'Venus' unveiled
Suzan-Lori Parks' "Venus," based on the story of a 19th-century African woman known as the Venus Hottentot, begins performances at AXIS Theatre on Wednesday.
The 1996 play, which highlights the woman's life as a London sideshow attraction, includes humor, plays-within-the play, history, songs and social commentary. It is the third play in AXIS' season devoted to the work of women writers.
Brian Klaas directs a cast headed by Joi Edwards and featuring Melissa Douglass, Stephen Green, Katherine Lyons and a four-woman chorus.
Show times at AXIS, 3600 Clipper Mill Road, are 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 11. Tickets are $12 and $14, except for Wednesday's pay-what-you-can preview and the Jan. 11 opening, which is $16. Call 410-243-5237.