This Week in the Arts

Opening this week

"Pirates of Penzance": The Company Company's dinner theater production of "The Pirates of Penzance" opens Friday at the Lookout Pavilion, 20 Patriots Point Road, just past the Yorktown in Mount Pleasant. The show will be performed at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 6:30 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 22. Dining starts at 5:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $35 for heavy hors d'oeuvres on Fridays; $55 for a three-course dinner on Saturdays, and $30 for Italian family-style dinner Sundays. For tickets, call 810-8100 or visit www.thecompanycompany.com.

"The Pillowman": The College of Charleston's Center Stage presents Martin McDonagh's "The Pillowman" at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday in Theatre 220, 2nd floor of the Simons Center for the Arts, 54 St. Philip St. The dark comedy deals with a fiction writer living in a police state who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories, and their similarities to a number of bizarre child murders occurring in his town (recommended for mature audiences). $8 general admission; free for C of C students/faculty/staff. Tickets sold at door an hour before curtain. Cash only. E-mail ctrstage@gmail.com.

Continuing theater

"Frost/Nixon": The Footlight Players present Peter Morgan's drama "Frost/Nixon" about the landmark 1977 television interviews between former U.S. President Richard Nixon and British talk-show host David Frost. Performances will be 3 p.m. today and Nov. 8 and 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. 20 Queen St. Tickets are $25 adults, $22 seniors and $15 student. Call 722-4487 or visit www.footlightplayers.net.

"Mauritius": The Village Playhouse presents Theresa Rebeck's "Mauritius," a mysterious and funny story of what happens when half sisters inherit a book of rare stamps that may include the "crown jewel" of the stamp-collecting world. The battle for possession takes a dangerous turn when three rival collectors are willing to go to any lengths to stake their claim on the find. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Nov. 13-14, and at 3 p.m. Nov. 8. 730 Coleman Blvd. Tickets are $25 adults, $23 seniors and $20 students. Order at 856-1579 or at www.villageplayhouse.com.

Theatre 99: The Have Nots! and Theatre 99 have just one show planned this week. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, it is Laugh for a Lincoln with Hot Pants, featur-ing Brandy Sullivan and Jen- nifer Buddin. Tickets $5. 280 Meeting St. 853-6687, e-mail thehavenots2000@aol.com or visit www.thehavenots.com.

Music

Monday night series: College of Charleston's Monday Night Concert Series presents students in solo and chamber ensembles at 8 p.m. this week. Simons Center Recital Hall, 54 St. Philip St. $10 at the door, free for C of C students.

St. Luke's series: The College of Charleston presents Allyson Carrington on harp and Ken Carrington on flute in the St. Luke's Recital Series at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at St. Luke's Chapel, Medical University of South Carolina, Ashley Avenue at Bee Street. Free. 792-6775, e-mail mccauleyn@cofc.edu or visit www.cofc.edu/sota.

CSO: The Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents a concert in its Backstage Pass series featuring music by Mozart, Kellogg, Haydn and Schnittke conducted by Stuart Malina. 7 p.m. Thursday. Memminger Auditorium, 56 Beaufain St. General admission tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.charlestonsymphony.com, at the Gaillard Auditorium box office or any Ticketmaster outlet.

Opera

Females in Opera: Charleston Chamber Opera and the Gibbes Museum of Art are will present an afternoon of opera at 3 p.m. today in the museum's rotunda. Soprano Patrice Tiedemann and mezzo soprano Lara Wilson will explore female relationships in some of opera's most beloved stories. Actress Terry Bell-Aby will narrate and Steven Morris will accompany on piano. Tickets for "Mothers, Sisters and Adversaries" are $10 for museum members and students and $20 for nonmembers. They can be purchased online at www.gibbesmuseum.org/events, at the Gibbes Museum Store or by calling 722-2706, ext. 18.

Upcoming

Fall Fundraiser: 1-5 p.m. Nov. 8, Creative Spark Center for the Arts' fall fundraiser presents a sneak peek into historic homes and artists' studios on Sullivan's Island filled with artwork for sale, musical entertainment and chef demonstrations and tastings. A reception at Station 22 Restaurant rounds out the day. Tickets can be purchased to include the entire tour and reception for $35. Patron tickets for $150 include the tour and $100 toward purchase of art. Advance tickets at Creative Spark (881-3780 or at www.creative spark.org) and at Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan's Island. Proceeds benefit Creative Spark's scholarship fund.