Center Stage

In the Penal Colony, November 1 - December 10. Court Theatre presents the world premiere of a new opera by Philip Glass, AB'56, based on the story by Franz Kafka, and directed by JoAnne Akalaitis, AB'60. On the surface, Kafka worte of capital punishment and justice, but as his tale unfolds, the drama expands into a larger struggle between enlightenment and the conquering of the human spirit. Glass's score features two singers and a string quintet. Court Theatre; call 773/753-4472.

Cancelled: Exhibiting Experimental Art in China, November 19 - January 7. Originally titled "It's Me" and set to premiere in Beijing in 1998, this exhibition, along with several other experimental art shows, was cancelled by the Chinese government. Now renamed and relocated, the efforts of the artist Song Dong and filmmaker Wu Wenguang server double duty as both art and political statement. Smart Museum; call 773/702-0200.

Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur, October 21 - January 21. A traveling exhibition from the University of Pennsylvania Museum, this exhibit includes films, lectures, symposia, and displays centered around the culture of ancient Mesopotamia. Bring the little ones to learn how to write their names in cuneiform and watch the award-winning film series Ancient Civilizations for Children. Oriental Institute; call 773/702-9514.