THE KNOW THEATRE TRIBE- The group returns for a reading from Athol Fugard's Blood Knot, a dramatic tale of two brothers in apartheid South Africa. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Barnes & Noble. 9891 Waterstone Blvd., Deerfield Twp. 683-5599.
APPALACHIAN STRINGS- An eight-person ensemble brings the sights and sounds of the Appalachian hills to lil' old Cincinnati. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through May 28. $38-$31. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Robert S. Marx Theatre, 962 Mount Adams Dr., Mount Adams. 421-3888.
' THE BALTIMORE WALTZ/PLUNGE- The Baltimore Waltz, one of two plays performed by the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's MFA Acting Company, centers on the AIDS epidemic. The play was written by Paula Vogel who also wrote How I Learned To Drive. The second play, Plunge, is a comedic look at life after college, written by Christopher Kyle. ... The Baltimore Waltz: Public Preview: 8 p.m. Tuesday. Opens May 20. 8 p.m. May 20, 26 and 28; 5 p.m. May 22; 2 p.m. May 23; 9 p.m. May 29; 7 p.m. May 30. ... Plunge: Public Preview: 8 p.m. Wednesday. opens May 21. 8 p.m. May 21, 25 and 27; 9 p.m. May 22; 7 p.m. May 23; 5 p.m. May 29; 2 p.m. May 30. ... Through May 30. $10. Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park: Thompson Shelterhouse, 962 Mount Adams Dr., Mount Adams. 421-3888.
THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS- Celebrating Japanese culture with a Western twist, the premiere of the musical adaptation of Miyamoto Musashi's 15th-century tale centers on two Americans who must face four metaphorical elements. Opens Friday. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through May 15. $10. School for Creative and Performing Arts, Abigail Cutter Theater, 1310 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. 632-5910.
CAMELOT- In short, there's simply not a more congenial spot to watch the classic musical about one of the most tortured love triangles of all time involving a certain king named Arthur. Opens Thursday. Lunch: 11:15 a.m. Show: 12:45 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday; Dinner: 6:15 p.m. Show: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Through July 3. $44-$32. La Comedia, 765 West Central, Springboro. 800-677-9505.
CARNIVAL- Love makes the world go round with a circus-themed musical that blends make-believe and reality. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday. Through May 30. $13; $11 students and seniors. Showboat Majestic, Public Landing, Downtown. 241-6550.
THE KNOW THEATRE TRIBE- The group returns for a reading from Athol Fugard's Blood Knot, a dramatic tale of two brothers in apartheid South Africa. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Barnes & Noble. 9891 Waterstone Blvd., Deerfield Twp. 683-5599.
LEGENDS OF THE CENTURY: A THEATER FEAST FOR THE SOUL- It's back-to-back weekends of black theater thanks to the Arts Consortium of Cincinnati. Concluding the series is I Found the Answer: Songs of Mahalia a gospel musical celebration of the life of Mahalia Jackson. 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. $15 day of show; $12.50 advance. 1515 Linn St., Over-the-Rhine. 381-0645.
LEND ME A TENOR- And we'll pay you back twofold. Opens Friday. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through May 22. $8; $6 students and seniors. Miami Glen Theatre Guilde: St. Andrew Parish Center, 560 Main St., Milford. 575-2103.
LES MISeRABLES- Things aren't all that miserable with a return engagement of the popular Broadway musical. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Through May 16. $62-$15. Broadway Series: Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. 241-SHOW.
LIFE LESSONS- THE MUSICAL- Peggy Kennedy and Claire Slemmer combine their talents for this production. 9:15 p.m. Saturday. $5. The Cabaret, 1219 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. 381-6777.
LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!- Eight gay men deal with love and relationships over the course of three weekends at a farmhouse. Opens Friday. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through May 29. $14. Cincinnati Public Theater: Aronoff Center, Fifth Third Bank Theater, 650 Walnut St., Downtown. 241-SHOW.
MURDER MOST ROMANTIC- We always thought a good old-fashioned killing would turn the heat up in any relationship. And the voyeuristic audience can follow the clues to solve the murder. Cocktail hour: 7 p.m. Dinner and show: 8 p.m. Saturday. Through June 26. $32.95. Dave & Buster's, 11775 Commons Dr., Springdale. 671-5501.
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST- A scheming hustler takes on an established head nurse in Dale Wasserman's adaptation of the Ken Kessey novel. Opens Friday. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Through May 22. $8; $7 students and seniors. Beechmont Players: UC Clermont, 4200 College Dr., Krueger Auditorium, Batavia. 682-9090.
PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE- Talk about your wild-and-crazy guy. Steve Martin served as playwright for an imaginary meeting between Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through May 22. $6; $5 students and seniors. Sunset Players: Dunham Recreation Complex, 4320 Guerley Rd., Westwood. 665-6690.
PIPPIN- The youngest son of Charlemagne finds that he has some magic to do. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through May 15. $9. Middletown Lyric Theatre: Arts in Middletown, 130 N. Verity Pkwy., Middletown. 513-425-7140.
RICHARD III- Just as things get warmed up in Cincinnati, it becomes time for the winter of our discontent with one creepy-looking king. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Through May 23. $16-$10. Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, 719 Race St., Downtown. 381-BARD.
SITTING WITH TERRY- Pauletta Hansel will star in a reprisal of her one-woman show. The performances benefit the Women Writing for (a) Change scholarship fund. Opens Friday. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Through May 15. $20-$15. School for Creative and Performing Arts, 1310 Sycamore St., Over-the-Rhine. 331-8271.
TWO ROOMS- Because any more than that wouldn't fit on one stage. 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Through May 15. $8. Tri-County Players: College Hill Town Hall, 1805 Larch Ave., College Hill. 825-0094.
VIOLET- The coming-of-age story, based on Doris Betts' story The Ugliest Pilgrim, blooms to life as a young woman, scarred from a childhood accident, on her way to demand a miracle from a televangelist. 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Through May 23. $22; $17 students. Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, 1127 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine. 421-3555.
LINTON'S PEANUT BUTTER AND JAM SESSIONS- The Carillon Brass Quintet uses trumpets, trombones and French horn to bring Classical music to families. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday. $3; $2 children. Kenwood Baptist Church, 8341 Kenwood Rd., Kenwood. 381-6868.
TRINITY MIDDAY MENU- The Interwood Trio perform the works of Stravinsky, Tate and Cincinnatian Rick Sowash. 12:15 p.m. Wednesday. Free. Trinity Episcopal Church, 326 Madison Ave., Covington. 431-1786.
MAY FESTIVAL- James Conlon celebrates his 20th anniversary as music director during this year's festivities. Each concert offers a different program. ... Special concert: 7:30 p.m. Thursday. $45-$35. Isaac M. Wise Temple, Eighth and Plum streets, Downtown. ... Grand opening gala: 8 p.m. Friday. $50-$10.50. Music Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. ... 8 p.m. Saturday. $50-$10.50. Music Hall, 1225 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. ... Special concert: 7 p.m. Sunday. $19. Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Ave., Covington. ... Through May 22. 381-3300.
THE RAKE'S PROGRESS- The Mainstage Opera Series at CCM perform Stravinsky's work about the nefarious Nick Shadow who leads young Tom Rakewell through a life of deception. Opens Thursday. 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday; 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Through May 16. $19.50; $16 seniors; $12. Corbett Auditorium, UC campus, Clifton. 556-4183.
ST. THOMAS CHOIR OF MEN AND BOYS- The group will perform the Choral Evensong. 5 p.m. Sunday. Free. St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 100 Miami Ave. Terrace Park. 831-2052.
BALLET TECH PERFORMING ARTS ASSOCIATION- Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev, principal dancers for the Cincinnati Ballet, perform Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata as well as a pas de deux from Paquita. 3 p.m. Sunday. $12; $6. Indian Hill High School, 6845 Drake Rd., Indian Hill. 683-6860.
CLEVELAND BALLET DANCING WHEELS- This integrated company features performers with and without disabilities. 8 p.m. Thursday. $10 members; $12 non-members; $5 students. Fitton Center for Creative Arts, 101 S. Monument Ave., Hamilton. 863-8873.
KETTERING YOUTH BALLET AT BOOKS & CO.- Will perform a selection of ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance 4-4:30 p.m. and again 5-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Books & Co., 350 E. Stroop Rd., Dayton, Ohio. 800-777-4881.
FUNNIEST PERSON IN CINCINNATI CONTEST 1999- Got what it takes to make the Tristate laugh until they pee their pants? Or maybe you just want to see who does? Four contestants perform each week with one winner advancing to the second round occurring on the fifth week. Eight winners advance to the third rounds on Dec. 1 and 8 with the finals on Dec. 22. 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. $5. Go Bananas, 8410 Market Place, Montgomery. 956-1947.
GO BANANAS- It's golden comedy with Mitch Hedberg and David Goldstein. 8:30 p.m. Thursday, $5; $1 with college ID. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, $8. 8:15 Sunday, $5; $1 for the ladies. 8410 Market Place, Montgomery. 984-9288.
JOKERS COMEDY CAFE- Mark Eddie hits the comedy mark. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 8 and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; Jokes with No Smokes 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday. $10 Friday-Saturday; $6 Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. 8900 Kingsridge Dr., Dayton, Ohio. 937-433-5233.
SMOKIN' MONKEY LOUNGE- Funny Monkey Nite is an open mic comedy night that welcomes both amateur and professional stand-up comedians. Also, audience participation games will be played such as Truth or Dare, The Dating Game, Hollywood Squares and Pictionary. 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Free. 3721 Harrison Ave., Cheviot. 661-6266.