Arts & Lifestyle Of Interest ... Tickets on sale for NCSF's "A Christmas Carol" Tickets are now on sale for The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival's (NCSF) annual production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," which will be staged Nov. 30 - Dec. 21 at the High Point Theatre, at 220 E. Commerce Ave., in downtown High Point. Special ticket pricing includes WMAG 99.5 Previews for $9.95 per ticket; $14 per ticket High Point Enterprise Community Nights; and an Early Bird Special of four regular price single tickets for the price of three for telephone or walk-up orders placed by through December 5. Regular single tickets range from $14 to $31. ? Tickets are on sale at The High Point Theatre Box Office. Call 336-887-3001 for more information or go to www.highpointtheatre.com. Hounsou will provide voice for black comic super-hero Oscar-Nominated Actor Djimon Hounsou has signed on as the voice of "The Black Panther," a new BET Networks and Marvel Animation animated series that will premiere in 2009. The series will be adapted directly from the first six issues of the Marvel Comic Hounsou written by Reginald Hudlin. the former president of Entertainment for BET Networks and the series' pro ducer. "It's a blessing for African Americans and minorities to have a Super Hero they can identify with," said Hounsou. "While the Black Panther is a powerful force for good, he is also a respected world leader who takes pride in his African heritage. He embodies the past and future of his cul ture, demonstrating the endless possibilities of an Africa that is truly free." Hounsou is a two-time Academy Award-nominat ed actor for his work in "In America" and "Blood Diamond." Hounsou was also honored with the NAACP Image Award, National Board of Review Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for his role as Soloman Vandy in "Blood Diamond." For his role as Mateo in "In America," he won an Independent Spirit Award, was named the 2004 ShoWest Supporting Actor of the Year, and shared in the Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Cast Performance. Hounsou will next be seen in "Push," a futuristic "Blade-Runner"-esque thriller that co-stars Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans. Hounsou 's breakthrough role came in 1997 as Cinique, the African who leads an uprising to regain his freedom, in Steven Spielberg's historical drama "Amistad." The perform ance earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination and an Image Award. Young professionals invited to a night in the Big Apple "Night in New York," sponsored by Reynoida After Hours, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 22 from 8 -11 p.m. Young professionals are invited to this exhibition cocktail party featuring guided tours of the current exhibition, "Seeing the City: Sloan's New York." The evening will feature live music provided by Andy Mabe's one-man band and the Demon Divas of Wake Forest University, an a cappella group. Guests are invited to join a group art activity and help create a city skyline reminiscent of the images John Sloan painted of early 20th century New York City. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served with a cash bar. Reynoida After Hours sponsors activities geared toward people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s. The group promotes interest in Reynoida House by providing social and networking opportunities through fun cul tural and educational events. For information, please call 336.758.5150 or visit reynoldahouse org/rah . Spelman's Green to present dance piece at Wake The Wake Forest University Fall Faculty/Guest Artist Dance Concert will be held Nov. 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. in the MainStage Theater of the university's Scales Fine Arts Center. The concert will feature work by guest artists Heather Maloy, artistic director of Terpsicorps Dance Theatre in Asheville, and Kenneth Green, renowned dancer/choreographer and dance faculty member at Spelman College. Presented by the Wake Forest Dance Company and the university's theatre and dance department, the concert will also feature choreography by four Wake Forest dance faculty members: Nina Lucas, Brantley Shapiro, Christina Tsoules Soriano and Tina Yarborough Liggins. Green will present a new piece that combines bal let, modern dance, jazz and African movement and tells a story of each dancer and their iPods. A graduate of the United States International University, Green has appeared with Donny and Marie Osmond, Bob Hope, Donna Summer and Carol Lawrence. Admission to the concert is $10 for adults and $5 for students, senior citizens and children. Advance tickets are available through the Wake Forest Theatre Box Office at 336-758-5295. Tickets will also be available at the door. Delta to open stellar greeting card exhibit CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT The art collection that John and Vivian Hewitt began amass ing more than half a century ago has become one of the finest in the world specializing in black ait. Local art lovers will get a glimpse at some of that collection beginning Nov. 16 at the Delta Arts Center. The exhibit, "To Vivian and John, With Love: A Collection of Greetings from African American Artists," will run through Jan. 10, 2009 at the gallery, which is located at 2611 New Walkertown Rd. Sunday's 3 p.m. opening event will feature reflections by Vivian Hewitt. She will talk about the many African-American artists that she and her late hus band encountered, befriended and championed throughout their decades of traveling and collect ing. The couple began their col lection in earnest with Haitian Dffll to CTO ; Staff Photo A poster outside of Delta Arts Center promotes the gallery's upcoming show. Art. They soon began collecting the art of their artists neighbors and friends in New York City, building a landmark collection of African- American art. Vivian Hewitt recently donat ed 57 pieces to the Delta Arts Center. The collection consists of greeting cards by and from artists such as Dr. J.EugeneGrigsbyJr., Elizabeth Catlett, Francisco Mora, Tom Feelings, Hale Woodruff, Ernest Crichlow, Lucner Lazard, Virginia Smit, Earl Hill, Edna Ford and Ann Tanksley. The greeting card set is the second gift from the Hewitts to Delta Arts. In 1998, the couple donated five Haitian paintings to the center. That same year, the Bank of America Foundation pur chased from the Hewitts what is considered one of the largest and most diverse private collections of African-American art of the past century. Since 1999, the foundation has underwritten a touring exhibi tion of the works throughout the United States. The collection of greeting cards given to the Delta Arts Center includes many of the artists represented in the Bank of America Art Collection. The Sunday, Nov. 16 opening at 3 pm. is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Delta Arts Center at 336 722-2625 or go to www deltafine arts x>rg . Photo by D. Rich Duke Fakir (far right), the last origi nal member of the Four Tops, his wife, Clineice Stubbs, the Rev. Jessie Jackson, and members of the late Levi Stubbs Jr.'s family hold doves during the recent funeral service for Stubbs, who was the lead singer of the leg endary Tops , whose hits earned them induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Saluting a Top Famed storyteller is coming to Old Salem SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE Donald Davis, considered among the most popular figures on today's storytelling circuit, is coming to Old Salem Museums & Gardens to offer two free public performances November 21 and 22 at St. Phillips Church. Davis, born in Southern Appalachia, grew up hear ing gentle fairy tales, simple and silly Jack tales, scary mountain lore, ancient Welsh and Scottish folktales, and most impor tantly, nour ishing true-to Davis life stories of his own neighbors and kin. "I discovered that in a story I could safely dream any dream, hope any hope, go anywhere I pleased, fight any foe, win or lose, live or die," said Davis. "My stories created a safe experimental learning place." Davis, a retired Methodist minister, tours the United States making about 300 storytelling presentations a year. He can be found in schools, at libraries, in front of conventions, and mostly as a headliner at storytelling festivals. Davis has been seen on ABC News "Nightline," and heard on National Public Radio and CNN. "When Donald Davis tells a story, he brings it vividly to life," said Scott Livengood, the CEO of Dewey's Bakery, which is sponsoring Davis' performance and storytelling work shops. Davis will perform at Old Salem on Friday, November 21 at 7:30 p.m. with a story titled "1 Wouldn't Tell This to Just Anybody." r'On Saturday, November 22 the session begins at 1 1 a.m. with a story called "Just Visiting." St. Phillips Church is located at 91 1 South Church St. in Old Salem. There is limited seating, and. while there is no admission fee, reservations are required for both performances. For more information or reservations, call the Visitors Center at 336-721-7350. The Rise and Fall of a Rock Star? Production details highs and lows of fame CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT A tale of sex, drugs and rock n' roll is coming to the stage at University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Thomas Babe's "Kid Champion" tells the story of a naive Kansas kid who is on his way to becoming a music legend. But the path to stardom is lined with pitfalls. He is instantly surrounded t^IcTaTK The players of "Kid Champion." by women, drugs and money. As the pressures around him intensify, tragedy becomes inevitable and Kid must face the consequences of the glamorous stardom he once embraced. The UNCSA production is directed by school alumnus Jeremy Skidmore and stars sen iors from the School of Drama (Studio IV). Skidmore has directed or produced work in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, London, and Tai Pei. After graduating from UNCSA in 2000, he became the first American to assistant direct at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London and at the Subaru Theater Company in Tokyo. In 2001 , Skidmore became the artistic director of the Theater Alliance in Washington, D.C., where he directed the Washington premieres of "Tales from Ovid" and "Slaughter City." The production debuted Nov. 11. The remaining shows will be Nov. 13 - 15 at 8 p.m. at Catawba Theatre, Performance Place on the UNCSA campus, 1533 South Main St. On Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, shows will be 2 p.m. Tickets are $ 1 2 for adults and $ 10 for students and seniors. The show contains adult themes. For more information or to order tickets, call the UNCSA Box Office at 336 721-1945 or visit www.uncsa.edu/performances. UNCSA alumnus will direct members of the sen ior School of Drama class in this production. Bennett's Coleman named to new black heritage commission CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT Governor Mike Easley has appointed Bennett College's Andrena Coleman to a three - year term on the newly-created African-American Heritage Commission. Coleman is the school's chief administrative officer and vice president for Administrative Services. The first such body of its kind in the state, the commission was formed earlier this year by the General Assembly and will advise the Secretary of Cultural Resources in the preservation, interpretation and promotion of African American history, arts and cul ture. Coleman's appointment is effective immediately. She was sworn- in on Nov. 3 on the Bennett campus by State Rep. Alma Adams. She was nominated by Joe Hackney, speaker of the North Carolina House. She comes to the commission with lots of experience in the area of his toric preservation. She provid Bennett Photo Andrena Coleman (third from left) is congratulated on her appointment by (from left) State Sen. Senator Katie Dorsett, State Rep. Alma Adams and Coleman's daughter, Jocelyn Coleman Brown. ed leadership and management in the renovation and restora tion of several buildings on the Bennett campus, including the Carnegie Negro Library, the Thomas Holgate Library, the John Race Administration Building and Annie Memer Pfeiffer Chapel. A member of St . Matthews United Methodist Church, the Greensboro Chapter of Drifters, Inc.. and the East Greensboro Rotary Club, Coleman is a self-taught quit ter and fabric artist and enjoys furniture restoration and reupholstering.