Calendar of Events

Pellissippi State Community College's Theatre program and Enright Productions present "The Santaland Diaries," a play by David Sedaris. The one-man comedy is an adaptation of Sedaris' adventures working as a Macy's elf during the Christmas holidays. The production stars Patrick McCray.
Dec. 15-17 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 18 at 2 p.m.
All performances are in the Clayton Performing Arts Center, located on the Pellissippi Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the door. All proceeds go to the Pellissippi State Foundation on behalf of the Theatre program.

The production is for mature audiences due to adult language and themes.

To learn more about the play, call (865) 694-6400. To request accommodations for a disability, contact the executive director of Human Resources and Affirmative Action at (865) 694-6607 or humanresources@pstcc.edu.

Thursday, December 15, 8:00 PM and Friday-Saturday, December 16-17, 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM

This 20th annual production of Modern Dance Primitive Light (MDPL) has become an anticipated solstice celebration of movement and creativity in Knoxville. This unique event provides audiences with an intimate connection with dancers, performance artists, and live musicians while being immersed in the warm ambiance of the Laurel Theater. Rooted in Circle’s own traditions but continually breathing in new creativity, MDPL will feature work from both established and developing choreographers. This performance is appropriate for all ages. Audience members are encouraged to bring pillows as seating is limited.

Carousel Theatre, 1714 Andy Holt Avenue on the UT Campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. Information: 865-524-7615, www.circlemoderndance.com; www.knoxtix.com

The Knoxville Museum of Art celebrates the season with the first-ever holiday display in the Thorne Miniature Rooms, on view until early January 2012.

East Tennessee miniature artisans and Thorne Room experts Annelle Ferguson and Jolie Gaston designed a display which includes eight period vignettes representing the American home during the holidays. The vignettes contain a variety of 1/12 scale furnishings, many of which are adorned with miniature needlework in the form of quilts, samplers, rugs, tablecloths, and chair seats hand crafted by Ferguson. In addition, Ferguson and Gaston transformed one of the KMA’s nine Thorne Miniature Rooms, the Victorian Parlor, by adorning it with a selection of miniature Christmas toys and a small decorated tree based on mid-19th century English designs.

The Knoxville Museum of Art's Thorne Rooms are among America's most well-known miniature diorama groups. They were developed in the 1930s and 40s by Mrs. James Ward Thorne of Chicago. The Knoxville Museum of Art is one of five museums in the country to have a collection of Thorne Rooms.

The museum is located in downtown Knoxville at 1050 World’s Fair Park and is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 10 am–5 pm, and Sunday 1 pm-5 pm. Admission and parking are free. For more information, contact Angela Thomas at 865.934.2034 or visit www.knoxart.org.

Children’s Theatre of Knoxville will present a live stage version of the beloved Jean Shepherd film: “A Christmas Story,” for nine performances, Thursdays through Sundays from December 9 through 18.

Ten-year-old Ralphie Parker daydreams of getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. But Mother and Ralphie’s old man agree: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Ralphie’s dreams and schemes come to life on the CTK stage, as he fantasizes about fighting Black Bart, going blind from eating Lifebouy soap, writing the greatestChristmas essay of all time, and much more.

The COMPLETE PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE is:
Friday, Dec. 9 at 7 PM
Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 PM and 5 PM
Sunday, Dec. 11 at 3 PM
Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7 PM
Friday, Dec. 16 at 7 PM
Saturday, Dec. 17 at 1 PM and 5 PM
and Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3 PM.

Reservations are strongly recommended for all CTK performances. To reserve tickets for the production, e-mail thenumber of adult and child tickets needed, along with your
requested performance date and time, to tickets@childrenstheatreknoxville.com at any time. Or you may call us at (865) 599-5284 between the hours of 10 AM and 5 PM.

TICKETS are $12 per person. CTK is continuing our special Adult & Child Combination rate for this production: If an adult and a child enter together, these two may be admitted for $10 each.
Reservations are strongly recommended for all CTK performances.

The play is being performed at CTK’s theatre in downtown Knoxville, located at 800 Tyson Street.

Saturday 12/10, Shiny and the Spoon & Kata Hay
Monday 12/12, Vagabond Swing & Elisabeth Pixley-Fink and Andru Bemis
Tuesday 12/13, Mandy Barnett
Wednesday 12/14, The Morgans
Thursday 12/15, John Francis & Les Kerr
Friday 12/16, Megan McCormick & Renee Wahl
Saturday 12/17, Tilford Sellers & Oldest Boy and Girl
Monday 12/19, Kory & Kelsey Wells, Sweet Fancy Moses, and Maggi Vaughn
Tuesday 12/20, The Madelines
Wednesday 12/21, Christabel and the Jons, Rene Moffatt
Thursday 12/22, Wade Hill and the Hillians
Friday 12/23, Todd Steed and the Christmas Sons
Saturday 12/24, Robert Anderson
Tuesday 12/27, The Harp Dogs
Wednesday 12/28, The Skipperdees
Friday 12/30, Oona Love
Saturday 12/31, Naughty Knots
Tuesday 1/3, Barbara Lamb, Caroline Doctorow
Wednesday 1/4 WestWend

The simple joys of an old-fashioned Christmas await Museum of Appalachia visitors through December 24th. Recalling times past when Christmas was a simple family holiday, cabins will be decorated in pioneer style with cedar Christmas trees draped in paper chains, popcorn strings, sweet gum and sycamore balls.

Special holiday exhibits include the Children's Display in the Hall of Fame, with toys and furniture made by loving parents and grandparents; and Granny Irwin's traditional Christmas Crazy Quilt. "Christmas in Old Appalachia" runs from December 3 to December 24.

Christmas shoppers may browse the gift shop for unique regionally hand-crafted items or simply rest by the fireside in wooden rockers. Hot, country-style lunches are served daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Museum restaurant; home-made holiday desserts are available all day.

The Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day in December except for Christmas Day. It is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, exit 122.

The Arts & Culture Alliance is pleased to present its National Juried Exhibition of 2011, a new exhibition featuring selected works from 38 artists in the Southeast and Midwest . The National Juried Exhibition was developed in 2006 to provide a forum for local artists to compete on a national scale and display their highest quality work. The exhibition features both traditional and non-traditional work and will be displayed at the Emporium Center Gallery from December 2, 2011 - January 27, 2012. A public reception will take place on Friday, December 2, from 5:00-9:00 PM with a brief awards ceremony at 6:00 PM in which $1,000 in cash awards will be announced.

The reception on Friday, December 2, is free and open to the public, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres will be served. The National Juried Exhibition of 2011 is on display December 2, 2011 - January 27, 2012 at the Emporium Center , 100 S. Gay Street , downtown Knoxville . Exhibition hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM with additional hours on Saturdays, December 3 and January 7, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Please note that the Emporium will be closed December 22 – January 1. For more information, please contact the Arts & Culture Alliance at (865) 523-7543, or visit our Web site at www.knoxalliance.com.

Dec. 2 -25, Friday and Saturday 12:00 - 8:00 PM, Sunday 12:00 - 6:00 PM
Dec. 26, 27 and Dec. 29 through Jan. 1, 12:00 - 6:00 PM

general admission $6, children 4 and under free

An exhibition, utilizing audiovisuals and interactives, to explain a major international research project with the goal of demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy. The U.S. ITER Project Office is hosted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, with partners Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey and Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina. AMSE Second Level.

American Museum of Science & Energy, 300 S. Tulane Avenue, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-5PM; Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-576-3200, www.amse.org

At the Fairfield Art Guild, 451 Lakeview Drive, Crossville, TN 38558

www.isiksonmez.com

Adapted by Joe Landry (Full Length Version). This production returns to the Carousel Theatre for a second season. Inspired by the classic American film, It's a Wonderful Life, the play is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience. Five actors perform the dozens of characters, produce the sound effects and break for commercial. Live and Season Tickets On the Air!

Clarence Brown Theatre 1714 Andy Holt Ave on the UT campus, Knoxville, TN 37996. For information: 865-974-5161, www.clarencebrowntheatre.com. For tickets: 865-974-5161, 865-656-4444, www.knoxvilletickets.com

Knoxville's only open-air ice rink opens November 25 at 10am
Located in Downtown Knoxville at Market Square - Rink is open every day, rain or shine
Admission is $10 for adults & $7 for children 12 years & younger; admission includes skate rental & sales tax. Every skater must sign a waiver of liability. Parent / guardian signature required for all skaters under the age of 18 years. For specific operational hours, special promotions & info on private parties, birthday celebrations, season passes & group rates call 865-215-4423 or visit www.knoxvillesholidaysonice.com.