Out & About: Merced Playhouse presents "The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged)"

SATURDAY

"The Bible: The Complete Word of God (Abridged)" in on stage at Playhouse Merced's Black Box Theater, 452 W. Main St., Merced through Nov. 29. From the creators of "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)," comes this affectionate yet irreverent look at the Bible. The show examines everything from fig leaves to Final Judgment, posing such theological questions as: Did Adam and Eve have navels? Did Moses really look like Charlton Heston? What would the Ten Commandments look like today? And Does God have a sense of humor? Playhouse Merced's production features actor / comedians Michael Winder, Dustin Brown, and Rob Hypes. Tickets are on sale now for Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 and Sunday matinees at 2. Tickets prices: Children: $8; students: $10; seniors: $17; adults: $20. Purchase tickets by calling (209) 725-8587, or stopping in the box office at 452 W. Main St.

Merced Shakespearefest holds auditions for "King Lear" at 10 a.m. at Playhouse Merced, 452 W. Main St. All roles are open except Lear; performances are Feb. 19-21 in Merced. For more information, call Heike Hambley at (209) 723-3265 or go to mercedshakespearefest.org.

Singer Maria Muldaur, best known for her hit "Midnight at the Oasis," performs at West Side Theatre, 1331 Main St., Newman. General admission is $18, reserved seating $21. For more information, call (209) 862-4490 or visit WestSideTheatre.org and MariaMuldaur.com.

Legendary rock band KISS appears at Save Mart Center at Fresno State. Ticket prices range from $19.50-$128. For more information, visit Ticketmaster.com.

Merced County Certified Farmers Market is open on Saturday mornings from 7 a.m. to noon at the corner of 19th and N streets.

Sound Remedy performs from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the Star Club, 1331 W. Main St, Merced. There is no cover charge. You must be at least 21 years old to enter.

MONDAY

Open Mic at The Partisan, 432 W. Main St., Merced. Signups start at 8 p.m. All performers and types of acts welcome.

Square dance to all kinds of music at the Stratford Evens Reception Hall, 15th and B streets, Merced from 7 to 9 p.m. each Monday. The Boots & Slippers Square Dance Club of Merced invites anyone 12 years and older to come join the fun of learning to square dancing.

Teens who want to be involved in the 2010 Merced County Fair are encouraged to apply for a seat on the Junior Fair Board by todays' deadline. The fair is recruiting teens who want to volunteer their talents for a year by serving on the 12-member Junior Fair Board. The fair also is looking for a new Community Advisor to work with the Junior Fair Board. Application forms can be picked up at the Merced County Fairgrounds Office, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced and also can be downloaded from the fair's website, www.MercedCountyFair.com.

Merced College Art Gallery, 3600 M St., Merced features an exhibition of sculpture, titled "War Stories" by Bay Area Artist Pamela Blotner. The exhibition opens with a reception for the artist todayfrom 5-7p.m. The exhibit will continue to Dec. 15.

TUESDAY

"The Really Big Show," presented by Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St., runs until Jan. 3. The show features large works of the Arbor Gallery artist. For more information, call (209) 388-1090 or visit ArtsMerced.org. The center is open weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Livingston Interfaith Council hosts its Thanksgiving service at 7 p.m. at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1505 E St., Livingston. Among the participants will be Mary Hoffman, Jewish; Alan Blue Heron, Native American; and Heike Hambley, Unity. The Nichigobu choir of the United Methodist Church will sing, along with "One in the Spirit," a men's singing group from the Church of God in Atwater. The Rev. Nancy Clegg will represent the Cortez Presbyterian Church. Dalin Warne, son of Livingston City Manager Richard Warne, will play the piano, representing the LDS Church. If you need more information, call 394-226 or, that evening, call the organizer, Pastor Bob Kuyper of the United Methodist Church on his cell phone, (209) 628-0913.