Stage Urinetown - High-energy music, twisted plot and humorous satire. Opens THURSDAY to March 5 7:30pm at the Spectrum Community Theatre (957 Burnside). $10/ $8 students. 250-479-8271.
SIN CITY - A live, completely improvised comedy that unfolds in 20 weekly episodes. THURSDAY 8pm at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad). $12/$10. 250-480-3709.
Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh - A dramatic love triangle set during the turbulent years around the French revolution. Opens THURSDAY to March 5 8pm at 28 Bastion Square. $20/$15. 250-896-3956.
LA BOHEME - (See ARTS). Puccini’s nostalgic story of young artists who live on love. To MONDAY at the Royal Theatre (805 Broughton). $30-$130. 250-386-6121.
THE CRYPTOGRAM - Set in 1959, a journey back to childhood and the moment of its vanishing. To SUNDAY at The Belfry Theatre (1291 Gladstone). $27-$37. 250-385-6815, belfry.bc.ca.
twelfth night - Get groovy with this psychedelic 1970’s spin on Shakespeare’s classic gender-bending comedy. Opens THURSDAY to March 5 at the Phoenix Theatre (UVic). $15-$22. 250-721-8000.
Open Rehearsals: Influence - Witness theatre in the making first-hand for the upcoming production of Influence and a hands-on demo of set construction, design and costumes. Reservations recommended. FRIDAY 12:15-1:15pm at Intrepid Theatre (2-1609 Blanshard). Free. 250-383-2663.
Scene + Heard SCORED - A live collaboration project between six local filmmakers, six traditional oral storytellers, and local musician Oliver Swain. FRIDAY-SUNDAY at the Metro Studio Theatre (1411 Quadra). $15. 250-590-4083.
TORONTO DANCE THEATRE - Pteros Tactics: The Instant of Desire, choreographed by Christopher House. FRIDAY and SATURDAY 7:30pm at the McPherson Playhouse (3 Centennial Square). $52/$38. 250-386-6121.
Chinese Dance Spectacular - Showcasing many fantastic and authentic Chinese dances from different part of China. SATURDAY 7pm at the Farquhar Auditorium (UVic). $18-$25. 250-858-6299.
of Mice and Men - Reading by Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre. SATURDAY 7:30pm at the Conservatory of Music Wood Hall (900 Johnson). By donation. 250-385-4462.
Theatresports - Improv at its best. SUNDAY 8pm at the Victoria Event Centre (1415 Broad). $10. 250-380-1280.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - Romance, murder and an man-eating plant. WEDNESDAY 8pm. To March 5 at Vic High Auditorium (1260 Grant). $12/$10. 250-388-5456.
The Lady in the Van - Previews WEDNESDAY 8pm. To March 19 at Langham Court Theatre (805 Langham Court). Two for $18. 250-384-2142, boxoffice.langhamcourt@shaw.ca.WORDSAsbestos: The Silent Killer - Panel discussion with representatives from Worksafe, BC Cancer, Veteran Affairs, VIHA and US Trust Lawyer. THURSDAY 2pm at the Dockyard Legion Branch 172 (622 Admirals). Free. 1-877-922-6728, director@cansav.ca.
Where in the world is Anyox, BC? - Biologist, naturalist and amateur historian, Gord Hutchings weaves a great story. Registration required. THURSDAY 2-3:30pm at the GVPL, Central Saanich Branch (3110 Tillicum). Free. gvpl.ca.
Victoria Spoken Word Festival - (See ARTS). Tongues of Fire, featuring Toronto poet Kay’la Fraser. THURSDAY 7pm at the Solstice Café (529 Pandora). $5. Awesome Sh*t Showcase, twelve spoken word artists from across North America perform their best work. Friday 8pm at the Intrepid Theatre Club (1609 Blanshard). $10. On the Edge, 12 poets have one day to write an entirely new show, and they have to do it together. Plus performance from Poet of Honour RC Weslowski. SATURDAY 8pm at the Intrepid Theatre Club (1609 Blanshard). $10. victoriaspokenwordfestival.com.
Planet Earth Poetry - Open mic followed by Montreal poet Katia Grubisic and poet/novelist Kanneth Radu reading. FRIDAY 7:30pm at The Moka House (1633 Hillside).
Café SyMPATICO - Political Prisoners: Weapons of War. Forum on detention, imprisonment and torture used as weapons of war. FRIDAY 8pm at 1923 Fernwood. By donation.
Storytime - Enjoy fun, participatory stories for children and plenty of pages for kids of all ages. SATURDAYS & WEDNESDAYS 11am at Tall Tales Books (795 Fort). Free. talltalesbooks.com.
Freelancing for a Living - Learn what it takes to make on your own. SATURDAY 2-4pm at Overleaf Café & Bookshop (1105 Pandora). $10. naturalreviews@hotmail.com.
Author Brunch - Celebrating Black History Month, a homage to poet Ted Joans. SUNDAY 11:30am-1pm at the Well (821 Fort). Free. 250-590-4995.
Roaring Women Dinner Meeting - Five Tips for Facebook for your Business. Learn simple ways to maximize your effectiveness on Facebook. Registration required. MONDAY 5:30pm at 4670 Elk Lake. $51. roaringwomen.com.
NEPTUNE Canada - Transforming Ocean Science. Mairi Best, Associate Director of the NEPTUNE Canada Project, will describe this regional cabled ocean observatory. MONDAY 7:30pm at in room 159, the Fraser Building (UVic). Free. naturevictoria.ca.
YOUTH AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE - Find out how restorative practises help young people take responsibility for their own actions, deal effectively with conflict, make good choices when faced with difficult circumstances, understand the meaning of community and learn skills to become good citizens. MONDAY 7pm in the Crowsnest Room, Archie Browning Memorial Centre (1151 Esquimalt). Free. 250-412-8510.
The Civic Umma - Citizenship in a secular age. Distinguished lecture in Islam. MONDAY 7:30pm in room 105, the Harry Hickman Building (UVic). Free. 250-721-6325.
States of Race & Struggles for Social Justice - Lecture by Dr Sunera Thobani. TUESDAY 7pm in room 105, the Harry Hickman Building (UVic). Free. 250-721-7573.
Cafe Scientifique: Frogs, the environment and genes - An opportunity for the public to meet local researchers and discuss some of the most interesting and sometimes contentious research currently underway in Canada. TUESDAY 6:30pm at the Strathcona Hotel (919 Douglas). Free. 250-472-4067, cfbr@uvic.ca.
Victoria Anarchist Reading Circle - Discuss the lastest in anarchy reading. TUESDAYS 7pm at Camas Books (2590 Quadra). Free. 250-381-0585.
Poetry night - Share your poetic soul with others. WEDNESDAYS 7-9pm at the Well (821 Fort). Free.
THE WARMER SIDE OF ROMANCE - EC Sheedy, author of a dozen Romantic Suspense titles, discusses how she lays out her stories. WEDNESDAY 7pm at the Oaklands Community Centre (2827 Belmont). Free. 250-592-6558, victoriawriters.ca.galleries openingAVENUE GALLERY - Paintings by Karna Bonwick, Dawn Stofer, Vicky Marshal, Marion Scott and Anne Savage. Opens THURSDAY. To March 10 at 2184 Oak Bay.
dominguez gallery - Avant-Garde Concepts, works by Carolina Echeverria. Opens THURSDAY. To MONDAY at 2075 otter Point.
Collective Works Gallery - Group show. Opens FRIDAY. To March 10 at 1311 Gladstone.
luz gallery - Still Pendulums, by Dan MacDougall. Artist reception FRIDAY 7-9pm. To March 22 at 1844 Oak Bay.
Maritime museum of BC - Entheogenica: Generating the Divine Within, photo-manipulation exhibit featuring the work by Mike Routliffe. Opening reception SATURDAY 2-4pm. To April at 28 Bastion.
Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria - Federation of Canadian Artists annual spring exhibition. Opening reception SUNDAY 2-4pm. To March 9 at G6-1001 Douglas.
Martin Batchelor Gallery - Turning the Tide, textile art exhibit. Opening reception SUNDAY 2-5pm. To March 10 at 712 Cormorant.
eclectic gallery - Simple Acts of Colour, exhibition of abstract work by Wendy Skog. Opens MONDAY. To April 14 2170 Oak Bay.
The Well -Work by Jennifer Toke. Opens TUESDAY. To April 15 at 821 Fort.galleries- Cont. Martin Batchelor Gallery - Dance Magnifique, five Victoria visual artists present their unique interpretations based on performances of acclaimed dancers. To THURSDAY at 712 Cormorant.
Collective Works Gallery - Pets’n’Meat: Sculpture Celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, by Jan Johnson. To THURSDAY at 1311 Gladstone.
slide room gallery - Picture This, a project based on Lynda Barry’s book by the same name. To FRIDAY at 2549 Quadra.
eclectic gallery - All Sorts, by Jennifer McIntyre. To FRIDAY at 2170 Oak Bay.
Xchanges Gallery - Polyphony, works by June Higgins. To SUNDAY at 2333 Government.
art gallery of greater victoria - Focus on the Collection, prints by Albrecht Dürer. To SUNDAY. Blend, Adelle Andrew and Eva Wynand. To March 6. The Lab: 250 Remix, Tegan Forbes. To April 3. Silent As Glue and Down the garden Path. To June 5. Serenity: the Asian Garden. To July 2. On the Edge of Nowhere by Emily Carr, semi-permanent. All shows at 1040 Moss.
Selkirk Gallery - Exhibition of abstract paintings by Maggie Cole and Bill Porteous. To MONDAY at 2960B Jutland.
gallery at mattick’s farm - Textured mixed media works by artist Maggie Cole. To MONDAY at 109-5325 Cadboro Bay.
morris gallery - Featuring new works by Keith Hiscock and David Goatley. To MONDAY at 428 Burnside East.
Winchester galleries - Selected Works, by Yves Gaucher. To MONDAY at 758 Humboldt.
dales gallery - Where Are They Now? Following the VEAA 2010 Collective, an exhibition showing the development of 10 young emerging artists who got center stage at the Victoria Emerging Art Awards in 2010. To TUESDAY at 537 Fisgard.
GOWARD HOUSE - Group exhibition featuring works 12 inches or less. To WEDNESDAY at 2495 Arbutus.
Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria - LOOK Victoria, regional arts exhibition and sale. To March 4 at the Bay Centre downtown, bottom level (1150 Douglas).
Deluge gallery - RPM: The Lost Art of LP Covers, a fundraising show and sale. To March 5 at 636 Yates.
Polychrome Fine Arts gallery - Mr & Miss Understood, solo exhibition of paintings of heads by Ken Banner. To March 10 at 1113 Fort.
View Art Gallery - Cold Comfort, paintings by Robert Randall and Keegan Wenkman. To March 12 at 104-860 View.
Alcheringa Gallery - Ailans Travelled, exhibition of contemporary Papua New Guinean and Canadian Northwest Coast art. To March 18 at 665 Fort.
Sooke Harbour House - Love at First Sight, work by Patty Patching. To March 29 at 1528 Whiffen Spit.
Absolute Underground Gallery - Black Valentine, featuring local artists, Genghis Shawn, Jacob Ryan, Dustin Jak, Trust666, Ory, Cam Kallos, Lawrence Denvir, Ishe “No Show,” Amanda Schurman and more. To March 31 at 1215 Government.
Gallery at the Mac - Discovering the Promise in Ourselves, St. Michaels University School art exhibit. To April 4 at 3 Centennial Square.
Royal BC Museum - Behind the Scenes exhibition will bring the museum’s inner workings out to the public. To October 2, 2011, at 675 Belleville.