Calendar of Events

Gomez: The Quinceanera Tour • Sunday, April 29
This indie-rock band from England may snag elements from blues, rock, folk, and psychedelic genres, but their sound is distinct and incomparable. Employing traditional as well as electronic instruments, their live show is irresistible.

Tickets on sale now.

The Smoky Mountain Blues Society has announced the 2012 line up for the Star of Knoxville Riverboat Blues Cruise Series. Mark your calendar now for the best entertainment value anywhere around. The Summer line-up is:

April 29th-Smokin’ Section with special guest Doug Harris
May 20th -Labron Lazenby and LA3
June 17th-Fathers Day Cruise with Bluestone and other Father/Son musicians
July 8th- Sunset Cruise with GRITS from Dumplin Valley
August 5th-Sunset Cruise with Jenna and Her Cool Friends.
September 9th-Blue Mother Tupelo
October 7th-VooDoo Bone
October 28th-Fall Colors Cruise –Slow Blind Hill

Except for the two sunset cruises, loading starts at 2, boat sails from 3-6. The Sunset cruises begin loading at 5 and boats sail from 6-9. Tickets are $13 in advance and $18 day of cruise. Call the Riverboat Company at 865-525-7827 or 800-509-2628 or www.tnriverboat.com for ticket information. The boat sails rain or shine and is a relaxing way to take a mini vacation. Traveling by paddle boat on the river, while listening to a style of music with roots almost as old as the river, promises a nostalgic escape. Food and drinks are available on the boat.

Smoky Mountain Blues Society is a 501 3 C that support a Veteran's outreach and 'Blues in the School' programs that focuses on inner city children. Information: 865-919-1788 or pdoka@comcast.net

Día de los Niños/Día de los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day) is a celebration of children, families, and reading that emphasizes the importance of advocating literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Students from the Spanish department at Carson-Newman College will be sharing bilingual stories, games, and activities for children ages 4-10 at this fun drop-in program sponsored by HOLA HORA LATINA.

Library: Lawson McGhee Library. HoLa Hora Latina: 865-335-3358, www.holafestival.org

April 28-29: Local artists open their studios and take you behind the scenes of their creative processes.

Most of the Festival’s wide range of arts events, performances, and exhibitions are offered to the public free of charge. For more information, including a complete Festival Calendar of Events and ticket information, visit dogwoodarts.com.

April 28-29: Experience the Dogwood trails the lean, green way – on a bicycle by way of an organized or self-guided ride.

Most of the Festival’s wide range of arts events, performances, and exhibitions are offered to the public free of charge. For more information, including a complete Festival Calendar of Events and ticket information, visit dogwoodarts.com.

A sharp-edged musical satire set in roaring twenties Chicago. When chorine Roxie Hart murders her faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband Amos to take the rap, he turns on her and convicted Roxie is sentenced to death row. The murder becomes the center of a media circus, as she and another murderess, Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight and the headlines. Ultimately the join forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune and acquittal. Winner of six Tony Awards and the Academy Award as Best Picture.

Oak Ridge Playhouse, 227 Broadway, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Information and tickets: 865-482-9999, www.orplayhouse.com

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 $10 plus fees for Thursday & Sunday; $15 plus fees for Friday & Saturday. For information: 865-544-1999, www.theatreknoxville.com. For tickets: 865-523-7521, www.KnoxTIX.com

Friday, April 27, at 8:00pm and Sunday, April 29, at 2:30pm.
What happens when fear and jealousy spiral out of control? Knoxville Opera concludes the Season of Star-Crossed Lovers with Verdi’s magnificent opera. Based on Shakespeare’s Othello, Otello’s realm is not of great kingdoms lost and won, nor of courtly politics. The marriage bed and not the throne rivets attention. Verdi’s grand opera is full of some of the most beautiful and dramatically poignant music ever written.

Performing the title role is Virginia native Michael Austin who has enjoyed a distinguished 25-year career throughout Europe and the Unites States including several productions of his signature role, Otello. Greek sensation Kassandra Dimopoulou makes her U.S. debut as the betrayed Desdemona. American baritone Scott Bearden (Tonio in Knoxville Opera’s 2009 Pagliacci) returns to perform the manipulating, evil Iago. American Bass Kevin Thompson, who performed earlier this season in La Traviata and Knoxville Opera Goes to Church, returns to portray Desdemona’s cousin Lodovico.

Brief dramatic readings from Shakespeare’s Othello in English will be incorporated into the opera performance.
All Knoxville Opera performances feature projected English translations. Tickets for Knoxville Opera productions start at $18 for adults and $13 for students. Group discounts and subscriptions are available. Seating is limited, and advance tickets are highly recommended. For details go to KnoxvilleOpera.com or call 865.524.0795.

At the Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902.

The Music Department celebrates 40 years with both an instrumental concert and choral concert.
Instrumental concert – April 27 at 7pm
Choral concert – April 29 at 6pm
Both involve Music Department alumni, culminating in a performance of the Vivaldi Gloria with several area community college choirs. The combined ensemble, under the direction of UTK’s Dr. Angela Batey, will feature UTK orchestra members and RSCC faculty soloists. RSCC Theatre, Harriman, tickets $10 suggested donation at the door.

Instrumental concert - April 27, 7:00 PM
RSCC Jazz, bluegrass and stage bands
RSCC Alumni performers

Vocal concert - April 29, 6:00 PM
RSCC Alumni solo performers
Celebration singers Alumni Ensemble
RSCC Virtual Choir Project

Guest conductor Angela Batey

Both concerts performed in the RSCC Theatre. Suggested donation of $10 at the door. http://www.roanestate.edu/?5943-Music-Department

Thursday 4/26
Hellfire Revival, Eric Wells and Mark Keller

Friday 4/27
Pellissippi State Bluegrass Ensemble, Kelsey Waldon

Saturday 4/28
Cory Bishop

Monday 4/30
Glenn Spayth, Julia Haltigan & Freddie Stevenson

Tuesday 5/1
Jack Rentfro's Apocalypto Quartet

Wednesday 5/2
Husky Burnette, Ukesphere

Thursday 5/3
Grant Farm, Stephen Chandler

Friday 5/4
The Tillers, Roy Schneider

Book by Bella & Sam Spewack; Lyrics & Music by Cole Porter; Originally Staged by John D. Wilson; at the CBT Mainstage. Start with Shakespeare, add the timeless songs of Cole Porter, and you get a multiple Tony Award winning musical!

This play-within-a-play recounts the onstage and offstage romantic battles of a touring production of The Taming of the Shrew. Featuring songs like "Brush Up Your Shakespeare", "Another Op'nin', Another Show" and "Why Can't You Behave?"

“Kiss Me, Kate” runs from April 19 – May 6, 2012. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Matinee performances begin at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices vary. For tickets, please call the CBT box office at 865-974-5161, Tickets Unlimited at 865-656-4444 or click clarencebrowntheatre.com