Quiara Alegria Hudes

Main Event: Generations and Connections
Grandma is an expert in plant fusion. Francisca is a cooking expert with a cable TV show. Rosita is freaked out by her mother's religious practice. And Kiki struggles with addiction and sobriety. They are the generations of a Puerto Rican family recalled by performer Quiara Alegria Hudes, who takes on each of their personalities in a special presentation of COCONUT THERAPY at Northern Kentucky University this weekend.

Hudes grew up as a Puerto-Rican Jew, observing these native Puerto-Rican women, learning from them and, ultimately, seeing herself in them. Separated by class, age and skin color, they were tied together by blood and history.

NKU faculty member Daryl Harris is directing Hudes in a production of her script in the university's Black Box Theatre, featuring the writer in the central roles, accompanied by six dancers performing as a sort of Greek chorus. In addition to an exploration of the lives of these striking women, the ritual theater production will reflect the family's traditions involving Santeria, an Afro-Caribbean magical religious practice.

Harris learned of Hudes' work several years ago while studying at the University of Alabama, when he came across another of her scripts, Breakaway, Steal, which premiered at Yale University. That play tells the story of an enslaved African-American woman who frees herself and her mother after gathering spiritual strength from a woman she meets in the woods.

Whitney Spang

"Not since the '70s," Harris says, "had I run across anyone pursuing, much less writing for, the genre of 'ritual theater.' To top it off, this was a Puerto-Rican Jew writing about an African and African-American experience. I cannot resist such cross-cultural connections. One thing I really respect about her is her attitude that the script is just another part of the ultimate creation/production. It functions equally with the actor, the lighting designer and others to serve the larger vision."

Coconut Therapy will be an unusual and stimulating evening of imaginative theater. 859-572-5464. (See Onstage.) -- RICK PENDER

WEDNESDAY 19
The Mercantile Library continues to impress in its ability to bring interesting, vital authors to town. (Personal high point: Don DeLillo's rare and illuminating presence in April 2003.) The library kicks off its Winter Author Series with a trio of acclaimed writers known for their interest in science and ecology: JOY WILLIAMS (6:30 p.m. Wednesday), Richard Powers (Feb. 2) and David Quammen (Feb. 23). An author of rare insight and versatility for more than three decades, Williams has written four novels (including Pulitzer Prize finalist The Quick and the Dead and National Book Award nominee State of Grace), three collections of short stories and a collection of essays on the rapidly declining state of our environment, Ill Nature. Her latest, a collection of short stories, Honored Guest, finds Williams in familiar territory, tackling the complexities of everyday life in a darkly humorous yet always illuminating manner. The Library (414 Walnut St., Downtown) opens its doors at 6:30 p.m. $15 for Mercantile members, $18 for non-members. Reservations required. 513-621-0717. (See Literary.) -- JASON GARGANO

"From Provence" by Gail Morrison

WEDNESDAY 19
At CityBeat, we're always trying to give you the inside track on cool, and today we have a tip that seems all but guaranteed since it involves cast-off refrigerators and other kitchen appliances. WHITNEY SPANG (pictured) assembled a see-through plastic drum from refrigerator parts, and at 7 p.m. you can hear original musical compositions by Spang and 120 other architecture and interior design students (yes, you read that correctly) played on "instruments" they've created from dishwashers, ovens and other such devices. The lesson is about using and re-using building materials in addition to being creative under pressure. The 7 p.m. concert in the DAAP auditorium is free to the public. 513-762-5500. (See Events.) -- RICK PENDER

FRIDAY 21
After all this rain, we could do with some sunlight. But for the next best thing, head to Closson's Gallery & Frame Shop in Montgomery for Embracing Light, a new exhibition featuring artists GAIL MORRISON and BONITA WILLIAMS GOLDBERG. Morrison's oil paintings are inspired by her study and frequent travels in Italy, and Goldberg's pieces celebrate themes of energy, balance and spirituality. If you haven't visited Closson's new gallery, you should know it never disappoints, always featuring skilled artists and classy exhibitions. And if you've been there, you already know that to be true -- so go back for another visit. Opening reception: 5-8 p.m. 513-762-5500. (See Art.) -- JULIE BERNZOTT

FRIDAY 21
CINCYPUNK FEST returns for its third year Friday at the Southgate House. The event -- which debuted in 2003 at the late all-ages club The Void in Northside -- was conceived by the creators of cincypunk.com (which has since morphed into cincypunk.net after some disputes between the founders). Reflecting the shape-shifting definition of Punk and organized by a host of volunteers (headed up by the site's Adam Rosing), proceeds from the concert will go to the Lighthouse Youth Services. "Overall, the bands involved in Cincinnati music have given me and my friends a lot over the years," says Rosing of the reasons for the show and site. "We wanted to give back by creating a community for (artists and fans) to come together at." The 8 p.m. show will utilize all three floors of the Southgate House. Performing in the ballroom are Thistle, the reunited East Arcadia, Columbus' Earwig, Mint 6 Ten, Abigail, Junior Revolution and The Gravity Car. The parlour will have Margin of Error, Ellison, Alone at 3am and The Culling Song, while Moving East, Ben Thamann and Jeff Conley take over the lounge. 859-431-2201. (See Music.) -- MIKE BREEN

CincyPunk Fest features 14 bands, including Earwig.

SATURDAY 22
Hamilton's "City of Sculpture" celebrates its reputation with the fourth annual ICEFEST, a two-day winter event showcasing a few tons of ice in the form of 115 ice sculptures. Activities not to be missed at this year's fest, themed "Circus in Ice," include a Big Top celebration (Friday evening in the Hamiltonian Hotel ballroom); sled race; soap carving and photo contests; and Friday night's main event (at the Butler County Courthouse), the Technicolor Ice Walk, an illuminated display of the ice sculptures in colored lights. IceFest is an even bigger deal thanks to its being chosen as the 2006 Winter Olympics Ice Carving Pre-Qualifier competition. So chill and catch some of the world's best ice artists in action. 513-895-3934. (See Attractions.) -- JESSICA TURNER

SUNDAY 23
As long as there's been a Mockbee Building -- back to its early days as SSNOVA -- there has been UNDERNEATH CINCINNATI, a series of one-night video and film exhibitions programmed by Sara Mahle. The local film event returns for its latest one-night program at 9 p.m. with a new screening of works from independent film artists. When it comes to the importance of a filmmaker showing his work publicly, not much has changed since the first Underneath program in August 2000. Before or after the event, make sure to say hi or even buy a beer at the Mockbee bar for one of the latest filmmakers to join the Underneath tribe. $5 requested donation. 513-929-9463. (See Events or Film.) -- STEVE RAMOS