In Brief: Arts events in and around Modesto

Brad Wilson at Black Oak

Brad Wilson, a blues guitarist, singer and songwriter, performs a free show Dec. 28 at Black Oak Casino in Tuolumne. The show runs 9 p.m. to11 p.m. in the Willow Creek Lounge.

Wilson performs over 100 shows a year and has released 15 albums. His music was featured in the NBC soap opera "Passions" and he has opened for such rock 'n' roll bands as Cheap Trick and.38 Special.

Stage 3 plans its 2013 season

Stage 3 Theatre in Sonora will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2013 with a lineup of five plays:

• Feb. 8-March 17 — August Wilson's "Fences." Winner of the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for best play, the show centers on a former Negro baseball league star who became a garbage collector in Pittsburgh.

• April 19-May 19 — Jon Robin Baitz's "Other Desert Cities." The once powerful Wyeths enjoy a great retirement until novelist daughter Brooke announces she is going to publish a memoir dredging up a tragic event in the family's history.

• June 21-July 28 — James Leonard's "The Diviners." Set in the Dustbowl of the 1930s, the play centers on a pivotal encounter between young Buddy Layman, who has a gift for finding water, and disillusioned preacher C.C. Showers.

• Sept. 6-Oct. — Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire." The winner of the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, this play centers on a faded Southern belle's disastrous decision to move in with her sister and her husband in a tiny New Orleans apartment.

• Nov. 15-Dec. 22 — Ken Ludwig's "The Game's Afoot." William Gillette, an American actor who became famous for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage, invites friends to his castle for Christmas Eve to determine who has been trying to kill him.

A season subscription to all five plays is $85, including two free "early bird" bonus tickets, good for the first two weeks of any play. Stage 3 Theatre is at 208 S. Green St. Call (209) 536-1778 or visit www.stage3.org.

Young Masters Show returns

The Central California Art Association will host its annual Young Masters Art Show Jan. 15-Feb. 9 at the Mistlin Gallery in downtown Modesto.

The show is open to artists in preschool through high school. Categories are painting, drawing, photography and sculpture, grouped by age. Everyone who participates will get a certificate, with winners receiving art supplies and ribbons.

The award ceremony is 2:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Art teachers can submit art work from their students between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Jan. 11. Others may submit art entries Jan. 12 between noon and 4 p.m. There is a $2 per entry fee with a limited of two pieces of art per student.

A prospectus is at Mistlin Gallery, 1015 J St. Hours are 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon-4 p.m. Saturday. Call (209) 529-3369.

Local artists featured on a Christmas CD

A free holiday album featuring local artists can be downloaded at www. quoteyourpulserecords. bandcamp.com.

"Have Yourself A Quote Your Pulse Christmas" features 20 free Christmas songs.

Among the offerings are "Wonderful Christmas Time" by Modesto's Stop Motion Poetry, "Hard Candy Christmas" by Merced's Moon Trent and "Holy, Holy, Holy" by Waterford's The Airlings.

Holiday films on big screen at the State

The State Theatre keeps the spirit bright these waning days of Christmas with a pair of films — one classic, one cult classic — on its big screen.

First, Tim Burton's cult favorite "The Nightmare Before Christmas" will screen today and Saturday at the downtown historic venue.

Also planned are Saturday and Sunday showings of the beloved holiday film "It's a Wonderful Life," starring Jimmy Stewart.

The State Theatre is at 1307 J St., Modesto. For times and prices, see www.thestate.org or call (209) 527-4697.