Arts council's First Friday features photography

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri will have its First Friday opening from 5 to 8 p.m. today featuring the photography of David Bartlett in the Lorimer Gallery and the winners of the Borders Regional Juried Exhibition in Gallery 100. First place for the exhibition went to Eric Domazlicky for "End of an Era," while honorable mention went to Vicki Outman's "Shallow Pools," Anita Dickerson's "Hobbs Chapel," George Ions' "St. Louis Sunrise" and Laura Clark's "Bootheel Farm."

New artists at Garden Gallery's opening

From 6 to 9 p.m. today the Garden Gallery will have an opening reception to welcome new works by three artists: Dixie Jones, Nora Bushong Larimer and Tom Schembra. On display will be Jones' paintings, Bushong Larimer's paintings, tiles and trays, and Schembra's vases and bowls. The Garden Gallery now has new hours: noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Unusual art show set up at Dollar General Store

Southeast Missouri State University senior Kevin Torrence is holding an art exhibit from 4 to 7 p.m. today inside a large plastic bag outside the Dollar General Store at 64 S. Plaza Way in Cape Girardeau as part of his senior art project. The pieces on display will consist mostly of interactive games and machines set up similar to a video arcade.

Jeremiah's comedy nights schedule changes

The comedy nights at Jeremiah's will be limited to one weekend per month until after the holidays. On Saturday, Jeremiah's and Hyena's Comedy Club will feature Jeff Batts from Southern Illinois and an opening act by Lady Carmen from Chicago. The shows run at 8 and 10 p.m.

River City Players hold annual Abbott Awards

Cape Girardeau theater company The River City Players will hold its annual Abbott Awards Banquet at 6 p.m. Saturday at Port Cape's River City Yacht Club. Awards for best actress, actor, supporting roles, show and unsung hero will be presented at 8 p.m. Following the banquet will be live music from Catch 22. Port Cape is located at 19 N. Water St.

'Jungle Book' on stage at Paducah theater

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Market House Theatre in Paducah, Ky., started its production of the Rudyard Kipling classic "The Jungle Book" on Thursday and further shows will be at 7 p.m. tonight, 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, as well as at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and 14. The Market House Theatre is located at 141 Kentucky Ave. in downtown Paducah. For more information or for tickets, call (270) 444-6828.

A children's' Nutcracker' and 'Grease' in Carbondale

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- On Saturday at 3 and 7:30 p.m. "A Children's Nutcracker" ballet featuring the Evansville Children's Dance Company will be performed at Shryock Auditorium in Carbondale, Ill., while the musical "Grease" comes to the auditorium for a performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. For more information, call (618) 453-2787.

Book signing in Paducah

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Museum of the American Quilter's Society in Paducahwill hold a book singing by local author John E.L. Robertson during the Holiday Museum Shop open house from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Robertson will sign copies of his book "Paducah" which looks at the city from its founding in 1830 to the current day.

Percussion ensemble concert

The department of music at Southeast Missouri State University will present its first percussion ensemble concert at 8 p.m. Monday in the University Center Ballroom. The ensemble, under the direction of percussion instructor Michael Gill, will perform traditional pieces as well as some ragtime and Japanese Taiko drumming. To purchase tickets, call 651-2265.

Cabaret in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is performing "An Evening at Le Perroquet," a production that takes audiences into a Parisian cabaret during World War II for the music of Porter, Weill and more. Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday and Nov. 15 at Cookie's Jazz and More, 20 Allen Ave., Webster Groves. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (314) 968-4925.

'Chicago' at the Fox

The musical "Chicago" comes to the Fox Theatre in St. Louis from Tuesday through Nov. 21. Show times are at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays. Bianca Marroquin and Crenda Braxton will play the leading rolls of Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly and Gregory Harrison will play Billy Flynn. To purchase tickets, call MetroTix at (314) 534-1111 or visit www.metrotix.com.

Opera/music theater workshop

The department of music at Southeast Missouri State University will present "A Little Stage Music," a program of scenes from operas, operettas and Broadway shows at 8 p.m. Thursday in Academic Auditorium. The scenes will be taken from such famous productions as "Pirates of Penzance," "The Sound of Music, "Die Fledermaus," "Fiddler on the Roof," "The Marriage of Figaro" and more. The program is co-directed by Christopher Goeke and Leslie Jones and performed by university students. For tickets, call 651-2265.

-- From staff reports