Piedmont Players Theatre announces auditions for the youth production of “The Jack Tales” by R. Rex Stephenson, by appointment.
Jack, the teen-age protagonist of most of the tales, is the universal underdog who outwits “upper-dogs” like robbers, giants, witches, devils, and big brothers.
Available audition dates and times are: Monday, Jan. 7 at 4 and 5 p.m. (25 slots per time), and Tuesday, Jan 8 at 4 and 5 p.m. (25 slots per time). Auditions are by appointment only, and will be held in the lobby of the Norvell Theater, 135 E. Fisher St. Auditions are open to all students who can read well. To schedule an audition time, call 704-633-5471.
The Jack Tales is Piedmont Players Theatre’s 4th and 5th grade show. Students from county elementary schools will be brought in to see the show on one of four school show days, Feb. 19-22. In addition, PPT will produce 6 public performances, on Feb. 22-23 and March 1-2.
www.piedmontplayers.com

Salisbury Artists want to know — Do you love directing but don’t have time for a big project? Have you always wanted to direct a play and never had the chance?
If the answer to either of the above questions is yes, then Spoken Space Theatre has a job for you as a director for “An Evening of Short Plays by Sam Post.” The show will be presented by Spoken Space Theatre in the Looking Glass Artists Center’s black box Feb. 21-23.
Directing experience not required, theatre experience and enthusiasm is!
Those chosen will have the opportunity to pick a short play, pick the cast, rehearse it, and bring it to the stage. Shows will rehearse individually, on their own, until everyone comes together the week of the production.
To sign up attend the first production meeting at the LGAC at 405 N. Lee Street next Thursday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.
Needed: between 4 and 8 directors, 10 to 20 actors, a production manager and team. Actors and production techs are also welcome to come sign-up.
The evening will consist of the following 10-minute plays:
•Ignition Switch
•Love Poem
•Responsibility
•In the Ductwork
•In the Waiting Room
•Poor Jud is Daid
•Nice Name for a Sky
•Easy Credit
For more information contact salisburyartists@gmail.com

Acid FM is a hard rock band performing “Psych Hard Rock From The Future.” They will be at the LGAC Black Box Theater at 405 N. Lee St., this Saturday, Dec. 15.
Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Admission is $10 at door, and concessions will be available.
For details call 704-633-2787, email salisburyartists@gmail.com or visit www.salisburyartists.com
Saturday, Dec 15 is closing night for Piedmont Players Theatre’s Holiday Comedy ‘Inspecting Carol’ at 7:30 p.m. The Meroney Theater is located at 213 S. Main St. Tickets are $15 for adults, and $12 for seniors and students. Details at 704-633-5471 PiedmontPlayers.com
Bob Paolino of Salisbury is playing the character of Anton Diabelli in the play “33 Variations” by Moises Kaufman, playing now at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre. CAST is a semi-professional theatre group located in the NODA area of Charlotte.
The play chronicles the story of a musicologist suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease as she works to solve music’s greatest mystery in the final months of her life. Her obsession parallels that of Ludwig van Beethoven and might, for a moment, make time stand still.
Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m through Dec. 23. There is no late seating.
CAST is located at 2424 N. Davidson St., Suite 113, Charlotte. For reservations, call 704-455-8542.
For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.nccast.com.
There will be live music this weekend at ethos southern bistro and martini bar, 118 N. Main St.
From 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, hear jazz guitarist and vocalist John Sharp and on Saturday Dec. 15 jazz guitarist and vocalist Harry Bell. Each has a repertoire of standards, ballads and seasonal music. Details at 704-639-2600, www.ethosdining.com
Salisbury Art Station once again offers shopping parents a creative place for their kids to be this Saturday, Dec. 15 (and Dec. 22). Parents may drop off their child anytime between 1 and 4 p.m. those days, at $15 per hour. Second-child discounts are available. Kids will work on various supervised creative projects and gifts. Classes are held at Salisbury Art Station, at the Salisbury Train Depot, 215 Depot St.
Pre-registration is a must at 704-754-0853 or www.salisburyartstation.com
Friday night, Dec. 14 features folk/adult contemporary music by the Ashley Jo Farmer Band from 9 p.m.-midnight, with no cover charge. This will be the last AJFB concert of the year, featuring original songs, some favorite covers, and some holiday tunes to celebrate the season.
On Saturday from 9-11:30 p.m., David Myers and Ashley Honbarrier return to the Blue Vine for an acoustic show covering rock/reggae/new grass/country/blues sounds. There is no cover for this show. The Blue Vine is lcoated at 209 S. Main St.
The FirstARTS Series of First United Methodist Church hosts its annual Fridays@First advent concerts at noon, continuing each Friday through Christmas.
Classical guitarist Joe Miller on Dec. 14 and the Aaron Craven Jazz Trio on Dec. 21. All concerts are free and open to the public.
FUMC is located at 217 S. Church St. For more information contact director of music Matthew Brown, , at matthew@fumcsalisbury.org, or 704-636-3121, ext 104.

Friday, Dec. 14 is Christian Metal Night at The Inn, the Christian outreach coffee house/nightclub/jam venue located at 1012 Mooresville Hwy 150.
Friday’s lineup includes the groups My Own Voyage, Acacius, Fall of Goliath, Eight Days From December, In Search of Reason, Bring The Arsenal and Rise to the Heights.
Saturday night will feature Christian rock bands Second Chance and Defenders of the Cross.
On Monday, Dec 17 is a second popular Metal Night with the groups Instead of Sleep, Pale Face, The Infantry, Creations and Fall of Goliath. For details, call ?704-213-1467.

Singer Edwin McCain will be in concert at Catawba College’s Keppel Auditorium January 24. Proceeds from the event will benefit Habitat for Humanity. Advance tickets are $25 and tickets are $30 at the door.
Jeff Black will also be performing, and Brent Jordan of Raleigh will be the opening act.
Tickets are available at the Habitat for Humanity Restore of Rowan County, 1707 S. Main St. in Salisbury.
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 14, on exhibit will be a model of the now-infamous Salisbury Confederate military prison, images of prisoners and guards, quotes from letters, diaries, and newspapers. This is free and open to the public, and will be on display in the Stanback Auditorium of the Rowan Public Library, 201 West Fisher St.
Conatct Sue Curtis at southpaws@fibrant.com or visit www.salisburyprison.org
STATESVILLE — Iredell Museums presents the exhibit ‘Toys and Holidays around the World,’ up throughout the month of December. Visitors may enjoy holiday music as they view displays and decorations representing different cultural holiday celebrations. Admission is free of charge to The Court Street Gallery, located at 134 Court St. in downtown Statesville, www.iredellmuseums.org

Get your tickets for the Big Band Bash, Salisbury Symphony’s fundraiser that features big band music, hors d’oeuvres, champagne and dancing.
The big event is Saturday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m., held at the Hedrick Auditorium and Crystal Ballroom at Catawba College. Tickets are $75 each, the price of which includes a free dance lesson. To find out more, call 704-637-4314 or visit www.salisburysymphony.org
Cirque Dreams Holidaze comes to the Levine Center: Knight Theater in Charlotte on Tuesday, Dec 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Renowned director Neil Goldberg brings an international cast of over 30 multi-talented and brilliantly costumed artists to life to perform astonishing feats of disbelief. Experience gingerbread men flipping mid air, toy soldiers marching on thin wires, snowmen daringly balancing, icemen powerfully sculpting, penguins spinning and puppets dancing. Tickets start at $35. ?704-372-1000, www.carolinatix.org