See & Do March 11 2004

Puppetry
?Strung out
?If Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is America’s most well-known puppet of late, it seems that the world of puppetry could use a bit of tradition. Enter the SALZBURG MARIONETTES, a 91-year-old Austrian puppet troupe. Three days of performances include Rossini’s comic Italian opera THE BARBER OF SEVILLE on MARCH 12 at 8 p.m., Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM on MARCH 13 at 8 p.m., and the troupe’s self-described signature opera piece, Mozart’s THE MAGIC FLUTE on MARCH 14 at 5 p.m. For the “Sesame Street” demographic, the marionettes perform Prokofiev’s PETER AND THE WOLF on March 13-14 at 1 p.m. These presentations include a Create-A-Puppet Workshop. $35-$60. Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. 404-873-3391. www.puppet.org.-- Karen Kalb

Live Music
?Revenge of the nerds
?Janet coming out of her top is nothing! Pharrell Williams gets shirtless for almost every live show. So if you’re lucky, on MARCH 15, you can catch Williams’ chest, along with fellow mega-producers Chad Hugo and Shay, performing together as the rock-star threesome N.E.R.D. But don’t worry, FCC, the BLACK EYED PEAS will bring their radio friendly hip-hop center stage. $26. 8 p.m. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. 404-659-9022. www.atlantaconcerts.com.-- Salina Joseph

Live Music
?Home is where the concert is
?Atlanta natives return to the New South this week starting with our own Chris Luva Luva. More famously known as LUDACRIS, he performs at the Tabernacle MARCH 11 and he’s bringing his protegee, CHINGY. You know Chingy, the guy who convinced a very grown-up Rudy from “The Cosby Show” to slip into lacy lingerie for one of his videos. $35. 8 p.m. Tabernacle, 152 Luckie St. 404-659-9022. www.atlantaconcerts.com.

Much more than just the baby-mama to a certain Polaroid picture-shaking Atlantan, Ms. ERYKAH BADU rocks the Fox MARCH 12. For those of us who are interested in what’s been going on with this “Bag Lady,” you don’t want to miss this concert. Although she’s not a native Atlantan, FLOETRY’s Marsha Ambrosius landed a basketball scholarship to Georgia Tech, until an injury forced her to bow out. Who knew? Sold out. 8 p.m. Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. 404-881-2100. www.foxtheatre.org.

Instead of watching those “Dawson’s Creek” reruns, break the ritual for just one day and catch SHAWN MULLINS on MARCH 13. Besides favorites from Beneath the Velvet Sun, he may play “Shimmer” — the one from the “Dawson’s Creek” soundtrack. $15. 8:30 p.m. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com. -- Jillian Bowe and Salina Joseph

Short List

March 11 - Thursday?
?In From Tel Aviv to Ramallah, A Beatbox Journey, Yuri Lane uses his mad beatboxing skills to explore Israeli-Palestinian relations. Lane is one of two performers featured in Jewish Theatre of the South and J in the City’s Inside Israel: Two One-of-a-Kind One-Man Shows. Also performing is Yossi Vassa, who the Jerusalem Post recently crowned “Israel’s Eddie Murphy.” No word on whether that’s “Axel Foley” Murphy or “Pluto Nash” Murphy. $10-$25. 8 p.m. Sat., 8 and 10 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Selig Center, 1440 Spring St. 770-395-2654. (KK)

March12FridayWhat can you say about CHRIS ROCK that hasn’t been said before? $39.50-$59.50. 7 p.m. Atlanta Civic Center, 395 Piedmont Ave. 404-523-6275. www.atlantaciviccenter.com. (Heather Kuldell)

March 13 - Saturday
?So let’s make it clear: Chicago is the home of house music. No wonder DERRICK CARTER, a house head from the Chi since age 9, gets it right. Skip the subzero temps and stomp up a pump-your-fist, sweaty-sweet funk right here. $10 (presale). Doors open at 9 p.m. The Crescent Room, 1136 Crescent Ave. 404-875-5252. www.thecrescentroom.com. (T. LaGon)

March 14 - Sunday
?My favorite version of H.M.S. PINAFORE was performed by Sideshow Bob upon the request of Bart Simpson, as he tried to thwart yet another attempt on his life by Krusty’s former sidekick in the “Cape Feare” episode. But I hear that the version performed by NEW YORK GILBERT & SULLIVAN PLAYERS is pretty good, too. $25-$52. 8 p.m. Atlanta Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree St. 404-733-5000. www.atlantasymphony.org. (HK)

March 15 - Monday
?Atlanta’s youngest theater company, Relativity Theatre Concern, takes its first bow with the dark comedy THE SHAPE OF THINGS by Neil LaBute, who’s best known for his films Nurse Betty and In the Company of Men. $12-$16. Mon.-Tues. 8 p.m. Continues through March 30. Actor’s Express, 887 W. Marietta St., Suite J-107. 404-502-6655. www.relativitytheatre.com. (Curt Holman)

March 16 - Tuesday
?It seems in the age of copious piercings and tattoos, young folk are too busy channeling their rebellion into body art to raise a political ruckus. Not so in former Atlantan David Zeiger’s concert film, A NIGHT OF FEROCIOUS JOY. It documents a host of hip-hop bands and spoken-word talent concert against George Bush’s war on terrorism. $7. 7 p.m. Horizon Theatre, 1083 Austin Ave. 404-239-8054. atlanta@refuseandresist.org. (Felicia Feaster)

March 17 - Wednesday
?True Colors Theatre Company views the Southern-woman chestnut STEEL MAGNOLIAS in a fresh light as Kent Gash directs a “color-blind” cast that includes Atlanta favorites Jill Jane Clements and Elisabeth Omilami. $32-$38. Wed.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Continues through April 4. 14th Street Playhouse, 173 14th St. 404-733-4750. www.truecolorstheatrecompany.com. (CH)??