Calendar of Events

Life imitates art as the show about a group of nuns putting on a show to raise money will serve as a special fund-raiser event for the Playhouse itself. But the twist? This time the Reverend Mother and the other four Little Sisters of Hoboken are played by men. As if the original "Nunsense," with singing, dancing, joke-cracking nuns is not absurd enough, author Dan Goggin, has really ratcheted up the hilarity by re-vamping the show as "Nunsense A-men!" and giving his blessing for male actors to take on the roles. The Playhouse production features a mixed bag of comic nuts. Managing Artistic Director Reggie Law, who last appeared onstage as sleazy Max Bialystock in "The Producers," will direct the production and take on the role of Sister Hubert, the right hand to Martin Stone Hennessee's Reverend Mother. Hennessee returns to the Playhouse following his featured comedic roles in "The Pajama Game" and "Twentieth Century." The lovable, absent-minded Sister Mary Amnesia will be played by Chad Burchett, who's Leo Bloom in "The Producers" and Captain Hook in "Peter Pan" left audiences in stitches. Dan Maxwell, "My Fair Lady's" Alfie Doolittle brings his charms to the tough, wise-cracking Sister Robert Anne and, perhaps appropriately, Playhouse newcomer Kevin Buchmeier will appear as the novice nun, Sister Leo.

AS A SPECIAL EVENT, SEATING WILL BE GENERAL ADMISSION
NEW YEAR'S EVE CHAMPAGNE PARTY! Opening Night will be a late show that includes hors d'oeuvres, champagne, party favors, and midnight countdown. Come spend New Year's Eve like never before! (Telephone and walk-up sales begin December 14) Info: 482-9999

New Year's Eve Party with Teeny Tucker and Slow Blind Hill. 1050 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. For more information: (865) 525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Shiner Bock Rocks The Bijou with Mic Harrison & The High Score. Celebrate the dawn of 2010 in the company of Scott Miller & the Commonwealth. Known for non-stop touring and critically acclaimed albums including the latest, "For Crying Out Loud", Miller's concerts are generally raucous affairs that wed the cerebral and the visceral side of life. With a gritty sense of humor he points to the ridiculous and the sublime aspects of life to turn unlikely source material (a Billy Wilder film?) into tasty bits of Americana. Equally at home playing scrappy, defiant rockers, humorous snips of esoterica, or tender tunes celebrating the quiet joys of home and hearth - this guy knows how to put on a show. Expect a love-fest. Information: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com.

Our next performance is set for New Year's Eve - after all, what better way to kick off the New Year?!? This year end blowout wil be 'Vegas style'. So, get ready for some fun on the casino tables, show girls, and a Vegas style Tribute Show - and that doesn't even include the dead body. Tickets are $30.00 per person and include party favors, non-alcoholic toast, hors d'oeurves, and our all-you-care-to-eat dessert bar - as well as our always entertaining live performance. Pre-paid tickets are required for the New Year's Eve show.
At Holy Joe's, 426 N. Roane Street in Harriman. 865-765-1129, http://creativeartsco-op.com

First Night Knoxville is our New Year’s Eve Celebration of the Arts in Downtown Knoxville. The event is family friendly and alcohol-free, offering something for everyone as we ring in the New Year! Produced by Market Square District Association, the event draws thousands of guests from Knoxville, East Tennessee and surrounding states to enjoy an outstanding schedule of talented local and regional artists. Your First Night Admission Button gets you in to all of the venues throughout the day. Just $10 in advance, $15 the day of the event, kids 6 and under do not require a Button. First Night Admission Buttons are on sale now online or at designated vendors, including all Pilot convenience store locations.

3:00 PM · Children’s Festival at the Tennessee Theatre
6:45 PM · Processional from Tennessee Theatre to the Market Square Stage
7:00 PM · Opening Ceremony at the Market Square Stage
7:00-11:15 PM · Entertainment at Multiple Downtown Venues *see web site for details
9:00 PM · Early Kids’ Countdown at the Tennessee Theatre with Farmer Jason
MIDNIGHT · New Year’s Countdown and Ball Drop at Market Square

Information: www.firstnightknoxville.com

First Friday Opening reception December 4, 5-9pm; Closing Reception, January 8, 5-9pm. Curator Timothy Massey will give a gallery talk on December 4th & January 8th at 7 & 8 pm.
Gallery Hours: Wed –Fri 11-6pm & Sat 10-3pm
The Gallery will be closed Dec 24-26 & Jan 1
Much of the development for an artwork happens well before the brush meets canvas, the hand meets clay, or the finger meets camera, etc. These preliminary inspirations and concepts go mostly unnoticed and unappreciated. This exhibit brings to light the methods artists employ to inform themselves of the possibilities for their as yet unrealized works. Artists providing access to their journals include Fred Burton, Memphis, TN; Joseph Delaney, New York City; Gage Opdenbrouw, San Francisco, CA; Susan Kemenyffy, McKean, PA; and John Copeland, Brooklyn, NY. This exhibit was curated by Timothy Massey, Director of the Tower Fine Arts Gallery at SUNY Brockport. He is also a native of Knoxville and a graduate of the University of Tennessee.

Wood-fired clay vessels at the O'Brien Art Gallery. For specific dates and updates to exhibits: 865-882-4649, wilkersonbs@roanestate.edu, or www.roanestate.edu/art/gallery

Oak Ridge Art Center, 201 Badger Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9-5; Saturday-Monday, 1-4. For more information, visit the Web site or call (865) 482-1441.

The open air ice rink on Market Square opens at 10 a.m. on November 27 and will be open every day through January 3rd (except Christmas Day).

The Tennessee Art Education Association is pleased to announce it's partnership with the Knoxville Museum of Art to present the Fourth Annual East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition. This exhibition features artwork created by East Tennessee middle and high school students. The competition offers students the opportunity to display their talents and be honored for their accomplishments in a professional art museum environment. The student art exhibition provides an excellent competitive arena for young artists. This year exhibition will spotlight a remarkable cross-section of the region's best student artwork from grades six through 12 and encompass an impressive variety of media, including ceramic, drawing, digital imagery, mixed media, painting, computer graphics, sculpture, traditional photography, and printmaking. There will be an awards ceremony at 6pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2009, in the Great Hall of the Knoxville Museum of Art, for the artists participating in the Fourth Annual East Tennessee Regional Student Art Exhibition, their families, friends and school's personnel.
1050 World's Fair Park Drive, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-5pm, Friday 10am-8pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 1pm-5pm. FREE admission. For more information: (865) 525-6101, www.knoxart.org

The Holiday Express returns to the UT Gardens again this year with extended days (including Christmas Day), appearances by Santa, and musical performances by community choral groups. The garden-scale train display decorated for the holidays will open with a sneak preview for UT faculty and staff, sponsors and Friends of the Gardens on Tuesday, November 24. It will open to the public the following day. Last year 9,300 people visited Holiday Express at the UT Gardens, and even more are expected this year. Bring the kids, grandkids and kids at heart to help make Holiday Express a continuing holiday tradition that will benefit the UT Gardens. Visit on one or more of the following dates: November 25-28: 12-8 p.m., Sunday, November 29: 12-6 p.m.; Weekends December 4-January 3: (Except Friday, Christmas Day): 2-6 p.m.; Friday and Saturdays:12-8 p.m. Sundays: 12-6 p.m.

Free and open to the public. Opening reception Friday, November 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.; artists' talk at 7 P.M.
Harlan Hambright Photographs: "An Odd World Observed" and Fran Thie: "Poetry and Pastels". Knoxville native and UT Architecture graduate Harlan Hambright parleyed his passion for architecture and photography into a diversified career as an architectural photographer spanning over 30 years. As a boy he was taught by his father to carefully observe the world around him. It is this ability to observe and photograph the sometimes obscure man-made objects that defines his work. He chooses "to document the weird artifacts and occurrences that I find when I'm just looking around." From her life as a high school teacher to a CPA Fran has brought a wealth of experience and influences to her current work as a visual artist. Fran is both self-taught and educated in painting classes and workshops led by nationally prominent artists. She has painted in pastels and watermedia for more than a decade and regularly exhibits in juried exhibitions across the Southeast, with several awards to her credit. She is active in the Knoxville arts community, and has served as president of Tennessee Artists Association and the Knoxville Watercolor Society. Currently, her work can be seen at the Art Market Gallery in Knoxville on Gay Street. Fran's love of creative writing and literature have left their mark on her lyrical view of the world, with impressionistic and expressive interpretations of nature in both landscape and abstract paintings. By means of intuitive use of color and texture, she strives to transform an ordinary scene into a special place where both drama and serenity can co-exist. Her works, whether representational or abstract, always have their foundation in the world of nature. 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. Gallery Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5, Sunday, 9-1. For information: 865-523-4176, www.tvuuc.org