Going Out

Playhouse plays ball: Playhouse in the Park takes a look at the American Dream as it evolved in the early years of the 20th century in Going Gone, a drama inspired by the life of 1930s Reds announcer Harry Hartman. The playwright, Karen Hartman, is his granddaughter, so expect some unique insights. Preview, 7:30 p.m. today, opens 8 p.m. Thursday, Marx Theatre, Eden Park, $29.50. 421-3888.

Hometown art: Painter Brian Joiner is showing his stuff at the Springfield Museum of Art. His Drowning in the Sea of Life - The Middle Passage opened with a party last week and continues through Feb. 4. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday (until 9 p.m. Wednesday) and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Springfield Museum of Art, 107 Cliff Park Road, Springfield, $3. (937) 325-4673.

Beginner's guide: Newcomers who don't know much about the arts but want to know a whole lot more should head for Enjoy the Arts/Start's new Arts & Culture for Dummies, a series of information sessions that begins today. The party includes a social hour, tour and a chance to meet staffers ready to tell everything you ever wanted to know about the Cincinnati Art Museum. 5:30 p.m. today meet, eat 'n' greet, 6:15 p.m. tours and talks, Cincinnati Art Museum, Eden Park, $10. 639-2995.

New series: Poetry and spoken word arts continue to grow in popularity with new series popping up all over town. The newest is the Mercantile Library's Walnut Street Poetry Society, a midday series of readings and interpretations by prominent local performers. Actors Dale Hodges and Giles Davies kick it off. Noon today, Mercantile Library, 414 Walnut St., downtown, free (box lunches available, but must be ordered in advance). 621-0717.

The Goods

Ah-nold: California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gets the treatment in Andy Borowitz's Governor Arnold (Simon & Schuster; $9.95), a mini-book full of silly pictures and even goofier storylines, most of them as snide as all get-out. Most of the photos are odd scenes from his movie career - you'll recognize lots of them - from Pumping Iron through the present.

Planning Ahead

24 hours out: Ross King, author of Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, the behind-the-scenes story of Pope Julius II and his dealings with Michelangelo as he was doing the Sistine Chapel, arrives in Dayton to sign and discuss the paperback version. 7 p.m. Thursday, Books & Co., 350 E. Stroop Road, Dayton. (937) 298-6540.

48 hours out: Wow, it's kind of a Bob Braun Show reunion when singers and longtime Braun veterans Nancy James and Rob Reider team up for a one-night stand in Love Letters, A.R. Gurney's sentimental portrait of the laughs and loves of two life-long pen pals. Other local celebs - Jim Scott, John Lomax, Spring Starr Pillow, Dayna Eubanks - are booked for future dates. 8 p.m. Friday, Covedale Center for the Performing Arts, 4990 Glenway Ave., $20, $18 seniors and students. 241-6550.

72 hours out: The rich diversity of African culture goes under the spotlight when the Museum Center celebrates its 19th annual African Culture Fest with an African marketplace, gospel performances, drums, dance and a complete African village. Noon-5 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, 1301 Western Ave., free. 287-7000.

Jim Knippenberg

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com