Prime briefs

Smith Center to celebrate opening

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts is set to open at 361 Symphony Park Ave.

This month's scheduled performances include Béla Fleck & The Flecktones on March 12, 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/.

Ballet to present 'Words on Dance'

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.

Senior Idol auditions scheduled

Groups or individuals 50 or older who want to perform in the Senior Idol Talent Showcase can pick up an audition application beginning March 26 at the front desk of the Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road. Applications are due April 27. Auditions are to be scheduled May 9-10 by appointment only. There is no cost to audition or perform in the showcase. The showcase is scheduled for June 14 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. For more information, call 229-6454.

Center now includes preventable infection data on website

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that its hospitalcompare.hhs.gov website will include data about how often preventable infections occur in hospital intensive care units across the country.

The goal is to hold hospitals accountable and to bring down these rates.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in 2009, there were about 41,000 central line-associated bloodstream infections in U.S. hospitals.

These infections prolong hospitalizations and can cause death.

KWAK Ballet company to perform
at Charleston Heights arts center

Kyudong Kwak and Yoomie Lee are scheduled to perform classical ballet with the Kwak Ballet Company at 2 p.m. March 10 at the Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St.

Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 on event day. For more information, call 229-6383.

AARP assists with tax forms
at no charge for seniors 50 or older

Register by April 5 to receive tax preparation help from AARP Mondays and Thursdays through April 9 at the Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive.

For more information, call
229-1702.

UNLV presents speaker Nicolette Hahn Niman at Barrick Auditorium

With an uncommon background that combines expertise in environmental protection and farming, Nicolette Hahn Niman plans to give a presentation on what's wrong and right in American eating and agriculture at 7:30 p.m. March 8 at UNLV's Barrick Museum Auditorium, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway. The talk is free and will focus on how America's diet and farming have changed and how they are connected.

Call 895-3401 for more information.

St. Patrick's Festival planned

The city of Henderson plans to host the 46th annual Southern Nevada Sons of Erin St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival, March 16-18 at the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St. The event is expected to feature carnival rides, games, entertainment, a car show, a head-shaving fundraiser for the St. Baldrick's Foundation and food and merchandise vendors. The parade is scheduled to kick off at 10 a.m. March 17 along Water Street. Visit hendersonlive.com for details.

downtown cultural series to feature the Gary Anderson Jazz Quintet

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. For more information, call
229-3515.

Community roots theater presents an afternoon with walter mason

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 of correlative themes at 3 p.m. March 17.

Admission is free, but a ticket is required. For more information, call 229-4800.

Vegas valley book festival celebrates pre-festival event

Enjoy romance writing with seven best-selling romance authors in a presentation at 9 p.m. March 17 at the Chapel of the Flowers, 1717 Las Vegas Blvd. South.

Featured authors Ann Aguirre, Zoe Archer, Vivian Arend, Lauren Dane, Tessa Dare, Megan Hart and Courtney Milan plan to read short excerpts from their novels.

A local couple plan to renew their vows as part of the evening.

The authors' books will be for sale with a reception and book signings to follow.

Call 229-5431 for more information.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day
with a big band dance

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.

Lake las vegas plans hand-crafted beer festival at the village

Guests can sample beers from local and regional breweries at Spring Brew's Best from 1 to 6 p.m. March 10 at The Village at Lake Las Vegas, 30 Strada di Villaggio, Henderson.

More than 100 craft beers will be available. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Call 457-4677 for more information.

Insurgo to present 'Faustus'

Insurgo Theater Movement plans to present its adaptation of Christopher Marlowe's "Faustus" at 7 p.m. March 9-31 at the Plaza, 1 S. Main St. Tickets are $20. The production is expected to feature strong language and nudity. For more information, call 772-3897 or visit insurgotheater.org.

EXPERIENCE ETHNIC INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCING AT ARTS CENTER

Learn Armenian, Bulgarian, Israeli, Arabic, Macedonian, Russian, Greek, Turkish, Chinese and Serbian folk dances from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m. Wednesdays at Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 S. Brush St. No partner is needed. The cost is $4.

Call 229-6383 for more information.

Green Valley High School to host Empty Bowls benefit

The 12th annual Empty Bowls benefit and auction is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 10 at Green Valley High School, 460 Arroyo Grande Blvd., Henderson. The event is sponsored by the Nevada Clay Guild and Green Valley High School. A lunch of soup and bread will be served in handmade ceramic bowls. Each attendee can select his own unique ceramic bowl made by members and friends of the guild and keep it as a lasting reminder of world hunger. A live auction of bowls made by prominent artists is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. A silent auction also is planned. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for children and may be purchased at the door. All proceeds will go to the Las Vegas Catholic Worker and its programs feeding the poor and homeless of Clark County. For more information, call Julia Occhiogrosso at 234-0755 or Donna Potter at 799-0950, ext. 114034.

Las Vegas Shakespeare Company
to perform 'Cinderella'

The Las Vegas Shakespeare Company is scheduled to perform "Cinderella" at 8 p.m. April 13-14 and 20-21 at the Henderson Pavilion, 200 S. Green Valley Parkway. Additional performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. April 15 and 22. Tickets are $10. For more information, visit hendersonlive.com.

Wes Winters performs free shows at South Point

Wes Winters performs a free show from 6 to 9 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in the Grandview Lounge at the South Point, 9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South. For more information, visit southpointcasino.com.

Artist honors mother with photo/fabric exhibit

"Mama's Fabric," an exhibit by John Broussard, is set to be on display through May 5 at the West Las Vegas Arts Center, 947 W. Lake Mead Blvd. The exhibit is focused on community organizer Beatrice Dixon, Broussard's mother, who had a passion for sewing fabrics given to her as gifts. The exhibit includes Broussard's photographs of diverse Americans and Dixon's fabrics to tell her story. Visit lasvegasnevada.gov or call 229-4800.