Community at a glance

Today-Oct. 20 Theatre Arlington presents Pump Boys & Dinettes, a country music revue directed by B.J. Cleveland; musical direction by Don Powers. After an 11-year absence, the good ol’ boys and diner gals of the Double Cupp return for their third appearance as one of the theater’s favorites. The musical features county-pop songs and high-octane fun that celebrates the value of friendship and life’s simple pleasures. Performances are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16-18 with discounts available. For more information, contact Theatre Arlington at 817-275-7661.

Today-Oct. 26 Kafka—A Hunger Artist, by Frank Kafka, adapted and directed by Johnny Simons, is at the Hip Pocket Theatre. “During these last decades, the interest in professional fasting has markedly diminished. We live in a different world now.” So begins Kafka’s tale of a carnival artist fasting on and on, as he had once dreamed of doing. This play is performed around the campfire of unexpected spaces, with Jeffery Farrell as Kafka and Michael Joe Groggins as the Hunger Artist. Photographer Loli Kantor provides projected images from Prague. For show times, ticket prices or more information, contact the Hip Pocket Theatre at 817-246-9775. The theater also has a Web site at www.hippocket.org.

Today-Oct. 26 The Dallas Symphony Orchestra continues its Classical Series with a very special weekend featuring Andrew Litton, music director, playing and conducting Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. It also features the American premiere of former Dallas Symphony conductor Paul Kletzki’s Second Symphony, continuing one of the season’s themes featuring works by conductors who also composed. After intermission, Litton will perform and conduct from the piano, joined by Emanuel Borok, DSO concertmaster, and Christopher Adkins, principal cellist, for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, an intimate chamber-like work. Ticket prices for the performances range from $15-$100. For more information, contact 214-692-0203 or visit the DSO Web site.

Today-Nov. 2 The NW Campus visual arts department presents the 27th Annual TCC/NW Visual Arts Faculty Exhibit in the Lakeview Gallery. On display are works by Eduardo Aguilar, Nona Appel, David Dotter, Christopher Hart, Anita Knox, Scott Parker, Janet Peterson and Frederick Spaulding.

Today-Nov. 16 The Pocket Sandwich Theatre presents Dracula—The Melodrama, by Joe Dickinson. Another of the Pocket’s audience-participation, popcorn-tossing comedy-spoofs, this time poking affectionate fun at Bram Stoker’s classic vampire horror story. For more information, contact the theater at 214-821-1860, or visit its Web site at www.pocketsandwich.com.

Oct. 10-12 Cedar Valley College Family Music presents the world’s most beloved musical, The Sound of Music, at the campus’ performance hall. Show times are Thursday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Additional dates are October 17-19 and 24-26. For more information, call 972-860-8120.

Oct. 10-Nov. 3 The Water Tower Theatre presents You Can’t Take it With You. Cultures clash when the daughter of a genial family of eccentrics becomes engaged to the heir of a wealthy Wall Street brokerage. One of the great classic comedies of the American stage, this production is a madcap celebration of the strange ties that make up family. Show times are Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information, those interested may call 972-450-6232.

Oct. 11 and 13 SMU presents Masterpieces from Russia in the Caruth Auditorium on the university campus. This concert features Alessio Bax, the young Italian pianist and winner of 2000 Leeds International Pianoforte Competition. For show times and more information, contact 214-768-2728.

Oct. 11-13 The Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Patty Austin at the Meyerson. From her debut at age 4 at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre to her collaborations with Paul Simon, Diana Ross and Bette Midler, Austin remains a great vocalist. A consummate performer, she will pay tribute to jazz great Ella Fitzgerald. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. For reservations or more information, call 214-978-0110.

Oct. 11-Nov. 3 The Dallas Children’s Theatre presents Grimm Tales at the Crescent Theatre. Come into the woods for another look at classic stories like Ashputtel, Little Red Cap, Golden Goose and Hansel and Gretel, retold with a “grim” twist and staged with theatrical flare that offers unbridled imagination, mystery and wonder. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 214-978-0110.

Oct. 16-Nov. 11 Be Aggressive will be staged by the Dallas Theatre Center at Kalita Humphreys Theatre. An hilarious, all-too true look at contemporary adolescence tells the story of a high school cheerleader searching for meaning in her life. For show times and more information, call 214-522-8499.

Oct. 17 The NW Campus music department presents a free faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. in B-118. The recital will feature guest artist Allison Welch playing the oboe, Eliza Williams on flute and Margaret Bolding on piano. For more information, call 817-515-7226.

Oct. 19 Daniel de Cordoba Bailes Espanoles presents El Sombrero de Tres Picos, a classical Spanish ballet, in the Horchow Auditorium in the Dallas Museum of Art. Show times are 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. For ticket prices or more information, call 972-881-2914.

Oct. 21 The Japan-America Society of Dallas/Fort Worth, the Dallas Arboretum and the Crow Collection of Asian Art present Ostukimi: Japanese Moon Viewing Celebration. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.; rain date is Oct. 23. For more information, call 214-979-6430.

Oct. 24-26 NW Campus students and faculty will present Aesop’s Fables, a collection of comic mini-operas. Performances are 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday in Theatre Northwest. The production is suitable for the entire family. Tickets are $3 for general public, $2 for seniors and students and free for TCC students, faculty and staff.