Things to do in Paradise/Downtown

In Your Neighborhood

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is ready to open at 361 Symphony Park Ave. The Grammy-nominated Bela Fleck & the Flecktones are scheduled to perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the center’s Reynolds Hall. Other performances scheduled for March include Imagination Movers on March 16, The Canadian Tenors on March 17, SFJAZZ Collective Music of Stevie Wonder on March 17 and 18, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on March 20-21, Straight No Chaser on March 25, Savion Glover’s Bare Soundz on March 27, The Pink Floyd Experence on March 30 and Branford Marsalis on March 31. Ticket prices vary by peformance and start at $26.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic’s opening performance in the new venue, a Masterworks IV concert scheduled for 8 p.m. March 24, is slated to feature soprano soloist Marie Plette and mezzo-soprano soloist Eugenie Grunewalk, along with choral artists from the Las Vegas Master Singers, the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Concert Singers and Chamber Chorale. Tickets start at $42. For a complete schedule, call 982-7805 or visit thesmithcenter.com. The center is planning a free public open house with tours and entertainment to celebrate its opening on March 18. To sign up for more information on the event, visit thesmithcenter.com/opening-celebration.

The Insurgo Theater Movement’s adaptation of Christopher Marlowe’s “Faustus” is set to open Friday and run at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays through March 31 at the Plaza, 1 S. Main St. Tickets are $20. Call 772-3897 or visit insurgotheater.org.

n The Nevada Chamber Symphony plans to perform “Orquestra Futura” at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Call 507-3400 or visit lvccld.org.

The Nevada Conservatory Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, plans to present August Wilson’s “Seven Guitars” at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Judy Bayley Theatre, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. Tickets are $20 to $30. Call 895-2787 or visit pac.unlv.edu.

The Knights of Columbus plan an all-ages Saturday Night Stomp swing dance party Saturday at 911 E. Ogden Ave. Lessons begin at 7 p.m. and social dancing begins at 8 p.m. The party is set to continue until midnight. The dress code prohibits jeans. Admission is $5, cash only. Visit saturdaynightstomp.com.

The Kwak Ballet Company plans a performance for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. The event is scheduled to feature dancers Kyudong Kwak and Yoomie Lee, who have performed with the Universal Ballet, the Seoul Ballet Theatre in Korea and the Nevada Ballet Theatre. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on event day. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-6383

The Las Vegas Academy Theatre plans to present “Guys and Dolls” at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 p.m. matinees scheduled for Saturdays through March 17 in the Lowden Theater, 315 S. Seventh St. Tickets are $18. Call 799-7800 or visit lvacademytheatre.org.

The Clark County Library, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, is set to host free 1 p.m. screenings of Elizabeth Taylor movies “National Velvet” today and “A Place in the Sun” March 13 as part of Tuesday Afternoon at the Bijou. Call 507-3400 or visit lvccld.org.

Matt Moran is slated to be featured in a Songs Alive Song Writers Workshop at 6:30 p.m. March 13 at Sam Ash Music, 2747 S. Maryland Parkway. The workshop is free to Songs Alive members or $5 for others. Visit songsalive.org. Morgan is set to perform at 9:30 p.m. March 14 at The Freakin’ Frog, 4700 S. Maryland Parkway. Visit freakinfrog.com.

El Cortez plans to host the one-year anniversary of the monthly Vegas StrEATs food-truck, arts and music festival from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday on the Jackie Gaughan Parkway . Visit facebook.com/vegasstreets.

n Reserve a spot at the Gateway Arts Foundation’s Music, Meals and Memories Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. March 13 at the Artisan, 1501 W. Sahara Ave. Valeria Ore and Spencer Baker are slated to serve as guest hosts. Lunch is $25, which must be paid in advance. Visit gatewayarts
foundation.org.

Ongoing Events

“Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!,” a touring exhibit featuring the monkey made famous in film, television and books, is scheduled to visit the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, 833 Las Vegas Blvd. North, through May 13. Visit ldcm.org.

The Bet on the Farm! Farmers Market is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. Admission is free. Most farmers accept only cash. Visit springspreserve.org or betonthefarm.com or call 822-7700.

SPACE: A Journey to our Future” is scheduled to be on display through May 13 at the Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd. The touring exhibit features lunar samples, a moon scale and various interactive, educational features on the universe. Visit springspreserve.org or call 822-7700.

Jest Serendipity Improv is set to perform at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at the Alexis Park Resort, 375 E. Harmon Ave. The show is limited to adults 21 or older, and tickets are $29.95. High School Jesters improv shows are scheduled at 10 and 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Saturdays. The suggested donation for admission is $5 for adults and $2 for students. Visit jestserendipity.com.

Happy Hour Improv is scheduled to host a “Jam Session” from 7 to 9 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Theatre7, 1406 S. Third St. For a $10, cash-only fee, audience members will have an opportunity to participate in the improv show. Visit happyhourimprov.com or call
372-3201.

The Mexico Vivo Dance Company is now open inside the Boulevard Mall, 3680 S. Maryland Parkway, and plans to host complimentary dance classes for diabetics on the second and fourth Thursday of the month. In partnership with the Health District of Southern Nevada, medical professionals are set to be on hand to provide advice and answers to various health questions. Visit angelfire.com/folk/mexicovivodc or call 735-8268.

Plan ahead

Nevada Ballet Theatre plans to present “Words on Dance: Cynthia Gregory in Conversation with Donald Williams” at 7 p.m. March 29 in the Troesh Studio Theater at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts,361 Symphony Park Ave. Tickets are $25 or $75 with a reception with Gregory. For more information, visit nevadaballet.com or call 982-7805.

The Rainbow Company plans to present “Sleeping Beauty” April 28-May 6 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. The show will be a gleeful version of the classic story, featuring a weapon-wise, no-nonsense heroine who combats a malevolent wizard and his bumbling sidekick. Call 229-6553 or 229-6383, or visit artslasvegas.org.

Members of the Gary Anderson Jazz Quintet — tenor saxophonist Gary Anderson, saxophonist Tom Hall, pianist Cocho Arbe, bass player Steve Flora and drummer John Plows – are scheduled to perform at noon March 16 in the jury assembly room at the Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse, 333 Las Vegas Blvd. South. The lunchtime concert performance is free and open to the public. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-3515.

The West Las Vegas Arts Center Gallery, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd., is scheduled to host Walter Mason, who plans to present a collection of spoken words with music at 3 p.m. March 17. Admission is free, but a ticket is required. Call 229-4800.

Enjoy and evening of big band music and dancing with veteran Las Vegas tenor saxophonist Carl Grove and his six piece combo at 7 p.m. March 17 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. Admission is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Visit artslasvegas.org or call 229-6383 for more information.