Calendar of Events

The Tennessee Stage Company holds auditions for our 2023 Shakespeare Season on Saturday, February 25, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm and Monday, February 27, from 7:00 – 9:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 620 State Street.

Auditionees are requested to prepare two contrasting monologues, at least one classical, of no more than one minute each. Please bring two copies of a resume and a standard theatrical headshot. All auditions are by appointment. For appointments please contact the Tennessee Stage Company by calling (865) 546-4280 or by e-mail at
TennesseeStage@comcast.net.

The shows to be performed this summer are Richard II, May 4 – 14, at the Mabry-Hazen House Historic Home and The Taming Of The Shrew and The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at Ijams Nature Center, July 20 – August 13 at Ijams Nature Center.

For further information please contact the Tennessee Stage Company at 865-546-4280.
https://tennesseestage.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TNStageCo

CHRIS ROCK at the Tennessee Theatre February 25 and 26.
EGO DEATH WORLD TOUR 2023

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 • 8PM
SECOND SHOW: SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 • 8PM

Tennessee Theatre, 604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville, TN 37902. For information/tickets: 865-684-1200, www.tennesseetheatre.com

GO! Contemporary Dance Works brings ancient Egyptian culture to life with the premiere of its newest contemporary ballet, CLEOPATRA, the Last Pharaoh, on Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26, 2023 at the Bijou Theatre. Deviating from Hollywood’s traditional portrayal of Cleopatra, GO! will explore the mysteries of this young woman and her political battles for dominance over the Ptolemaic Throne.

Intertwining Egyptian rituals, mysticism and traditions, Cleopatra is a powerful spectacle with a documentary style storyline based on the rivalry between Cleopatra VII, her half-sister Arsinoe IV and her younger brother, Ptolemy XIII. “The story of Cleopatra is fascinating,” states Lisa Hall McKee, director. “There is much information about her, but there is also much mystery. I did not want GO! to do the expected and tell her traditional story, so I dug around and discovered the other dangerous Ptolemaic Dynasty girl, Arsinoe. Truth or legend? We don’t know, but this a fascinating story and makes a very intriguing and educational narrative ballet!”

Written and directed by McKee, this large scale, two-act inventive ballet travels between the ancient civilizations of Rome and Egypt and features 75 dancers including professionals, pre-professionals and a youth cast. Julie E. Cox will dance the role of the cunning and beautiful Cleopatra and Jeanene Winston will dance the opposing role of the tormented younger sister, Arsinoe. Winston is a former principal dancer for a Graham based modern dance company, Buglisi Dance Theatre.

As part of their outreach, GO! will offer free Ancient Egypt educational packets to young audience members at the performances.

Tickets are available at www.gocontemporarydance.com or by calling 865-539-2475. Discounted tickets are offered for students and seniors. On Tuesday, February 7, students can purchase a Tier 3 ticket for $12.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Divertimento for String Trio, K. 563
Dmitri Shostakovich Piano Quintet

suggested donation $15 / students free.

At Westminster Presbyterian, 6500 Northshore Drive Knoxville, TN 37919

https://www.knoxvillechambermusicsociety.com/concerts

International Festival at the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, Saturday, February 25 | 10 am - 4 pm

Join us for this annual event that celebrates world cultures through music, art, and food. Tickets on sale at https://childrensmuseumofoakridge.org/ starting February 1.

Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: T-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4. Information: 865-482-1074, www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org

(Ages 12+) Spend a Saturday afternoon outside learning the basics of winter tree identification with an Ijams naturalist! Program runs 2-3:30 p.m.

(Ages 12+) Woodcocks are amazing! Join an Ijams naturalist from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to learn about the incredible courtship displays of these birds. Woodcocks are most active during early evening, so they can sometimes be hard to see, but their calls are unmistakable.

Learn more and register online.

Ijams Nature Center, 2915 Island Home Ave, Knoxville, TN 37920. Visitor Center open daily 10-6; grounds and trails open daily from 8 AM - dusk. Information: 865-577-4717, www.ijams.org

Actress and author Nikki Estridge will be at Union Ave Books signing copies of her book and chatting with folks from 10 am to 12 pm on February 25!

Come by to grab your copy and browse.

Nikki Estridge is an American actress, writer, director and producer. She played collegiate softball for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers and graduated with high honors.

As an advocate for autism awareness and a person of multi-ethnic background, diversity, inclusion and equality are of the utmost importance to Nikki. She is very committed to her work with various charities and support networks.

Nikki is a sixteen-time IMDb-qualifying festival award winner most notably for her comedy short, Don't Make It Awkward, which she wrote, directed, produced, cast and starred in. Nikki is best known for her roles on Sweet Magnolias (NETFLIX), Queen Sugar (OWN), Law and Order: SVU (NBC), and House of Cards (NETFLIX). She is also the author of published children's book Hoo's Driving The Bus? which hit #1 in Amazon's New Releases in its first week!

About the Book:
The day of the biggest baseball game of the season is here, but Gigi the Giraffe and her teammates might not make it - their team's bus has no driver! Can Gigi come up with a plan to save the day?

Hoo's Driving the Bus by Nikki Estridge, an award-winning filmmaker and actress, is a cleverly written picture book, romping with hilarious alliteration and droll phonemic usage that make this lively read-aloud wildly entertaining for children and families.

Union Ave Books, 517 Union Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902. Information: 865-951-2180, www.unionavebooks.com

Make Plans to join us in celebration of Black History Month!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 10 AM - 4 PM
In Partnership with UUNIK Academy

Beck Cultural Exchange Center, 1927 Dandridge Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37915. Hours: Tu-F 10-2. Information: 865-524-8461, www.beckcenter.net

Our dance party this month will be Saturday, February 25th at Broadway Academy of Performing Arts. This is definitely NOT a Valentine’s Day Dance and the playlist will explore an alternative take on the romantic sentiments of the season. The cost will be $10 per person. Water and light snacks are provided. A group class is included in admission, and will begin at 6pm. The dance party will start at 7pm and end at 9pm. Make sure to RSVP and share the Facebook event. You do not have to RSVP to attend our parties, and you do not need a partner. https://www.facebook.com/events/2329671817201670/

Join Board Member & former KBGA staff, Dan Steinhoff, on a guided tour of KBGA’s unique & historic tree collection, starting off in the late winter stages of their lifecycle.

10:00-11:00 AM

Free for members, $5 for non-members.

All ages are welcome, and participants should meet up at the visitor center on Wimpole Ave.

Knoxville Botanical Garden and Arboretum, 2743 Wimpole Ave, Knoxville, TN 37914. Hours: Gardens open daily from sunrise to sunset. Information: 865-862-8717, www.knoxgarden.org

The Museum’s popular International Festival will be held on February 25 from 10 am – 4 pm. The Festival features a variety of world cultures through performances, food, crafts, children's activities, and more.

This year’s emcees are Raya Quttaineh and Maria Guzman of WBIR. Raya Quttaineh was born in Jordan and moved to the U.S. at the age of 5. She is a morning anchor and reporter for WBIR. Maria Guzman was born in Nicaragua and moved to the U.S. at the age of 6. She is a bilingual reporter for WBIR. Festivalgoers save 20% by purchasing advance tickets at https://bit.ly.CMORIF. Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge members receive free admission to the International Festival. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Museum.

Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, 461 West Outer Drive, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Hours: T-Sat 10-4, Sun 1-4. Information: 865-482-1074, www.childrensmuseumofoakridge.org

Disting: Nordic Fire Festival

The Disting is coming to Knoxville! The Nordic Festival of Fire will take place February 25, 2023 at Barrelhouse by Gypsy Circus, 621 Lamar Street, Knoxville, TN 37917

There will be a craft and renaissance-themed market where you can buy all manner of curiosities and delight! Live music will be provided by renowned Celtic band The Crossjacks at 1pm. Several fiery meads will be released, including a scorching scorpion pepper and habanero blend mead. The brave can pair these hellfire meads with a hot and spicy housemade sauce on our smoked wings!

Make sure to follow Barrelhouse's social media for more details on performers, food specials and new mouth-searing meads!

https://gypsycircuscider.com/home/