Friday, May 16

COMEDY

Look, it’s Talking Baby!

Need a laugh? Check out The Robot Johnson Show. Never heard of it?Shame on you. Charlotte’s hilarious sketch comedy troupe moves uptown with 12 shows over six nights. The shows are tonight and Saturday, plus May 23, 24, 30 and 31. It’s in the Duke Energy Theatre of Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 345 N. College St., Charlotte. Keep an ear (and eye)out for Sean Keenan (MTV’s “Talking Baby”) and Blaine Miller (“The Perch Sketch Comedy Group”). Tickets are $15, available through carolinatix.org or the Blumenthal box office, (704) 372-1000. Warning: This isn’t for the kiddies. We’re talking adult language and content.

EVENT

Viva Italian

They’re celebrating all things Italian tonight and Saturday at the 13th annual Benvenuti! Italian festival at Fort Mill’s St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. It’s 5 to 10 tonight and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Don’t miss the signature homemade sausage while you’re taking in the games, rides, arts and crafts.

MUSIC

Ah, sweet sounds

The South Pointe High School choral program presents “The Colors of our World,” an evening of music representing international cultures at 7 tonight in the school auditorium. The show features the Stallion Corral, which recently placed fifth in the state and was awarded a superior rating. Stallion Singers will be showcased. Chrissy Hoskins, Sarah Boyd and Wayne Leiwald are featured soloists. Tickets are $4 students and $7 adults from Beverly Laney at 980-2172 or e-mail blaney@rock-hill.k12.sc.us.

Saturday, May 17

EVENT

Bluegrass and BBQ

The Arts Council of York County will present Bluejeans, Bluegrass & BBQ from 4 to 7 p.m. May 17 in the Cotton Alley, outside the Center for the Arts at 121 E. Main St., downtown Rock Hill. The event will feature Ken Scoggins and Miller’s Creek with barbecue ribs, grilled corn on the cob and other sides by columnist Dan Huntley. Complimentary cocktails will be offered the first hour. Tickets are $15, or $10 for Art After Hours members, and must be purchased in advance from the arts council at 328-2787. Proceeds will go to programming for the 2008-09 arts season.

Monday, May 19

ART

Stroll the gallery

Winthrop University Galleries showcases works from the University Collection through Sept. 4 in the Lewandowski Student Gallery. It’s a great way to take in a bit of art and get out of the heat. Check winthrop.edu for hours.

EVENTS

Creating an experience

The second annual Create Carolina Arts Festival: A Southern Fried Arts Festival starts Monday and turns through June 7 at Winthrop University. The event will feature productions by established and emerging artists from around the country.

A feature of the festival will be the creation of an innovative theater piece about the untold story of Victoria Woodhull, the first female stockbroker who ran for president, and Fredrick Douglass, a former slave whom Woodhull selected as her vice presidential nominee.

Flying high

The SkyHawks Parachute Team will take to the skies over Lancaster this weekend as the Palmetto ThunderAirshow soars high from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Lancaster County Airport. Tickets are $15 adults, $10 ages 3 to 12. Details, www.palmettothunder.com.

Thursday, May 22

MUSIC

Social sound

The Freedom Center in downtown Rock Hill is the site Thursday for the last of a three-performance spring music series. Headlining the show is Roy “Futureman” Wooten & The Black Mozart Ensemble. Rock Hill native Linh Le, who organized the series, says Wooten’s show is a social statement about social inequality and breaking the boundary between race and class through music. The show is at 8 p.m. at the center, 215 E. Main St., Rock Hill. Cost is $15. Tickets are on sale at Thi’s Place on Main, The Freedom Center, Overhead Station and Woody’s Music.

Friday, May 23

MOVIE

Unique opportunity

“Trainwreck — My Life as an Idiot” will be screened at 8 p.m. May 23 in Winthrop’s Johnson Theater as part of the Create Carolina Arts Festival. The film, an adaptation of Jeff Nichols’ memoir directed and written by Tod Harrison Williams, stars Seann William Scott in the title role of Jeff, the idiot, who is paralyzed by learning disabilities and recovering from alcoholism and is trying to figure out who he is and how to live his life.

It’s free admission, and there’s a discussion with the director after the film.

Saturday, May 24

FILM

Meet Pearl

The Create Carolina Arts Festival continues with a screening of “A Man Named Pearl,” at 8 p.m. in Winthrop’s Johnson Theater. The documentary tells the story of self-taught Bishopville topiary artist Pearl Fryar. Plus, there’s a chance to meet and talk with artist himself at 7:30 p.m. in the theater. It’s free.

EVENT

Thunder into some fun

Cars, charity and great music. It’s a fantastic way to spend a Saturday and the Fort Mill Thunder Car Show offers all three from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 24 in downtown Fort Mill. The car show features the General Lee. Then the family can listen to the sounds of bluegrass music by Wayne Henderson, Ridgehill and Deeper Shade of Blue while enjoying food from downtown vendors. For details, check www.FortMillThunder.com.

MUSIC

There’s joy in the air

The sounds of gospel praise will be heard at Carowinds May 24 as the popular JoyFest hits the Paladium stage. Headlining is Fred Hammond, but he’s bringing J. Moss, Tye Tribbett (right), Marvin Sapp and Canton Jones with him, plus Chrstian comedian Bone Hampton will emcee. The music starts at 5 p.m. with Jones, followed by Sapp, Moss, Tribbett and Hammond. Concert and full-day park admission, $44.99 to 29.99. Details, www.ticketmaster.com or (704) 522-6500.

A bonus: Boomerang Bay, Carowinds 20-acre, Australian-themed water park, also opens May 24, so you can cool off all day before heading over for the concert. Check out www.carowinds.com for details.