Nearly 400 films, representing 38 countries, were submitted for consideration to be shown in this weekend's Lookout Wild Film Festival, says festival director Andy Johns.

Born in Alabama, Dusty Slay says his parents divorced when he was 2, then there was a custody battle and his mom lost, so he had to go live with her.

Southern Adventist University will host actor Mike Wiley for one performance of his one-man show, "Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till."

The audience favorite duo of Patty Payne and Jason Ross will kick off the Cumberland County Playhouse's 55th season when they open "Tuna Does Vegas" on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the theater in Crossville, Tennessee.

Silver Slippers Dance Academy will present a performance of "Ring the Bell!" on Saturday afternoon at Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Reno Collier is back at The Comedy Catch, 1400 Market St., for six performances Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 9-12.

A free reception on Friday, Jan. 10, will open the first exhibit of this year at the Creative Arts Guild.

Registration is underway in Athens, Tennessee, for a slate of winter art workshops, classes and other events at The Arts Center, 320 N. White St.

This weekend's headliner at The Comedy Catch, 1400 Market St., has been described by the New Orleans Times Picayune as "high-octane, high-brow parody that doesn't discriminate. Smart, twisted, razor-sharp, insanely energetic and wickedly funny."

Laugh your way out of this year and into a new one on Tuesday night, Dec. 31, when comedian Jeff D. brings his stand-up act to The Comedy Catch, 1400 Market St.

He makes people laugh with his true-to-life stories and attitude in a clean comedy show.

Three companies from Moscow Ballet are simultaneously touring the United States and Canada presenting "The Great Russian Nutcracker" in 140 cities.

Ballet Tennessee's Holiday Special pays homage to Christmases past and present.

Chappelle has a strict no-cellphones-allowed policy for his shows.

A Bluegrass Christmas Party is scheduled Saturday, Dec. 14, at Howard Finster's Paradise Garden in Summerville, Georgia, to launch the grand opening of its Holiday Artist Market.

Chattanooga Ballet is presenting the "The Nutcracker" — the classic fantasy ballet of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, who battle a Mouse King and journey through the Land of Sweets with the Sugar Plum Fairy — in four performances Dec. 13-15.

James Gregory, nicknamed The Funniest Man in America, returns to The Comedy Catch, 1400 Market St., on his "Crock Pots and Chicken Legs Tour."

Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga closes its 2019 season with the Broadway hit "Billy Elliot: The Musical," based on the popular motion picture of the same name.

The Colonnade Players will present "She Loves Me," a musical based on a book by Joe Masteroff with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock, beginning Friday, Dec. 13, at The Colonnade in Ringgold, Georgia.

Years before Carol Klein became known as chart-topping singer-songwriter Carole King, she was a Brooklyn teen who fought her way into the record business.

Professional theater actor Dylan Kussman will read poet Dylan Thomas' heartwarming tale of Welsh Christmases past in a performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Unitarian Universalist Church of Chattanooga.

Cassandra King Conroy, bestselling author and wife of the late Southern writer Pat Conroy, will discuss her memoir, "Tell Me a Story," tonight, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. in Girls Preparatory School, 205 Island Ave.

During the month of December, woodworker Roger Harvey will display his approach to designing and creating with wood in the featured exhibit "Metamorphosis: Creating with Wood" at In-Town Gallery, 26-A Frazier Ave.