Davidson College invites the public to a variety of events on campus in December and January, including artists’ talks, concerts, and this weekend’s Alternative Gifts Fair and Christmas Vespers events. Author Thomas Mallon, who is this year’s McGee Visiting Professor of Writing, gives a lecture in January, while Davidson Community Players teams with the college theater department in late January on a production of “Sleeping Beauty.” Read the full story

"Four Sheep Three Windows," by John Borden Evans. The painting promotes "Retrieving the Lamb" and is being raffled to support Davidson Community Players. Click for info on DavidsonCommunityPlayers.org

Davidson Community Players will celebrate the 2011 holiday season with a production of Travis Whitten’s “Retrieving the Lamb”  Dec. 1-18 at Armour Street Theatre.

Christmas comes but once a year, and for the folks in Whitten’s nativity play, that’s way too often. Mary, Joseph, and the angel are sick; winters’ chill is offset by the heat of a temperamental furnace; the music director rearranges the carols; and a powerful storm leaves the cast in darkness while the Christmas lamb is lost in the night. As a local farmer braves the elements to search for the lamb, the rest are left to search for love, compassion, understanding, and the spirit of the season that they have lost. Read the full story

Davidson Community Players will host auditions for its February  production of Mark Medoff’s “Children of a Lesser God” on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 4-5, at the Armour Street Theatre in Davidson. The production will be directed by Sam Parker, an accomplished director, actor, and author and a child of deaf parents. Parker is also associate clinical professor at UNC Greensboro. Read the full story

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.net

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, are you feeling in a charitable mood? There are plenty of events going on this weekend in Davidson and surrounding communities to fill that need – and your entertainment needs as well.

Friday brings the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber’s annual RibFest fundraiser for the Holy Smokes Mission and Ministry and other community programs. And on Friday and Saturday, the Oak Street Mill will hold the Lake Norman Artisan Marketplace, with proceeds going toward the Kilgoris Project’s support of a Kenyan village through education, feeding programs, economic development and clean water. And Summit Coffee in downtown Davidson will hold two musical fundraisers as part of its “Movember” men’s health program. Read the full story

Christine Noah is Regina Giddens in the Davidson College production of "The Little Foxes."

Davidson College Theatre Department produces Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes” this weekend, with five performances Wednesday to Sunday, Nov. 16-20, at the Barber Theatre in Cunningham Theater Center off North Main Street in Davidson.

“The Little Foxes” is directed by Davidson senior Kia Hunter. The classic melodrama is set in the deep South at the turn of the 20th century. It tells the story of the Hubbard siblings, who are overwhelmed by greed, hatred and corruptin as they try to join forces with a Chicago capitalist to build a cotton mill. The tale pits family members against each other in a quest for wealth, power, and independence. Read the full story

The Summit Twilight 5K will be downtown Friday, with running, music and a downtown festival. Click for info.

By BILL KISER
DavidsonNews.Net

It’s a weekend made for the jocks in your house with a number of sporting events — for participants and spectators alike. Football tops the list, with high schools well into the postseason and Davidson College closing out its 2011 schedule at Homecoming. Meanwhile, Summit Coffee has the first of a planned series of Twilight 5K festivals in downtown Davidson. Read the full story