If ART Gallery will present simultaneous solo exhibitions at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios. “Jeff Donovan: Gray Matters” and “Marcelo Novo: Materia Gris” open Friday. Donovan will have new paintings and Novo, who will have his first show since moving to Washington, D.C., last year, will have new paintings and prints. It will be interesting to observe how the relocation has impacted his work, if at all. The exhibitions run through Dec. 20. An artist reception will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. The gallery is at 808 Lady St.; (803) 238-2351
Vibrations Dance Company will stage “Sista Girl and The Soldier: The Urban Nutcracker” through Dec. 11 at Drayton Hall Theatre. The production is a contemporary and urban version of “The Nutcracker,” with Clarice instead of Clara, of course, as the Sista Girl. At a party, she falls in love with Soldier Boy who we beg you not to confuse with the rapper of a similar name if not spelling. The Sandlapper Singers will perform with the dancers. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Dec. 11. Drayton Hall is at 911 Sumter St. $25; (803) 361-5262 or www.vibrationsdancecompany.org
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The Columbia City Ballet begins its two-weekend run of “Nutcracker” at the Koger Center with three performances this weekend. Showtimes: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. The production resumes Dec. 16. The ballet will host its well-received Nutcracker Tea, held in the Koger Center’s ballroom and featuring tea, cakes and cookies, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Guests will get to meet Clara, the Nutcracker prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy and other dancers. Tickets cost $15 and $20 and can be purchased in advance by calling the ballet at (803) 799-7605. The Koger Center is at 1051 Greene St. $12 to $35; (803) 251-2222 or www.capitoltickets.com
The Columbia City Jazz Dance Company will present "The Two Claras," the company’s contemporary take on "The Nutcracker," at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Sumter Opera House. The company will bring the production to Columbia for three shows Dec. 16-17 at Drayton Hall Theatre. The opera house is at 21 North Main St., Sumter. $10; www.columbiacityjazz.com
“The Magical Land of Oz,” a Town Theatre Youth Production, will be performed Saturday and Dec. 11. The one-act play will feature Dorothy as she skips down the yellow brick road. As a bonus, there will be a second act of theater presented. On Saturday, The Kelly Mill Middle School Players will perform “How to Eat Like a Child”; and on Dec. 11, The Trinity Learning Center Players will present “Christmas at the Zoo.” And Santa will be there. The shows start at 3 p.m. Town Theatre is at 1012 Sumter St. $10; (803) 799-2510
The Wadsworth Chamber Music Series continues at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Columbia Museum of Art. Cellist Edward Arron, the artistic director of the chamber music series, has scheduled soprano Hyunah Yu, pianist John Novacek and violinist Jesse Mills to perform works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Schumann and Mozart. The museum is at Main and Hampton streets. $35 or $30 for members and $5 for students the day of the concert; www.columbiamuseum.org/events/wadsworth
Mary Whyte, a watercolor painter and illustrator, will sign copies of her book, “Painting Portraits and Figures in Watercolor,” at 2 p.m. Wednesday at City Art. Whyte’s work has been exhibited by The American Watercolor Society and the Allied Artists of America. If you can’t attend, a signed book will be reserved for you. City Art is at 1224 Lincoln St.; (803) 252-3613 or www.cityartonline.com
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