Calendar of Events

By James McLure
Laundry and Bourbon: The setting is the front porch of Roy and Elizabeth's home in Maynard, Texas, on a hot summer afternoon. Elizabeth and her friend Hattie are whiling away the time folding laundry, watching TV, sipping bourbon and Coke, and gossiping about the many open secrets which are so much a part of small-town life. They are joined by the self-righteous Amy Lee who, among other tidbits, can't resist blurting out that Roy has been seen around town with another woman. While the ensuing conversation is increasingly edged with bitter humor, from it emerges a sense of Elizabeth's inner strength and her quiet understanding of the turmoil which has beset her husband since his return from Vietnam. He is wild, and he is unfaithful, but he needs her, and she loves him. And she'll be waiting for him when he comes home—no matter what others may say or think.

Lone Star: The play takes place in the cluttered backyard of a small-town Texas bar. Roy, a brawny, macho type who had once been a local high-school hero, is back in town after a hitch in Vietnam and trying to reestablish his position in the community. Joined by his younger brother, Ray (who worships him), Roy sets about consuming a case of beer while regaling Ray with tales of his military and amorous exploits. Apparently Roy cherishes three things above all; his country, his sexy young wife, and his 1959 pink Thunderbird. With the arrival of Cletis, the fatuous, newlywed son of the local hardware store owner, the underpinnings of Roy's world begin to collapse as it gradually comes out that Ray had slept with his brother's wife during his absence and, horror of horrors, has just demolished his cherished Thunderbird. But, despite all, the high good humor of the play never lapses, and all ends as breezily and happily as it began.

Performances are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 3:00 PM. Tickets are $10 plus fees for Thursday & Sunday performances and $15 plus fees for Friday & Saturday performances. Theatre Knoxville Downtown has open seating. Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime. Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to pick up your tickets and claim your seats. TKD reserves the right to seat walk-in patrons during the final 15 minutes prior to showtime. For more information on the show, please call Theatre Knoxville Downtown at (865) 544-1999, e-mail info@theatreknoxville.com, or visit www.theatreknoxville.com.

The play is based on the Newberry Medal-winning novel by Patricia MacLachlan. Ashlee Latimer will direct the play.

The play is set in the western United States during the late 19th century. Jacob Witting, a widowed farmer who is still saddened by the death of his wife during childbirth several years earlier, finds that the task of taking care of his farm and two children, Anna and Caleb, is too difficult to handle alone. He writes an ad in the newspaper for a mail-order bride. Sarah, from Maine, answers his ad and travels out to the Western Territories to become his wife and begin to become a mother to the children.

Knoxville Children's Theatre, 800 Tyson Street, Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-599-5284, www.childrenstheatreknoxville.com. Reservations: tickets@childrenstheatreknoxville.com

Friday, April 26, 2013 @ 8:00pm and Sunday, April 28, 2013 @ 2:30pm

Brisk, catchy, and highly entertaining, Rossini’s telling of the ultimate sparkling ever-after cleverly blends tenderness and frivolity. Hitch up your pumpkin, don your royal apparel and jewels, and make haste to the ball! Opera preview hosted by Maestro Salesky begins 45 minutes prior to each performance. Performed in English with opera supertitles projected above the stage.

At the Tennessee Theatre, 601 S. Gay Street. Information and tickets: 865-524-0795, www.KnoxvilleOpera.com

When did you last fly to NeverLand? Be whisked away to the place where dreams come true and time stands still. Peter, Wendy, John and Michael are whisked away by our hero Peter Pan, from the cosiness of the nursery to the magical wonders of Never Land where wishes come true, childhood innocence comes alive and dreams last for ever. There they fight the wicked Captain Hook and his dastardly pirates, come face to face with a crocodile and meet and make friends with fairies, lost boys and Indians. All the magic of the original story for children are enchantingly brought to life based off J.M. Barrie's timeless classic for all the family. Close to the original script you can join Peter Pan, Wendy, John and Michael in the absolute adventure for every child who never wants to grow up and for every parent who wishes they never will. With the safety of the nursery left far behind, fly across the stars to Never Land and enter Peter Pan's enchanting world of make-believe where wishes come true, childhood innocence comes alive and dreams last for ever. Delight at the carefree band of Lost Boys who romp amongst sparkling fairies, let your imagination run wild at boisterous Indian braves and mesmerising mermaids, tremble at dastardly pirates led by the villainous Captain Hook... and beware the ticking crocodile!

This fantastic new production of Peter Pan filled with larger-than-life characters and dazzling dance numbers will leave you with a smile on your face and, perhaps, with just a sprinkling of fairy dust to treasure your dreams forever.
At Pellissippi State College, 10915 Hardin Valley Rd, Knoxville, TN

Dates: Friday April 26th @ 7pm | Saturday April 27th @ 2pm and 7 pm | Sunday April 28th @ 2pm
Ticket Prices: $15/General Admission, $12/Children 12 and under, 3 and under free
*Tickets may be purchased by check or cash AT THE DOOR!

Information: maryvilleyouththeatre@gmail.com

Open mic event for local spoken word artists, singers, poets, dancers, and more!

Carpetbag Theatre at Fourth United Presbyterian Church, 1323 N. Broadway Knoxville, TN 37917. Information: 865-544-0447, www.carpetbagtheatre.org

First Generation Bluegrass - The Chattanooga based Dismembered Tennesseans, led by champion fiddler Fletcher Bright, was formed in 1945. They have performed from Florida to Washington to Ohio and Colorado and points between, showing their unique music and humor to the world, bluegrass “sung from the heart through the nose.” Regulars at the Laurel Theater, Fletcher is joined by Ed “Doc” Cullis on banjo, bassist and vocalist Laura Walker, multi-instrumentalist Ansley Moses, guitarist and vocalist Bobby Martin, mandolinist Don Cassell, Brian Blaylock on mandolin and dobro, and Fletcher’s son George Bright on flat top guitar.

Tickets (if available) will also be sold at the door the night of the event for $12.

The Laurel Theater is located on the corner of 16th and Laurel Avenue in the historic Fort Sanders neighborhood of Knoxville near the UT campus. For additional information, call (865) 522-5851, e-mail concerts@jubileearts.org, or visit www.jubileearts.org.

Boys’ Night Out, will perform on April 26. This eleven-member band was organized in 1983 with the goal of recreating the authentic performances of the Rhythm & Blues and Carolina beach music that had been extremely popular in the south during the late 1960s. Their first public performance was at the Oak Ridge Azalea Festival in 1984, and they have played a busy schedule ever since. Boys’ Night Out has provided musical back-up for R&B greats Percy Sledge (When a Man Loves a Woman), Archie Bell (Do the Tighten-Up), and Clifford Curry (She Shot a Hole in My Soul); and has opened shows for The Judds, The Oak Ridge Boys, The Platters, The Impressions, Marcia Ball, The Tams, and more.

Alive After Five is a unique live music series presented on thirty or more Fridays per year in four seasonal series. The programs take place in the smoke-free, casually elegant setting of the Great Hall in the Knoxville Museum of Art. There is a live band on stage, seating at tables, two cash bars, food from area restaurants, free freshly popped popcorn, free parking, and a licensed therapeutic masseuse available. Audience members can enjoy listening to music, dancing, and browsing the museum’s art galleries. Admission to the spring series premier of Alive After Five is $10 for general admission and $6 for museum members and college students with ID. Ages 17 and under are admitted free.

Knoxville Museum of Art, 1050 World's Fair Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37916. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM; Sunday, 1-5PM. Information: 865-525-6101, www.knoxart.org

Come and see "Soul Surfer" at ETTAC. FREE! Closed captioning available and descriptive video services. Movie is based upon the true story of Bethany Hamilton, a girl who summons the courage to go back into the ocean after losing an arm in a shark attack. Rated PG. Please call ETTAC to reserve your spot. Popcorn, drinks, and other snacks available for a $1 cash purchase.

East Tennessee Technology Access Center, 116 Childress Street, Knoxville, TN 37920. Information: 865-219-0130, www.discoveret.org/ettac

The Museum of Appalachia will hold its annual spring “Sheep Shearing” with special demonstrations to include spinning, weaving and quilting. Spring comes alive with gardens growing, heirloom flowers beginning to bloom, native trees putting forth their summer-green leaves—and schoolchildren on end-of-term field trips. Each spring, the winter’s growth of heavy wool is trimmed from the Museum’s flock of sheep. The process of producing yarn—from shearing sheep to spinning wool and using the batting in quilts—will be demonstrated April 26 from 10:00am-2:00pm at the Museum of Appalachia. The sheep will be trimmed by master of the trade, John Cooper of Monticello, Kentucky who explains the process to onlookers while using a vintage hand-cranked shearing machine. Linda Frank and Darlene Laverdure will demonstrate spinning wool into yarn on old‐fashioned spinning wheels. Ruby Patterson will share the historical significance of quilt patterns while she explains the quilting process to visitors, and Lou Ann Robinson of the Tuesday Weavers will weave on the Museums restored loom in the Loom House. The shearing, spinning, weaving and quilting demonstrations are part of the Museum’s mission to preserve and pass along the Appalachian culture to future generations. Sheep were common on early Appalachian homesteads. Most families raised a few sheep for wool, which was used as quilt batting or to make cloth and yarn. In addition to sheep, the Museum is home to chickens, guineas, wild turkeys, peafowl, and peacocks. Mules, Scottish Highland cattle, and “fainting” goats roam adjacent pastures. This time of year children will be delighted to see our new born lambs, goats & baby chicks. A large craft and gift shop features handiwork from regional artisans, and a small restaurant offers hot southern lunches, fresh‐from‐the‐garden vegetables, and mouth‐watering desserts. Facilities are available for weddings, reunions, corporate meetings, and other events.

Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Hwy., Clinton, TN 37716 (16 miles north of Knoxville at I-75, exit 122, then one mile east). Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Information: 865-494-7680, www.museumofappalachia.org

In honor of Arbor Day, which falls on the last Friday in April, Marble Springs State Historic Site will be featuring its new Arboretum with special programming. Programming will feature the arboretum trail, with self-guided tours available all day and guided tours will be available from 3:00pm until 5:00pm. The perimeter trail will be featured at 3pm, and the Springs trail will be available from 3:30pm until 5pm on the half hour. A photo scavenger hunt will also be available. A prize will be awarded (upon verification) to anyone who finds a native tree that is not currently on our Arboretum list. Local environmental groups, including the Stock Creek Task Force, Keep Knoxville Beautiful, and the South Doyle High School agriculture classes will be available with displays and information. Details are subject to change.

At 5:15, the site will feature guest speaker, Kasey Krouse, who is the city of Knoxville’s new urban forester. This event is free; however, donations are appreciated. All activities take place at the Marble Springs State Historic Site: 1220 West Governor John Sevier Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920. Information: 865-573-5508, www.marblesprings.net

“If only I could look back on a day when I was fancy free, a real razzle of a day packed with adventure and high jinks, a day to remember…” When their boss goes out of town for the day, two country grocery store clerks close up shop and “escape” to the big city of Vienna for an adventure they won’t soon forget! Based on the play that also inspired Hello Dolly, the production is a fast-paced farce complete with slapstick shenanigans, mistaken identities, misdirected orders and romantic complications all combined with trademark Tom Stoppard wit and wordplay!

Clarence Brown Theatre / Carousel 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

Roane State Community College presents Moliere's Tartuffe.
April 25-27 at 7:00PM, April 28 at 2:00PM.
$10 general admission, $7 students.
For more information call 865 882 4567.
All performances subject to change. Check website periodically for updated information at www.roanestate.edu/theatre