The comedy “Moonlight and Magnolias” opens Friday at the Butler Little Theatre, One Howard St., and continues through March 26.

Curtain is at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $10 and available by calling 724-287-6781 from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. For more information, visit www.bltgroup.org.

MILLVALE — Written by Jeannie Allen of Valencia, “Esther the Musical” is a Broadway-style show now in its fifth production.The musical features 18 original songs in a variety of styles including jazz, opera, Hebrew, Jamaican and love songs. The story, based on the book of Esther from the Bible, includes drama, dancing, singing and humor.The show will go on at 7:30 p.m. March 25 and 26 at Mt. Alvernia's Scotus Hall, 129 Hawthorne Road.Tickets are $8 and will be available at the door or at Noteworthy Music, Route 8, Valencia.

SLIPPERY ROCK — The 10th annual Kaleidoscope Arts Festival will be held April 13 to 23 on the Slippery Rock University campus.This anniversary festival will showcase the best of SRU's dance, music, theater and visual arts, as well as internationally known guest artists. Children's Day is April 16.Featured events include the Missoula Children's Theatre. In one week, the company will hold auditions, conduct rehearsals and mount a full production of “Alice in Wonderland” featuring area youths in grades kindergarten through 12.Auditions will be held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. April 11 at the Slippery Rock Township Building, 155 Branchton Road. Performances will be at 3 and 5:30 p.m. April 16 at SRU.Many events are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door for those events requiring them, or through the University Union information booth.

PITTSBURGH — Big House Pete, the rock band that includes Mark Hensel of Butler, is releasing a new CD called “Where's My Check?” with a party March 25 at the Hard Rock Café in Pittsburgh.The group's first release was “Junk Punch.”Visit the website www.bighousepete.com for information.

PITTSBURGH — Singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles presents an all-ages show at 7:30 p.m. April 11 at the Carnegie Library Music Hall of Homestead, 510 E. 10th Ave. in Munhall.Tickets are $25 in advance or $28 on the day of the show and are available by calling 412-368-5225 or online at www.Library MusicHall.com.

PITTSBURGH — Shady Side Academy's Hillman Performing Arts Series continues with the acrobatics of Cirque Mechanics' Boom Town at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Hillman Center for Performing Arts on campus, 423 Fox Chapel Road.Tickets are $25 for students, $30 for seniors and $35 for adults and are available by calling 412-968-3040 or visiting www.thehillman.org.

PITTSBURGH — Spring blossoms with the return of Art in Bloom, a three-day celebration featuring favorite works of art, fresh flowers and an array of festivities all presented by the Women's Committee of the Carnegie Museum of Art.Floral displays inspired by great works of art will be on view in the museum's galleries April 14 to 16.The three-day event includes a gala preview party; a lecture and luncheon featuring garden writer Suzy Bales; and floral-themed activities for children and families.For more information, call 412-622-3131 or visit www.cmoa.org.

HARTSVILLE, S.C — A Butler County band has been selected as one of eight finalists competing in the South Carolina State Bluegrass Band Championships to be held at 1:30 p.m. March 25 at the Center Theater.The band Midnight Drive will compete against bands from North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Ohio in the 14th annual “RenoFest” celebrating the life and music of Don Reno, a bluegrass musician and co-writer of “Dueling Banjos” which was the theme of the movie, “Deliverance.”For information, call 888-427-8720 or 843-332-1600 or go online at www.RenoFest.com.