MSC OPAS launched its Intimate Gatherings series a few years ago to give theater-goers a cozier experience. The audience in fact is close enough to see the actors sweat. Thursday's presentation of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof should have plenty of perspiration to peruse.

Much of the action of Tennessee Williams' torrid drama takes place in the bedroom of Maggie and Brick as they prepare to celebrate the birthday of Brick's father, Big Daddy. The tension comes from what is being said about what's not being done.

Maggie wants a baby so she can compete with Brick's brother and his family of "no-neck monsters." But Brick would rather spend time with a bottle of whiskey.

Because of adult themes, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is not suitable for young audiences.

The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Rudder Theater on the Texas A&M University campus. Tickets are $15 to $41 at the Memorial Student Center box office (845-1234) or www.mscopas.org.

Art events

• Texas A&M's MSC Forsyth Center Galleries will present "Pressed Glass: An American Art & Industry" from Monday through June 1 in the Memorial Student Center on campus.

The exhibition highlights the development of the pressed-glass industry as the demand for products expanded into the middle class during the mid-19th century.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is free.

• The Frame Gallery, 216 N. Bryan Ave. in Bryan, will host its monthly First Friday festivities from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Artists will be on hand to discuss their work, and live music will be provided. Free.

• The Brazos Valley Art League will present its members' show throughout March at the Texas Gallery in the Arts Council of Brazos Valley, 2275 Dartmouth St. in College Station.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Free.

Concerts

• Concerts on Carter Creek will present "The Organ in Ensemble" featuring Bob Leslie, at 6 this evening at First Presbyterian Church, 1100 Carter Creek Parkway in Bryan.

Leslie, who is pastor emeritus of the church, will be joined by violinists Marianne Henry and Nicole Cherry, cellist Prudence McDaniel, flutist Penny Zent, violist Carl Van Valkenburg, harpsichordist Jane Van Valkenburg and the church's Chancel Choir.

Admission is free.

• Texas A&M University bands present two free concerts Sunday. The Symphonic Band and the Concert Band will play at 3 p.m. with the jazz ensembles performing at 6 p.m. in A&M's Rudder Theater.

Texas birthday

The Texas Independence Day Celebration at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park will feature many activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, including the historical play Gone to Texas at 12:30 and 4 p.m.

Admission to all parts of the park is free. Washington-on-the-Brazos is located off Texas 105 west of Navasota.

Attn: Art teachers

The Arts Council of Brazos Valley and the Brazos Valley Art League want entries for the inaugural Art Teachers of the Brazos Valley Exhibition in the Texas Gallery.

The exhibit is open to art teachers in Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Leon, Madison, Robertson and Washington counties. Each teacher may submit one piece in any medium (painting, drawing, sculpture, print, photography, textile).

The entry deadline is 5 p.m. March 28. The exhibit will run March 31 through April 30, and an artists' reception is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 3.

The Arts Council is at 2275 Dartmouth St. in College Station. For more information, call 696-2787.

Poet visits

Award-winning poet Sheryl St. Germain from Pittsburgh's Chatham University, will read selections from her published works at Blinn College and Texas A&M.

The first reading will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Bryan campus of Blinn. A second reading will be given at noon Tuesday on the Brenham campus. The third reading will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in A&M's Forsyth Center Galleries in the MSC.

Admission is free.

Home/garden festival

Brenham's free Home & Garden Festival will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the downtown historic district.

Booths will showcase plants, arts and crafts, and home decorating. Seminars on varied topics will be offered throughout the day.

Children's activities and live music will be provided.

More 'Camelot'

The Theatre Company production of Camelot continues at 2 this afternoon, 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. March 9 at the Tejas Center, at Villa Maria Road and Texas Avenue behind Jo-Ann Fabric in Bryan.

Tickets are $5 for children, $10 for matinees and $12 for evening shows, at the Arts Council, 2275 Dartmouth St. in College Station.

'Alice' continues

The Theatre Guild of Burleson County presents Alice in Wonderland at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at the Yegua Center, 616 8th St. in Somerville.

Tickets are $6 for children, $8 for students and senior citizens, and $10 for adults at the door.

TROUPE salutes NYC

Brazos Valley TROUPE presents "Manhattan Melodies" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. March 9 at 3705 E. 29th St. in Bryan's Town & Country Center.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $7 for senior citizens and $6 for TROUPE members and youths 18 and under.

Volunteers wanted

The Theatre Company is putting out a call for volunteers to help with the production of Merrily We Roll Along,

Producer Mickey Gross is looking for a stage manager, set builders, lighting designer, costumer, sound operator, props manager and choreographer.

Rehearsals start March 11, and the musical opens April 18.

Anyone interested can contact Gross at mgross2@ hughes.net or call 936-870-3812.

• Jim Butler's e-mail address is jim.butler@theeagle.com.

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