MINING MUSICAL GOLD: Grammy Award-winning country singer headed back to her roots on the 2008 album "Coal," which takes inspiration from her West Virginia heritage. The Sago Mine disaster of 2006 was the impetus for the project, but Mattea's own background lends a truckload of Appalachian authenticity to the project. Both of the Coalwood, W.V.-raised singer-songwriter's grandfathers were miners, and her album is a powerful tribute to those who toiled in those deep, dark holes. - Shane Harrison

Puccini's tragic tale of a young Japanese woman, seduced and abandoned by an American officer. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. Production by Japanese sculptor Jun Kaneko. Soprano Joanna Kozlowska and tenor Richard Leech make company debuts. (Photo by Takashi Hatakeyama) Complete Atlanta Opera season

Midway rides, performances by Royal Hanneford Circus, puppet shows, live music, livestock and agricultural displays, craft exhibitions.

Daily Schedule

A Cumming veterinarian and an Athens cat rescuer are in the running to be Animal Planet Heroes.

Tracy Land, a Cumming veterinarian who runs a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, is one of 10 finalists to be Animal Planet's 2008 Hero of the Year. Land opened her Pet Vet clinic in 1987, but was frustrated by the high numbers of unwanted animals. In 1996 she started Project Spay/Neuter. Since then, she and her staff have spayed or neutered more than 55,000 dogs and cats, including many for low-income families at a subsidized cost of $15. Land also does discounted work for local rescue groups and teaches other vets her pediatric spay/neuter techniques. If she wins the voting on the pet channel's Web site, she'll receive a $10,000 donation to her charity and a trip.

The Athens woman, Kelly Bettinger, is in the running for Cat Hero of the Year from the channel, with a $5,000 prize. Bettinger started Campus Cats, a program to spay or neuter and care for the cats that live on the University of Georgia campus.

From Shirley Franklin to Buckhead, a two-act sketch comedy revue that features classic scenes from Chicago's Second City archives as well as original material created specifically for and about Atlanta. On the Hertz Stage.

Story: Troupe sees red meat in cream-puff slogan, budget shortfall

Review: Bottom Line: A laugh-out-loud tour of the town.

An aspiring opera singer came to work at the White House for a short time but stayed through four presidencies as chief butler. This grandson of a freed slave reflects on one man's unique service to his country, including the first families and countless notables he knew. Starring Barry Scott. Directed by Gary Yates.

Review

A traveling exhibition that explores Indians' recent history and their continuing connections to the state through the voices of contemporary Creeks and Cherokees. Includes a replica of a 1700s Creek town busk (a green corn celebration) and an 1800s Cherokee family hearth scene showing the blending of native and European cultures. Also features video recordings of contemporary Indians discussing issues of significance to their communities.

Five country cousins fill the stage with live music and delightful stories about Brer Rabbit and his friends. The fun begins as the gang gathers to sing an early morning ditty. But competition gets the best of them when the characters begin a battle for bragging rights. Who is the swiftest? The strongest? The smartest? Brains beat brawn when Brer Bear, Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, Sister Mud Turtle and Sister Bird find themselves in a briar patch of trouble. Join the whole gang for a romp through the old South.