Calendar of Events

Due to popular demand, the Clarence Brown Theatre has added a Tuesday, September 16 and a Tuesday, September 23 performance to the run of “Hank Williams: Lost Highway.” The shows will begin at 7:30 pm in the CBT’s Carousel Theatre on the University of Tennessee campus. Several performances in the September 4-28 schedule have sold out or currently have limited availability. Tickets can be purchased by calling the CBT Box Office at 865-974-5161 or online at http://clarencebrowntheatre.com/.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season!

by Randal Myler and Mark Harelick; Directed by Karen Kessler
At the Carousel Theatre

“The best example of a musician’s bio put on stage that I’ve seen!” The New York Post

Follow the music legend’s rise from his humble beginnings at the Lousiana Hayride to his triumph at the Grand Ole Opry to his untimely death at the age of 29. With more than 20 of his famous hits including “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” “Move It On Over” and “Hey, Good Lookin’”, you will be humming all the way home.

To enhance the audience experience, the CBT will continue, and in some cases expand, several popular programs in 2014-2015. Open captioned productions also will continue in the new season, taking place on the first Sunday matinee of each show. Talk backs, which are informative discussions with the director and cast, will continue to take place following the second Sunday matinee of each show.

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

Damien has been featured on MTV 2's Hip Hop Squares and performed stand-up on Russell Simmons: The Ruckus on Comedy Central. He will also appear in the upcoming film The Amazing Spiderman on SONY Pictures Entertainment.

His comedy career began from his seat in the back of public school classrooms over 20 years ago and continued at his college alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, where he fine-tuned his ability to make people laugh until they cough and choke.

He has rapidly built a name for himself on the New York City comedy circuit and beyond. On stage, his material comes from everywhere and nowhere, from fornicating politicians driving up sex prices to the "Stop BCC'N!" campaign, and is delivered with a flair that can best be described as an all-inclusive bug-out session.

TICKET PRICES: $8 FOR GENERAL ADMISSION, $10 FOR PREFERRED SEATING ONLINE! All tickets via phone or at the door are $2 more per ticket! All tickets go up $2 on the day of the show. View picture, web site link, and video at www.SideSplittersComedy.com

Side Splitters Comedy Club - West Knoxville, 9246 Parkwest Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37923. 865.934.LAFF (5233).

Celebrating 30 Fashionable Years of Vintage!
At the Hilton, Downtown Knoxville
6:15 PM dinner
7:00 PM Vintage fashion show

Immediately following - vintage store opens
Tickets are $40 each or $375 for a table of ten and include a full-course dinner, entry to the show and entry to the post-show sale. Tickets: 865-588-8567

5:00 PM pre-show store opens, $5 admission

www.gwiktn.org

David Madden will return to Knoxville to speak about his most recent book-length publication, a collection of stories titled "The Last Bizarre Tale," at the September program of the Knoxville Writers' Guild. The event, which will be open to the public, begins at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, at the Laurel Theater.

"Madden is considered one of the three big literary novelists to come out of Knoxville, along with Cormac McCarthy and James Agee," KWG member Terry Shaw said. Born and raised in Knoxville, Madden graduated from the University of Tennessee, served in the United States Army, earned a Master of Arts at San Francisco State and attended Yale Drama School on a John Golden Fellowship. He was writer-in-residence at Louisiana State University from 1968 to 1992, director of the creative writing program from 1992 to 1994 and founding director of the United States Civil War Center from 1992 to 1999. Currently, he is LSU Robert Penn Warren Professor of Creative Writing, Emeritus, living in Black Mountain, NC.

In 1961, Random House published his first novel, "The Beautiful Greed," based on his Merchant seaman experiences. For Warner Brothers, he adapted his second novel, "Cassandra Singing," to the screen (not yet produced). "The Shadow Knows," a book of stories, won a National Council on the Arts Award, judged by Hortense Calisher and Walker Percy. His second collection, "The New Orleans of Possibilities," appeared in 1982. His stories have been reprinted in numerous college textbooks and twice in "Best American Short Stories." A Rockefeller Grant, recommended by Robert Penn Warren and Saul Bellow, enabled him to work in Venice and Yugoslavia on his third novel, "Bijou," a 1974 Book of the Month Club Alternate Selection. His best-known novel, "The Suicide's Wife," was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and made into a CBS movie. "Pleasure-Dome," "On the Big Wind," "Sharpshooter: A Novel of the Civil War," "Abducted By Circumstance" and "London Bridge in Plague and Fire" are his most recent novels. "The Last Bizarre Tale" was published August 2014. His poems and short stories have appeared in a wide variety of publications, from "Redbook" and "Playboy" to "The Southern Review" and "Botteghe Oscure." His plays have won many state and national contests.

Knoxville Writer’s Guild: Meetings take place at the Laurel Theater, 1538 Laurel Avenue. The building is handicapped accessible. Additional parking is available at Redeemer Church of Knoxville, 1642 Highland Ave. The public is invited to attend. A $2 donation is requested at the door. www.knoxvillewritersguild.org

Event price per seat: $35

+ Wednesday, Sept. 3: Pink Path @ Don Pablo's
+ Wednesday, Sept. 10: Two Olives @ Armada
+ Monday, Sept. 15: Teacups @ Calhoun's Maryville
+ Wednesday, Sept. 17: Dragonfly @ Doc's All American Grille
+ Thursday, Sept. 18: Glass Half Happy @ Seasons
+ Monday, Sept. 22: Starry Night @ Crown and Goose
+ Tuesday, Sept. 23: Filtered Light @ Mimi's Cafe
+ Wednesday, Sept. 24: Sea Turtles @ Latitude 35
+ Tuesday, Sept. 30: Tuscan Valley @ Original Copper Cellar

Wine and Canvas: Wine and Canvas Knoxville LLC, 143 Manor Way, Suite J, Louisville, TN 37777, www.wineandcanvas.com/knoxville-tn.html

Now through November 30, 2014, visitors to the Museum of East Tennessee History will have an opportunity to view special items associated with the “Freedom Engine,” a tribute gift from East Tennesseans to New York City following the events of September 11, 2001. East Tennesseans contributed more than $940,000 to purchase and equip a 95-foot tower ladder truck for Harlem-based Ladder Company 14, helping the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) replenish the largest vehicles in the city's firefighting fleet. The so-called "Freedom Engine," went into service during March 2002 and was dedicated on September 11th of that year.

FDNY typically retires their trucks from regular service after about 10 years. The Freedom Engine went into reserve status in 2013. Upon retirement, several artifacts associated with the truck, including a bucket door, captain's helmet, memorial plaque from the people of East Tennessee, and a presentation plaque containing a piece of World Trade Center metal, were returned to East Tennessee and donated to the East Tennessee Historical Society. These items are currently on display through November 30, 2014, at the Museum of East Tennessee History, along with a video about the project. You may view the exhibit and artifacts online at the ETHS website at www.easttnhistory.org/exhibits/freedom-engine.

East Tennessee Historical Society, 601 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. Museum hours: Monday-Friday: 9AM-4PM, Saturday: 10AM-4PM, Sunday: 1-5PM. Library: Monday-Tuesday: 9AM-8:30PM, Wednesday-Friday: 9AM-5:30PM, Saturday: 9AM-5PM, Sunday 1-5PM. Information: 865-215-8824, www.easttnhistory.org

Actors and actresses: Try out your talents at Pellissippi State Community College. Community-wide auditions get under way in September for Alex Gherardi’s “Server Alley” and William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” General auditions are set for 7 p.m. Sept. 3-4 in the Clayton Performing Arts Center on the Hardin Valley Campus, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. Those auditioning will be asked to present one Shakespearean monologue, read from the text of a new work and perform an improvisational movement.

The Pellissippi State production of “Server Alley,” to be presented Nov. 14-16 and 21-23, is the world premiere. Written by New York playwright Alex Gherardi, the comedy-drama examines the lives of an oft-seen but barely noticed group: the people who serve your food. The Shakespeare classic “The Tempest” is being produced in partnership with Duck Ear Productions. The play is April 17-19 and 24-26. Attendees should prepare to be transported to a faraway island for a tale filled with spirits, monsters, vengeance, young love and sorcery.

“Server Alley” and “The Tempest” are two of the events that make up Pellissippi State’s arts series, The Arts at Pellissippi State. The series brings to the community cultural activities ranging from music and theatre to international celebrations, lectures, and the fine arts. For more information about The Arts at Pellissippi State, visit www.pstcc.edu/arts or call (865) 694-6400. For more information about the auditions, contact Charles R. Miller, head of Theatre productions at Pellissippi State and co-founder of the Smoky Mountain Shakespeare Festival. His email is cmiller@pstcc.edu.

The Omega Gallery at Carson-Newman University presents re[creation], a solo exhibit by 1995 Art major alum Jan Bridwell Walker, who is now an Instructor of Art at Anderson University in South Carolina.

Closing Day Reception: Homecoming Saturday, October 25, 9:30AM-Noon.
The Omega Gallery at Carson University, Warren Art Bldg, corner of Branner St. and South College St, Jefferson City, TN 37760

The UT Office of the Vice President for Diversity is sponsoring this event as part of its engagement with the Latino community. Featuring works by Susana Esrequis, Silvia Calzadilla, Luis E. Velazquez, Dina Ruta, Hector Salvidar, Jorge Yances, and Antuco Chicaiza.

Opening Sept 11, 5:00-8:00 PM

UT Black Cultural Center, 1800 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996
Gallery hours: Mon-Fri 9 AM - 8 PM

The Exhibition in the main gallery is free and open to the public and includes 38 figurative sculptural works from Presenting and Invited Artists of the Figurative Association: The Human Form symposium, from September 10-13. Presenting artists: Robert Brady, Christina Cordova, Susan Hagen, Doug Jeck, Kris Kuksi, Elizabeth Higgins O’Connor, Bob Trotman, Christina West, Thaddeus Erdahl, Dustin Farnsworth. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. Info: 865-436-5860 or www.arrowmont.org.

The Irish Curse by Martin Casella

Opens August 29 at 8 pm with an opening reception beginning at 7:30 pm and runs through September 14; 2014. Performances are Thursday; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 pm and Sunday Matinees at 3 pm.;

What "The Irish Curse" is - and how it manifests itself - is the raw centerpiece of this wickedly funny play. From its blistering language to its brutally honest look at sex and body image, The Irish Curse is a revealing portrait of how men, and society, define masculinity. Size matters to a small group of Irish-American men (all professionally successful New Yorkers) who meet every Wednesday night in a Catholic Church basement at a self-help group for men. A 20 something joins their group and challenges everything these men think about the “Irish Curse”. The cast includes Doug James, Mark Palmer, Kiernan Bensey, Donald Thorne and David Snow. Veteran actor and director and founder of Knoxville Children’s Theatre Zack Allen directs. The Irish Curse was first produced at the New York International Fringe Festival; Summer 2005; where it won the festival's Outstanding Playwriting Award.

As Theatre Knoxville Downtown moves into their 9th season in downtown Knoxville, President Bonny Pendleton thinks the patrons are ready to occasionally see an edgier play they may never have seen. “We want to give our audiences many of those plays they love, such Agatha Christie’s “And Then There were None”, but we also want to share works they may have never seen but will enjoy. Critics and audiences loved it and we hope our audience will as well. Due to the strong language and adult themes, parental discretion is advised for this production.

Tickets may be purchased at www.theatreknoxville.com. Reservations are recommended. Tickets are $15 Thursday; Friday and Saturday evenings and $13 for the Sunday matinee.
Theatre Knoxville Downtown, 319 North Gay Street, Knoxville. 865 544 1999 or email: info@theatreknoxville.com; www.theatreknoxville.com

With paintings by Aleex Conner, J. Austin Jennings, and Kay Jursik; bone and metal sculpture by Linda Leilani Bohanan

In student exhibits: Watercolors by the students of Mary Secrist and Kate McCullough

When: Opening Reception Friday, August 29, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Fountain City Art Center, 213 Hotel Ave, Knoxville, TN 37918. Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 9AM-5PM; Wednesday & Friday, 10AM-5PM; Saturday, 9AM-1PM. Information: 865-357-2787, www.fountaincityartctr.com