End of ‘Madness’

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte’s longest running stage hit, “Shear Madness,” will take its final bow on Dec. 31 with a special performance featuring a champagne toast with the cast.

After four extensions and 210 performances, the show must close. The killer comedy that has kept Charlotte laughing since March.

Remaining performances are tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 8 p.m.

“Shear Madness” is performed in the Booth Playhouse at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. Prices for remaining performances range from $25-$40, depending upon seating location and performance date. For tickets, visit BlumenthalCenter.org or call 704-372-1000.

‘Edward Scissorhands’

CHARLOTTE — Matthew Bourne’s “Edward Scissorhands,” a new stage adaptation of the classic Tim Burton motion picture, will make its East Coast premiere in Charlotte Jan. 4-10 at the Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St., as part of the Stanford Broadway Lights Series.

This will be the third stop on its North American tour, after a record-breaking run at Sadler’s Wells in London, a sellout UK tour and rave reviews in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A treat for the whole family, Edward Scissorhands features 30 dancers in a touching, witty, gothic fairytale story of a boy created by an eccentric inventor who dies leaving him alone and unfinished. Left with only scissors for hands, Edward must find his place in a strange new suburban world where the well-meaning community around him struggles to see past his appearance to the innocence and gentleness within.

Ticket prices range from $20-$63 and can be purchased online at BlumenthalCenter.org, by phone at 704-372-1000 or at the Performing Arts Center’s box office in Founders Hall.

On Thursday, Jan. 4 at 6 p.m., Kids’ Night On Broadway will be held in Studio Theater at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Children ages 6-18 can attend the show for free with the purchase of a full-price accompanying adult ticket. The first 150 kids to sign up will also be eligible to participate in a pre-show activity, learning how to tell a story without words. Edward Scissorhands’ Director Matthew Bourne will greet the children at this event. For more details, call the box office at 704-372-1000 and ask about the “KNOB offer.”

Also on Jan. 4, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a Club Blume Pre-show Mixer in Winter Garden Lounge at Taverna 100 in Founders Hall. Young adults can enjoy a free pre-show mixer and a $20 discount on show tickets. Edward Scissorhands’ Director Matthew Bourne is scheduled to make an appearance at this event. For details, visit BlumenthalCenter.org/offer/ClubBlume or call 704-379-1380.

Friday, Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. is Teen Night on Broadway, Booth Playhouse Lower Lobby, featuring a pre-show pizza party catered by FUEL and $20 tickets to the performance with the presentation of a valid student ID. Bourne is scheduled to make an appearance at this event also. For details, call 704-372-1000 and ask about the “Teen Night Special” or visit BlumenthalCenter.org/offer/charlottelive.

On Saturday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m. children ages 6-18 can attend the show for free with the purchase of a full-price accompanying adult ticket.

Clog Carolina

MOORESVILLE — Clog Carolina, a recreational clogging team that performs annually at Salisbury’s Autumn Jubilee, will offer classes for adults and teens.

The six-week session will start on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. for beginners, or 8 p.m. for continuing dancers. Classes will meet at the A.R. Presbyterian Church, 659 Carpenter Ave., in downtown Mooresville.

A blend of Irish, Scottish, and Native American dance steps, clogging is a traditional dance form that is now North Carolina’s State Folk Dance. Traditional and contemporary steps will be the basis of easy mixers, freestyle circles, and clogging lines taught to bluegrass and country and western music.

For fees, directions, and additional details, call 704-892-9978.

Original Art

CONCORD — Artist Diane Overcash will will be giving a presentation entitled “Taking Command of Color” at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11 at the Old Historic Courthouse, 65 Union St. S. in Concord.

The talk applies to any medium that uses color — oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastels or colored pencil.

For more information, call 704-784-1549.

Artists honored

MOORESVILLE — Mooresville artists Mary Setzer and Sylvia Spong were accepted into the Pastel Society of North Carolina’s first Open Juried Exhibition. It will be held Jan.21-March 3, 2007, at the Captain James and Emma Holt White House, 213 S. Main St. in Graham, the home of the Alamance County Arts Council.

Nationally known pastelist Jack Pardue served as juror and judge. Pardue selected Ms. Setzer’s landscapes “Across the Cove” and “Curtis Creek,” and Ms. Spong’s landscape “Going Home” for exhibition.

The awards ceremony and opening reception will be Jan. 21 from 2-4 p.m., at which time winners of more than $5,000 in cash, merchandise and purchase awards will be named.