Like the audience it services, the Augusta-area performing arts community is a portrait of diversity.

Local music groups include the Augusta Symphony, which stages a season of MasterWorks concerts featuring guest performers, three annual pops concerts and a selection of child-friendly family shows. The Augusta Opera performs three productions a year and a special holiday concert at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

The Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society features a series of concerts by touring chamber ensembles. The Augusta Jazz Project alternates its season, featuring both intimate chamber concerts and big-band shows. The Augusta Choral Society, the Augusta Chorale, the Augusta Children's Chorale and the Columbia County Choral Society all present seasons of vocal music.

Other area music organizations include the Augusta Concert Band and the Tuesday Music Live concert series.

There are no fewer than seven theatrical companies in the Augusta area. The Augusta Players specializes in musical theater, and the Augusta Theatre Company focuses on classic and contemporary drama. The Fort Gordon Dinner Theater services both the local and on-post community, with farces and thrillers proving to be particularly popular.

Columbia County's Stage III fills its season with mostly American comedies, with a particular fondness for Neil Simon. In Aiken, the Aiken Community Playhouse schedules a diverse season that usually includes at least one drama, musical and comedy. Both the University of South Carolina Aiken and Augusta State University maintain theater departments, each of which presents a season of plays.

The dance world is represented by the Augusta Ballet, a professional company that combines elements of classic ballet with aspects of other dance forms. There also are several dance schools, including the Augusta Dance Theatre and Cutno Dance.

Steven Uhles, Staff

ARTS GROUPS

Aiken Community Playhouse: (803) 648-1438, Web site www.aikencommunityplayhouse.com

Augusta Ballet: 261-0555

Augusta Children's Chorale: 826-4718, www.augustachildrenschorale.org

Augusta Choral Society: 826-4713 or www.augustachoralsociety.org

Augusta Chorale: 733-7809

Augusta Concert Band: (803) 202-0091

Augusta Dance Theatre: 860-1852; www.augustadancetheatre.com

Augusta Jazz Project: 736-2279

Augusta Mini Theatre: 722-0598

Augusta Opera: 826-4710; www.augustaopera.com

Augusta Players: 826-4707; www.augustaplayers.com

Augusta Symphony: 826-4705

Augusta Theatre Company: 481-9040, www.augustatheatre.com

Columbia County Choral Society: 868-8670, fax: 869-0743

Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre: 793-8552 for reservations and information

Stage III: 228-3636 or 868-9663

Harry Jacobs Chamber Music Society: 736-9098

Storyland Theatre: 736-3455

Tuesday Music Live: 722-3463