Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012

Arts Notes

Book club to meet

A nonfiction book club will meet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, at the Southeast Regional Library, 908 Seventh Ave., Garner. At the meeting, group members will talk about what to read. For more information, contact Edward West at Edward.West@wakegov.com or call 662-2250.

'Driving Miss Daisy'

The Towne Players will present "Driving Miss Daisy" this month at the Garner Performing Arts Center, 742 W. Garner Road, Garner. Show dates and times are 8 p.m. Jan. 26-28 and 2 p.m. Jan. 28. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. For more information, visit towneplayers.org or call 779-6144.

Upcoming shows at Ice House

Here are upcoming shows at the Ice House Theater, a country music venue at 112 N. Webb St., Selma: Raymond Bradley & The Ramblin Fever Band, Jan. 27; Stetson, Feb. 3; and Without Further Ado, Feb. 10. All shows are at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $12. For reservations, call 943-1182.

'Dixie Swim Club'

The Neuse Little Theatre will present "The Dixie Swim Club," a comedy, in February at The Hut on Front Street in downtown Smithfield. Show times and dates are 8 p.m. Feb. 10-11, 3 p.m. Feb. 12 and 8 p.m. Feb. 17-18. In the play, five women whose friendships began on their college swim team come together every August for a long weekend. Free from husbands, kids and jobs, they meet at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 at the door. For reservations, call 934-1873 or visit neuselittletheatre.org.

Frank Creech Art Gallery

Works by sculptor Jeff Bell are on display through Jan. 26 in the Frank Creech Art Gallery at Johnston Community College, 245 College Road, Smithfield. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For more information, visit johnstoncc.edu or email Bill Gregory at wagregory@johnstoncc.edu. To see more of Bell's work, visit jeff-bell.com.

Coming up at JCC

Here are upcoming shows in the Paul A. Johnston Auditorium at Johnston Community College, 245 College Road, Smithfield. For tickets, visit jccperformingarts.com or call 209-2099 between 1:30 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"Deer Camp - The Hunter's Musical" - 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27. The musical follows four fearless deer hunters on their annual trek to deer camp. After decades of hunting trips, the guys have yet to bring home a single deer and the wives are getting suspicious. Tickets are $21 in advance and $22.50 at the door. For more information, visit cmientertainment.net/DeerCamp.html.

Country Music Showcase - 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3-4, and 2 p.m. Feb. 4. Tickets to evening shows are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets to the matinee are $10 in advance and $12.50 at the door. The February guest performers are Christina Wilkins, Conrad Bastien, Crissy Oravits, Emily Jackson, Marshall McLamb, Mel Thompson, Nicole Chestnut, Stephanie Gardner and Tyler Korney.

Leanne Morgan, comedian - 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. Tickets are $21 in advance and $22.50 at the door. Morgan's comedy combines Southern charm and storytelling about her life. She was a finalist on Nick at Nite's "Funniest Mom in Knoxville" and toured three years with the Southern Fried Chicks. She is under contract with Warner Brothers and ABC to develop a sitcom based on her comedy. For more information, visit leannemorgan.com.

"Are You My Mother?" - 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. At long last, Baby Bird emerges from her shell and expects to be greeted by her mother's song. But her mother is not there. Where is she? Why isn't she home? With the help of Dog, Cat and Hen, Baby Bird sets out in search of Mother Bird in this musical adventure based on P.D. Eastman's picture book. This 55-minute musical is recommended for children in grades K-2. Tickets are $11 in advance and $12.50 at the door. For more information, visit artspower.org.

The Cleverlys - 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25. The Cleverlys are a concept act that mixes bluegrass music with sardonic and mildly risqué humor. Tickets are $18.50 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, visit thecleverlys.com.

"Skippyjon Jones" - 3 p.m. Saturday, March 17. Skippyjon Jones is a little kitten with big ears and even bigger dreams. Sometimes he pretends to be a bird, sometimes he pretends to be a llama and sometimes he pretends to be a whale - anything but a Siamese cat. Based on the book by Judy Schachner, "Skippyjon Jones" is musical about unleashing imagination and following dreams. Recommended for grades K-3. Tickets are $11 in advance and $12.50 at the door. For more information, visit theatreworksusa.org.

Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Company - 7 p.m. Thursday, April 19. Under the artistic direction of Spanish choreographer Juan Siddi, musicians, singers and dancers from Spain and the United States will bring their talents to Smithfield. Tickets are $21 in advance and $22.50 at the door. For more information, visit artfegan.com.

Masters of Motown -7 p.m. April 21. The show includes songs by the Temptations, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Four Tops, Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Jackson Five, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Stevie Wonder and The Commodores. Tickets are $21 in advance and $22.50 at the door. For more information, visit eastcoastentertainment.com/artist/Masters_of_Motown.html.

Standing room only for ukulele player

The Clayton Center has sold out of reserved seating for the Jan. 28 show by ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro. Some standing-room-only tickets are available for $12. They can be purchased online at theclaytoncenter.com, by phone at 919-553-1737 or in The Clayton Center Box Office at 111 E. Second St. in downtown Clayton. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Royal Ladies

The Royal Ladies of Country Music will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at The Rudy Theatre, 300 N. Raiford St., Selma. The Royal Ladies are Leona Williams, a singer who has also written songs for Merle Haggard, George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn; Ava Barber, whose hits include "Bucket to the South" and "Waitin' at the End of Your Run;" and Tamala Georgette Jones, daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Ron Williams, son of Leona Williams, also will perform. For details, call 877-843-7839.

Comedy in Clayton

D Cameron is this week's headliner at Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 8928 U.S. 70 Business West, Clayton. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, and 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28. For tickets, call 359-8565.