Butler County Community College's Succop Theater presents folk music by the group Simple Gifts at 8 p.m. Nov. 1, as part of the 2008-09 Performing Arts Series.

Tickets are $18 in advance or $22 at the door; students pay $10. Call 724-284-8505 or toll-free 888-826-2829, Ext. 8429 for reservations. Tickets are also available online at bc3.edu/theater.

• Homecoming events at Slippery Rock University kick off Monday with a week of activities, including king and queen voting, a pep rally, a concert, a gala, an alumni radio show, a parade and football. The parade will be at 10 a.m. Saturday on campus and through Main Street in Slippery Rock.

Pittsburgh CLO and Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama will present a staged reading by award-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz at noon Saturday in the Helen Wayne Rauh Studio Theater at Carnegie Mellon. Admission is free. Call 412-268-2900.

Nicolas Petrov, professor of dance at Point Park, will discuss "A Pointe View on Dance," at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the ballroom, third floor, Lawrence Hall. His presentation is the university's 2008 Leonard Finkelhor Faculty Lecture.Nicolas Petrov studied dance in his native Yugoslavia. He started as corps de ballet with Ballet de France, working his way into the ranks of soloist with many other companies. Under the direction of Leonid Massine, he worked as principal dancer with Balleto Eurpeo.Petrov founded Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and the American Dance Ensemble. Admission is free. Call 412-392-3987.