(Enlarge) In a rehearsal for Laurel Mill Playhouse’s production of “Charlotte’s Web,” from left, Julie Rogers, as Wilbur, is protected by Sophia Anastasia, as Fern, while Greg Mangiapaney, as Mr. Arable, prepares to wield his ax. The show is based on the popular children’s book by E.B. White, and opens on Friday, Oct. 30. (photo by Brien Binney)

Theater

Call for young directors and playwrights -- Ages 14 to 18 years of age, submit resumes and one act plays for the Laurel Mill Young Playwrights One Act Festival to be held Jan. 22-24 at Laurel Mill Playhouse, 508 Main St. One acts and resumes must be received by Nov. 15 by e-mail to maureencrogers@gmail.com. Auditions in late November. 301-452-2557.

"Charlotte's Web" -- Opens Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. at the Laurel Mill Playhouse, 58 Main St. Performances run weekends through Nov. 22 with Friday and Saturday evening performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. No show on Halloween, Saturday, Oct. 31. Adapted by Joseph Robinette, based on the book by E.B. White, directed and produced by Patti and Stu Knazik, this play is about friendship. Tickets $13 for general admission, $10 for students (a8 and under) and Seniors (65 and over). Reservations, 301-617-9906 and press 2. www.laurelmillplayhouse.org.

Musical director needed -- "Uh Oh Here Comes Christmas," a play with music, not a musical, runs from Dec. 4 through Dec. 20. Stipend available; not necessary to be at all rehearsals, will work with your schedule. Maureen Rogers, maureencrogers@gmail.com, 301-452-2557.

"Helen of Sparta" -- World premiere opening, Thursday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. at the Venus Theatre, 21 C. St. Part of the Retro-Classic series, the play runs through Nov. 22 Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Written by Jacob M. Appel, it is a comedic retelling of Homer's "Illiad" from the point of view of the kidnapped Helen of Troy. 866-811-4111. www.venustheatre.org.

Cross-Tie Walker Band --  Friday, Oct. 30, 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. at the Main Street Sports Grill (Oliver's), 531 Main St. Rock n roll featuring Mark Ward, drums, Scott Poe, guitar/vocals, Kevin Young, bass/vocals and Denis Mueller, guitar and vocals. 301-490-9200.

"Elijah" -- Saturday, Nov. 21, 8 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of Saint Andrew, 15300 New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring. In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the composer Felix Mendelssohn's birth, the Central Maryland Chorale presentation, under the baton of artistic director, Monica Otal, accompanied by the Montgomery Philharmonic Orchestra, features soloists Robert Cantrell, bass-baritone, Debra Lawrence, soprano, Amy Reiff, mezzo-soprano and Issachah Savage, tenor. Tickets $15 general admission, $10 students and seniors. www.centralmarylandchorale.com, 301-317-9646.

Central Maryland Chorale -- Invites enthusiastic, dedicated singers, who can follow music from a score, to join; no audition required. Rehearsals underway, every Monday, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Laurel Presbyterian Church, 7610 Old Sandy Spring Road. Artistic director is Monica Otal; assistant director and accompanist is Dr. Theodore Guerrant. Scheduled concerts: November, "Elijah," the stirring oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn; May, music of the Americas. 301-317-9646, or www.centralmarylandchorale.com.

Voix de Femmes -- Rehearsals are held in Laurel on Thursdays from 7:30-9 p.m. Women's chamber choir's 2009-2010 concert season schedule: Dec. 6, "A Ceremony of Carols," by Benjamin Britten, "Mass No 6," by Gyorgy Orban and other seasonal pieces; Feb. 21, music of Hildegard Von Bingen; spring concert to be announced. Annick Kanter at 301-520-8921 or annickkanter@gmail.com.

Montpelier fall jazz series -- All concerts are Fridays at 8 p.m. at the Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road. Series tickets, $120 for all seven concerts, on sale now. Individual tickets $20 per concert, $18 for seniors and Montpelier members, on sale now. Performances: Oct. 30, Cedar Walton (sold out); and Nov. 13, Steve Abshire Quartet. 301-377-7800.

Columbia Ukulele Fest -- Friday, Oct. 30, 6:30 till, 4960 Woodward Gardens, Columbia, and Saturday, Oct. 31, 7-11 p.m., Morgan's Restaurant, Hilton Columbia, 5485 Twin Knolls Road, Columbia. No charge, only donations for entertainers. Friday entertainers include Victoria Vox and open mike for anyone to perform; also play along and sing along. Saturday entertainers include Dan Scanlan, Fred Fallin, Neil E. Murphy, Gordon Valesco and Jarod Denhard. Some performers will give workshops on Saturday afternoon. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Ukulele Association. Jay Fred Cohen, jayfred1@verizon.com, 410-730-4551.

Jam session

Laurel jam session -- First and third Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Phelps Senior Citizens Center, 701 Montgomery St. Under the coordination of local musician Bob Bowman, interested experienced and novice musicians are invited to sit in for an open jam. Music includes folk, bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, ragtime, polka and traditional. Children must be supervised.

Photographs by Jessica Emery -- On display at The Gallery, 344 Main St. The photographer, of Laurel, promotes "Green lifestyles," and seeks to influence people's appreciation for nature, inspire environmentally conscious lifestyles and offer people hope for a cleaner world. www.JessicaEmery.com.

John Hollingsworth Art Gallery -- National Wildlife Visitor Center, 10901 Scarlet Tanager Loop. Jim O'Connor's digital photographs will be on exhibit during October. Subjects include wildlife, landscapes, architecture and portraiture. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily except closed on federal holidays. patuxent.fws.gov. 301-497-5763.

Fall art exhibit -- Through Oct. 30, WSSC, 14501 Sweitzer Lane. View artwork of members of the Howard County Art Guild during business hours, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. If interested in purchasing any of the art, contact Amy Wilson, 301-206-8953. Howard County Art Guild, Cher Compton, 301-854-3478, www.howardcountyartguild.com.

What is it? -- Sunday, Nov. 1 through Monday, Nov. 30, Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road. Exhibit of all sorts of gizmos, gadgets, thingamajigs and whatchamacallits. Figure out "what is it?" Fun journey of discovery for the whole family. All ages. 301-377-7817. www.pgparks.com.

Montpelier Arts Center -- 9652 Muirkirk Road, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. Reception, Nov. 6, 7-9 p.m. Main Gallery: Paper, an exhibition of works on paper by artists who live or work in Prince George's County, Nov. 5 through 29. Resident Artists Gallery: Connections, Linda Bernard Ceramics and Roslyn Logsdon Fiber, Nov. 1 through 29. Library Gallery: Paintings by Traudis Kennedy, Nov. 5 through Dec. 26. 301-377-7800.

History

Tours -- 18th-century Georgian Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road. Guided tours on Sundays at noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m.; drop-in, self-guided tours Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Group tours of 10 or more by appointment. $3 adults, $2 seniors and groups of 10 or more, $1 ages 6-18, free ages 5 and under. 301-377-7817, montpelier.mansion@pgparks.com.

Historical reproduction kitchen -- Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road. Learn about the skilled workers -- enslaved, free and indentured -- who enabled plantations like Montpelier to prosper. No reservations required. Sponsored by Friends of Montpelier and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. 301-953-1376. www.pgparks.com.

History tours -- Snow Hill Manor, late-Georgian plantation house built in 1755, 13301 Laurel-Bowie Road. Tours Tuesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 301-725-6037. snowhill.manor@pgparks.com.

Laurel Museum --"Shake, Rattle 'n' Roll: Laurel in the 1950s, A Community in Transition," 817 Main St. Open Sundays, 1 to 4 p.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Groups Monday through Friday by appointment. 301-725-7975. www.laurelhistoricalsociety.org.

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