Bluffton Events for March, 2012

*Wheelchair accessible event.*

* SAVANNAH THEATRE PRODUCTIONS, 222 Bull St. 912-233-7764 $37.45 (groups 29.50, kids 18.19)

Apr 1-29 "SOUTHERN NIGHTS" Wed, Fri. 8 pm, Sun. 3 pm Apr 3-28 "THE BEAT GOES ON" Tues, Thurs, Sat. 8 pm, Sat. 28th, 3 pm

Apr 1-30 U-PICK STRAWBERRIES AT OTTAWA FARMS $1.85/lb., $2.75 pre-picked. Tues-Sat. 8:30 am-5 pm, Sun. 1-6 pm. 912- 748-3035. I-95 S, exit 102, right onto Rt. 80, thru Pooler, left onto Cherry St. to farm.

* Apr 7 METROPOLITAN OPERA - LIVE! From the N.Y. met opera house! "Manon" Noon-4 pm. Cinemark, Bluffton $22, 24

* Apr 11 "THE GREAT CLASSIC JAZZ TOUR SALUTE" with the music of Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, performed by four talented stars. New Wave Swing.com 1-877-398-3756 7 pm. H. H. High Performing Arts (VPAC) $40-60

Apr 13 "KIAWAH ISLAND HOUSE AND ART TOUR" Five spectacular homes with personal art collections! 1-5 pm. Includes all refreshments and discounted admission to Charleston's Gibbes Museum. org 843-722-2706 (X22). $55

* Apr 14 METROPOLITAN OPERA - LIVE! "La Traviata" 1-3 pm. Cinemark, Bluffton $22, 24 Apr 14, 15 STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AT OTTAWA FARMS (Directions: see Apr 1-30 event) Sat. 9 am-6 pm, Sun. 1-6 pm. All day entertainment, food, crafts, cloggers, Univ. of Georgia dairy demos, homemade strawberry ice cream! Berry picking. 912-748-3035 Admission $5 (under 6, free)

* Apr 21 "A NIGHT OF GREAT OPERA" The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus and soloists perform the most popular arias from operas "LaTraviata, Aida, Carmen, Tannhauser, Marriage of Figero" 7:30 pm 912-525-5050 Lucas Theatre, 32 Abercorn, Sav. $16-55

* Apr 25- May 27 "HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING" H.H. Arts Center. 2 pm & 8 pm 842-2787 $50-55

Apr 29 "SUNDAY SUPPER IN THE STRAWBERRY PATCH" Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens at the Historic Bamboo Farm, 2 Canebrake Rd. (see directions Apr 6). Free parking. 4-5 pm: guided tour of gardens. 5-7 pm: chicken BBQ, rice, veggies, shortcake in Pavilion. Reserve 912-652-7981. Rain or shine $20

* Apr 30 "SONG AND DANCE" The season's final concert by the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra. Arthur Post, guest conductor. Featuring ZHU WANG, 15-year-old winner of the 2011 HH International Young Artist Piano Competition, performing Mozart's "Elvira Madigan" concerto. The orchestra presents Mozart's "Magic Flute Overture," a Strauss polka, Nicolai's "Merry Wives of Windsor," Kodaly's "Dances of Galanta." 8 pm First Presbyterian 842-2055.

Art Reception Honoring Ashley Hahn and D. Pierce Giltner

April 20th at 6-10 pm

Held on the corner of Lawrence and Calhoun Street in Old Town Bluffton

Ashley Hahn is primarily a selftrained artist who has been drawing and painting since she was a child. She studied architecture and design at Clemson University, and received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1997. As her love for painting and drawing grew stronger through her work in the architecture field, she realized she had more passion for art than architecture. She then started her own business painting watercolor renderings of houses and structures. She later expanded her talents to painting original oils and watercolors, as well as exquisite graphite portraits of people and animals.

Her technique produces a complicated, yet detailed scene, which reveals an understanding of depth and realism. She enjoys painting a variety of subjects, most of which, are inspired by the beauty of her low country surroundings.

Pierce's new paintings are done on rare salvaged tin and wood from a derelict slave houses to create his 5th body of art titled: "Folksouth- folks" . Pierce is one of the South's most unique artists. As an outsider artist he strives to capture southern heritage, preserving the past and presenting the present. His artwork is bold and powerful, telling the lives of black tenant farmers, bluesmen, and local oystermen.

Hors d'Ourves and refreshments will be served along with the music of Jevon Daly and Andy Pitts. The art will be displayed on a "rustic installation" of limbs and branches from old cedar trees from the Bluff on the May River. The reception is free and open to the public.