WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO

>>Howard Shelly will perform at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts Saturday, Oct. 27 This week's theatre

Life x 3 - Gulfshore Playhouse presents "Life x 3" by Yasmina Reza, author of the Tony Award-winning hit comedy "Art," moves from the Alliance for the Arts to the Norris Center in Naples. As witty and acerbic as "Art", the delightful "Life x 3" contrasts man's deft ability to analyze the far reaches of the universe, with his total inability to respond rationally to a trivial domestic mishap. For more information and to order tickets, go to www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org, or call toll free 866-811-4111.

Stop Kiss - Florida Gulf Coast University presents Diana Son's "Stop Kiss" in the Theatre Lab on campus. The performance runs through Oct. 28. "Stop Kiss" was a New York Times Best of 1999 pick, described as a "sweet, sad and enchantingly sincere play." Tickets for the Obie Awardwinning play go on sale Monday, Oct. 1 at the Theatre Lab Box Office: 590-7268. General Admission is $10, FGCU students, faculty and staff $5. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Buddy Holly - Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre presents the dynamic international hit "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story." It runs through Nov. 17. The award-winning celebration tells the brief, but spectacular musical career of the legendary Buddy Holly. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Beginning Oct. 30, performances are Tuesday through Sunday with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $25 to $52 with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm. com, or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

"Stones in his Pockets" - opens at the Florida Repertory Theatre on Oct. 26 and runs through Nov. 18. A runaway London hit and Olivier Award Winner for Best Comedy, this hilarious acting tour-deforce is set in a small picturesque Irish village overrun by a big-budget Hollywood Film. Charlie and Jake, two of the many locally hired extras, uproariously bring to life the 15 characters from this celebrity-crazed hamlet including the self-centered American star of the movie, the quirky crew and some pretty eccentric townsfolk. But when a stone on the path to the American dream leaves one boy broken, they find themselves at a bittersweet turning point. Shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Arcade Theatre on Bay Street between Hendry and Jackson in downtown Fort Myers. Tickets are $34 -$38, $17 for selected seats. For information call

>>Dream Series, an oil painting by Lidia Vieytes Dick 332-4488.

Theater - "Funny, You Don't Look Like a Grandmother!" opens at the Off Broadway Palm Theater on Oct. 25 and runs through Dec. 22. A humorous, yet heartwarming musical comedy that celebrates modern-day grandmothers in a whole new light. Throw away the granny glasses, shapeless black dresses and Red Cross shoes, and replace them with tennis dresses, skis and a condo in Florida! Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling 278-4422, by visiting www.BroadwayPalm.com, or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

>>Blake Shelton performs at the "Sam Galloway Ford Lakeside Country Bash" on Dec. 8. I Love You - Off Broadway's longest running musical - I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change! - runs through Nov. 3 at the Sugden Community Theater in Naples. This hilarious musical comedy delves into dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws. The four person cast will perform over twenty characters in the tricky tango known as the modern-day mating dance. The universal themes of the frustrations and pleasures of dating, marriage and love have gained the show lasting popularity and have made it a hit across the country. For information call the Sugden at (239) 263-7990. Glass Menagerie - Tennessee Williams' classic memory play opens at the Sugden Community Theater in Naples runs through Nov. 17. Williams' work is nearly autobiographical in its poetic depiction of the Wingfield family, Amanda, Laura and Tom, in their seedy St. Louis apartment. The play runs through Nov. 17. For information call the Sugden at (239) 263-7990. Forever Plaid - The Shoolhouse Theater on Sanibel Island presents "Forever Plaid." The performances run through Dec. 1. The funny and charming musical about the classic 1950s male singing group that gets killed on the way to their first gig - only to be revived for the posthumous chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the show that never was. The Schoolhouse Theater is located at 2200 Periwinkle Way across from the Community Center on Sanibel Island. Call 471- 6862 for information and tickets.

This week's symphony

Fall Music Fest No. 2 - A Salute to Dvorak plays at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. Three great compositions are featured, beginning with Grieg's much-loved Peer Gynt Suite, including In the Hall of the Mountain King. Then, Howard Shelley, one of the world's leading pianists, will perform Shostakovich's brilliant Piano Concerto No. 2. The concert closes with Dvorak's robust and radiant Eighth Symphony, inspired by Czech folk music. Shelley will also conduct this program. Tickets are $42 for adults and $16 for students. For information or tickets call (239) 597-1900 or online at www. thephil.org.

Friday, Oct. 26

Jazz - Jazz on the Green opens Friday Oct. 26 at the Estero Community Park in Estero. Weekend festivities - concerts start at 3 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 27 and 11 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28 - begin with an intimate concert at the Friday night pre-party at The Colony, a WCI Community followed up by a full afternoon and evening of smooth jazz under the stars on Saturday, October 27th, with the finale concert on Sunday afternoon, October 28th. Jazz On The Green is proud to welcome a stellar cast of internationally-renown artists such as U-nam, Paul Rozmus, Acoustic Alchemy, and Jazz Attack featuring Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Jeff Golub. Tickets are $85 for the pre-party, $40 general admission Saturday and $30 on Sunday. Call 866-999-9735 for tickets or online at www. jazzonthegreen.com.

Saturday Oct. 27

Edison Pops - Spend an Evening Under the Stars with the Edison POPS 50-piece orchestra and Mary Wilson of The Supremes, featuring such hits as: "Where did our love go?", "I hear a Symphony", "Baby Love" & "Red Hot." Concert benefits the Lee campus Edison students and programs through the Edison "POPS Chair" for Academic Advancement. The concert takes place at 7 p.m. on the Fort Myers campus of Edison College, with gates opening at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate; reserved table seating: $40 per person, $400 for table of 10. For information call 489-9085 or visit www.edisonpops.com. The event will be held rain or shine.

Sunday, Oct. 28

Art - Visiting Artist Demonstrations at the Art League of Bonita Springs includes Greg Biolchini (pastels), 1-3pm; Ken Austin (watercolors), 3-5pm. Demonstrations are free to those registered for the artist's workshop and are just $15 for anyone else. It's a great chance to meet and experience the fabulous talent of these renowned artists. The Art League of Bonita Springs is located at 26100 Old 41 Road City in Bonita Springs For information call (239) 495-8989 or on the Web at www.artcenterbonita.org

Tuesday, Oct. 30

Whatever She Wants - Witness the power, strength and honesty as Vivian searches for the perfect man who just may not come in the perfect box. Whatever she wants plays just one night at the Barbara B. Mann Performaing Arts Hall at 7:30 p.m. It's the story about one woman's determination to rediscover who she really is. Tickets are on sale at the box office,

by calling 481-4849 or online at www.

bbmannpah.com. Groups of twenty or

more, call (239) 489-3033 extension

3122.

Ongoing events

Art- Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Harborside Event Center with a visit to "A Latin Art Affair", the Community Art Showcase fine art exhibition. This cutting edge show features five local Latino artists whose works are as diverse and electrifying as their countries of origin: Doris Ramos, Ernesto Masis, Juan Diaz, Amarillis Veliz and Lidia Dick. This unparalleled exhibition will showcase the rich and varied talents of our own Latino art community. The exhibit runs through Nov. 28 and is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information email info@ArtFestFortMyers. com or call 768-3602.

Photo art - Visions of Florida: The Photographic Art of Clyde Butcher opens at the Center for the Arts in Bonita Springs and runs through Oct. 27. Butcher is often called the "Ansel Adams of Florida". His photography records the undisturbed paradise that is fast disappearing here in Southwest Florida. Center for the Arts is located at 26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. For information call 495-8989 or on the Web at www.artcenterbonita.org.

Artists call - Artescape Florida West 2008, Exhibition I and II, juried fine art exhibitions are open to artists who create two dimensional artworks including original oils, acrylics, watercolors, mixed media and collage; and fine art photography. Both Exhibition I and II will be held at the Gallery on Fashion Drive at Coconut Point in Estero Florida's new town center. The series will also be presented on www.floridawestsarts.com. The opening reception for Exhibition I will take place on Jan. 3, and the exhibition will continue through Jan. 30. The opening reception for Exhibition II will take place on April 3 and runs through May 1. To receive an Artescape Florida West Arts 2008 prospectus and application, call (239)784-0707 or send an e-mail to info@floridawestarts.com . For more information about Florida West Arts visit www.floridawestarts.com

Art - Artist Ann Bischoff paint- ings and pastels of tropical scenes are on view at Sanibel's Jacaranda Restaurant on Periwinkle Way.

Art - The photographs of Jane Calvin are on display through Oct. 20 at the Bob Rauschenberg Gallery on the campus of Edison College in Fort Myers. The exhibit is called "Discontinuum:" Photographs by Jane Calvin. Since the early 1980s, Jane Calvin has been developing a personal artistic style that is undeniably her own. The photographs she creates are made by building large installations, often roomsized, where she combines slide projections and physical objects, text found in pulp romance and mystery novels or children's books, and words and letters written out in Calvin's own hand.

Art - "Pots, Prints, and Paintings" runs through Nov. 3 at the Alliance for the Arts. The "pots" on pedestals… the "prints and paintings" hung across the gallery walls. But it's the creators behind the pieces that will really grab the viewers' attention. Both featured artists, Tim Lienhardt and Barbara Yeomans, share a passion for printmaking, an art form similar in method to silkscreen printing. The Alliance is located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard. Visit www.artinlee.org for more details.

Art - The first art show at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association gallery "A Matter of Opinion" will be a display of member's work only. The exhibit runs through Nov. 8. The gallery is located on Donora Street near the Fire Station, one mile south of the Matanzas Bridge on Fort Myers Beach. For information call 463-3909 or online at www.fortmyersbeachart.com.

Art- The Watson Gallery in The von Leibig Art Center in Naples features Awarding Pictures: The Art of Children's Book Illustration through Oct. 28,. Focusing on award winning artists working in the field of children's literature, this exhibition will showcase historic and contemporary artwork in media ranging from painting to video. The exhibition will highlight the significant impact that children's illustrations have had on the art world and the field of children's literature both nationally and internationally. For information call (239) 262-6517 or on the Web at www.naplesart.org.

Art - Artist Randon Eddy's wildlife paintings are on view in Sanibel and Captiva in the Periwinkle Way Seaweed Gallery and in the Andy Rosse Lane Seaweed Gallery. For copies of her popular books for children with stories and illustrations of local animals and nature call 395-4518.

Upcoming events

Queen Latifah - Hip-hop artist and acclaimed TV and film actress Queen Latifah will perform at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts on Nov. 6. Queen Latifah garnered an Oscar nomination for her role in Chicago. In Naples, she'll perform songs from her latest release, The Dana Owens Album (her birth name), showcasing her rich, velvety voice in jazz standards and various eclectic gems from the Great American Songbook. For information or tickets call (239) 597-1900 or online at www.thephil.org. Blake Shelton - Country music star Blake Shelton will headline the first "Sam Galloway Ford Lakeside Country Bash" at Lakes Park on Dec. 8, presented by BBL Florida and Lodge Construction. The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation, Lee County Parks and Recreation and Gator Country 101.9 FM are planning the outdoor concert, which will also include guest performances by American Idol star Josh Gracin, James Otto, Jennifer Hanson and Brad Conner. Tickets are $20 general admission and are on sale now at all Ticketmaster retail locations and www.ticketmaster.com. Avoid ticket surcharges by purchasing tickets at Gator Country, Lakes Park, Veterans Rec Center or the Estero Community Center. For additional information visit www.Lakeside- CountryBash.com or call (239) 432-2006.

Art - The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Edison College will hold an exhibition of paintings by Florida State University Painting and Drawing instructor Mark Messersmith. The exhibition, titled "A Southern Landscape", starts November 2 with an opening night reception to meet the artist and view the work. The reception starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m., Messersmith will discuss his work at 7 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibit runs through Dec. 8. The Gallery is open Monday - Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The gallery is closed Sundays and holidays. For additional information please call the gallery at 489-9313. Symphony - The Southwest Florida Symphony opens its season with Beethoven's Joy Symphony #9 on Nov. 3 and 4 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Conducted by Michael Hall, the event will include the Symphony Chorus and guest soloists: Esther Hardenbergh, soprano; Kathleen Sonnentag, mezzo- soprano; Arnold Rawls, tenor; and Lester Lynch, bass. If you only experience one symphony in your life, experience Beethoven's Ninth - hailed as one of the greatest symphonic works ever composed and featuring the beloved "Ode to Joy". For tickets or online at www.swflso.org or call the box office at 418-1500.

Art - Florida Gulf Coast University's Arts Complex Gallery is holding an exhibition of paintings and constructions entitled "Every X Marks Somewhere" by FGCU Associate Professor of Art, Morgan T. Paine beginning Nov. 1 with an opening reception from 5 - 8 p.m. The show will feature works created during Paine's 2006-2007 sabbatical, as well as a large walk-able ramp in the shape of an X that will commemorate the first ten years of the University's life as an educational institution. He will also show his "Life Painting and Drawing," a 24-footwide painting that contains a series of panels that represent each of the days of a year, and on which he has worked virtually every day since 1979. The exhibition continues through December 15. The Arts Complex Gallery is located at 10501 FGCU Blvd S. Admission is free. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For additional information contact the Art Gallery at 590-7199.

Tori Amos - One of the most outspoken, creative singer/songwriters of our time, Tori Amos, will return to Fort Myers on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. Amos' first appearance was in 1996. Tickets are on sale at the box office, by calling 481-4849 or online at www.bbmannpah. com. Groups of twenty or more, call (239) 489-3033 extension 3122.