Ever wonder what happened after the famous Jack and the Beanstalk tale? Find out at the Akron Civic Theatre as "Jack and the Gentle Giant," performed by the Mad Cap Puppet Theatre, appears March 25 at 2:30 p.m.

With a little help from his talking beanstalk, Jack is back in this sequel to the famous fairy tale. Jack and his sons must tame the most despicable giant of them all. The audience will enter a world of towering tales where each giant is bigger than the last. Stories include: The Stone Giant (an Iroquois legend), The Heartless Giant (a folktale from the Czech Republic) and The Brave Little Tailor (a Brothers Grimm story from Germany).

Auditions for the Akron Civic Theatre/Akron Advocates for the Visual & Performing Arts (AAVPA) production of the eight-time Tony Award winning musical "Hairspray" will take place March 11 (3 to 6 p.m.) and March 12 (6:30 to 9 p.m.) at the Sandefur Theatre in Guzzetta Hall on the campus of The University of Akron.

Call back auditions will take place March 14. Auditions are by appointment only and must be scheduled by calling (330) 535-3179 weekdays between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The musical will run June 15 and 16 at The Akron Civic Theatre. Rehearsals will begin no earlier than April 30. Casting for the production is open to all students currently enrolled in a public or private high school in Akron, as well as age-appropriate (14 to 18) home-schoolers living within the city limits. Technical positions are also available – those interested should contact .

Jerry Seinfeld will make a stop in Akron for an upcoming tour that finds the TV star reaching back to his roots as a stand-up comedian. He'll appear at the Akron Civic Theatre April 20 at 7 p.m.

Hailed as “the master stand-up comic of his generation” and “the best comedian of our time” in a Washington Post article by Tom Shales, Seinfeld has an uncanny ability to joke about the little things in life that relate to audiences everywhere.

Tickets go on sale Feb. 24 at 10 a.m., and prices are $77, $62, and $47. Tickets are available at the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office, by calling (330) 253-2488, online at www.akroncivic.com, or by calling TicketMaster at (800) 745-3000.

The Akron Civic Theatre will present Forecast for its second Jazz @ The Civic Series Jan. 27 at 8 p.m.

The native Cleveland contemporary jazz band performs a musical blend of instrumental jazz, funk, rock, reggae and pop. The band is composed of vibist Lem Adams, saxophonist Jermaine Lockhart, keyboardist Alphonso McDuffie, bassist Gary Stevenson, drummer John Turner and guitarist Kevin Byous.

In addition to their regular performance dates, the band has opened for Earl Klugh, The Crusaders, Stanley Turrentine, Bob Newhart, Roy Ayers, Jeff Lorber, Angie Bofill, Michael Paulow, Pieces of a Dream, Brian Auger , Bob James and David Garfield, among others. Awards include the 1985 and 1986 Michelob Jazz Search, Best Jazz Fusion Band from the 1993 Midwest Urban Music Awards and Best Contemporary Jazz Band from Scene Magazine in 1999.

The Akron Civic Theatre will celebrate the musical legacy of Pink Floyd with Brit Floyd, whose "A Foot in the Door" 2012 world tour takes the Akron stage Feb. 27 at 8 p.m.

Billed as "The World's Greatest Pink Floyd Show," musical director Damian Darlington timed the tour with the Nov. 7 release of the official Pink Floyd "Best Of" album, "A Foot In the Door." The performance includes Pink Floyd compositions in their entirety -- track by track -- and as selected, personally, by the Pink Floyd band members themselves.

The show also includes a 23-minute rendition of "Echoes," taken from Pink Floyd's classic 1971 album "Meddle."

Akron-based Zobapago teaches children about hygiene, health and science using sing-alongs from the uniquely fictional city of Zobapa-Dopolis.

The performers embody entertainment and educational material that relate to topics of a child’s everyday life, as characters like TaxiMan Zan and Quizzical Lizzy will entertain and teach them about a healthy way of life.

Zobapago will have one performance Jan. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre. Ticket prices for adults are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.  Children 3 to 12 years are $5, and children under 2 get in for free.

Beatles fans may experience the anticipation and excitement of Beatles concerts at the Rubber City BeatleFest, Oct. 8 at the Akron Civic Theatre. The event features some of Ohio’s well-known Fab Four tribute bands, like The ReBeats, Revolution Pie, The Liverpool Lads and The Nowhere Men with a special appearance by Jim Bonfanti of “The Choir” and “The Raspberries.”

Organizers, who say this group of performers will make it possible for music fans to experience Beatlemania as felt by fans fortunate enough to attend an actual Beatles concert in the early 60s, add that Beatlemania was not only a musical experience, but a cultural experience.

There also will be exhibits by prominent Ohio artists, and Beatle memorabilia will be available for purchase.

Widespread Panic continues its 25^th anniversary celebration with the announcement of the band's annual fall tour, which includes the group's only Northern Ohio appearance at the Akron Civic Theatre Oct. 15.

Aside from a couple of dates in early 2012, this will be Widespread Panic’s last tour before going on a hiatus, according to the band, which adds that in appreciation of its loyal fans, Widespread Panic will perform at some of the smaller, more intimate venues that have become fan favorites through the years, as well as some new ones.

The Akron Civic Theatre will become a 1920s speakeasy on May 13. Puttin’ on the Ritz, a themed 1920s party fundraiser, will feature moonshiners, gangsters, a casino gaming hall and attendees dressed for the occasion.

The party begins at 6:30 p.m. May 13 with appetizers and "hooch" as guests are entertained by the music of Helen Welch. Verb Ballets will perform a dance on the Grand Staircase, and the Keystone Cops plan to “bust the joint open."

At 8 p.m., Al Capone and his gang will escort everyone into the auditorium for a silent movie accompanied by the Civic's Wurlitzer organ. After a live auction, the stage will transform into a casino gaming hall, with entertainment by Jack Shawnz. Desserts and coffee will round out the night.

Celtic Woman, an all-female music group that celebrates a mix of Celtic culture and pop music, will appear at the Akron Civic Theatre April 1. The ensemble comprises vocalists Lisa Kelly, Chloë Agnew and Lisa Lambe, along with Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.

The group is promoting its CD/DVD and Emmy-nominated television special, "Celtic Woman – Songs from the Heart," filmed live from Powerscourt House and Gardens in Ireland. The group is on a multi-month tour, which concludes May 22 in Austin, Texas.