Opening this week

"AVENUE Q": The Best of Broadway series presents "Avenue Q" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. The musical, about trying to make it in New York with big dreams and a small bank account, won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical and features a cast of people and puppets. Tickets are $30, $50 and $60 and may be purchased by visiting the North Charleston Coliseum advance ticket office, calling 800-745-3000 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. The show is rated R and not recommended for those younger than 14.

"LAST DAYS OF DON JUAN": The College of Charleston's theater department presents "The Last Days of Don Juan," Nick Dear's contemporary adaptation of the classic tale of the legend-ary seducer. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Nov. 16-17 and 3 p.m. Nov. 15. Emmett Robinson Theatre, 54 St. Philip St. $15 general, $10 C of C students, faculty, staff and seniors. To purchase, call 953-5604.

Closing this week

"FROST/NIXON": At 3 p.m. today, the Footlight Players concludes its production of the Peter Morgan drama "Frost/Nixon" about the landmark 1977 television interviews between former President Richard Nixon and British talk show host David Frost. 20 Queen St. Tickets are $25 adults, $22 seniors and $15 students. They may be purchased by calling 722-4487 or online at www.footlightplayers.net.

"MAURITIUS": The Village Playhouse winds up Theresa Rebeck's "Mauritius" with performances at 3 p.m. today and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The mysterious and funny story shows 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. 730 Coleman Blvd. Tickets are $25 adults, $23 seniors and $20 students. Order by phone at 856-1579 or online at www.villageplayhouse.com.

Continuing theater

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

THEATRE 99: The Have Nots! and Theatre 99 have a big week planned. At 8 p.m. Wednesday, it is Laugh for a Lincoln with Neckprov, an evening for rednecks and those who are curious about rednecks. Tickets are $5. Beginning at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday, it's the fourth annual Improv-a-Thon featuring seven acts on Friday and eight on Saturday. $5 per show or $20 for a full-access pass. 280 Meeting St. 853-6687, e-mail thehavenots2000@aol. com or visit www.thehavenots.com.

Music

COMMUNITY BAND: The Charleston Community Band will present a free outdoor concert at the I'On Amphitheater (off Mathis Ferry Road) in Mount Pleasant at 4 p.m. today. Visit charlestoncommunityband.com.

SUMMERVILLE ORCHESTRA: The Summerville Community Orchestra's first concert of the season, "Classical Romance," takes place at 7 p.m. today at Ashley Ridge High School on S.C. Highway 165. Alex Agrest will conduct works by Schubert and Prokofiev. Tickets are $10 for adults and free for those under 18. Purchase tickets online at www.summervilleorchestra.com or by calling 873-5339.

MONDAY NIGHT SERIES: The College of Charleston's Monday Night Concert Series presents classical guitarist Jaan Rannik. 8 p.m. Monday at 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 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.

PIANO SERIES: College of Charleston alumnus Roberto Berrocal will perform in the college's International Piano Series at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. Berrocal will perform works by Haydn, Rachmaninoff and Liszt. Individual tickets are $20, and College of Charleston students and those under 18 years old are admitted free. Credit card reservations and more information are available by calling 953-6575 or by visiting www.internationalpianoseries.org.

CSO: The Charleston Symphony Orchestra presents a concert in its Masterworks series featuring guest artist Karin Bliznik on trumpet, with music by Grieg, Haydn and Mendelssohn. David Stahl will conduct. 8 p.m. Saturday. Gaillard Auditorium, 77 Calhoun St. Single tickets range from $20 to $60 and can be purchased online at www.charlestonsymphony.com, at the Gaillard Auditorium box office or any Ticketmaster outlet.

GAGE HALL BENEFIT CONCERT: The Hungry Monks, along with Michael and Sandy Bashaw, will perform Celtic and folk music to benefit academic enrich- ment programs. 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Gage Hall Coffeehouse, 4 Archdale St. $10 adults, $5 students. 224-4472.

Dance

IVEY BALLET: The Robert Ivey Ballet will present its fall performance, "A Season to Celebrate," at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Sottile Theatre, 44 George St. The program will include old and new works, and jazz and modern dance will be performed by the Ivey Youth Ballet as part of Sunday's program. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for senior citizens and students and may be purchased by calling 556-1343 or at the door.

Opera

MET OPERA: The Charleston County Library presents a screening of the Metropolitan Opera's production of "Aida" at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Main Library, 68 Calhoun St. The presentation is free and runs 3 1/2 hours.

Literary

POETRY SOCIETY: Poet Doug Van Gundy will read at the monthly meeting of the Poetry Society of South Carolina at 7 p.m. Friday in the Second Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, 342 Meeting St. The free reading will be followed by a book signing and reception. From 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Van Gundy will conduct a seminar at the College of Charleston, exploring the connections between the early traditional music and the subsequent poetry of the Appalachian region. The program will offer a mixture of lecture, reading, discussion and musical performance with fiddle, banjo and voice. $10 for members of the Poetry Society, $15 for nonmembers and free for College of Charleston students.

Special event

FALL FUNDRAISER: From 1-5 p.m. today, 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 the purchase of art. Advance tickets are available at Creative Spark (881-3780) and at Sandpiper Gallery on Sullivan's Island. All proceeds benefit Creative Spark's scholarship fund.

MEMBERSHIP EVENT: The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art will hold "New Moon -- New Museum," its annual membership event, 7-10 p.m. Friday in the grand hall and Halsey Institute's galleries in the College of Charleston School of the Arts' new building at 161 Calhoun St. The event is open to new, renewing and current members of the Halsey Institute. Memberships start at $30. Call 953-5680 or visit www.halsey.cofc.edu. : The Charleston Community Band will present a free outdoor concert at the I'On Amphitheater (off Mathis Ferry Road) in Mount Pleasant at 4 p.m. today. Visit charlestoncommunityband.com.

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