Friday, Sep. 05, 2008

The Arts In Brief

'Miss Daisy' drives into Stage 3

Stage 3 Theatre in Sonora presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Driving Miss Daisy" Sept. 12-Oct. 19.

Set in 1948 in the Deep South, the play centers on a senior white woman who reluctantly relies on the services of a black chauffeur. Despite their mutual differences, they eventually become so close as to be almost a couple. The 1989 Oscar-winning film starred Morgan Freeman and Jessica Tandy. Dennis Brown and Hilah Elkins star in the Sonora staging. Stage 3 is at 208 S. Green St.; tickets are $12-$18; 536-1778 or www.stage3.org.

Kids theater classes

Playhouse Merced is enrolling students for classes in voice, acting, dance and backstage work. The company also is offering limited enrollment in play-writing, stage combat and directing. For details, contact Noelle D.W. Chandler at 725-8587 or noelle@playhousemerced.com.

Singers wanted

Auditions for the Modesto Symphony Orchestra Chorus are Monday through Thursday and Sept. 15, 16 and 18 in Modesto and Sept. 17 in Turlock. Times are 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Directed by Daniel Afonso, the chorus will perform at the Holiday Pops concert Dec. 5-6 at the Gallo Center for the Arts, the Holiday Candlelight Concert on Dec. 13 at the new

St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and at the "Ode to Joy" concert May 15-16 at the Gallo Center.

Rehearsals begin Sept. 22 and are at 7 p.m. Mondays at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, 1600 Carver Road, Modesto. For more details, contact the chorus at chorus@modestosymphony.org or 526-9692.

'Burning Man' pix

Bay Area photographer Mel Lindstrom will show his work in the exhibition "Double Exposure" through Sept. 26 at the Modesto Junior College Art Gallery, 435 College Ave. The images depict the popular Burning Man festival in Nevada's Black Rock between 1998 and 2007. An artist's reception is 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 4, with a gallery talk by the artist at 3 p.m. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays; 575-6819.

Student comedy

The Modesto Junior College Drama Ink Club presents the Performaholics in the student-run production "Six Degrees of Laughter" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11-13 in the little theater, 435 College Ave.

The show features the original comedies "Kill Me, Doorman," by Curtis Medina; "May the Nini Be With You," by Steven King; "Self Loathing," by Robert Gress; "School Dayz," by Casey Hedrick; "Lessons From Madam Butterfly," by Jeffrey Carnegie; and "Steak or Fish," by Romeo Mora. Tickets are $5-$7. To learn more, visit www.myspace.com/dramaink.

Architecture film

"Sketches of Frank Gehry," a film by director Sydney Pollack, will play Sept. 11 at the State Theatre in Modesto. A reception begins at 6 p.m., a presentation on Modesto's architectural heritage is at 7 and the film is at 7:30.

Gehry created such architectural wonders as the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain. Tickets are $8.

American Graffiti Gala

Enjoy classic cars and locally produced artwork at the American Graffiti Gala on Sept. 13 at the restored Grand Theatre Center for the Arts in Tracy. The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards will also perform. The Grand Theatre is at 715 Central Ave. Tickets are $145; 831-6858.