Arts Calendar

Special events

Jan. 10: The Charleston Museum celebrates its 236th birthday with an oyster roast and curator-led tours of Civil War fortifications at the Dill Sanctuary. 1163 Riverland Drive, James Island. 2-5 p.m. $25/museum member; $35/nonmember. For tickets, call 722-2996, ext. 264. Visit www.charlestonmuseum.org.

Jan. 14-17: 6th annual Charleston Comedy Festival. Improv groups, stand-up comedians and sketch comedy groups from around the country. Artists, venues, prices and times vary with events. $5-$20 per person, per event. For schedule, visit www.charlestoncomedyfestival.com.

Jan. 16: Charleston Concert Association presents "Gala of the Year With Wynton" to follow the concert by Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Gala is limited to 300 guests and is immediately following the concert. All proceeds benefit the Education Programs of the Charleston Concert Association. 7:30 p.m. concert at Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St.; gala to be held in William Aiken House, 456 King St. $250 per person. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 554-6060; for info, call 571-7755 and visit www.charlestonconcerts.org.

Jan. 24: The Jane Austen Society of North America: S.C. Region hosts its annual Jane Austen Birthday Tea. Kim Poovey will entertain with "Tea With Jane." Gage Hall, 4 Archdale St. 1:30-3:30 p.m. $5/members; $10/nonmembers. 884-4398.

Jan. 25: Boone Hall presents 26th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival as a fundraiser for several Lowcountry charities, including the Ronald McDonald House and Hollings Cancer Center. 1235 Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant. 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Advance tickets $10 each, and $12 at the gate the day of the event. 884-4371 or e-mail brookew@boonehallplantation.com.

Dance

Jan. 10: Charleston Ballet Theatre presents "Carmen." 477 King St. 7:30 p.m. $15-$32 per person. 723-7334 and visit www.charles tonballet.org.

Jan. 23-25: Charleston Ballet Theatre presents "The Magical Mystery Tour," the world premiere of Jill Eathorne Bahr's ballet inspired by the masterworks of The Beatles. 477 King St. Jan. 23-24 at 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 25 at 3 p.m. $30-$32 per person. 723-7334 and visit www.charlestonballet.org.

Jan. 30-Feb. 1: Charleston Ballet Theatre presents "Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs." 477 King St. 7 p.m. Jan. 30; 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Jan. 31; 3 p.m. Feb. 1. $10-$20 per person. 723-7334 and visit www.charlestonballet.org.

Readings, lectures

Jan. 9: The Poetry Society of South Carolina presents An Open Mike Performance of Spiritual Poetry with emcee Kurt Lamkin. Second Presbyterian Church, 342 Meeting St. 7 p.m. Free. www. poetrysocietysc.org.

Jan. 12 & 26: Charleston County Public Library presents Jewish Literature Neighbors: The World Next Door, "A Journey to the End of the Millennium" by A.B. Yehoshua. Reading, lecture and discussion program with scholar Nan Morrison. 68 Calhoun St. 2 p.m. Free. Books may by checked out at the fiction desk at the main library or by calling 805-6804 or e-mailing breibarts@ccpl.org.

Jan. 14: Center for Photography presents An Evening With Sam Abell, who began shooting for National Geographic in 1970. Event features a lecture, dinner provided by Fish Restaurant catering and book signing with the author. 6:30 p.m. American Theater, 446 King St. $40 per person. 577-0647 and visit www.ccforp.org.

Jan. 14: Charleston County Public Library presents in its Great Books Discussion series "Mary Postgate" by author Rudyard Kipling. 68 Calhoun St. 7 p.m. Free. Books may be picked up at the fiction desk at the main library or by calling 805-6804.

Jan. 15: Avery Research Center and the African-American Studies Program at the College of Charleston present the Thursday Night Lecture Series, "Regulated Wild: The Impact of Human and Natural Forces on the Lowcountry Landscape" including a lecture titled "Indigo" featuring Ariane King-Comer. Avery Research Center, McKinley Washington Auditorium. 7:30 p.m. Free. 953-7609.

Jan. 15: Gibbes Museum of Art presents An Evening With the Curator. Dr. Jochen Wierich, curator at Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art in Nashville, will discuss the Main Gallery exhibition "Painters of American Life: The Eight." 135 Meeting St. 7 p.m. Free for museum members, $10 for nonmembers. 722-2706, ext. 18, and visit www.gibbesmuseum.org.

Jan. 16 & 23: Gibbes Museum of Art presents Lunchtime Lecture and Tour Series. Local scholars and cultural critics explore the current Gibbes exhibitions from varying perspectives. Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St. Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. Printmaking Curator Pam Wall will discuss and tour the Printmaking exhibition; Jan. 23 at 1 p.m., Harlan Greene, director of archival and reference services at the Avery Research Center, will discuss and tour "The American Scene on Paper: Prints and Drawings From the Schoen Collection." Free with museum admission. 722-2706, ext. 41, and visit www.gibbesmuseum.org.

Music

Jan. 9-10: Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents its Merrill Lynch Masterworks Series concert featuring music by Verdi, Rachmaninoff, and Shostakovich and a performance by pianist Jeffrey Biegel. Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St. 8 p.m. $35 general admission; $5 students with ID. 723-7528, ext. 110, and visit www.charlestonsymphony.com.

Jan. 14: An Evening of Classical Music to benefit Creative Spark with Norbert Lewandowski, cello, and Jeffrey Brown, piano. Ashley Hall School Recital Hall, Rutledge Avenue at Radcliffe Street. 7:30 p.m. $15 per person and includes wine and hors d'oeuvres provided by Monza Restaurant. www. creativespark.org.

Jan. 16: The College of Charleston School of the Arts presents Charleston Music Fest, bringing together artists from around the nation to present a season of warm sounds in intimate settings. The Jan. 16 opening concert, "Masterworks," will be a collaboration between American legend Eugene Fodor, violin, and world-class pianist Volodymyr Vynnytsky. Recital Hall, Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. Philip St. 7:30 p.m. $35. Tickets and season subscriptions can be purchased by calling 953-0935 or visiting www.etix.com or www.charlestonmusic fest.com. E-mail CMF@cofc.edu.

Jan. 17: Charleston County Public Library presents Opera at the Library. Simulcast from the Met: "Thais" by Massenet, starring Renee Fleming as the Egyptian courtesan in search of spiritual sustenance. 68 Calhoun St. 12:30 p.m. Free. 805-6930.

Jan. 17: Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents its McCrady's Charleston Pops! Series concert Radio Days with Five by Design. Gaillard Municipal Auditorium. 8 p.m. $20-$45 per person; $5 students with ID; group rates available. 723-7528, ext. 110, www.charlestonsymphony.com.

Jan. 17: North Charleston Performing Arts Center presents '70s Soul Jam featuring The Stylistics, Heatwave, Manhattans and The Main Ingredient with Cuba Gooding Sr., 5001 Coliseum Dr. 8 p.m. Tickets are $37.50-$43.50 plus applicable fees. Tickets, visit www.coliseumpac.com.

Jan. 18: CSO Gospel Choir presents Perseverance: Where Do We Go From Here: A Celebration of the Life and Work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mount Moriah Family Living Center, 7396 Rivers Ave., 4 p.m. Free. www.csogospel.com.

Jan. 18: Charleston Southern University Horton School of Music presents as a part of its Sunday Spotlight Series, Jazz Hymns and Spirituals V. Lightsey Chapel, 3 p.m. $5 at the door. 863-7966, e-mail ktimmerman@csuniv.edu, and visit www.charlestonsouth ern.edu.

Jan. 18: Southcoast Symphony presents "The Russians are Coming!" the second concert of the 2008-09 season featuring the music of Prokofiev and Borodin. Cathedral of St. Luke & St. Paul, 126 Coming St. 4 p.m. Free and open to the public, and tax-deductible donations are accepted. www.southcoastsymphony.com.

Jan. 23: Charleston Southern University Horton School of Music presents Friday Fanfare. This concert features the combination of bass trombone and guitar with Bob Fox, instructor of music, and Christopher Teves, adjunct instructor of guitar. Lightsey Chapel, 7:30 p.m. Free. 863-7966, e-mail ktimmerman@csuniv.edu and visit www.charlestonsouthern.edu.

Jan. 25: Gibbes Museum of Art presents the Charleston Symphony Woodwind Quintet exploring "The Eight." Join the CSO Woodwind Quintet in the Gibbes Rotunda for a musical response to the exhibition "Painters of American Life: The Eight." 2:30 p.m. Gibbes Museum of Art, 135 Meeting St. $7 for museum members and students with ID, $15 for nonmembers. For tickets, visit www.gibbesmuseum.org.

Jan. 27: College of Charleston Music Department presents its International Piano Series. Features Father Sean Duggan, two-time winner of the J.S. Bach International Competition. College of Charleston Sottile Theatre. 44 George St. 8 p.m. $20/adults, free for 18 and under and to C of C students with a valid ID. 953-6578 or go to www.internationalpiano series.org.

Jan. 30: Charleston Music Fest presents its White Night featuring Arensky Quartet and Glazunov Cello Quintet. Randolph Hall, College of Charleston, 66 George St. 7:30 p.m. $75 (includes concert and reception). 953-0935 and visit www.charlestonmusicfest.com.

Jan. 31: Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents its Family Concert Series featuring Olympics! 10 a.m., $15/adults; $5/students. Mount Moriah Baptist Church, 7396 Rivers Ave., N. Charleston. 723-7528, ext. 110, and visit www.charlestonsymphony.com.

Jan. 31: Charleston County Public Library presents Opera at the Library. Simulcast from the Met: "La Rondine" by Puccini. 68 Calhoun St. 1:30 p.m. Free. 805-6930.

Theater

Jan. 8-17: Late Night at the Footlight presents Neil LaBute's "Autobahn," an intense short-play cycle with a collection of six mini-plays filled with humor and shocking revelations told with biting honesty. 20 Queen St. 9 p.m. Jan. 8-10 & 15-17. $10 for Thursdays, $15 for Fridays and Saturdays. 722-4487, e-mail info@footlightplayers.net and visit www.footlight players.net.

Jan. 16-25: Charleston Stage presents "Charlotte's Web." Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St. 7 p.m. Jan. 16-17 & 23-24; 3 p.m. Jan. 18 & 25; $19/adults; $15/students. 577-7183 and visit www.charlestonstage.com.

Jan. 16-Feb. 1: Flowertown Players present "Don't Dress For Dinner," by Marc Camoletti, 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. 133 S. Main St., Summerville. 8 p.m. Jan. 16-17, 22-24, 29-31; 2 p.m. Jan. 25 & Feb. 1. $20 adults; $17 seniors. 875-9251 and visit www.flower townplayers.org.

Jan. 27-28: Best of Broadway presents "The Drowsy Chaperone." North Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr. 7:30 p.m. $60 per person. Tickets are available at the Coliseum Ticket Office, www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster Outlets (including select Publix grocery stores), or charge by phone at 554-6060. www.coliseumpac.com.

Jan. 29-Feb. 7: Midtown/Sheri Grace Productions present the Charleston premiere of the award-winning "Reefer Madness: The Hit Musical." Theatre 99, 280 Meeting St. 8 p.m. Jan. 29 & Feb. 5; 10 p.m. Jan. 30 & 31, Feb. 6 & 7. $23/Adults & seniors, $16/students with ID. 853-6687 or visit www.etix.com.

Jan. 30-Feb. 15: The Footlight Players present "Match" by Stephen Belbar. As the play begins, Tobi is visited by Mike and Lisa, who have come to interview him for Lisa's dissertation on the dance scene in the 1950s and '60s, but it soon becomes clear that the purpose of the couple's visit has to do with more than scholarly research. 20 Queen St. 8 p.m. Jan. 30, 31, Feb. 5-7 & 12-14; 3 p.m. Feb. 1 & 15. $25/adults, $22/seniors, $15/students. 722-4487, e-mail info@footlightplayers.net and visit www.footlightplayers.net.

Visual arts

Through March 22: Gibbes Museum of Art presents "Painters of American Life: The Eight" and "The American Scene on Paper: Prints and Drawings from the Schoen Collection." 135 Meeting St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat. and 1-5 p.m. Sun. $9/adults; $7/seniors, students and military; $5/youths (ages 6-12); free/members and children 5 and under. 722-2706 and visit www.gibbesmuseum.org.

Jan. 2-31: City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department presents an exhibit by the Berkeley Artist Guild. Charleston Area Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr. An opening reception will be held 5-7 p.m. Jan. 8. Free. Contact Ann Simpson at 745-1087 or at culturalarts@northcharleston.org.

Jan. 9: Cone Ten Studios presents "Making a Connection: Artist in Residency Program in Amakusa, Japan," a recent body of work reflecting Charleston sculptor Fiorenzo Berardozzi's connection with contemporary potters and artists in Japan. 285 Meeting St. Opening reception Jan. 9, 5-9 p.m., with a slide presentation at 7:30 p.m. Free. The exhibit will continue through Feb. 9. 853-3345 and visit www.cone10studios.com.

Jan. 12: Charleston Center for Photography will open the Visual Cultural Awards' Visual Maker of the Year exhibit. At 7 p.m. Jan. 12, the founder of the Visual Cultural Awards, Mikayla Mackaness, will introduce and officially launch the exhibit, followed by a showing of the newly released documentary, "An Unlikely Weapon." 654-D King St. Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. 577-0647, visit www.ccforp.org or www.visualcultureawards. com.

Jan. 16-22: City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents the City Gallery at Waterfront Park's newest exhibit, "Memento Mori: Warnings From the American West and Antarctica," a collection of photographs by Michelle Van Parys and Stuart Klipper depicting the remote landscapes of the American West and Antarctica. An opening reception and book signing will be held 6-8 p.m. Jan. 16. A lecture and gallery tour led by artist Stuart Klipper will be held at 2 p.m. Jan. 17. A lecture and gallery tour led by artist Michelle Van Parys is to be announced. City Gallery at Waterfront Park, 34 Prioleau St. Gallery Hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tues.-Fri.; noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. Contact the City Gallery at 958-6484 or visit www.charlestoncity.info.

Arts in Charleston is a monthly calendar of cultural events in the Charleston area compiled by the city of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and published as a public service by The Post and Courier. The online version of the calendar is updated daily and can be viewed at www.charlestonarts.sc.

Deadline for submissions is noon the 15th of each month. For more info about the calendar and including upcoming events in future issues, call the Office of Cultural Affairs at 720-3816, e-mail event listing to ocaintern@ci.charleston.sc.us, fax the event listing to 843-720-3967, or write:

Arts in Charleston Calendar

City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs

180 Meeting St., Ste. 200

Charleston, SC 29401