Area theater, dance, museums going strong

The Post and Courier

Over the past year, the arts community has undergone a whirlwind of change, as each group continues to expand despite the poor economy.

At the venerable Gibbes Museum of Art, former Gibbes curator Angela Mack has been named the new executive director, an extremely promising move, as she has been the guiding force behind the Gibbes for many years. Over at the College of Charleston, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art spotlights new works by the arts faculty, while offering more lectures and film screenings.

The Charleston Ballet Theatre will stage an expanded season of 10 ballets, and a new Children's Series of three family-friendly dances. In other dance news, the Robert Ivey Ballet has hired a new dance mistress: Angela Agudo, who has performed with the Teatro de Colon of Argentina.

During the renovation of its home base at the Dock Street Theatre, Charleston Stage will present three of its productions in Memminger Auditorium. At 20 Queen St., the Footlight Players will produce six mainstage shows and three cutting-edge Late-Night plays, including Neil LaBute's "Autobahn."

Homeless for several months, Pure Theatre is temporarily housed at the Circular Congregational Church's Lance Hall. In Mount Pleasant, the Village Playhouse continues to light up the East Cooper scene with such fare as David Mamet's "Speed the Plow." Meanwhile, the College of Charleston's theater department will stage the winner of the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival's Region IV competition, "The Mind's I," by student Michael Smallwood. And Theatre 99 is still going full blast making them laugh at 280 Meeting St.

Offering an overflowing, impressive season, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra will perform its informal Backstage Pass concerts in Memminger Auditorium. Also, with offerings ranging from Ballet Flamenco to Emmy Award-winning jazz trumpet player Wynton Marsalis, the Charleston Concert Association will offer a varied six-event season and one encore production.

The Charleston Museum will present "Around the World," a new exhibit for children featuring items from China, Japan and the Indian subcontinent. And the Charleston Artist Guild will continue with numerous juried exhibitions and sidewalk shows.

A plethora of other visual and performing events shimmers on the horizon. Reach out and touch some aspect of the arts. You may add a new dimension to your life.

Fall arts preview

BEST OF BROADWAY

Now entering its 10th season, the Best of Broadway series presented by the North Charleston Performing Arts Center and Nederlander Producing Company of America will feature six touring versions of Broadway hits and two special events, which are not part of the season.

All shows will be staged at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, next to the North Charleston Coliseum, 5001 Coliseum Drive.

Season ticket packages may be purchased for four to six shows. Tickets start at $133 for four shows only and top out at $430.50 for all six season shows, plus the two special events.

Tickets can be purchased at all Ticketmaster outlets, on-line at www.coliseumpac.com or by calling 202-2787. Season tickets and tickets to individual shows also may be purchased by visiting the coliseum box office. Tickets to "Sweeney Todd" are now on sale for $30-$60.

Season shows

OCT. 10-11: "Sweeney Todd," the Demon Barber of Fleet Street and his neighbor, Mrs. Lovett, embark on a plot to slice their way through London's upper crust.

DEC. 10-11: "Annie," the timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie.

JAN. 9-10: "Tarzan," musical version of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Tarzan of the Apes."

JAN. 27-28: "The Drowsy Chaperone," Tony Award-winning musical about a diehard fan whose favorite musical comes to life.

FEB. 24-25: "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," a musical comedy that follows two con artists as they take on the lifestyles of the rich and shameless.

MARCH 24-25: "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," a Tony Award-winning musical about six young people who learn that winning isn't everything.

Special events

DEC. 20: "A Christmas Carol," staged by The Nebraska Theatre Caravan.

FEB. 12: Comic Lily Tomlin in a one-woman show.

CHARLESTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Charleston Symphony Orchestra, which is 46 musicians strong, performs 85 concerts each season and presents more than 100 free educational performances a year. For 25 years, David Stahl has served as music director and conductor. The resident conductor is Scott Terrell. For tickets and schedules, call 723-7528.

Merrill Lynch Masterworks Series

Conductor David Stahl; series tickets, $110-$425; individual concerts, $20-$60; programs, except Sept. 27, begin at 8 p.m. at the Gaillard Auditorium.

SEPT. 27: Prokofiev's "Alexander Nevsky," featuring soloist Gigi Mitchell-Velasco; Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. (7 p.m. start).

OCT. 25: Jennifer Higdon's "Blue Cathedral"; Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F, featuring soloist Jean Yves-Thibaudet, piano.

NOV. 15: Ives' "The Unanswered Question"; Strauss' "Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme." Mozart's Symphony No. 41 "Jupiter."

JAN. 10: Verdi's "La forza del destino" (overture): Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring soloist Jeffrey Biegel, pianist; Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9.

FEB. 7: Bernstein's "On the Town," Three Dance Episodes; Barber's Violin Concerto, featuring soloist Giora Schmidt, violin; Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.

MARCH 14: (Scott Terrell, conductor), Copland's "Three Latin American Sketches"; Dvorak's Violin Concerto featuring Karen Gomyo, violin; Mozart's Symphony No. 38 "Prague."

MARCH 28: Mendelssohn's "The Hebrides"; Copland's Clarinet Concerto with soloist Charles Messersmith; Schubert's Symphony No. 8 in B minor "Unfinished"; Haydn's Symphony No. 101.

APRIL 25: Bach's Orchestra suite No. 3; Wagner's "Wesendonck Lieder," featuring soloist Susan Platts, mezzo-soprano; Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 "Italian Symphony."

McCrady's Pops Series

Scott Terrell, conductor; at 8 p.m., Gaillard Auditorium; season tickets, $75-$200; individual concerts, $25-$45.

OCT. 11: Great Ladies of Swing with Dee Daniels.

NOV. 1: Phantoms of the Orchestra with Magic Circle Mime; featured works Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor; Kodaly's Ballet Music 1925 "Dragon's Dance"; Bach/Stowkowski's Little Fugue in G Minor; Dukas' "Sorcerer's Apprentice"; Moussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain."

DEC. 20: Holiday Pops, Gaillard Auditorium, $20-$45.

JAN. 17: "Radio Days" with Five by Design.

FEB. 21: "Nuevo Tango" with Pablo Ziegler.

Backstage Pass Series

All concerts are at 7 p.m. at Memminger Auditorium; season tickets, $60; individual concerts, $25; conducted by Scott Terrell.

OCT. 3: Jimmy Lopez' "Fiesta!" four dances for chamber orchestra; Barber's Capricorn Concerto for Flute, Oboe and Trumpet, with soloists Jessica Hull-Dambaugh, flute; Mark Gainer, oboe; Karin Bliznik, trumpet; Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings."

NOV. 7: Robert Moody, guest conductor; Mason Bates' "Rusty Air in Carolina"; Gould's Spirituals for Orchestra; Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 5.

APRIL 3: Milhaud's "Suite Francaise"; Piazzolla's "Four Seasons" with orchestra soloist Yuriy Bekker, violin; Prokofiev's Symphony No. 1, "Classical."

Holiday Pops Concerts

DEC. 6: Gospel Christmas with CSO Gospel Choir, Gaillard Auditorium, $30.

DEC. 11, 14: "The Messiah" with CSO Chamber Choir; The Citadel's Summerall Chapel (8 p.m., Dec. 11) and St. Theresa the Little Flower Catholic Church, Summerville (3 p.m. Dec. 14). Tickets $15 adults and $5 students.

DEC. 13: Holiday Brass. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church. $15 adults and $5 students.

DEC. 21: "Messiah Sing-A-Long," Citadel Square Baptist Church, $15, general public; $5, students.

'Kinder Konzerts'

This series is for children 5 and younger. Concerts are 30 minutes. Free.

SEPT. 20: 10 and 11:30 a.m., City Gallery.

OCT. 18: 10 and 11:30 a.m., Marrington Elementary School, Goose Creek.

NOV. 22: 10 and 11:30 a.m., Creative Spark, Mount Pleasant.

Family Concerts Series

One-hour performances for children of all ages. $15 adults, $5 students.

NOV. 1: 10 a.m., The Magic Circle Mime Company's "Peter and the Wolf." Gaillard Auditorium.

JAN. 31: 10 a.m., "Olympics!" Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 7396 Rivers Ave.

MARCH 21: 7 p.m., Youth Orchestra of the Lowcountry, Wando School Performing Arts Center, Mount Pleasant.

INTERNATIONAL PIANO SERIES

Opening its 19th season, the International Piano Series at the College of Charleston will present five internationally known pianists at the Sottile Theatre, 44 George St.

The piano series was founded and is directed by pianist Enrique Graf, artist-in-residence at the college's School of the Arts.

Season tickets for all five concerts are $80. Tickets to individual concerts are $20. All performances, which begin at 8 p.m., are free to College of Charleston students. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the night of the event or by calling 953-6575.

OCT. 7: Andrew von Oeyen, an American who has performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, London's Wigmore Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Spoleto Festival USA.

NOV. 18: Jean-Francois Du-champ, a French pianist who was awarded the Premier Prix at the Paris Conservatory in 1986. He has performed all over the world, from South America to Turkey.

JAN. 27: Sean Duggan, a monk of St. Joseph Abbey in Covington, La., won first prize in the Johann Sebastian Bach International Competition for Pianists in Washington, D.C., in 1983 and 1991. He is preparing to record the complete Bach cycle of clavier music, which will be on 25 CDs.

FEB. 24: Ann Schein has performed in more than 50 countries around the world and with the London Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony, the Washington National Symphony and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Also, she has recorded on the Sony Classical label, for Ivory Classics and MSR Classics.

MARCH 10: Yuja Wang of China, at age 20 has already established herself as one of the most significant artists of her generation and has collaborated with David Zinman, Pinchas Zukerman, Lorin Maazel, Michael Tilson Thomas and many other conductors. She received the Gilmore Young Artist Award in 2006, and has performed with the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zurich, the China Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic.

CHARLESTON CONCERT ASSOCIATION

Under the longtime leadership of Executive Director Jason Nichols, the Charleston Concert Association has continued to flourish since presenting its first concert in 1936. Each year, the group brings a potpourri of performances to the stage, ranging from opera to dance, classical music and jazz. Educational outreach programs also are presented in area schools to acquaint youngsters with all genres of the performing arts.

All season events will be at 8 p.m. at the Gaillard Auditorium. Season tickets are $75-$350. The Encore Event in January will be held at a venue to be determined and a price to be announced. To order, call 571-7755 or visit www.charlestonconcerts.org.

NOV. 3: Warsaw Philharmonic.

NOV. 11: Ballet Flamenco with Jose Percel.

DEC. 4: Vienna Boys Choir Holiday Program.

JAN. 16: Encore Event: Wynton Marsalis with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

FEB. 2: Joshua Bell, violinist.

MARCH 4: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.

MARCH 19: Frederica von Stade and Samuel Ramey, operatic singers.

NORTH CHARLESTON CULTURAL ARTS

The North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, directed by Marty Besancon, sponsors dozens of arts-related activities from local to regional to national at various venues in North Charleston. Many of them are free. For information on various events, call the office at 745-1087.

SEPTember-MARCH: National Outdoor Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, 1001 Everglades Dr., on the former Charleston Naval Base in North Charleston. Free.

Through SEPT. 30: North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit "Visual Meditations" by Jing Zhou and Keli Tolley, Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr. Free.

Through OCT. 31: Window Exhibit at The Meeting Place: Pedro Rodriguez, 1077 East Montague Ave., North Charleston. Free.

OCT. 2-31: North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit: "Color and Light: The Possibilities" by James Cheatham and Veronique Aniel. Free.

OCT. 29: The Navy Band Commodores with the United States Navy Band Jazz Ensemble from Washington, D.C. To reserve free tickets, call 745-1087.

Nov. 2-Dec. 31: Window Exhibit at The Meeting Place: Co-op Gallery, showing a collection of works by a local artist cooperative, paintings, jewelry, fine crafts, all for sale.

NOV. 3-30: North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit: "The Future Is on the Table," organized by Gwylene Gallimard and Jean- Marie Maucelet. Free.

DEC. 2-31: North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit: Jean Gallagher and Michael Morrison. Free.

JANuary: North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit: Berkeley Artists' Guild. Free.

JAN. 2-FEB. 28: Window Exhibit at The Meeting Place: Leigh Ann Davis' art.

FEB. 20: Children's Theatre: Madafo presents stories from "The Griot" in honor of Black History Month, North Charleston Cultural and Civic Center auditorium, also known as Sterett Hall, on the former Charleston Naval Base. Tickets $2, children; adults, free.

MARCH 2-31: North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit: Ilene Blythe and Bailie. Free.

MARCH 2-April 30: Window Exhibit at The Meeting Place: "Kimba Burning Tree." Free.

APRIL 2-30: North Charleston City Gallery Exhibit: S.C. Watermedia Society, Charleston Area Convention Center. Free.

APRIL 1-MAY 31: Window Exhibit at The Meeting Place, Artist Co-op. Free.

MAY 1-9: The 2009 North Charleston Arts Festival at various places throughout North Charleston. Many of the events are free.

Dinner Theatre

Dinner Theatre at the Charleston Area Convention Center Ballroom includes dinner, musicals or plays and a cash bar. Tickets are $33 with group discounts available. Season tickets are $110.

SEPT. 19: The Company Company presents "The Good Time Variety Hour."

NOV. 21: The Baillie Players presents "The Ransom of Red Chief," based on an O. Henry short story.

FEB. 6: The Flowertown Players of Summerville presents "Don't Dress for Dinner."

MARCH 27: "Ribbon of Highway" performed by storyteller Tim Lowry.

OPERA AT LIBRARY

The Charleston County Public Library, 68 Calhoun St., will sponsor 11 high-definition simulcasts of productions of the 2008-2009 Metropolitan Opera season.

Sara Breibart, director of the library's opera project, said the performances will be shown following the original performances at the Met. Operas will be recorded digitally in New York and then sent by satellite to the library. The auditorium at the library will be open 90 minutes before each opera begins. All productions will be held Saturdays and are free and open to the public.

SEPT. 27: Opening Night Gala starring Renee Fleming performing the second act of Verdi's "La Traviata," the third act of Massenet's "Manon" and the final scene from Richard Strauss' "Capriccio." 12:30 p.m.

OCT. 25: Strauss' "Salome." 1:30 p.m.

NOV. 22: Adams' "Doctor Atomic." 12:30 p.m.

DEC. 6: Berlioz' "La Damnation de Faust." 1:30 p.m.

JAN. 10: Massenet's "Thais." 12:30 p.m.

JAN. 24: Puccini's "La Rondine." 1:30 p.m.

FEB. 7: Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice" 1:30 p.m.

FEB. 21: Donizetti's "Lucia de Lammermoor" 12:30 p.m.

MARCH 21: Puccini's "Madama Butterfly." 12:30 p.m.

APRIL 4: Bellini's "La Sonnambula," 1:30 p.m.

MAY 23: Rossini's "La Cenerentola." 12:30 p.m.

CHARLESTON STAGE

Founder Julian Wiles says the newly renovated Memminger Auditorium will be the venue for several of Charleston Stage's Main Stage productions, along with the College of Charleston's Sottile Theatre, until renovations at the theater's home base, the Dock Street Theatre, are completed. Season membership ticket packages are $90-$118. To order, call 577-7183. For information, go online to www.charlestonstage.com.

Main Stage Season

SEPT. 10-21: "West Side Story," the Jets and Sharks face off in the familiar Broadway musical. Sottile Theatre.

OCT. 15-NOV. 1: "Frankenstein," Julian Wiles' new adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic tale. Memminger Auditorium.

FEB. 11-28: "To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee's tale of three youngsters who question and challenge the prejudice they discover around them. Memminger Auditorium.

MARCH 11-22: "Picasso at the Lapin Agile," Steve Martin's offbeat comedy imagines a meeting between Picasso and a young Albert Einstein. Memminger Auditorium.

APRIL 15-26: "Crazy For You," a musical comedy featuring the tunes of George and Ira Gershwin. Sottile Theatre.

Bonus shows

DEC. 4-21: "A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas," Sottile Theatre.

JAN. 16-25: "Charlotte's Web," E.B. White's tale of Wilbur the pig and his barnyard friends. Memminger Auditorium.

PURE THEATRE

Pure Theatre will present its sixth season in Lance Hall at the Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St. The theater was forced to leave its black box theater on East Bay Street since the Cigar Factory has been turned into condominiums. Pure co-founders Rodney Lee Rogers and Sharon Graci are determined to keep the theater in a downtown venue. Ticket prices range from $25 to $30 with $10 student rush for certain shows. To order tickets and learn more about Pure Theatre's season, call 723-4444 or go online to www.puretheatre.org.

SEPT. 4-27: "The Seafarer" by Conor McPherson, a group gathers in a Dublin home on Christmas Eve to play some cards, but the arrival of a stranger raises the stakes.

OCT. 16-25: "Horse Tranqs & Carriage People" by R.W. Smith, an easy snatch-and-grab job goes horribly wrong, and three friends are forced to decide what is most important in their lives.

NOV. 13-29: "Faith Hope and Charity" by Odon von Horvath, a dark comedy about a woman desperately in need of money who turns to extreme measures.

DEC. 11-20: "Fully Committed" by Becky Mode, an aspiring actor and reservations clerk at a hot restaurant must juggle the quirky customers, the demanding chef, upstairs hostess, his friends, his agent and his father.

JAN 8-31: To Be Announced.

FEB. 19-27-marcH 14: "Hogs" by Rodney Lee Rogers, an adaptation of Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People."

APRIL 16-MAY 9: "Sheep's Clothing" by Spencer Deering, a high school and community are shaken when a teacher is accused of seducing her student.

CHARLESTON ARTIST GUILD

Founded in the 1950s by a handful of artists, the Charleston Artist Guild has evolved into one of the city's busiest organizations. Juried artists exhibit their work at the CAG Gallery at 6 N. Atlantic Wharf. Monthly meetings are held at the Irene P. Dixon Auditorium at Roper Hospital, 316 Calhoun St. Yearly membership dues are $45. Call 722-2425 or 722-2454. The following listing includes only the major highlights of the season. To see the full calendar of events, go online to www.Charleston ArtistGuild.com.

SEPT. 13-OCT. 26: Fall Sidewalk Show held each Saturday and Sunday at BB&T on Meeting Street.

SEPT. 29-Oct. 13: First Federal Art Show.

OCT. 4: "Sultry Fiery Shots" event.

JAN. 9: Extraordinary Arts program.

FEB. 9: "Nature's Beauties" art show.

MAY 9: High School and Scholarship Awards Show.

THE HAVE NOTS!

Formed by Theatre 99, The Have Nots! is the only full-time improvisational comedy theater in South Carolina. Performances are at 280 Meeting St. above and behind The Bicycle Shoppe.

For information on times and dates, call 853-6687.

Wednesdays: "Laugh for a Lincoln," improv comedy for $5.

Fridays and Saturdays: Shows include: Improv Riot, Improv Smackdown, Comedy Combat and The Have Nots! Comedy Improv Company. $10, unless the Comedy Improv Company is performing, then it will be $12.50.

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON THEATRE

Presented by the College of Charleston's department of theater, plays and musicals feature students in the college's School of the Arts. Tickets are $15 for the general public and $10 for students and senior citizens and may be reserved by calling 953-5604 or purchased at the door prior to the performance.

THROUGH SEPT. 9: "Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet)" by Ann-Marie McDonald, a comic look at what would happen if Shakespeare's "Othello" and "Romeo and Juliet" were actually conceived as comedies. Chapel Theatre, 172 Calhoun St.

OCT. 2-7: "The Story" by Tracey Scott Wilson, combines drama, mystery, humor and irony to explore questions of reality vs. fiction and morality vs. ambition. Inspired by a true story. Robinson Theatre, Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. Philip St.

NOV. 13-18: "Tartuffe" by Moliere, a bawdy farce targeting religious hypocrisy, lust and betrayal. Robinson Theatre.

JAN. 14-25: "The Mind's I" by C of C student Michael Smallwood, a contemporary exploration of the complexity of genius. Chapel Theatre.

FEB. 19-24: "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" by Ed Graczyk, deals with the revelations and secrets that result when a group of women reunite for the 20th anniversary of James Dean's death. Robinson Theatre.

MARCH 13-15: "Expression Through Movement: A Dance Concert" choreographed by the C of C dance faculty. Robinson Theatre.

APRIL 16-21: "The Seagull" by Anton Chekhov, dissects the affairs of the heart and the demands of a life in the arts. Robinson Theatre.

COMPANY COMPANY

Company Company is a musical theater co-founded by singer William Schlitt and his wife, former Broadway pianist Maida Libkin. For tickets, call 810-8100 or visit www.thecom panycompany.com.

SEPT. 19: Good Time Variety Hour: Dinner Theatre Edition. North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Price TBA.

OCT. 5: "Hymfest 2008: Shall We Gather." The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul, 126 Coming St. Free.

OCT. 15-Nov. 19: "Clue, the Musical." The Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. Price TBA.

oct. 23: "An Affair to Remember." The Cotton Dock at Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. Fundraiser for the company. $35.

DEC. 19-21: Holiday Edition of "The Good Time Variety Hour." Circular Congregational Church. $20, $15 students and seniors.

FEB: "Moments of Joy: An Evening With Joy Vandervort-Cobb." Time, location and price TBA.

THE VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE

The Village Playhouse, 730 Coleman Blvd., Mount Pleasant, will start its eighth season of presenting cutting-edge plays and musicals. Keely Enright and Dave Reinwald, co-owners of the Playhouse and Repertory Company, also act and direct some of the productions. A six-show season membership, which does not include "A Christmas Story," is $135 for general admission, $125 for senior citizens and $100 for students. Tickets to individual shows are $25 general admission, $23 senior citizens, $20 students and $12 for children. Call the theater at 856-1579.

SEPT. 12-27: "Speed-the-Plow" by David Mamet, showbiz satire in which nothing is black or white.

OCT. 17-NOV. 2: "War of the Worlds — Panic on Halloween Night," original stage adaptation of the radio play "War of the Worlds" that terrified a nation 70 years ago.

NOV. 28-DEC. 20: (Special event, not part of the season) "A Christmas Story" by Jean Shepherd, the Christmas classic in which all little Ralphie wants is a genuine Red Ryder BB gun.

JAN. 16-31: "Doubt" by John Patrick Shanley, Pulitzer and four-time Tony winner asks the difficult questions about faith and certainty.

FEB. 27-MARCH 15: "A Flea in Her Ear." George Feydeau's French farce adapted by David Ives.

APRIL 3-18: "A Delicate Balance" by Edward Albee, Pulitzer Prize-winning tale of a retired couple who find their home under attack by emotionally wounded family members and friends, who, in the end, expose the couple's own emotional insecurities.

MAY 1-16: "Ring of Fire" by Richard Maltby, South Carolina premiere of the musical based on the songs of Johnny Cash.

CHARLESTON BALLET THEATRE

With an expanded season featuring 10 different ballet performances, the premiere of a new Children's Series and a new Web site, the Charleston Ballet Theatre is poised to sail with a Ravel-themed 2008-09 season. Co-artistic directors of the CBT are Patricia and Don Cantwell with Jill Eathorne Bahr as resident choreographer. The majority of the dance concerts will be performed in the CBT's Black Box Theatre, 477 King St., with more lavish performances in the Gaillard Auditorium and Sottile Theatre. Main Stage season tickets are $175-$185; Children's Series, $25-$50; and a special event, "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," $30.

For ticket information, call 723-7334 or order at www.charlestonstage.com.

OCT. 3-5: Bizet's "Carmen," in the Black Box Theatre, Main Stage.

Oct. 10-12: "The Great Gatsby," in the Black Box Theatre, Main Stage.

Oct. 30-Nov. 1: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" in the Black Box Theatre, Special Event.

NOV. 14-16, 22-23: "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," in the Black Box Theatre.

DEC. 13-14: "The Nutcracker," Gaillard Auditorium, Main Stage.

JAN. 23-25: "The Magical Mystery Tour" in the Black Box, Children's Series.

JAN. 30-FEB. 1: "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in the Black Box, Children's Series.

FEB. 14-15: "Masterpieces of Dance" in the Sottile Theatre, Main Stage.

FEB. 27-MARCH 1: "Carnival of the Animals" and "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," in the Black Box Theatre, Children's Series.

MARCH 21-22, 28-29: "Camelot," in the Sottile Theatre, Main Stage.

The Robert Ivey Ballet

The theater-in-residence at the College of Charleston, the Robert Ivey Ballet, is starting its 32nd season. The company was founded by artistic director Robert Ivey, a former dancer on Broadway.

College of Charleston dance instructor Ashley Stock is the ballet's co-director. Serving as ballet mistress is Angela Agudo, who joined the company last season after having professional experience with the Teatro de Colon of Argentina, the Jorgen Ballet in Toronto and the Orlando Ballet. Eliza Ingle is the ballet's resident modern choreographer. The ballet also presents outreach performances on Kiawah and Seabrook islands and in public schools. Ivey recently returned from Scotland, where six of the company's principal dancers studied at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

All Ivey Ballet concerts are held in the Sottile Theatre. For ticket information, call 556-1343.

NOV. 14-16: Fall Concert, presenting a new jazz dance by Jon-Michael Perry, whose modern work was shown at the American Dance Festival.

DEC. 18-20: "Peter and the Wolf" and "The Angel Tree," a holiday treat for children.

FEB. 19-21: "The Velveteen Rabbit" for youngsters.

MARCH 6-8: Spring Concert.

THE FLOWERTOWN PLAYERS

The Flowertown Players will present six plays at the James F. Dean Theatre, 133 S. Main St., Summerville. The mix of theatrical genres will include two series, the Classic Series and the Stage 2 Series.

Classic Series season tickets are $50 for the general public; $45 and $55 for students and senior citizens. Stage 2 season tickets are all $40.

Tickets to individual plays in the Classic Series are $20 and $17, with rush tickets $10, if available, 30 minutes before curtain. Stage 2 tickets to individual plays are $15, with $10 rush tickets also offered.

For reservations and more information, call 875-9251 or go to www.flowertownplayers.org.

Classic Series

OCT. 3-19: "Arsenic and Old Lace," a madcap comedy in which murderous aunts compassionately serve elderberry wine to elderly men, with their crazy nephew burying the unfortunate victims.

JAN. 16-FEB. 1: "Don't Dress for Dinner," a comedic concoction involving a married couple, an old friend, a voluptuous mistress and an outlandish cook who's enlisted to take on different identities in a succession of lies, deceptions and misunderstandings.

MAY 1-17: "Play It Again, Sam," the Woody Allen classic about a mild-mannered film critic with bad luck with women.

Stage 2 Series

OCT. 30-NOV. 2: "The Piano Lesson," August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winner concerns a brother and sister arguing about whether they should sell their family piano.

FEB. 12-15: "Sylvia," a romantic comedy in which Sylvia, a dog found in the park, becomes a hilarious bone of contention between a husband and wife.

MAY 28-MAY 31: Next Generation One-Act Festival, an evening of original short plays written, directed and starring the next generation of theater professionals.

The Lee A. Barrett Children's Theater

DEC. 8-13: "The Fantastic Mr. Fox." $5.

MARCH 23-28: "The Velveteen Rabbit." $5.

HALSEY INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is part of the College of Charleston's School of the Arts, in the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. Philip St., on campus.

Exhibiting contemporary art exclusively, the Halsey Institute is directed by Mark Sloan who oversees original exhibitions initiated by the Halsey as well as traveling works.

Numerous outreach programs include opening receptions, lectures and demonstrations.

Hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, or by appointment. The Halsey is free to the public.

For further information on how to become a member of the institute, call 953-5680 or visit www.halsey.cofc.edu.

The following lists first semester events only. Second semester events will be released at a later date.

Through OCT. 10: "Faculty Spotlight: Installations by Loul Samater and Jarod Charzew- ski."

SEPT. 11: "The Future is on the Table," artist lecture, Rajni Shad, 7 p.m.

SEPT. 12: "The Future is on the Table," artist lecture, Marcia Kure, 7 p.m.

SEPT. 26: Faculty Spotlight: artist lecture, Jarod Charzewski, 5 p.m.

OCT. 2: Faculty Spotlight: artist lecture, Loul Samater, 7 p.m.

OCT. 10: Southern Circuit Film Screening, 8 p.m.

OCT. 24-DEC. 5: "MEND: Love, Life, & Loss," group exhibition. Reception 5-7 p.m. Oct. 24.

NOV. 7: Southern Circuit Film Screening, 8 p.m.

NOV. 14: "Silver Moon," Halsey Institute membership event, 5-7 p.m.

DEC. 8: "Playwrights Tonight!" an evening of original one- act plays written and per- formed by members of the college's playwriting class. 7 p.m.

FOOTLIGHT PLAYERS

As Charleston's oldest theater starts its 77th season, the Footlight Players will present two series and one theater special at 20 Queen St. Season tickets for six Main Stage shows are $145 ($120 for seniors and $85 for students under age 23). Single tickets for Main Stage shows are $15-$30. Season tickets for the Late Night series are $35 for three shows. Tickets for single shows are $10-$15. To order tickets, call 722-7521 or visit www.footlightplayers.net.

Main Stage

SEPT. 12-28: "Biloxi Blues," Neil Simon's semiautobiographical Tony Award-winning play.

OCT. 17-NOV. 2: "Puttin' on the Ritz," Irving Berlin's greatest songs presented in high-energy, beautifully costumed production style.

DEC. 5-21: "Inspecting Carol," Daniel Sullivan's comedy about a man auditioning at a small theater who is mistaken for an informer for the National Endowment for the Arts. Hilarity ensues as the cast and crew cater to his every whim.

JAN. 30-FEB. 15: "Match," Stephen Belber's play about a cop searching to uncover a secret of his past.

MARCH 20-APRIL 5: "Sordid Lives," Del Shores' comedic twist on a story of unconditional love, acceptance and coming out in a Texas family.

MAY 1-17: "La Cage aux Folles," Tony Award-winning play about a homosexual couple whose son is to marry the daughter of a bigoted politician.

Late Night Series

NOV. 6-15: "Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead," an unauthorized parody of the "Peanuts" comic strip.

JAN. 8-17: "Autobahn," seven vignettes by Neil Labute exploring the ethos of perception and relationship.

FEB. 19-28: "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot," Stephen Adly Guirgis' comedic religious debate about the battle between guilt and forgiveness.

CHARLESTON MUSEUM

Founded in 1773, the Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting St., is the oldest museum in the United States. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Entry fees are $10 for the general public and $5 for ages 3-12. Members are admitted free. For membership information, go to www.charlestonmuseum.org or call 722-2996.

SEPT. 30: Documentary Screening: "The Curious Mr. Catesby," a new documentary examines the life and legacy of pioneering naturalist Mark Catesby. Call 722-2996, ext. 264, for reservations.

through FEB. 28: "From Slave to Sharecropper: African-Americans in the Lowcountry after the Civil War," an exhibit commemorating the bicentennial of the abolition of the international slave trade.

through DEC. 31: "Around the World," with artifacts and specimens from Mexico and the Caribbean.

through JAN. 4: "Bustles, Bicycles and Ball Gowns: Beginnings of Change in Late 19th Century Clothing" examines how bicycles prompted a change in clothing and less restrictive undergarments.

FEB. 28: "The Orient Expressed!" The museum's annual fundraiser will benefit the new Textile Gallery. Entertainment and a live auction will be held, among other activities.

GIBBES MUSEUM OF ART

The Gibbes Museum of Art, founded under the name of the Carolina Art Association, was awarded a state charter in 1858. After meeting in various places, the Gibbes Museum opened in 1905 at 135 Meeting St.

Membership dues are $45, general admission; $30 students and $100 family membership. Entry fees are $9 for the general public; $7 for students, senior citizens and members of the military and $5 for ages 6-12. Children under age 5 admitted free.

Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. For information, call 722-2706 or visit www.gibbes museum.org.

ONGOING: "The Charleston Story," drawn from the museum's permanent collection from Charleston's beginnings as a British Colony to modern times.

Through NOV. 30: "Grass Roots: African Origins of an American Art" explores the contribution of African culture to North American life.

SEPT. 12-NOV. 2: "The Future is on the Table," a five-year community art collaboration initiated in 2003 by Charleston artists Gwy-lene Gallimard and Jean-Marie Mauclet with the purpose of generating conversation about globalization and social justice issues.

NOV. 14-APRIL 26: "The Printmaking Process," featuring works from the permanent collection.

DEC. 19-MARCH 22: "Painters of American Life: The Eight," eight American artists who organized the first major independent group exhibition of the 20th century in 1908.

DEC. 19-MARCH 22: "The American Scene on Paper: Prints and Drawings from the Schoen Collection" represents the diversity of styles and subjects in American art from the 1930s to 1950s.

APRIL 3-JULY 19: "Jeff Whetstone: Post-Pleistocene," Factor Prize winner's recent body of work.

CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

The Charleston Southern University Horton School of Music will present a season of music concerts, most of which are free, at the Lightsey Chapel on the campus.

For more information, call 863-7966 or e-mail vbullock@csuniv.edu.

SEPT. 14: "Death by Aria" featuring CSU vocal faculty. 3 p.m.

SEPT. 26: Justin Cope Scholarship Benefit Concert with CSU Choral Ensembles, 7:30 p.m.

OCT. 3: "Global Dances" performed by the Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m.

OCT. 5: Regina Helcher, flute, 3 p.m.

OCT. 24: "Swing Meets Bebop" jazz band and combo, 7:30 p.m.

OCT. 26: "Brahms Requiem" with CSU Singers and Singers of Summerville with orchestra, 3 p.m. $5.

OCT. 27: "Brahms Requiem" with CSU and Singers of Summerville with orchestra, East Cooper Baptist Church, 7 p.m.

NOV. 4: Joanne Kampiziones, guest pianist from Coker College, 7:30 p.m.

NOV. 9: "Salute to Veterans" by the Wind Ensemble, 3 p.m.

NOV. 20-23: "The 1940s Radio Hour" with CSU Lyric Theater, 7:30 p.m. (except 3 p.m. Nov. 23). $15, adults; $10 students, senior citizens. To reserve, call 574-5821.

NOV. 24: Instrumental Chamber Ensemble, 7:30 p.m.

DEC. 12: Concert Singers and Brass Choir, "Christmas Carols in the Round," Science Building on campus, 6 p.m.

JAN. 23: Bob Fox, trombone, Chris Teves, guitar, 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 25: Jazz Hymns and Spirituals with Mark Sterbank. 3 p.m.

FEB. 17: CSU Piano Faculty Recital with Gene Koester and Myungsook Stoudenmire, 7:30 p.m.

FEB. 22: Choral Ensemble, 3 p.m.

FEB. 23: CSU and College of Charleston Flute Choirs, 7:30 p.m.

MARCH 20: Jazz Band, 7:30 p.m.

MARCH 22: Student Honors Recital, 3 p.m.

MARCH 27: Lyric Theater, 7:30 p.m.

APRIL 3: Choral Finale, 7:30 p.m.

APRIL 17: Wind Ensemble, 7:30 p.m.

APRIL 20: Chamber Ensembles Concert, 7:30 p.m.

Reach Dottie Ashley at 937-5704.