Merced Arts Wrap Jan. 30, 2015

Final weekend for ‘Pirates’

“The Pirates of Penzance” ends its run this weekend at Playhouse Merced. Tickets are on sale for performances at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and for Sunday’s 2 p.m. matinee. Purchase tickets by going to www.facebook.com/PlayhouseMerced, calling (209) 725-8587 or visiting the box office at 452 W. Main St. in downtown Merced.

Black History Month musical

In recognition of Black History Month, the musical “Crowns” will be performed at the Merced Multicultural Art Center’s Black Box Theater, 645 W. Main St. Directed by G.B. Blackmon III and with musical director Dennis Brown, the critically acclaimed musical, written by playwright and actress Regina Taylor, provides a variety of stories from different characters, time periods and perspectives about black women and their church hats. The show will be performed Feb. 6-15 at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. A special fundraiser show for the Merced Boys and Girls Club is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12. Tickets for the event will be $30 per person or $50 a couple. For more information, call Playhouse Merced at (209) 725-8587.

Shakespearefest: ‘Winter’s Tale’

Merced Shakespearefest will present “The Winter’s Tale” on Feb. 20-22, Feb. 27-28 and March 1 at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center, 645 W. Main St. in Merced. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 general admission, $8 students; they can be purchased at the door or at the arts center during business hours, or be reserved by calling (209) 723-3265. For more information, visit mercedshakespearefest.org.

Black History Month program

Liberty Fellowship in Atwater has planned a Black Month History Program for 5 p.m. Feb. 22. The event will include a community choir under direction of Gwen Amey, praise dancing by Liberty Fellowship, and more. The church is at 1900 Shaffer Road in Atwater and the event is free to the public.

Human Rights Film Festival

University of California, Merced, in February will hold a Human Rights Watch Film Festival, with a different film shown every Friday. The films will be shown at 7 to 9 p.m. in Classroom Office Building (COB) 120 at the campus. For questions or more information, email professor Nigel Hatton at nhatton@ucmerced.edu.

South Pacific dance lessons

The South Pacific Dance Company is teaching traditional dance and music from the cultures of Hawaii and Tahiti. The school is now enrolling for the spring semester, ages 4 through adult, beginners and advanced. Males and females are both welcome. Classes are held at Creation Station, 2408 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. In addition, the Soul Power Dance Crew is now taking enrollment for an eight-week session in hip-hop dance for ages 7 through teens. For more information, email kikiraina@hotmail.com or leave a message at (209) 383-1435.

Exhibits at the Arts Center

The Merced Multicultural Arts Center has opened an exhibit titled “Emergency/Emergence: Art After War.” Curated by Eli-Jelly Schapiro, it features the work of artists Aaron Hughes, Ehren Tool, Mark Pinto and Drew Cameron, who are all Iraq War veterans. A reception is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the center, 645 W. Main St. For more information, visit artsmerced.org.

Merced Camera Club Meets

The Merced Camera Club invites all who are interested in photography to its meetings on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at Merced County Farm Bureau, 646 S. Highway 59. Call (209) 382-0222 or (209) 761-0260.

Photography classes

Professional photographer Jay Sousa is offering a three-day intensive wedding photography workshop that will run Feb. 20-22. In addition, Souza is offering a class that will combine beginning backpacking and a nighttime full-moon photography workshop in the 20 Lakes Basin, Aug. 28-30. For information, call Sousa at (209) 617-1384.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Merced Arts Wrap Jan. 30, 2015."