Globe North arts

A Richard Seeley photo of sandhill cranes in Colorado.

HORRIBLE HUMOR: Neverland Theatre, one of the most prolific community theaters around, presents "Little Shop of Horrors" today and tomorrow, and holds auditions for "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" today and Sept. 4.

The theater is celebrating 14 DASH Award nominations for its "Seussical," including best musical. The awards, given by the Eastern Massachusetts Association of Community Theatres, will be announced Sept. 12.

"Little Shop" is set in a florist shop and involves a nerdy clerk, the shop's beautiful assistant, and a flytrap plant.

Gene Vadala of Hamilton plays Seymour the clerk. Jennifer Luzitano of Beverly is shop assistant Audrey. Jose Perez of Topsfield plays the plant, Audrey II.

Les Tarmy of Nahant plays Gravis Mushnik and Sean Murphy of Beverly is the dentist.

Performances are at the Temple B'nai Abraham Theater in Beverly today at 4 and 8 p.m., and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18.50 for the first five rows of seating; $16 for general seating.

Auditions for "Joseph," Neverland's 100th production, set for November, are today at 1:30 p.m. ages 7-12, and 2 p.m. 12-adult.

Call 978-948-7925 or visit www.neverlandtheatre.com.

DENVER DYNAMIC: If you have always wanted to channel singer John Denver, now's your chance.

One World Coffee House in Essex presents an open mike night with a Denver theme Saturday.

The evening is hosted by the duo Tamarac - Roger and Fran Pierce - which has performed many Denver songs during its 31-year musical career. All performers must sing Denver songs.

Show is at 8 p.m. at the First Universalist Church, 59 Main St. $5. Reservations: 978-768-7056.

ART AND MUSIC: Alan Bull combines two of his talents at a reception at Fancy Schmancy in Newburyport Saturday.

"At the Show" includes an exhibit of Bull's paintings and drawings of musicians performing. A musician himself, Bull, of Newburyport, also takes the stage with some special guests, including store owner Liz Frame.

Bull, who studied at Philadelphia College of Art, has had shows in New York, London, and Boston. One of his drawings is cover art for the John Jorgenson Quintet's latest CD. His illustrations are in a new book of poetry by Billy Hands, and his paintings will appear in an upcoming movie, "The Clique."

Saturday's reception at 43 Pleasant St. begins at 6 p.m. Call 978-462-4484. For more, visit www.alanbull.com.

AUTHOR'S CORNER: Brunonia Barry of Salem reads from her novel, "The Lace Reader," at Jabberwocky Bookshop in Newburyport Friday at 7 p.m. The mystery is about a Salem family of women who tell the future by reading lace. Barry studied literature and creative writing at Vermont's Green Mountain College and the University of New Hampshire.

IN LOCAL GALLERIES: Works on paper by Christopher Broughton are in Montserrat College of Art's Carol Schlosberg Alumni Gallery in Beverly Saturday through Sept. 27. A reception with the artist is Sept. 4, 6-8 p.m. Broughton creates complex mesh sculptures by saturating strings with paint, holding them taut, and pressing their mark onto a surface. A native of Peabody, Broughton graduated from Montserrat in 1993 and completed a master of fine arts at Yale University in 1996. . . . Richard Seeley wildlife photographs are on exhibit at Sawyer Free Library in Gloucester through Aug. 31. The images feature eagles, deer, bison, osprey, egrets, foxes, and loons.

Items can be sent to wdkilleen@gmail.com, jpeg attachment photos to globenorth@globe.com.