The Arts In Brief

last updated: October 09, 2008 04:48:19 PM

MJC brings 'Midsummer' to its fall theater schedule

Modesto Junior College presents Shakespeare's fairy comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" from Oct. 17-26 in the newly remodeled auditorium. The high-tech show will feature laser swords, stylized costumes and special effects.

The cast of 38 students includes Ariel Hicks as Puck; Ryan Avey as Theseus; Steven Linhares, Lindsay Pearce, Anenmone Jones and Daniel Caulkins as the lovers; Nidal Bukhari as Bottom, who is turned into an ass; and Tyrus Loveless as Oberon and Jamie Hudson as Titania, rulers of the underworld.

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays and Oct. 25 on the west campus, 435 College Ave. Tickets are $8-$10; mjc.tix.com 575-6776.

Haunted house

Playhouse Merced is hosting its first haunted house, "Nightmare on Main Street," beginning tonight. The spooky house at 450 W. Main St. in Merced will be open from 7 to 11 p.m. Fridays through Sundays at first, and then every night the week of Halloween. No one under 12 will be admitted without an adult, and children under 5 will not be allowed.

There will be other fun and festive activities to keep children occupied while tours are taking place. Tickets are $5 for children 12 and under and $8 general, with proceeds benefitting the theater's Young Artists' Conservatory; 725-8587.

Dark comedy

Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize-winning dark comedy "Crimes of the Heart" will be performed through Oct. 19 at California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock.

Shows are at 8 p.m. today, Saturday and Oct. 16-18 and 2 p.m. Sundays in the Studio Theatre, 1 University Circle. The 1981 show centers on the three troubled McGrath sisters of Hazelhurst, Miss. One was just arrested for attempted murder, another recently failed as a professional singer and another is deeply lonely. Tickets are $6-$9; 667-3166.

Cape Breton sound

Natalie MacMaster, a fiddler from Cape Breton, Canada, returns to the area for an Oct. 18 show at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. The concert is at 8 p.m. in the Rogers Theater. A busy musician and step dancer in the folk and Celtic scenes, she has collaborated with Alison Krauss, the Chieftains, Paul Simon and Luciano Pavarotti. She performed two years ago at the Turlock Community Theatre. Tickets are $18-$45; 338-2100 or www.galloarts.org.

Mystery musical

"Something's Afoot," a zany musical that takes a satirical poke at Agatha Christie mysteries, will be performed Oct. 17 through Nov. 2 at Playhouse Merced. Ten people are stranded in an isolated English country house during a thunderstorm. One by one, they're picked off. Playhouse Merced is at 452 W. Main St. in Merced. Tickets are $8-$20; call 725-8587 or visit www.playhousemerced.com.

Petersen art reception

In honor of Modesto High School's 125th anniversary, Modesto artist Dan Petersen has donated two of his watercolor prints, "Crystal Creek" and "Castle Rock." A reception with refreshments is scheduled in the library at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Petersen is a member of the school's Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards at art shows, including those at the California State Fair and Northern California Arts. For more information, see petersenwatercolor.com.

• Comments
• Add Comment
• Disclaimer