THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR MAR 20 - 26 

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Ziegfeld Theater: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
There's a bittersweet backstory to the origin of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the improbable creation of Ian Fleming, better known for the sexy, violent spy capers of James Bond. In 1961, in the wake of a difficult legal case, Fleming suffered a massive heart attack. While convalescing, he began writing a version of a story he had created for his son, Caspar, as a bedtime story. And while Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was ultimately published in 1964 as an illustrated novel, Fleming didn't live to see that publication, as he suffered another, fatal heart attack two months before it was released.

But still we have the result, a fanciful adventure about an inventor and retired military man named Caractacus Pott, who sets out to restore a vintage automobile which begins to exhibit magical, almost sentient properties. In the 1968 film version of the story starring Dick Van Dyke, much of the narrative involves a story Caractacus tells his own two children about a villain named Baron Bomburst and his attempts to steal Chitty. It's that film version that forms the basis for the stage musical, featuring original songs by the legendary songwriting team of Robert and Richard Sherman (Mary Poppins, Disneyland's "It's a Small World").

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang runs at the Ziegfeld Theater (3934 Washington Blvd., Ogden) through March 29, with performances Friday – Saturday and Monday at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 22. Tickets are $24.95 - $26.95; visit zigarts.com to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (Scott Renshaw)

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"The Forbidden Bookshelf" book club @ The King's English Bookshop
Craig Thompson's 2003 autobiographical coming-of-age graphic novel Blankets addresses some admittedly complicated subject matter, including childhood sexual abuse and first adolescent sexual experiences. Not surprisingly, that has also made it a target of censorship efforts around the country, including in Utah, where it was included in a list of books banned in the state's public schools under HB29, passed by the Utah State Legislature in 2024. And as such, that makes it an ideal subject for The King's English's monthly "The Forbidden Bookshelf" book club.

The club was created as a way to celebrate the "wisdom, perspectives and stories hidden within challenged literature." It's also a way to discover which books have been banned under Utah law, and to discover why. Participants are invited to order the book from The King's English, and afterward, to donate it to Brain Food Books, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing free books for the community; visit brainfoodbooks.org to learn more about the group and its mission. It's a celebration of intellectual freedom that allows you to enjoy some great literary works, and do so with a bit of a rebel streak.

The March "Forbidden Bookshelf" session takes place at The King's English (1511 S. 1500 East) on Monday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. Participation is free, but reservation is required. If you're too late to order and participate for this session, watch the store's online calendar for upcoming dates and featured titles. Visit kingsenglish.com for registration and additional event information. (SR)

• Alan Wiener

NCECA Conference and exhibitions
"For millennia, clay's steadiness has chronicled the human condition and its diverse expressions in largely unchanging ways," writes curator Dr. Judith S. Schwartz about the Utah Museum of Contemporary Arts exhibition presented in conjunction with Utah hosting the annual conference of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts, opening Wednesday, March 26. "Seen in this light, ceramics holds a presence for expression in contemporary art that is intimately human, unassuming, and expressive."

As ceramic artists and educators from around the country gather locally to celebrate this unique art form, multiple local galleries are presenting exhibitions dedicated to that theme. At UMOCA (20 S. West Temple, utahmoca.org), five invited artists and 35 additional artists make up True and Real (Lindsay Pichaske's 2018-2019 work Souvenir is pictured). The show runs through May 31, with a reception Friday, March 28 at 6 p.m.

Finch Lane Gallery (54 Finch Lane, saltlakearts.org) also presents one of the NCECA featured exhibitions with Rebel Girl: You Are the Queen of My World. Inspired by the song by Bikini Kill, the show invites female-identifying artists to honor their heroes. Fourteen nationally-recognized ceramic artists participated in this platform for empowerment and recognition. The show includes a Gallery Stroll reception on Friday, March 21, and a NCECA reception on Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m.

"A" Gallery (1321 S. 2100 East, agalleryonline.com) joins in the NCECA celebration with its own exhibition, Intersections: Meaning Through Materiality. Ten artists participated in an exhibition focused on incorporating non-ceramic materials into ceramic-oriented creative practices. It runs March 26-29, with a reception Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. (SR)