Timothe Bittle (Coalhouse), Lisa Smith Bradley (center, Mother) and Zachary Halsey (Little Boy) star in "Ragtime" at Davidson Community Players.

Davidson Community Players have cast a big collection of familiar faces and newcomers in their upcoming production of Terrence McNally’s musical “Ragtime,” running June 16-25 at Duke Family Performance Hall at Davidson College. Also on the local theater schedule: Warehouse Performing Arts Center in Cornelius will stage a series of short plays called “Grave Comedies,” June 2-12. Plus news about youth auditions ahead at Davidson Community Players’ Connie Co. children’s theater.

Read the full story

Mary Kathryn Withers of Davidson has a role in Opera Carolina's "HMS Pinafore."

By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net

The Rotary Club of Lake Norman is sponsoring a wine cruise on Thursday night aboard the Yachta Yachta Yachta. Rural Hill plantation in Huntersville is busy this weekend, with “Trifecta: Battle of the Bands” Friday, where three bands from area public schools will compete, and the NC. Brewers and Music Festival on Saturday. The Davidson Farmer’s Market is back Saturday morning, and Mooresville hosts the annual Race City Festival. Davidson College’s class of 2011 graduates Sunday – on the front campus if the weather is nice. And downtown Davidson hosts another Concert on the Green Sunday evening, with free beach music from Band of Oz.

In Charlotte, Opera Carolina presents the Gilbert & Sullivan classic “H.M.S. Pinafore.” The cast includes Davidson resident Mary Kathryn Withers, in the role of Hebe. See Brenda Barger’s May 5 “Around Davidson” column for more about Ms. Withers.

These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. At right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas where “Bridesmaids” and “Jane Eyre” opens, joining “Thor,” “Fast Five,” “Win Win,” and “Water for Elephants.” Read the full story

By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net

Local meetings this week include a bankruptcy seminar Monday, a U.S. Census presentation on Tuesday, and a chance to hear former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, also on Tuesday. Davidson’s Town Board will hold public hearings on the FY2012 budget and a proposal to lengthen the terms of the mayor and commissioners.  In sports this week, there are four Kannapolis Intimidators baseball games against the Lexington Legends Monday to Thursday. Mooresville’s Race City Festival is Saturday, with live entertainment, arts & crafts, and more than 160 vendors. Also on Saturday, is the NC Brewers and Music Festival at Rural Hill in Huntersville. And Sunday is Davidson College graduation on the lawn in front of Chambers Hall.

These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. At right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas where “Bridesmaids” and “Jane Eyre” opens, joining “Thor,” “Fast Five,” “Win Win,” and “Water for Elephants.” Read the full story

By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net

The week ahead in and around Davidson includes a variety of public meetings, a visit to Davidson College by U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin, and a screening of the documentary “Play Again” at Community School of Davidson on Wednesday. Elected officials from Cornelius, Huntersville, Mooresville and Davidson will have a four-town dinner on Thursday. And Davidson Town Day is on Saturday along with the Annual Town Day Book Sale and a 5K race to raise money for Davidson-Cornelius Child Development Center.

These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. At right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas where “Thor” opens on Friday, joining “Fast Five,” “Water for Elephants,” “Rio,” and “Atlas Shrugged: Part I.” Read the full story

W.S. Merwin

U.S. Poet Laureate W.S. Merwin will deliver Davidson College’s annual Joel A. Conarroe Lecture on Monday, May 2. Also on the calendar next week: writer Malcolm Campbell is in town for a meeting of the Charlotte Writers’ Club North.

Read the full story

By KARYN JESTER
DavidsonNews.net

Eat out at select restaurants during the Autism Aware Fare on Tuesday and have some of your money go to the Autism Society of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County Chapter. On Friday, Davidson College hosts a traditional southern dinner and book signing with Humpy Wheeler, former president and general manager of Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Fund-raisers this week include the Davidson Lands Conservancy’s “Toast the Earth” event Friday, and Ada Jenkins Center’s annual “Fire” 5k race and a BBQ fund-raiser on Saturday. Davidson’s annual Art on the Green festival is Saturday and Sunday, while the Seicento String Band plays a concert called “Vivaldi: The Storm” on historical instruments on Sunday.

These events and more below, or in our day-by-day calendar at right. At right on this page, see our movie show times listings for Our Town Cinemas, where “Fast Five” opens on Friday, joining “Soul Surfer,” “Water For Elephants,” “Atlas Shrugged,” and “Rio.” Read the full story