It's been demonstrated time and again that the Warped Tour provides great exposure for Modern Rock bands that get to play on the tour. My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and the All-American Rejects are among the bands whose stints on Warped served as a springboard to major success. Add Mayday Parade to that list. They play Bogart's at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with All Time Low, The Maine and Every Avenue.

Don't mistake this production for "Wicked" (although surely the presenters hope that mega-hit show's magic rubs off on this one), but this has its own appeal, including dazzling sets and costumes by Tim McQuillen-Wright. His inspiration is the glamour and elegance of Art Deco Hollywood, in full bloom when the film was made in 1939, plus the stunning Technicolor hues that made the film a timeless visual hit. All of Harold Arlen's popular songs are used in the stage show (from "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" to "If I Only Had a Brain"). Through Nov. 23 at the Aronoff Center.

Love Song focuses on an oddball named Beane, a tollbooth worker who has exiled himself from life and become a hermit. His well-meaning sister tries to bring him out of his shell, but he digs in his antisocial heels. Then he falls in love with Molly, a woman who burglarizes his home. Much to his sister’s mystification and concern, he becomes happier, and his state of mind affects his career-obsessed sister and her troubled marriage. Tuesday-Sunday through Nov. 21 at the Playhouse in the Park.

Although it’s highly specialized, the Lloyd Library continues to find ways for non-specialists to engage with their collection. In July, book artist Kate Kern served as artist-in-residence at the Lloyd Library, funded by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. The library invited local educators, scientists, students, artists, librarians and others to take part in Kern’s residency program. Thirteen works of art, made mostly — and remarkably — by non-artists, now represent the workshop participants in The Alternative Field Guide, on view in the Lloyd’s gallery Monday-Friday through Dec. 30.

It is astonishing that Maria Lassnig, whose work is presented in an impressive solo exhibition at the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), is widely unknown in the United States. She is an influential force throughout Europe, working in Vienna for the past few decades. Closed Tuesdays. Through Jan. 11.

Throughout the autumn, the walls of the new Iris BookCafé (1331 Main St., Over-the-Rhine), have been graced with black-and-white photographs by William Messer and Marc B. Suda. Selections from Suda’s Botanica Noveau series are assertive and austere in the midst of the elegance and quirkiness that is the café. The larger set of works by Messer roams through Claude Monet’s famous gardens in Giverny.

The wonderful light boxes of Matthew Shelton are on display at Northside’s NVISION (4577 Hamilton Ave.) beginning with an opening reception from 6-10 p.m. Friday featuring music by DJMCMLXXIII. Shelton’s technique for making light boxes evolved from a method that involves first incorporating photographs, then poking countless holes into mirror board. The effect is similar to tin-punch art, which can be used to make lanterns. Shelton attaches small pieces of color gels to the mirror board. When held up to a light source the effect is stunning. Tiny jewel-like rays of color shine through. Images such as the Vegetation Goddess resemble Aztec art. Some of his shapes could be mandalas or an Aztec calendar. His work will remain on display until Feb. 1, 2009. Opening reception: 7-10 p.m. Friday.

"China Design Now" is a comprehensive exhibition of hundreds of objects elaborates on the booming innovations presently taking place in the fields of design, fashion, and architecture throughout China. The exhibition is split into three sections, corresponding one of those design areas with an eastern coastal city: Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing. The exhibition continues through Jan. 11, 2009. $8 for adults; $6 for seniors/college students; $4 for children ages 6-17; free for members and children under age 6.

Ohio State University’s Urban Arts Space is impressive and winding, well suited to the diverse faculty exhibition that currently shares the gallery with retiring abstract painter Alan Crockett. For OSU to present work from their art faculty is no bland thing: among them are recognized (even famous?) artists. Standouts from the array of works are the interactive video installation by Amy Youngs and “Deflated Painting,” a floor work by Suzanne Silver. Tony Mendoza’s large photographs of his Dachshund, Bob, are adorable and intense — real showstoppers. OSU Urban Arts Space is located at 50 W. Town St. in downtown Columbus with hours 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday.