Calendar of Events

Featuring Steve Lippia, hailed by none other than Frank Sinatra’s own music director Vincent Falcone as “the best young singer I’ve heard in 25 years.” Lippia’s show “Simply Sinatra” has been wowing sold out audiences around the country – including many performances with symphony orchestras and lengthy runs in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. His natural sound and style is a remarkable combination of his own honest musical interpretation, combined with influences from some of the best singers of this era. Steve’s wonderful voice and great stage presence bring tremendous style, class and elegance to the stage. The Wall Street Journal commented that his “considerable vocal skills drew a standing ovation.”

At the Civic Auditorium, 500 Howard Baker Ave, Knoxville, TN 37915. More information and tickets: (865) 291-3310, www.knoxvillesymphony.com

This workshop will feature some of the area’s most knowledgeable in historic architecture and preservation including anthropologist, Dr. Charles Faulkner; developer, David Dewhirst; architect, Frank Sparkman, and architect, Mark Heinz. The program will include a presentation followed by a panel discussion,
and is designed to educate participants in historic architecture and assist in the decision-making process of owning and maintaining a historic property. Fee is $50 per person. Reservations are required. Ramsey House Plantation, 2614 Thorngrove Pike, Knoxville, TN 37914. Open year around (except Mondays & Holidays). For information: 865-546-0745, www.ramseyhouse.org

Bald eagles in eastern North America were once on the Endangered Species List but they have returned to our skies. Join naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales as he revisits the last chapter in his book “Natural Histories,” that deals with the recovery of our National Symbol. Program includes a carpool trip to Seven Islands Wildlife Refuge and the site of the first documented successful bald eagle nesting in Knox County. We may actually see an eagle on the outing! Fee: $10 for non-members, free for members. To pre-register call Sheila at 577-4717, ext. 10.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Hours: Grounds and trails open during daylight hours. Visitor Center: Monday: by appointment only for tour groups and school trips; Tuesday-Saturday: 9AM-5PM; Sunday: 1-5PM (March 1 - November 30). For information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

URBhana's very own Angela Howard will speak at Earth Fare. This will be the first of the URBhana Speaks series, to take place every second Saturday for four months. Come by and share her insight about healthy living. For information: 865-951-5454, www.urbhana.com

In this screamingly hilarious farce, a young painter of genius is in debt to a villainous dealer who intends on marrying the artist's girlfriend unless the debt is paid. As an artist's work is of high value only after his death, the painter fakes his death and prospers, all while passing himself off as his own sister. Now a rich "widow," he must find a way to get out of a dress, return to life, and marry his beloved.

227 Broadway in Historic Jackson Square, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. For more information, call (865) 482-9999 or visit www.orplayhouse.com

Featuring "The Church Of Diminshing Marginal Returns", a World Premiere comedy by Jay Huling presented as the featured production in the 14th annual Tennessee Stage New Play Festival. When incorrigible entrepreneur Josh Pocket finds himself in severe financial trouble, he cons his evangelical brother Jon into starting their own church. Although Jon has a penchant for hermeneutical biblical exegesis and is quite sincere about the endeavor, Josh is only interested in collecting tithes and love offerings. Josh and Jon’s endeavor is so financially successful they’re able to pay off most of their debts. This doesn’t sit well with their banker, Gordon Hepworth, who has been making a handsome living off of the interest from their outstanding loans .And when Nancy Fairchild of the IRS uncovers the church’s activities, she launches a formal investigation/ Josh and Jon then must get their act together to qualify as a bona fide 401©(3) tax exempt church corporation.

At Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 N. Gay St, Knoxville, TN 37917. Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $15 for General Admission; $12 for Students and Senior Citizens.
Tennessee Stage Company: 865-546-4280, www.tennesseestage.com

Based on the series of novels by Beverly Cleary. Shows: Thursdays at 7:00 PM; Fridays at 7:00 PM; Saturdays at 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM; Sundays at 3:00 PM.

Unpredictable. Exasperating. Boisterous and independent. That’s Ramona Quimby for you. Always aggravating her older sister, Beezus, constantly getting into trouble and sometimes “making a big, noisy fuss” when things don’t go her way. As narrator, Beezus (Beatrice Quimby) introduces the Quimby family and friends and thereby sets the scene for the collection of vignettes that trace Ramona’s tumultuous passage through third grade and through her family relationships. At school, she throws a tantrum when provoked by a classmate and is sent home in disgrace. The teacher’s wrath, an important family wedding, persistent sibling bickering and Mr. Quimby’s attempts to give up smoking are part of the fabric that shape a humorous, loving family portrait.

Located at 800 Tyson Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-599-5284, www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com, info@childrenstheatreknoxville.com.

JCA showcases some of the finest practitioners of mountain music across the generations, home grown in our own back yard. Friday and Saturday night we will have old time string bands and song and plenty of jamming in the basement. The festival concludes with Old Harp Singing and potluck on Sunday.

1538 Laurel Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916. Information: 865-522-5851, www.KnoxTIX.com

ArtXtravaganza has rapidly grown to become one of the premier art shows in the Southeast, and has helped to further the careers of prominent Southern artists. ArtXtravaganza showcases the amazing range and diversity of artistic talent in the region and helps establish Knoxville as a community aligned with the arts. The three-day event is held on the Webb School of Knoxville campus in West Knoxville. ArtXtravaganza features original artworks by more than 60 notable local and regional artists and offers affordable works for everyone – from fine art, handcrafted jewelry and pottery to glass art, sculpture items and metal works. The art sale is open to the public, admission is free, and free parking is available on site. Hours: Friday, March 12, 2-9; Saturday, March 13, 10-6; Sunday, March 14, 12-5. For information: 865-291-3846, www.artxtravaganza.com.

Movies at the Bijou kicks off the season with two classic European films. Band of Outsiders is a 1964 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard. A très French take on the cops and robbers motif, told with exceptional style and shot in glorious black and white. The film belongs to the French New Wave movement, and Godard himself described it as "Alice in Wonderland meets Franz Kafka". The Seventh Seal, by Ingmar Bergman, is the story of a medieval knight (Max von Sydow) in a plague-ridden landscape, and his monumental game of chess with the personification of Death. The film is iconic, the chess scene, the silhouettes dancing on a hillside behind the cloaked guy carrying a sickle, we’ve all seen these images replicated and parodied endlessly in other films. The highest form of flattery to be sure. Friday screening order: Band of Outsiders > The Seventh Seal (order will be reversed on Saturday). Admission to the double-feature is just $5.
Bijou Theatre, 803 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information: 865-522-0832, www.knoxbijou.com. For tickets: 865-684-1200, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

The strange narrative paintings of Julie Armbruster return to Knoxville this Spring! On Saturday March 6th, Julie Armbruster will debut her newest work at The Tomato Head in downtown Knoxville located at 12 Market Square. Drawing from three separate narratives, Julie Armbruster’s work exhibited in Doomed Mammals illustrates selections from the Potato Boy, Frog-Monkey, and DuckLips sagas. The three stories deal with volatile friendship, scientific mutation, and how to accept responsibility. The show is a retrospective of the most recent events unfolding within these stories, revealing some interesting twists that are sure to peak your curiosity. The show will be on display at The Tomato Head in downtown Knoxville until April 3rd and will then move to the Maryville Tomato Head from April 4th- May 2nd. A closing reception will be held Saturday May 1st from 3-5pm at the Maryville Tomato Head restaurant. At the reception, Armbruster will have a limited edition book relating the story of Potato Boy and his pet duck Elmore entitled “Idealism Requires Patience.” Julie Armbruster’s work has evolved to include much more intricate compositions and details. Her work is often realized through automatic drawing and then refined through layered rendering and delicate outlining. The landscapes seem oddly familiar and often directly reflect her surroundings in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. The world rendered in the paintings is set at a distance from the viewer with the addition of the resin surface and illustrative style. The shine and saturation of color give the work an inviting pull. The viewer is further entranced by the complexity of emotions conveyed by the characters that are often faced with some sort of weighty decision or traumatic occurrence. The narratives are realized through anthropomorphic characters that seem bewildered and internal. Her stories are both funny and dark and typically lack a straightforward resolution. Julie Armbruster’s work can be seen on her website www.JulieArmbruster.net and in her hometown of Asheville, NC at the Woolworth Walk and Honeypot Boutique.

Talented emerging artists nationwide apply annually for Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts’ Artist-in-Residence program, a coveted opportunity of creative discovery for early career artists. Arrowmont’s four current resident artists will open their annual exhibition that showcases their talent and work created during their 11-month residency. The current residents are metalsmith Victoria Altepeter, ceramic artist Thaddeus Erdahl, clay artist Martina Lantin and wood artist Kent Perdue. Arrowmont's Artist-in-Residence program is designed to provide early career, self-directed artists time and space to develop a major body of work in a creative community environment of students and visiting instructors. Each resident is provided their own studio space in the Resident Studios Complex, which is a short walking distance from their living quarters on campus. Residents supply their own equipment, but are otherwise afforded a private and spacious studio to work in for 11 months.
In the Sandra J. Blain Galleries. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 576 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. For information: 865-436-5860, www.arrowmont.org