Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012

Arts Notes

On stage in Garner

The Garner Performing Arts Center will host the following events in February:

Garner Showcase of Talent - 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. Admission is free.

Little Miss Garner pageant - 2 p.m. Feb. 18. Admission is $10. For more information, call 349-8559.

Unity Through Dance - 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25. Admission is $10. For more information, call 606-2727.

The Garner Performing Arts Center is at 742 W. Garner Road.

Upcoming shows at Ice House

Here are upcoming shows at the Ice House Theater, a country music venue at 112 N. Webb St., Selma: Stetson, Feb. 3; Without Further Ado, Feb. 10; Thick as Thieves, Feb. 17; and Rocky Cross, Feb. 24. All shows are at 7:45 p.m. Admission is $12. For reservations, call 943-1182.

Molly Hatchet in Smithfield

Molly Hatchet will headline this year's Ham & Yam Festival in downtown Smithfield. The Southern rock band will perform at 8:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, on the stage by the Neuse River on Front Street.

Formed in Jacksonville, Fla., in 1975, Molly Hatchet released its self-titled debut album in 1978. The band has released 11 studio albums since then, including last year's "Justice."

The Ham & Yam Festival is trying to line up a country act for Saturday, May 5.

Clayton Center adds shows

The Clayton Center has added several events to its February calendar.

Here is the schedule for the first Clayton Piano Festival: "Romantic Fantasies" with Jonathan Levin, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10; "Fables & Poetry" with Angelo Rondello, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13; "A Night at the Theater" with Matthew Harrison, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16; and "Piano Music of the 21st Century" with Christian McLeer, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. Admission is $12 per show.

Also in February, Cat's Cradle will present Todd Snider with Rosi Golan at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11. Tickets are $20 in advance and $23 at the door.

The Clayton Center is located at 111 E. Second St. Tickets are available online at theclaytoncenter.com, by phone at 553-1737 and in the box office, which is open from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

'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.

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 and Saturday, 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 a 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.

Comedy in Clayton

Tennessee Tramp 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, Feb, 2, and 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3-4. For tickets, call 359-8565.

Open Mic Night

Tuesdays are Open Mic Night at Orchard House Booksellers, 117 N. Third St., Smithfield. The stage is open from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for singers, musicians, actors, prose readers, etc.