireworks (Universal) shows he shares Day's knack for hooks, and hawking five independent albums from coast to coast taught him both to trust his songs and the value of a good wisecrack onstage. His reputation is for slow songs, but at least half of the new album is mid-tempo pop. If things slow down live, he's not shy about pulling out unexpected covers. Tickets $12-14. -- Rawls

Nouveau Techno 6 p.m. Friday, July 16 (reception); exhibit Saturday, July 17, through Sept. 19 Contemporary Arts Center, 900 Camp St., 528-3805 For its upcoming exhibit, Nouveau Techno, the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) will showcase adventurous new-media installations by three French artists whose works reveal inspirations from Louisiana history and culture. Sylvie Blocher's work, Living Pictures/What Belongs to Them, uses a continuous video loop to portray African Americans describing slavery through video, song, text or object. Claude Closky works in multiple mediums; his +1 relies on the Internet, as it projects on a screen the result of participants clicking a mouse on the site -- with the result, a twist on anonymity and connection, being the number one added to the existing sum. Matthieu Laurette's The Louisiana Repo-Purchase spoofs the historic real estate deal, recast in his vision through video loop with mixed media, with interviews on the streets of New Orleans asking bystanders their thoughts on a wealthy Parisian banker buying back Louisiana. The CAC will hold an opening reception and 'A Conversation with the Artists' at 6 p.m. Friday. -- Frank Etheridge

Pink Ribbon Fling VI 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, July 16 Latrobe Building, 403 Royal St., 454-0066 The sixth annual Pink Ribbon Fling might be known for the color of its title, but one can't help but think more of orange and blue in gearing up for this annual fundraiser for the Louisiana Breast Cancer Task Force. There's a lot of sun and sky surrounding this year's tropical theme, 'FLINGmingos and Flip-Flops,' with island-style food by Latrobe, an open bar, and music from the band Live Bait set to a casual atmosphere. Even the patron party -- featuring celebrity waiters serving the signature cocktail, the 'Pink FLINGmingo' -- that precedes the regular fundraiser has a distinctly tropical feel. The one-hour pre-party offers an early chance to purchase silent-auction items at their face value; this year's sponsor level includes the chance to purchase your very own island complete with beach chairs. Tickets are $60 per person, with patron party tickets $100; parking is complimentary. -- David Lee Simmons

Louisiana Blues Throwdown: Marc Stone Band with Harry Hypolite and Mathilda Jones 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 16 The Parish at the House of Blues, 229 Decatur St., 529-BLUE Guitarist Marc Stone has been paying his dues. The sometime WWOZ DJ has been to Europe with C.J. Chenier and done time on Bourbon Street with Duane Dopsie. His record EP-1 (which he affectionately calls 'Exile on Grand Route St. John') mixes blues and rock like certain British bands have been doing for decades. Stone tonight will perform with New Orleans R&B vet Marc Adams on keys, Harold Scott on bass, and Keith 'One Love' Sonnier on drums. They have a roadhouse sensibility that will be perfect supporting guitarist Harry Hypolite and singer Mathilda Jones. Hypolite, who dresses like Earl King and sings like Howlin' Wolf, played guitar for zydeco king Clifton Chenier and 'Hound Dog' originator Big Mama Thornton. Jones spent several years singing with New Orleans R&B legends Tommy Ridgeley and King Floyd. This throwdown features performers who hit the stage with conviction, experience and style. Tickets $10. -- David Kunian

New Orleans International Piano Competition Saturday, July 17, through Sunday, July 25 Loyola University, Roussel Hall, 525-0717 Throughout its 15-year history, the New Orleans International Piano Competition has gathered top classical pianists from across the globe for a series of intensely competitive recitals and launched a few careers to boot. Petronel Malan took second place in the 1999 competition, and last year was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Solo Classical Album. Stanislav Ioudenitch took first place in 2000, and later won the prestigious Van Clyburn competition. This year, 12 semifinalists were selected from a pool of 171 applicants, representing 27 countries. Cash prizes exceed $30,000, and other honors include performances with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and a solo recital at London's Wigmore Hall. The week of events kicks off with 'Piano Times Four or More' at 8 p.m. Saturday. The following week, two semifinal rounds precede the finals at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 25. For a full schedule of events and admission prices, visit the Musical Arts Society of New Orleans' Web site at www.masno.org. -- Etheridge

Mr. Legs IV 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 17 Generations Hall, 310 Howard Ave., 522-2124, ext. 13 If you're a male, you got legs and you know how to use them, then the Mr. Legs IV contest may be your calling. This satire on a beauty contest benefits the Bridge House's mission to bring hope and recovery to those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction. Each Mr. Legs contestant must raise a minimum of $500 for Bridge House, and the one who raises the most money will be Mr. Legs. Men can present their stems just as they are, because prizes will be awarded to the Hairiest Legs, Sexiest Legs, Knobbiest Knees, etc. This event features an open bar, catering from the area's finest restaurants, and an Aboutfaces MTM fashion show. This year, Bo and Beth from WCKW Lite 92.3 will be the Honorary 'Chair Legs.' Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door, $40 VIP with a special viewing area and food by Big Shirley's. -- Katie LaCorte

Jerry Seinfeld 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 17 Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 524-2490/522-5555 Comedian Jerry Seinfeld returns to New Orleans for two shows at the Saenger on Saturday evening. It may be only a small coincidence that the post-Seinfeld era (1998 on) has included a dramatic rise in the scholarship of studying the impact of Jews on popular culture. No less than four books have been released on the subject, and in Jerry Seinfeld's case, the most intriguing may be The Haunted Smile: The Story of Jewish Comedians in America (PublicAffairs). Indeed, while the Jewish influence on entertainment in general and stand-up comedy in particular has been pronounced, it's only recently that culture critics have seriously attempted to explain why. Seinfeld himself went one step further, in providing more personal insight and allowing documentarian Christian Charles to follow his return to stand-up for the critically acclaimed 2002 film, Comedian. Here's a chance to see Seinfeld live in New Orleans for the first time in two years. Tickets $46.25-$76.25. -- Simmons

Lionel Ferbos' 93rd Birthday Party 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday, July 17 Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro, 626 Frenchmen St., 949-0696 Trumpet legend Lionel Ferbos celebrates his 93rd birthday with two shows Saturday at Snug Harbor. It's a big day for nonagenarian trumpet man and vocalist Lionel Ferbos. He celebrates his 93rd birthday with a gig at Snug Harbor, and the New Orleans City Council will declare that date, July 17, 'Lionel Ferbos Day.' Not bad for a musician who suffers from asthma and bought his first cornet used from a pawn shop on Rampart Street. Ferbos is the oldest working musician in New Orleans, but you would never guess it from hearing him or talking to him. He still has a gorgeous tone on his instrument, and his voice, though quiet, is tender and profound. Like many experienced musicians, Ferbos has perfected saying more with less in both his trumpet phrasing and his singing. Although this is an overused term, Lionel Ferbos is a New Orleans treasure both for the history contained in his life and music and the way he still, gig after gig, lifts his listeners and bandmates with his playing. Tickets $15. -- Kunian

The Collectors Eye: The Louis S. Harris Glass Collection Through Sept. 12 New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, 488-2631 What's the difference between art collectors and the rest of us? In New Orleans, at least, art collectors select their acquisitions in a methodical, discerning way, while the rest of us accumulate stuff randomly and then have a garage sale. The late Louis Harris was one of New Orleans' leading collectors of glass, ranging from art nouveau and art deco to contemporary studio productions. His discerning eye enabled him to discover hidden gems at auctions and estate sales (and maybe our garage sales), where he often found big-time art glass antiques overlooked by others. Last December, his wife, Karen, and the Harris children made a gift of this collection of more than 170 pieces, including works by Louis Comfort Tiffany, Emile Galle, Steuben, and Dale Chihuly, to NOMA in his memory. -- D. Eric Bookhardt