A woman who mails herself, sans clothing, to a guy -- which, it turns out, is against all sorts of postal regulations. A man who reduces everything, from breakfast cereals to fights with his girlfriend to the mysteries of love, to numbers. A fast-talking salesman who does his schtick a la Dr. Seuss. These are a few of the characters we'll meet in this year's 10 By 10 Festival in the Triangle, The ArtsCenter's annual festival of short plays. It's simple: 10 plays, each 10 minutes long (or shorter), done by 10 performers, all for $10. From nearly 400 scripts submitted from all over the world, the panel of judges chose the top 10 to be performed this year. Among them are six world premieres and two regional premieres. The selected plays are inventive, quirky, lively -- and short; if you're not crazy about one, just wait a few minutes and another will come along. The festival runs July 9-12 and 16-19 at The ArtsCenter, 300-G E. Main St., Carrboro. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. A playwright gala will be held July 11, and a meet-the-artists event will be held on July 18. 929-2787, www.artscenterlive.org.

PHOTO BY ROBERT BREEN

Theater

THE ARTSCENTER: 300-G Main St., Carrboro. July 9-19: 10 By 10 in the Triangle Play Festival. $10. July 23-26: Summer Youth Conservatory presents "A Midsummer Night's Dream" at Paul Green Theater, UNC. www.artscenterlive.org. 929-2787.

DSI COMEDY THEATER: 200 N. Greensboro St., Carrboro. 338-8150, www.dsicomedytheater.com. July 10: Mister Diplomat, 9:30 p.m. Free. Standup Comedy, 11 p.m. $5. July 11: Improv Slam, 7:30 p.m. $10. CageMatch, 9:30 p.m. $10. 338-8150, www.dsicomedytheater.com.

FEARRINGTON VILLAGE: U.S. 15-501, Chatham County. July 11-12: "Blood Done Sign My Name," with Mike Wiley. Part of Chatham County's Community Read program. July 11, 7 p.m. $12, including reception. July 12, 2 p.m. $12 adults, $6 students with valid student ID. Includes post-performance Q-and-A. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/62753.

SOUTHERN VILLAGE: The Green at Market Street. Theatre on the Green. July 15-16: Act One, Act Now presents "Peter Pan," 7 p.m. southernvillage.com.

ART

ACKLAND ART MUSEUM: Corner of South Columbia and East Franklin streets in Chapel Hill. Through Sept. 13: "Aldwyth: Work v./Work n. -- Collage and Assemblage 1991-2009." Through Sept. 20: "Sage in the Bamboo Grove: The Legacy of Sherman E. Lee." Through Aug. 2: "Metamorphosis in Ovid's Poetry and Early Modern Art." 966-5736, www.ackland.org.

ANIMATION & FINE ART GALLERIES: University Mall, 201 S. Estes Dr. Through July 9: Giant Summer Animation Show. 563-2300. www.animationandfineart.com.

ART & SOUL STUDIOS GALLERY: 122 W. Clay St., Mebane. Through Aug. 1: "From the Center Out: Piedmont Artists Celebrate North Carolina." Reception July 3, 7-9 p.m. 563-2300, www.artandsoulmebane.com.

CAFFE DRIADE GALLERY: Through July: Duncan Morgan, spray-painted stencil portraits on canvas.1215-A E. Franklin St. www.cafedriade.com.

CHAPEL HILL PUBLIC LIBRARY: 100 Library Drive. Through July 30: Works by B. Jean Oline and Beth Palmer. www.chapelhillarts.org/. 968-2749

CHATHAM ARTS: Downtown Pittsboro. Through July: "Strut Your Stuff," featuring works by member artists. Exhibit opens during the First Sunday celebration and runs through July. www.chathamarts.org. 542-0934.

JESSE KALISHER GALLERY: 209 East Main St., Carrboro. Through July 9: "The Smithsonian Collection." 967-4300. www.kalisher.com.

NC CRAFTS GALLERY: 212 W. Main St., Carrboro. Through July: "Summer Flowers," watercolors by Lois Bronstein. Reception, July 10, 6-9 p.m. www.nccraftsgallery.com, 942-4048.

OPEN EYE GALLERY: 101 S. Greensboro St., Carrboro. Through July: Hikage Parallel create art in various forms. www.openeyecafe.com.

ROBERT & PEARL SEYMOUR CENTER: 2551 Homestead Road. Through July 29: Beijing Impressions, an exhibition featuring artwork by Barbara Tyroler and Sam Tyroler-Cooper. Open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TURNING POINT GALLERY: University Mall, 201 S. Estes Dr. 967-0402, www.harmonyfineart.com.

TYNDALL GALLERIES: University Mall, 201 S. Estes Dr. Through July 18: New paintings by Gayle Stott Lowry. www.tyndallgalleries.com.

WOMANCRAFT: Shops at Eastgate, 1800 E. Franklin St. www.womancraftgifts.com, 469-3741.

Music

300 E. MAIN ST: Carrboro. All shows at 5 p.m. in the parking lot. July 23: TBA. Aug. 27, John Howie Jr. Sept. 24: Great Big Gone. Free. 918-7828.

ARTSCENTER: 300-G Main St., Carrboro. July 11: Lunch Money, 11 a.m. $7. www.artscenterlive.org. 929-2787.

BLUE BAYOU: 106 Churton St., Hillsborough. July 10: Michael Burks. July 11: Deb Callahan. July 17: Janiva Magness. 732-2555. bluebayouclub.com.

BYNUM GENERAL STORE: 950 Bynum Road, Bynum. Front Porch Music Series. All shows at 7 p.m. July 10: The Swang Brothers. July 17: Not Dead Yet. July 24: Skeedaddle. July 13: Howie Dewitt. Aug. 7: Near Blind James & Harmonica Bob & Mighty Gospel Inspirations. Aug. 14: Dana and Susan Robinson. Aug. 21: Apple Chill Cloggers with The Hushpuppies. Aug. 28. Saludos Company. www.bynumfrontporch.org.

CAFFE DRIADE: 1215-A E. Franklin St. All shows at 8 p.m. July 8: Mandolin Orange. July 10: Chris Wimberley. July 12: Chris Titchner. July 15: Ken Larson Trio. July 17: Lastwatch. July 18: Nikki Meets the Hibachi. July 22: Chris Castle. July 25: Jay Manley. July 29: Roy Schneider. July 31: Radio Silent Auction. www.cafedriade.com.

CAPT. JOHN'S DOCKSIDE: 11550 U.S.15-501 (Cole Park Plaza). Third Thurdays with Chris Reynolds Swing N' Jazz Trio. 6 p.m. 968-7955.

CAROLINA INN: 211 Pittsboro St. Fridays on the Front Porch. All shows at 5 p.m. and free. July 10: Tony Williamson. July 17: Mick Mixon and Franklin Street. July 24: The Cadillac Stepbacks. July 31: Gravy Boys. 962-8519. www.carolinainn.com.

CAT'S CRADLE: 300 East Main St., Carrboro. July 10: Devon Allman's Honeytribe, $7 advance, $10 at the door. July 11: The Club is Open Festival with American Aquarium, The Future Kings of Nowhere, Filthybird, Nathan Oliver, 9:30 p.m. $8. July 17: The True School Corporation Presents Nice-N-Smooth 20th Anniversary Concert and Afterparty. Doors, 8:30 p.m. $20, $18 in advance. July 18: Girls Rock NC Showcase. July 19: Lost in the Trees. $8. July 22-25 XX Merge (SOLD OUT). July 26: Dredg, Rx Bandits, Zechs Marquis, 8 p.m. $17, $15 advance. July 28: Atmosphere, When God Gives You Ugly featuring Eyedea & Abilities, Attracted to Gods, 9:30 p.m. $25, $22 advance. www.catscradle.com. 967-9053.

THE CAVE: 452 1/2 W. Franklin St. Early shows, 7:30 p.m.; late shows, 10 p.m. July 8: Wild Wild Geese with The Toddlers. July 9: The Club is Open Festival with Aminal, The Dry Heathens, On the Beach. July 10: Early, Patrick Phelan; late, Tony Williamson Band. July 11: Early, Dark Water Rising; late: Twilighter. July 12: Spirit Family Reunion, $5. July 13: Early: Trivia Night hosted by Misty; late: Pow Pow Pow. July 14: Late, The Lonely H with Caleb Caudle & The Bayonets, $5. July 15: Late: Tribut to Johnny Council featuring Simeon with Vintage Fresh. $5. www.caverntavern.com, 968-9308.

LOCAL 506: 506 W. Franklin St. July 8: Butterflies, Birds & Arrows, Permanent Waves, 8:30 p.m. $7. July 9: Modern Day Escape, Steryle, Cast the First Stone. July 10: The Club is Open Festival with Red Collar, The Longers, Rat Jackson, A Rooster for the Masses, with special guest magician Michael Casey, 9 p.m. $7. July 11: The Kinksmen, Some Girls. www.local506.com. 942-5506.

NIGHTLIGHT: 405 1/2 W. Rosemary St. July 9: Harmute, Israel Darling, 10 p.m. July 10: Vibrant Green, Heavy Hometown. $5. July 12: Abe Vigoda, Whatever Brains, Talbot Tagora, 9:30 p.m. $5. July 15: Castanets, MA Turner, Free Electric State, 9:30 p.m. $6. www.nightlightclub.com.

OPEN EYE CAFE: 100-C E Main St., Carrboro. All shows at 8 p.m. July 11: Southern Routes. July 18: Luego. July 24: Loose Mood. www.openeyecafe.com. 968-9410.

THE GREEN AT SOUTHERN VILLAGE: Summer Music Series. All shows free unless otherwise noted. July 12: Project Mastana. July 19: The David DiGuiseppe Trio. July 23: Tres Chicas, $5. July 26: The Laura Ridgeway Trio.www.southernvillage.com.

THE STATION @ SOUTHERN RAIL: 201 East Main St., Carrboro. Free. Tuesdays: Robert Griffin and Friends. Wednesdays: "Trivia from Hell" with host Mark Dorosin. 967-1967. www.srnc.com.

Festivals/Events

SATURDAYS IN SAXAPAHAW: Downtown Saxapahaw. 6 to 8 p.m. Live music, farmers market, children's activities and more. July 11: Woodwork Roadshow. July 18: Django Haskins. www.rivermillvillage.com.

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY

AWAY WE GO (R) Chelsea: Daily at 7:20, 9:30.

CHERI (R) Chelsea: Daily at 7, 9:10.

THE HANGOVER (R) Lumina: Daily at 12:50, 3:05, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50.

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (PG) Lumina: Daily at 12:30, 2:45, 5, 7:15, 9:35. Regal Timberlyne: Daily at 12, 2:25, 4:50, 7:15, 9:40.

MY SISTER'S KEEPER (PG-13) Regal Timberlyne: Daily at 12:10, 3:35, 7:20, 10.

THE PROPOSAL (PG-13) Lumina: Daily at 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:10, 9:40. Regal Timberlyne: Daily at 12:25, 3:30, 7:30, 10:10.

PUBLIC ENEMIES (R) Lumina: Daily at 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 10. Regal Timberlyne: Daily at 12:05, 3:45, 7:05, 10:05.

TRANSFORMERS 2 (PG-13) Lumina: Daily at 1, 4, 7, 10. Regal Timberlyne: Daily at 12:20, 3:40, 7, 10:20.

UP (PG) Regal Timberlyne: Daily at 12:15, 2:35, 4:55, 7:25, 9:50.

WHATEVER WORKS (PG-13) Chelsea: Daily at 7:10, 9:20

FRIDAY-TUESDAY

BRUNO (R) Lumina: Daily at 1, 3, 5:10, 7:25, 9:45.

HARRY POTTER & THE HALFBLOOD PRINCE (PG) Lumina: Tuesday at midnight.

THE HANGOVER (R) Lumina: Daily at 12:50, 3:05, 5:15, 7:30, 9:50.

ICE AGE: DAWN OF THE DINOSAURS (PG) Lumina: Daily at 12:30, 2:45, 5, 7:15, 9:35.

THE PROPOSAL (PG-13) Lumina: Daily at 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:10, 9:40.

PUBLIC ENEMIES (R) Lumina: Daily at 1:15, 4:15, 7:20, 10.

TRANSFORMERS 2 (PG-13) Lumina: Daily at 1, 4, 7, 10.

Some listings were not available at press time.

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