Stars on point For the second time, Prague's National Theatre will host Czech and international ballet stars in a performance called "Ballet Gala". The aim of the performance is to introduce to the audience the personalities of Czech ballet that are engaged not only in the Czech Republic, but also in prestigeous companies around the world. In addition to these dancers, the show will feature several prominent foreign guests from the Stuttgart Balett, Bayerisches Staatsballett München, and the English National Ballet, among others. The audience will have a unique chance to see extracts from an international ballet repertoire. During the evening, the prestigious Philip Morris Ballet Flower Award for 2004 will be presented to the best Czech ballet dancer. Balet Gala aneb Setkání v Praze, Národní divadlo May 7 from 20:00, tickets CZK 30-900 Spring in Bohnice Traditionally the Prague's Psychiatric clinic in Bohnice fills up with music and theater fans on the last weekend of May. During the two days of the 14th annual festival "Mezi ploty", which remains a unique cultural event, a large number of musicians and theater assemblies will perform on several stages. Space will also be given to visual art and other artistic forms, which visitors are encourage to try. As every year, all of the performing artists will donate their royalties to the benefit of the clinic. Along with professional and amateur artists, assemblies of handicapped artists will demonstrate for the public the results of their artistic endeavors. Festival Mezi Ploty, Psychiatrická léčebna v Praze-Bohnicích Program information on www.meziploty.cz Begins on May 28 at 1 pm, ends on May 29 at 11 pm, entrance CZK 230 (CZK 260 at the venue).

CULTURAL CALENDAR >
May 2005
Photo: archiv

Theater
3. 5. - Caveman, Divadlo U hasičů, 19:30
5. 5. - Osiřelý západ, Činoherní klub, 19:30
7. 5. - Czech Secretaries, Stavovské divadlo, 14:00
10. 5. - Second Chapter, Divadlo bez zábradlí, 19:00
11. 5. - The Liar, Divadlo v Dlouhé, 19:00
12. 5. - Caveman, Divadlo U hasičů, 19:30
16. 5. - When She Danced, Divadlo bez zábradlí, 19:00
18. 5. - Caveman, Divadlo U hasičů, 19:30
22. 5. - Natěrač, Divadlo Kalich, 19:00
23. 5. - Poprask na laguně, Divadlo Na Fidlovačce, 19:30
25. 5. - When She Danced, Divadlo bez zábradlí, 19:00
26. 5. - Coriolanus, Národní divadlo, 19:00
31. 5. - The Liar, Divadlo v Dlouhé, 19:00

Dance
10. 5. - Cinderella, Státní opera Praha, 19:00
17.-21. 5. - Stomp, Kongresové centrum Praha, 20:00
23. 5. - Swan Lake, Státní opera Praha, 19:00
29. 5. - Lucrezia Borgia, Národní divadlo, 16:00 and 20:00
30. 5. - Lucrezia Borgia, Národní divadlo, 19:00

Opera
4. 5. - Le Nozze di Figaro, Stavovské divadlo, 19:00
6. 5. - Rigoletto, Národní divadlo, 19:00
7. 5. - Rusalka, Státní opera Praha, 19:00
12. 5. - La BohŹme, Státní opera Praha, 19:00
17. 5. - PS 2005 - Man and Boy: Dada, Stavovské divadlo, 19:00
19. 5. - Rusalka, Státní opera Praha, 19:00
25. 5. - Rusalka, Státní opera Praha, 19:00
26. 5. - PS 2005 - Lucia di Lammermoor, Státní opera Praha, 19:00
29. 5. - PS 2005 - Man and Boy: Dada, Stavovské divadlo, 19:00

Classical music
4. 5. - Ludwig Piano Quartet, Bertramka, 17:00
5.-6. 5. - Czech Philharmonic, Rudolfinum - Dvořákova síň, 19:30
12.-31. 5. - Prague Spring 2005 (PS 2005), various venues
15. 5. - Schulhoff Quartet, Klementinum - Zrcadlová síň, 20:00
18. 5. - Carmina Burana, Obecní dům - Smetanova síň, 20:00
20.-21. 5. - Praga Sinfonietta Orchestra, Kostel sv. Mikuláše, 21:00
26. 5. - Vesselina Kasarova - Handel-Mozart-Rossini-Gluck, Stavovské divadlo, 19:00

Modern music
5. 5. - Mark Knopfler, T-Mobile Arena, 20:00
5. 5. - The Tiger Lillies, Abaton, 20:00
9. 5. - Blues Explosion, Roxy, 19:30
9. 5. - Erik Truffaz, Lucerna Music Bar, 21:00
10. 5. - Asonance, Gong, 19:30
12. 5. - X-tet Víta Fialy, Reduta Jazz Club, 21:30
12. 5. - Rebel ladies of Czech Music - Lenka Dusilová, Městská knihovna, 19:30
14. 5. - Time Bands Cup 2005, Vagon club, 17:30
18. 5. - Jiří Stivín & Co., Agharta Jazz Centrum, 21:00
18. 5. - "Evening of Indian Music", Městská knihovna, 19:30
20.-21. 5. - "The Colors of Summer", koupaliště Džbán
21. 5. - Time Bands Cup 2005, Vagon club, 17:30
22. 5. - Paradise Lost, Abaton, 19:00
22. 5. - PS 2005 - Ondřej Havelka & Melody Makers, 20:00
23. 5. - Pat Metheny Group, Lucerna-velký sál, 20:00
28. 5. - PS 2005 - Etnomarathon, Divadlo Archa, 17:00
28. 5. - Iron Maiden, T-Mobile Arena, 20:00

Inspired by Kafka

Dramatic situations described in Kafka's Diaries or in the memoirs of his biographer, extracts from the love letters to Felice or Milena, and other less known works of Franz Kafka inspired four authors of Sklep Theater. Monika Načeva, Jan Slovák, David Vávra, and Lenka Vychodilová prepared an original and absurd grotesque, enriched by exceptional songs and a hard-to-describe mix of sounds. The performance aims to illustrate Kafka's thinking in a less typical way - as a funny, ironic piece of art rather than a product of an existential author. Although all four artists are connected to Sklep Theater, their play will be shown in Archa Theater at Na Poříčí.

Piš, Kafka, Piš, Divadlo Archa
May 15 and 16 at 20:00, tickets CZK 190

Program of the Marathon weekend

May 21 2005:
Marathon Music Festival 15:00, Wenceslas Square, Můstek
- Marathon carnival with HOUSER
Benefit concert to support PARAPLE fund 17:00, Old Town Square
--123minut, Sto Zvířat, Support Lesbiens and others

May 22 2005:
Volkswagen Classical Marathon 9:00, Old Town Square
Mattoni Junior Marathon - final 9:00, Old Town Square
Živnobanka City Run (8 km) 9:30, Wenceslas Square
Salomon in-line race (4 km) 9:40, Wenceslas Square
Živnobanka Corporate Run (4 km) 9:45, Wenceslas Square
Živnobanka Family Run (4 km) 9:50, Wenceslas Square
- Staropramen party at 20:00

Tickets for these events may be purchased at any of TICKETPRO outlets,
on-line on www.ticketpro.cz or by phoning 296 329 999.
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