Jane Austen's classic story of courtship and the course of true love, 'Pride and Prejudice,' comes to PlayMakers Repertory Company in a stage adaptation by theater legend Jon Jory. Previews begin tonight; opening night is Saturday, and PlayMakers, the professional theater company in residence at UNC, will present the show through April 19. Austen's beloved novel of the spirited Elizabeth Bennet, her inimitable family and the proud Mr. Darcy will be PlayMakers' 2008-09 mainstage season finale. Critics have praised the wit and theatricality of Jory's adaptation, staying true to the novel while bringing it to life with the "you-are-there" immediacy of live theater. "What I'm most proud of is that 97 percent of the words are Jane Austen's," Jory said. Show times will be 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, and 2 p.m. Sundays. For a complete schedule, more information and to purchase tickets, call (919) 962-PLAY or visit www.playmakersrep.org. Tickets are $10 to $40.

ARTSCENTER: 300- G Main St., Carrboro. April 4: OffCenter. Transactors Improv: A New Project. 8 p.m. 929-2787. www.artscenterlive.org.

DEEP DISH THEATER COMPANY: University Mall, Estes Drive, Chapel Hill. April 30-May 23: Jitney. Set in Pittsburgh's Hill District in 1977, this comedy explores the struggles of the drivers at a gypsy cab company. Ticket prices and show times are: Wednesday and Thursday (7:30 p.m. curtain), $16 adults, $14 seniors, $12 students; and Friday-Sunday (8 p.m. curtain on Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday matinee) - $18 adults, $16 seniors, $14 students. The Deep Dish box office in University Mall is open Wednesday-Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. Tickets can also be ordered by visiting www.deepdishtheater.org or by calling 968-1515.

DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: THE AMERICAN TOBACCO DISTRICT, 123 Vivian St., Durham. April 3: Cheech & Chong. 8 p.m. $39.50-$59.50. April 14-19:688-3722. www.dpacnc.com/concerts.

MEMORIAL HALL: Cameron Avenue, UNC campus. June 10: The Bolshoi Ballet: Don Quixote, limited availability. 7:30 p.m.

COMMON GROUND THEATRE: 4815-B Hillsborough Rd, Durham. April 11: Fatmouth Improv presents 'The Fatmouth Stimulus Package;' an evening of comedy improve. 8 p.m. 7:30 p.m. at the Common Ground Theatre. More info: www.fatmouthimprov.com or www.cgtheatre.com or (919) 384-7817.

Music

BLUE BAYOU: 106 Churton St., Hillsborough. Shows start at 9:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. April 2: Tokyo Rosenthall. 9 p.m. April 3: Matt Hill and the Buzz Kills. April 4: Will McFarlane Band. April 10: The Real Reubens. April 11: The Damon Fowler Group. April 16: Dmitri Resnik. 9 p.m. 1: Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys. 732-2555. bluebayouclub.com.

CAPT. JOHN'S DOCKSIDE: 11550 Hwy. 15/501 (Cole Park Plaza). Third Thursdays: Chris Reynolds Swing 'N' Jazz Trio with Peter Innocenti & Tony Greco. 968-7955. 6 p.m.

CAROLINA INN: 211 Pittsboro St. 'Fridays on the Front Porch.' April 24: Big Fat Gap. 5 p.m. Free. The Carolina Inn offers its classic southern buffet and Tiny Vittles menu with full bar service. There is plenty of comfortable seating under the shady oaks and magnolias. 1-800-962-8519. www.carolinainn.com/

CAT'S CRADLE: 300 East Main St., Carrboro. April 2: Matt Wertz. $14 advance, $16 door. April 4: Rocco Deluca and The Burden. $12 advance, $15 door. April 8: Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus Three. $15 advance, $17 door. April 11: Katharine Whalen's Lucky John Shain Trio and Sally Spring with the Ted Lyons Experience. $10. April 13: Of Montreal. $18. April 14: Leslie and The Lys. $12 advance, $15 door. April 22: World Inferno; Friendship Society. $10 advance, $12 door. 967-9053. www.catscradle.com.

THE CAVE: 452 1/2 W. Franklin St. Early shows, 7:30 p.m.; late shows, 10 p.m. April 2: Early, Brandon Herndon and John Pardue's Songslingers Showcase. April 3: Early, Comedy Night with Johnny Cook; late, Twilighter, Puritan Rodeo. April 4: Early, Rodie Ray; late, Transportation. April 5: Burning Rays, Richard Bacchus & The Luckiest Girls, Left On Cates. $5. April 7: Early, Comedy Open-Mic with Johnny Cookl ; late, songwriters open-Mic with John Saylor. 968-9308. www.caverntavern.com.

DURHAM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: American Tobacco District, 123 Vivian St., Durham. April 4: John Prine. 8 p.m. $42.50-$52.50. www.dpacnc.com/concerts. 688-3722.

GENERAL STORE CAFE: 39 West St., Pittsboro. Shows start at 8:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. April 1: Bernie Petteway. 7 p.m. April 3: Marty Christian. April 4: Swang Brothers. 542-2432. www.thegeneralstorecafe.com.

HILLSBOROUGH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BATTLE OF THE BANDS: The Hillsborough Moose Lodge Family Center, 202 Holiday Park Road, Hillsborough. To enter go to hillsboroughchamber.com/battle.htm to download a registration form. Submit the completed registration form, a $25 nonrefundable registration fee, and samples of your music no later than April 3 to the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce. A panel will review all of the samples and choose eight bands to perform on Saturday, April 25 at the Hillsborough Moose Lodge Family Center. At the Battle of the Bands, a panel of judges will select the best of the best to be the featured performer at the 27th Annual Hillsborough Hog Day on Saturday, June 20. The public is invited to join in the fun and vote for their favorites. Food and beverages will be available. Admission is $5, children 10 and under are free. margaret@hillsboroughchamber.com .

LOCAL 506: 506 W. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill. April 1: Secondhand Freespace: Online Marketing Panel; David Rose - Know TheMusicBiz.com; Jed Carlson -- Reverbnation.com; Lindsey Kronmiller -- Merge Records; Mike Robinson -- Annuals; Moderated by Heather McDonald -- About.com: Music Careers. 7:30pm. Free. April 3: Hey Euphony; Kaustid; Cool Ethan. 9:30 $5. April 4: Employee of the Month Show: Stratocruiser; The Morninstars; Veekee. Free. April 5: Ariel Pink; Vivian Girls. 9:30 p.m. $10. April 7: Nicky Click; Anaturale; Farmer; plus performances by Miss Mary Wanna. 9:30 p.m. $7;

MEMORIAL HALL: Cameron Ave. UNC. April 3: Vijay Iyer Trio, 8 p.m. Order by phone at 843-3333 or in person at the Memorial Hall Box Office. www.carolinaperformingarts.org.

OPEN EYE CAFE: 100-C E Main St., Carrboro. Music starts at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. April 1: Chris Wimberley. April 3: Southern Routes. April 4: Marty Christian. 968-9410. www.openeyecafe.com.

PAPA MOJO'S ROADHOUSE: 5410Y Hwy. 54, Durham. All weekend shows start at 9:30 p.m. April 3: Lightnin Well. $8. April 4: Fairlanes. $8. ucks. April 18: Mel & Wicked Mojos. $10. 361-2222 . www.papamojosroadhouse.com.

ROBERTS BAR AND LOUNGE AT THE FRANKLIN HOTEL: 311 W. Franklin St. Fridays: Chris Reynolds & Berkeley Grimball. Swing 'N' Jazz 8 p.m. 442-9000. www.franklinhotelnc.com.

THE STATION @ SOUTHERN RAIL: 201 East Main St., Carrboro. Free. Tuesdays: Robert Griffin and Friends, piano favorites 967-1967. www.srnc.com.

STUDIO 91 FINE ART GALLERY: 606 Meadowmont Village Circle Hill. Fridays: Victor Murillo, Spanish guitarist, 8:30 p.m. Saturdays: Russ Corvey, smooth jazz guitarist, 8 p.m. 933-3700. www.studio91fineart.com.

Art

ACKLAND ART MUSEUM: At corner of South Columbia and East Franklin streets in Chapel Hill. April 11-May 10: Cutting-edge Works by Master of Fine Arts Students on Display in 'New Currents in Contemporary Art,' an exhibition of works by graduating UNC-Chapel Hill master of fine arts students. Marking the culmination of a two-year program, this exhibition introduces seven emerging artists who interpret ideas ranging from the personal to the political in a wide variety of media, styles, and approaches. Organized by Barbara Matilsky, curator of exhibitions at the Ackland, New Currents in Contemporary Art features the work of artists John Hill Jr., Gretchen Huffman, Nestor Armando Gil, Angela Grisales, Erin Paroubek, Edie Shimel, and Dave Sinkiewicz. Opening reception April 17 at 6 p.m. presented by Student Friends of the Ackland. May 8: Gallery Talk with exhibition artists at 6:45 p.m. "At the Heart of Progress: Coal, Iron, and Steam Since 1750 -- Industrial Imagery from the John P. Eckblad Collection" includes about 75 pieces by many different artists through May 17. Sage in the Bamboo Grove: The Legacy of Sherman E. Lee, through Sept. 20. Looking Forward/Looking Back: In Praise of Collectors and Collecting, through summer. Admission is always free. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 1-5 p.m., and until 9 p.m. on the second Friday of every month. 966-5736. ackland@email.unc.edu.

ANIMATION & FINE ART GALLERIES: University Mall, Chapel Hill. The works of artist Marc Chagall through April 9. 968-8008. www.animationandfineart.com. 919-563-2300.

ART & SOUL STUDIOS: 122 Clay St., Mebane. Through April 24: Featured artists are Martha Hamblin, Susan Hope and Sudie Rakusin. Opening reception April 3, 7-9 p.m . 563-2300. http://www.artandsoulmebane.com/, info@artandsoumebane.com.

JESSE KALISHER GALLERY: 209 East Main St., Carrboro. Through April 9: 'If you find the Buddha." Kalisher's collection of images of Buddha as part of everyday life both in the United States and Thailand was published as a book in '06. In this exhibit, he shows never before seen images from this collection alongside his favorite images from the book, including some local to Chapel Hill and Carrboro. April 1-May 7: 'Fluid.' Kalisher explores the abstract nature of water in this collection of eclectic and striking images. There are images from the Mediterranean, from Scotland and Alaska's Inside Passage -- not that you'd recognize any of these places in the images... it's all about abstract and emotionally evocative images of "lines, form and movement." May 8-June 11: 'Carrboro.' Called the Paris of the Piedmont and the self-proclaimed Cradle of Impeachment, Carrboro is a unique blend of students, professors, farmers, artists and more. In this exhibit, Kalisher pulls his favorite images from the past year of photographing the intriguing and remarkably diverse culture that surrounds him. June 12-July 9: The Smithsonian Collection. See the images of Kalisher's that the Smithsonian acquired earlier this year, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History's first two photographs of President Obama, as well as prints of Egypt, India, the World Trade Center and the Space Shuttle. Gallery hours are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 967-4300. www.kalisher.com.