1.) Driving Miss Daisy
Set against the civil rights movement, an elderly, cantankerous Southern woman develops an unlikely friendship with an African-American chauffeur after one of her own driving excursions results in an epic fail. The Pulitzer Prize-winning play was turned into an Academy Award-winning movie. “Driving Miss Daisy” will be performed at the Fairfield Footlighters, 411 Wessel Dr. in Fairfield on February 15-17 and 22-24. Performance times are 8 p.m. on Friday-Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $11-$14. For more info, call (513) 867-5348 or visit www.fairfieldfootlighters.org.
2.) Hitchcock Revisited
Miami University Professor Louise Davis will present Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1958 film, Vertigo. Jimmy Stewart plays a troubled ex-cop who becomes increasingly obsessed with a client’s wife (Kim Novak). The constant casting of curvaceous blondes in Hitchcock movies indicated that somebody had a little obsession of his own. We’ll leave it to you decide whether Stewart’s character is merely an extension of the director’s own low self-esteem. The film will be screened at Miami Hamilton Downtown, 221 High St. in Hamilton at 6:30 p.m. on February 12. Admission is free. For more info, call (513) 785-3000 or email vaughnjh@gmail.com.
3.) Eating Until Your Heart’s Content with Liz Bonis
Liz Bonis is the co-host of WKRC Channel 12’s “Good Morning Cincinnati,” as well as a professional dietitian, nutritionist, personal trainer, and diabetes expert. She will be giving a timely lecture on healthy eating during a luncheon at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave. in Hamilton on February 13 at 11:30 a.m. Admission is $18 for members and $23 for non-members. For more info, call (513) 863-8873 ext. 110 or visit www.fittoncenter.org.
4.) Trout Fishing in America
This folk rock and children’s music duo has entertained kids and families with songs like “When I Was A Dinosaur” and “My Hair Had a Party Last Night” for over 30 years, earning four Grammy nominations along the way. They will perform at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave. in Hamilton at 7:30 p.m. on February 15. Tickets are $10 for members and $12 for non-members. For more info, call (513) 863-8873 or visit www.fittoncenter.org.
5.) Ladysmith Black Mambazo
This South African male choral group first came to Western attention when they performed on Paul Simon’s popular 1986 album, “Graceland.” Since then, they’ve hung out with Nelson Mandela, won three Grammys, and were heard in Broadway’s version of “The Lion King.” Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at Dave Finkelman Auditorium, 4200 N. University Blvd., (on the Miami University Middletown campus.) at 7:30 p.m. on February 13. Ticket prices are $15-$26. For tickets or more info, call (513) 529-3200.
6.) MetroParks a Lecture Series
Celebrate the winter by learning about Antarctica in this seasonal lecture series. Chris Edelson is the Zookeeper at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and will be bringing a “special” guest lecturer who just might “steal the show.” Check it out at the Voice of America MetroPark, 7850 VOA Park Dr. in West Chester from 7-9 p.m. on February 12. Admission is free. For more info, call (513) 867-5835 or visit www.yourmetroparks.net.
7.) Romeo and Juliet
If you forgot the flowers this Valentine’s Day, you can always take your girlfriend to this Shakespeare classic and tell her afterward, “At least you’re still alive.” This is the ballet version of the Bard’s tale of star-crossed lovers doomed by a family feud, penned by legendary Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev, in the 1930s. It remains one of the most popularly performed ballets to this day. See it at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St. in Cincinnati on February 14-16. Performance times are 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $31-$82. For more info, call (513) 621-2787 or visit www.cincinnatiarts.org.
8.) Les Liaisons Dangereuse (Dangerous Liaisons)
Aristocrats in 18th-century France fill their idle days with mind games of deceit and seduction, until one of them genuinely falls in love, with fatal consequences. The controversial 1782 novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos has been adapted to the stage and screen several times, most popularly as a 1988 film starring Glenn Close and John Malkovich. Check out the Christopher Hampton play (the basis for that film) at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, 719 Race St. in Cincinnati, from February 15 to March 10. Performance times are 7 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are $22-$32. For more info, call (513) 381-BARD or visit www.cincyshakes.com.
9.) Mike Epps
This actor/comedian is known for his riffing turns in movies like “Friday After Next” and “All About the Benjamins,” but also slightly more serious fare such as “Something New.” He’ll be reprising his role as “Black Doug” in “The Hangover 3” this summer. In the meantime, catch his stand-up comedy act at the U.S. Bank Arena, 100 Broadway St. in Cincinnati on February 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $42.50-$78. For more info, call (513) 421-4111 or visit www.usbankarena.com.
10.) Playdate with the Bearcats
The great 2009 UC Bearcats adopted a young cancer patient named Mitch Stone. Today, Stone is cancer-free, but the Bearcats and Mitch’s Mission are still raising money for pediatric cancer treatment though its “playdates” with the Bearcats. This second annual event invites kids for a day of swimming, rock-climbing, face painting, sports drills and meeting UC players. Come down to the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center at the University of Cincinnati, 2600 Clifton Ave. in Cincinnati on February 12 from 2-5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for individuals and $50 for families. For more info, visit www.mitchsmission.com.
