EVENTS

Maria V. Howard Arts Center older youth and adult programs: 270 Gay St., Rocky Mount; 972-1163.
> Project Swap – 6 p.m. today, April 5 and May 3; brainstorming and idea sharing for teachers; free.
> Watercolor – Saturday and Sunday; architectural detail with use of flowers or trees; participants are asked to bring a photo of a house or building; $150 city residents, $180 others.
> Functional pottery – 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays from Monday-March 26, April 9-30 and May 7-June 4; students create useful pottery pieces; $60 city residents, $65 others per session.
> Beginning photography – 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays from Tuesday-March 27; students learn exposure and composition, how to handle different lighting and postprocessing of digital files and work flow; $50 city residents, $55 others.
> Japanese embroidery – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays; March 10-11 and May 5-6; embroidery on silk and fabric; open to all skill levels; to determine skill level and material fee, contact instructor Carl Newman at 336-784-6886 or cnewman706@aol.com; $68 city residents per session.
> Nasher Museum of Art trip – 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 24; explore the museum’s three galleries; $15 city residents, $20 others, includes museum admission.
> Manteo trip – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 19; explore the Elizabethan Gardens and the Roanoke Island Aquarium; $45 city residents, $50 others, includes admissions.

Anna Jean Mayhew reading: 6:30 p.m. today; Warner Meeting Room, Braswell Memorial Library, 727 N. Grace St.; author discuss and signs “The Dry Grass of August”; copies available for purchase; free admission; 442-1951.

Jimmy Creech reading – 6 p.m. March 27; reception, dinner, discussion and book signing with author of Adam’s Gift; $75; reservation deadline March 12; location details available by calling 443-0345; pflagrm@aol.com.

Third annual chili cook-off: 6 to 9 p.m. March 17; Sylvan Heights Bird Park, 220 Lees Meadow Road, Scotland Neck; prizes awarded; $15; contest rules available at shwpark.com; 826-3186; info@shwpark.com.

GALLERIES, MUSEUMS

N.C. Wesleyan College: 3500 N. Wesleyan Blvd.; Everett Mayo Adelman, 985-5268; ncwc.edu/arts/mims.
> “Celebrating the Art of the Coastal Plain” – Through March 17; Four Sisters Gallery; etchings by Louis Orr.
> “Children Are the Greatest” – Through March 23; Civic Gallery; artworks by students at Swift Creek and Jones elementary schools.
> “Antarctica” – Through March 25; Mims Gallery; photographs by John Higdon.
> “Painting the Immaterial With Material Objects” – March 30 through April 29; paintings by Destry Sparks; reception 7 p.m. March 30.
> “Graduation Day – Drawings” – April 13 through June 29; Civic Gallery; drawings by Daylon Bruce Jones; reception 7 p.m. April 13.
> “The Dog Show” – May 11 through Aug. 12; dog portraits and paintings by Roger Drake, Clair Hartmann, Everett Mayo Adelman and Keith Norval.

Maria V. Howard Arts Center: 270 Gay St.; Catherine Lloyd; 972-1175, catherine.lloyd@rockymountnc.gov; arts.imperialcentre.org.
> “Anoesis” – Through April 29; art by Neil Clark.
> Nash-Edgecombe High Schools Juried Art Competition – Through May 6; ninth- through 12th-grade students’ artworks.
> “Last Words” – Through May 13; grave rubbings with hand stitching and other fiber techniques by Susan Lenz.
> “Handcrafted: A Juried Exhibition of Ceramics, Fiber, Glass, Metal, Wood” – Through May 20; traditional and mixed-media exhibition.
> Permanent collection – Sculptures, paintings, ceramics, encaustics, weavings, wood furnishings and media.

“Stepping Into The Past” crafts demonstrations: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays; Tobacco Farm Life Museum, 709 N. Church St., Kenly; 919-284-3431; tobaccofarmlifemuseum.org.
> “Tanning and Shaping” – Saturday; leather working.
> “Weaving and Caning” – March 10; baskets and chairs.
> “My Great-Grandmother’s Closet” – March 17; old-time sewing.
> “Down & Dirty” – March 24; spring garden tips.
> “Cruising the Old Way” – March 31; antique car show.
> “Soft and Fuzzy” – April 7; bunnies and chicks.
> “Reliving the Past” – April 14; living history.
> “Grow Your Own Cash Crop” – April 21; tobacco and cotton.
> “Hammering Out the Past” – April 28; blacksmithing.

CHILDREN

Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center exhibits: 270 Gay St.; adults $4, seniors and children 3 to 16 years old $3, children 2 and younger free; all admitted free 1-5 p.m. Sundays; 972-1167; museum.imperialcentre.org.
> “Space Spot” – Through April 30; hands-on interactive exhibit of astronomy and space science.
> “Madame Alexander” – Through April 30; display of Madame Alexander dolls dressed in costumes representing different countries.
> “Brain: The World Inside Your Head” – Saturday through Dec. 31; innovative special effects, 3-D reproductions, virtual reality, hands-on activities and interactive technology into the inner workings of the brain.

Maria V. Howard Arts Center children’s programs: 270 Gay St.; Jennifer Rankin, 972-1163, jennifer.rankin@rockymountnc.gov; arts.imperialcentre.org.
> Creativity Cultivators – 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursdays; today-March 22, watercolor; April 12 through May 3, clay; and May 10-31, fabric; 4- and 5- year olds explore art using paint, printing, clay and other media; $35 city residents, $44 others per session.
> Design labs – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursdays; today-March 22, watercolor; April 12 through May 3, clay; and May 10-31, fabric; ages 12-15 explore art using paint, printing, clay and other media; $37 city residents, $46 others per session.
> Youth pottery – 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays, Monday-March 26, April 9-30 and May 7 through June 4; ages 6-14 learn how to make functional and sculptural pottery; $40 city residents, $50 others  per session.
> Creation labs – 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; Tuesday-March 27, watercolor; April 10 through May 1, clay; and May 8-29, fabric; ages 6-11 explore art using paint, printing, clay and other media; $37 city residents, $46 others per session.

Braswell Memorial Library: 727 N. Grace St.; 442-1951.
> Mother Goose story time – 10:30 a.m. Mondays; ages birth through 3 years old; music, puppet shows and storytelling.
> Preschool story time – 11 a.m. Mondays; ages 3-5; music, puppets shows and storytelling.
> R.E.A.D. Dog Chere – 11 a.m. first and third Saturday of the month; interactive program to promote confidence and the love of reading in children; free; registration required.
> “Rocky’s Sleep Over” – 4 p.m. March 15; Rocky and friends will read stories and participants will sleepover at the library.
> “Gran’daddy Junebug” – 6 p.m. March 22; storytelling with Mitch Capel.
> Karon Littleturtle – 6 p.m. April 17; Native American storytelling through songs and stories.
> “Snakes Alive” – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 20; insight into the lives, habits and characteristics of reptiles.
> Jim Cruise: Spoon Man – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 27; music played using household tablespoons, audition sing-a-long and impressions.
> “Donna Pruett – Balloon Lady – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. July 11; storytelling with balloon sculpturing.
> “Fish the Magish” – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. July 18; Fish and Roscoe takes participants on a magical adventure.
> Fli-Rite Learning – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. July 25; children learn about the impact individuals have had on history using games, magic, music and costumes.

Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center camps and programs: 270 Gay St.; preregistration and advance payment required; children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult; 972-1167; museum.imperialcentre.org.
> “Slimy Science” – 9 a.m. March 9; second through fifth grades; exploration of slime; participants are asked to bring bag lunch; $30 city residents, $35 others; registration and payment deadline March 6.
> “The Wave of Science” – 1 p.m. March 17; second through fifth grades; exploration of the properties of sound and light; $10 city residents, $12 others; registration and payment deadline March 17.
> “It’s Newton Naturally!” – 1 p.m. April 14; second through fifth grades; exploration of physics; $10 city residents, $12 others; registration and payment deadline April 11.
> “Birds of a Feather” – 9 a.m. April 27; second through fifth grades; birding hands-on crafts, experiments and activities; participants are asked to bring a bag lunch; $30 city residents, $35 others; registration and payment deadline April 24.
> “Dragons and Damsels” – 9 to 11:30 a.m. April 28; ages 7 and older; exploration of dragonflies and damselflies; $10 city residents, $12 others and include museum admission; registration and payment deadline April 25.
> International Migratory Bird Day – 7 to 11 a.m. May 12; ages 10 and older; bird walk at Battle Park; $8 city residents, $9 others; registration and payment deadline May 9.

Kinderscience: 3 p.m. first Wednesday of each month; children ages 3 to 5 introduced to science; preregistration required; city residents $8 per class, others $9 (includes paid admission to the museum for child and accompanying adult).
> “Birding Buddies” – Tuesday; registration and payment deadline Sunday.
> “Flutter-By Butterfly” – 3 p.m. April 3; registration and payment deadline April 1.

Rocky Mount Community Theatre: 270 Gay St.; 972-1266; arts.imperialcentre.org/performingarts.html.
> Young Actors Theatre – Registration begins today; program runs June 11-30; ages 13-18; students participant in an audition, rehearse and perform a production, as well as participate in construction of props, sets and costumes for the show; $95.
> PlayShop – Registration begins today; program runs July 9-28; ages 8-12; students participant in an audition, rehearse and perform a production, as well as participate in construction of props, sets and costumes for the show; $95.

AREA MOVIES

Premiere Theatres: 821 Benvenue Road, Rocky Mount; 446-6500; “Act of Valor,” “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance 3D,” “Gone,” “Good Deeds,” “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” “The Lorax,” “The Lorax 3D,” “Project X,” “Safe House,” “This Means War,” “The Vow,” “Wanderlust” and “The Woman in Black.”

Cummins Planetarium shows: Rocky Mount Children’s Museum and Science Center, 270 Gay St.; $3.50 per person per show, plus admission to the museum; now showing:
> “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure”; Through April 29; ages 7 and younger; exploration of the night sky with Sesame Street friends; 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays.
> “The Cowboy Astronomer” – Through April 29; ages 7 and older; interstellar exploration with cowboy storyteller Baxter Black; 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
> “Astronaut” – Through April 29; ages 7 and older; exploration of space; 1 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, noon Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.
> “Passport to the Universe” – Through April 29; ages 7 and older; virtual tour of the cosmos; 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays.
> “Laser Beatles” – today-March 31; laser show set to the music of the Beatles; 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays.
> “Laser Floyd” – April 1-30; laser show set to the music of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” album.

CLUBS

Westridge Grill: 3639 Sunset Ave. (in Westridge Shopping Center), Rocky Mount; 937-7299; show times 7 p.m. except as noted; free admission.
> Thursday – Rob Alford
> Saturday – Mark and John Bunn
> March 8 – Tim Wall
> March 15 – Bunn and Braxton
> March 17 – St. Patty’s Day party with Monkeyfoot Acoustic
> March 22 – Travis Moss
> March 29 – Williams and Kirkman
> March 31 – John Sloop Quartet

Via Cappuccino: 3002 Sunset Ave., Rocky Mount; shows run from 8-9:30 p.m. unless noted; smoke- and alcohol-free; 937-0004; vccoffee.com; free admission.
> 10 a.m. Saturdays – Via Cappuccino Chess Club; free.
> 7 p.m. Mondays – Tar River Gamers, playing board games; free.

Bill Ellis Convention Center: 8 p.m.; 3007 Downing St., Wilson; $15; Barbara Harrell, 289-5137.
> March 24 – East Coast Rhythm and The Blues Band.

Countyline Bluegrass Barn: 5832 Hornes Church Road, Wilson; Kenny Pierce, 813-0930; countylinebluegrassbarn.org.
> 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays – Bluegrass picking session; free.

R.A. Fountain General Store and Internet Cafe: Show times 7:30 p.m. except as noted; 6754 E. Wilson St., Fountain; 252-749-3228; $8 unless noted; rafountain.com.
> March 9 – Kickin’ Grass.
> March 16 – Bill Redding and Friends.
> March 24 – The Boys From Carolina.
> March 31 – Roby Huffman and The Bluegrass Cut-Ups.
> April 6 – Lightnin’ Wells.
> April 13 – The Malpass Brothers.
> April 28 – The Steve Creech Sextet with Dirk Lumbard.
> May 5 – The Jonathan Byrd Band.
> May 11 – Carolina Lightnin’.

PERFORMANCE

Nash Arts Center: 7 p.m. unless noted; 100 E. Washington St., Nashville; Shelly Gray, 459-4734; shelly@nasharts.org.
> Art show – today-March 31; featuring Cynthia Whalen and Elisabeth Cohen; artist reception 2 p.m. March 4.
> Nash County’s Got Talent Showdown – March 8; $10.
> True Grit – 7:30 p.m. March 13; featuring Clyde Mattocks, Bill Lyerly and the original and former members of the Super Grit Cowboy Band; $15 general admission, $10 members.
> Russ Varnell and His Too Country Band – March 31; $12 general admission, $8 members.
> All About Him Gospel Band – April 21; $12 general admission, $8 members.
> Art show – May 1-31; featuring Otis Chancey and Marion Williams.
> Mark and John Bunn –7 p.m. May 5; $12 general admission, $8 members.
> Alvin Smith – 7 p.m. June 9.

Edgecombe Performance Series: 8 p.m. except as noted; Keihin Auditorium, Edgecombe Community College, 2009 W. Wilson St., Tarboro; Eric Greene, 823-5166, ext. 187.
> March 30 – Jason Michael Carroll and Ryder Lee; country music; $30 adults, $25 students and seniors.
> 3 p.m. April 15 – East Carolina University Symphony Orchestra; program includes “An Outdoor Overture” by Aaron Copland and “Symphonic Suite” by Leonard Bernstein.

Dunn Center for the Performing Arts performances: 8 p.m.; N.C. Wesleyan College, 3500 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount; $30 except as noted; 985-5197; ncwc.edu/dunncenter.
> March 10 – Percy Sledge and Sunset Drive; $25.
> March 16 – The Red Clay Ramblers.
> March 30 – All The Good Stuff; $20.
> April 5 – “The Taming of the Shrew”; $20.
> 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. April 25 – Mr. Al.
> May 11 – It Takes Two.

Tar River Players: McIntyre Auditorium, Edgecombe Community College; adults $10, seniors and students $5; Roberta Cashwell, 823-5166, ext. 218; recashwell@gmail.com.
> “Our Town”  – Auditions 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; performances April 27-29 and May 4-6; Thornton Wilder play about lives of typical residents of the small town Grover’s Corner in the early 20th century; 22 parts available; audition consists of cold readings from script.
> “The Sound of Music” – June 22-23 and June 29-30 and June 24 and July 1; Keihin Auditorium, Edgecombe Community College; musical based on the true story of the Trapp Family Singers.

St. Anne’s Chapel and Event Center: 7 p.m. except as noted; 3767 Howard Ave., Tarboro; $10 advance, $15 at door except as noted; 641-0262.
> Today – Movie night, “The Vanishing of the Bees”; free.
> March 10 – Shelton Powe.
> 5 p.m. March 18 – Drum circle featuring The Drum Band Rhythmicity.
> March 31 – Greg Trouper.

Tar River ensembles concerts: 7:30 p.m.; Dunn Center for the Performing Arts, N.C. Wesleyan College except as noted; $12 per performance, students with valid ID and children free; 985-5197; dunncenter.com.
> Friday – “A Russian Portrait”; Tar River Symphonic Band.
> April 12 – “Swing’s the Thing!”; Tar River Swing Band.
> April 28 – “Feel the Spirit”; Tar River Philharmonic Orchestra and Tar River Chorus.

Rocky Mount Community Theatre: 270 Gay St.; 972-1266; arts.imperialcentre.org/performingarts.html.
> “Hairspray”  – 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and March 9-10 and 2 p.m. Sunday and March 11; story of a young girl who dreams of fame and fights to racially integrate “The Corny Collins Show.”
> “The 39 Steps” auditions – 7 p.m. March 14-15; portrayal of one man’s flight from being wrongly accused through a series of improbable adventures as he is pursued by authorities; production runs 7:30 p.m. April 27-28 and May 4-5 and 2 p.m. May 6.
> “Trojan Women” auditions – 7 p.m. Aug. 1-2; story of the fates of the women of Troy after their city has been sacked, their husbands killed and as their remaining relatives are taken away as slaves; production runs 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14-15 and 21-22 and 2 p.m. Sept. 23.
> “The Mousetrap” auditions – 7 p.m. Sept. 26-27; murder-mystery play; production runs 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9-10 and 16-17 and 2 p.m. Nov. 18.
> The 44th annual Christmas Chorus – 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7-8, 2012 and 2 p.m. Dec. 9, 2012; holiday music.

“Love 911” – 5 p.m. March 11; Keihin Auditorium, Edgecombe Community College, 2009 W. Wilson St., Tarboro; starring Terrell Carter; $20 in advance, $25 at door; tickets available at Power 95.5 Studios, 12714 E. N.C. 97; Tracy Jones, 363-5460; swagentertain.com.

Lakeland Theatre Co.: 411 Mosby Ave., Littleton; Wally Hurst, 877-330-0574; lakelandtheatrenc.org.
> “All Shook Up” – 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; musical featuring Elvis Presley’s music.

ECU/Loessin Playhouse productions: 8 p.m. except as noted; McGinnis Theatre, East Carolina University, E. Fifth St., Greenville; $12.50 adults, $10 youth 18 and younger and students except as noted; 328-6829; theatre@ecu.edu.
> “The Threepenny Opera” – April 19-21 and April 23-24 and 2 p.m. April 22; story of outlaw Mack the Knife; $15 adults, $10 youth 18 and younger and students except as noted.

The S. Rudolph Alexander Performing Arts Series: 8 p.m. except as noted; Wright Auditorium, East Carolina University, E. Fifth St., Greenville.
> March 15 – Ballet Memphis; $30.
> April 12 – “An Unforgettable Evening with Natalie Cole”; $65.

ONGOING

Maria V. Howard Arts Center programs: Preregistration required; classes meet in the Arts Education Building at the Imperial Centre; nonresident premium fee waiver available for purchase.
> Imperial School of Painting – two-year course study of oil painting and plein-air landscape painting; weekly lectures and critiques; $1,200 per three-month session; Jennifer Rankin, 972-1632, jennifer.rankin@rockymountnc.gov.
> Watercolor workdays – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; experienced watercolorists use the center’s studio for uninterrupted independent work; participants responsible for all materials; city residents $20, others $25 per month.
> Clay open studio – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday; opportunity for potters who wish to work independently; includes firing and use of glazes on hand; city residents $65, others $81 per month.

Blount-Bridgers House tours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays; 130 Bridgers St., Tarboro; 823-4159.

Princeville Museum and Tourism Center: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, other times by appointment; 310 Mutual Blvd., Princeville; Maggie W. Boyd, 823-8500.
> “Over the Tar River: Bridging Princeville and Tarboro” – Photographic and narrative on the history of Princeville; free..