Some scary - and not so scary - happening this weekend

Thursday, Oct. 29

An artist exploring an artist

Stephen Chesley tries to get a grip on the last month of Vincent Van Gogh’s life with the exhibition “27 Days in July.”  Inspired by a painting by Van Gogh he saw at the Columbia Museum of Art, Chelsey decided to look into the tragic artist’s final works. During his last 27 days, Van Gogh painted 23 pieces, so Chesley did the same number of paintings of the same sizes during the same period.

The exhibition opens with a reception  from 6 to 8. The show is up through Nov. 3 at Gallery 808/Vista Studios, where Chesley has a studio. (803) 252-6134.
(For a full story on “27 Days” go to the Sunday, Oct. 24 story below.)

A familiar blood sucker

The ever-popular “Dracula” by the Columbia City Ballet is back with a slightly new bite –updated casting, choreography, costumes and music.

The ballet by Columbia City Ballet artistic director William Starrett was first done 15 years ago. In keeping with the renewed interest in all things vampire it has a new look that, at least judging by the photos, looks heavily-inspired or appropriated from the popular “Twilight” movies.

Swapnali Ahire, a native of Columbia who is studying fashion in Los Angeles, designed new costumes.

The new Drac is Josh Alexander, a new ballet company member who has danced with the Carolina Ballet Theatre,  Greenville Ballet, California State University and the South Carolina Contemporary Dance Company.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, October 30  and Saturday, October 31 at the Koger Center.  During the Oct. 31 performance there’s also an adult costume contest with prizes. Tickets are $12-$45. For Thursday’s performances student ticket are $10. (803) 251-2222 or www.capitoltickets.com.

Two haunting plays plays on the river

The High Voltage Theatre Company’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” is still running like a headless horseman for a few more days but the company has another scary show opening tonight – “Frankenstein.”

“Frankenstein” will be at a newly-created theater space at the south end of the Cayce/West Columbia riverwalk near the old locks. If you’ve never been to this area it’s well worth checking even in the daytime. This will be one of the few times you can go there after dark legally.

For tickets and information about how to get to the performance call (803) 960-3200 or (803) 754-5244.

And more creepy stuff
"Mr. Poe's Nightmare" by the Actors Theatre of South Carolina haunts the Richland County Public Library at 7. The play by the Charleston-based group stars Lee O. Smith and Chris Weatherhead and is directed by Clarence Felder. Admission is free. The library is at 1431 Assembly St.

 

Friday, Oct. 30

Actors gets a fright

The play “Extremities,” in which a woman captures the man who tries to rape her, is an intense and frightening piece of theater.

In reality as well.

The play was set to open at last week at Trustus Theatre, but lead actor Monica Wyche, pictured, took a spill and got a concussion. She's on the mend and the play is on again starting tonight at 8.

 The delay and Wyche’s injury has somewhat overshadowed the fact that “Extremities” was the first play Trustus ever did. That was 25 years ago.

In the play by William Mastrosimone a woman turns the tables on a would-be rapist. She ties him up and shoves him into the fireplace. When her roommates return home, a kind of trial takes place.

Artistic director Jim Thigpen is directing the cast that also includes E.G. Heard, Altonia Chatman and Christopher Cockrell.

It runs through Nov. 14. 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.orgwww.trustus.org

Zombie stomp

Another dance group, Unbound Dance Company, has its own version of Halloween art with “Carpe Noctem.” It will include the company’s take on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” singer Dell Goodrich, art by Travis Teate, Scott Bibly and Mike Krajewski, the Vista Ballroom dancers belly dancer Natalie Brown and some other things. Costumes are encouraged. It starts at 6:30.

Admission is $15. (803) 528-9011 or www.unbounddance.com

Black and white and masked

For the more well-heeled head to the black and white masquerade party at the Columbia Museum of Art.   “Masquerade de Macabre” will not only probably be a good time and raise money for a chandelier by glass artists Dale Chihuly for the museum.It starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are $50. Call (803) 799-2810.

Building a fire
Columbia's alternative circus, belly-dance fire-eatin' group Alternacirque does its last outdoor show of the season at 9:30 at the Art Bar. Why don't they just get more fire eaters and continue through the winter" 

 

Old horns

Musician and scholar Nikos Xanthoulis, a native of Greece, is giving a recital and lecture on the sounds of ancient Greece. Xanthoulis uses original manuscripts, pottery, and traditional instruments to find the ancient sounds of the ancient world.

He is principal trumpeter with the Athens Opera and has performed around the world and written operas and scores for plays.

Just a week ago, he gave the same presentation at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

The free event is at 7:30 p.m. at the USC Music School recital hall.

(803) 777-4280.

Tuesday, Nov. 3

A different set of strings

The players for the next Art of Music concert at the Columbia Museum will be using violins in a very different way than those who performed at the chamber series.

The High Lonesome Bluegrass Band plays in conjunction with the Ansel Adams exhibition at the museum, capturing an American essence. The South Carolina group plays both contemporary and traditional bluegrass and will be joined for the concert by Pat Ahrens, a musician and huge proponent of traditional music.  The concert starts at 7, but the doors open at 6 p.m.  $10 and $8 for museum members. (803) 799-2810.

(This week is rather slow - next week you'll be slammed.)