The Wake Forest Renaissance Centre for the Arts welcomes the return of “Neck of the Woods” on Friday, Jan. 25, at 7 p.m. Presented and sponsored by ARTS Wake Forest, Neck of the Woods is a variety performance series featuring emerging local artists. Each show is different and may consist of several performing arts acts, including actors, dancers, musicians, comedians, writers and spoken word artists. The Jan. 25 Neck of the Woods will feature the family-friendly comedy group the “Un-Intentionals;” award-winning singer/songwriter David Snyder; dulcimer player and singer/songwriter Michele Gourley; and student musicians from the Wake Forest School of Rock. For more information about these performers, visit www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/neck-woods-1<http://www.wakeforestrencen.org/event/neck-woods-1>. Area residents are invited to come out, enjoy a truly unique and entertaining community event and show your support for our local artists. Refreshments will be available for purchase, including a variety of beer and wine. Tickets are $5 plus tax and

Forest Moon Theater will present “I Never Saw Another Butterfly” Friday-Sunday, Feb. 8 through 10 and 15 through 17, at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre, 405 Brooks Street. Showtime on Friday and Saturday is 7:30 p.m., while Sunday’s show time is 3 p.m. At the height of Hitler’s campaign to rid the world of Jews, children of the condemned arrive in Terezin, where they are assigned to a teacher, Raja, who watches over them until they are separated and sent to concentration camps. Raja survives to tell their story, a story that celebrates the human spirit and ability to uplift oneself, a story about children who bring light to the dark, hope to the abject, and love to a place surrounded by hate. This play is produced by special arrangements with Dramatists Play Service, Inc. Advance tickets are $15 plus tax for adults and $13 plus tax for students and

All three Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events classes in 2018 were full, and the Wake Forest Police Department has responded by scheduling a new class on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre on Brooks Street. There is no cost to participate, but registration is required at www.wakeforestnc.gov/civilian-response-to-active-shooter-events.aspx<https://www.wakeforestnc.gov/civilian-response-to-active-shooter-events.aspx>. Class size is limited to the first 100 people to register. Please note: Every participant must register individually – one person per form. On the evening of the class, attendees will be required to show proof of registration before entering the Renaissance Centre. Led by Wake Forest Police Lt. L. Danforth, the session will teach participants what to do if confronted with an active shooter event. Designed and built on the Avoid, Deny, Defend (ADD) strategy developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University, the class will

The Wake Forest Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee invites everyone in the community to a celebration of his life and legacy on Thursday, Jan. 24, at Friendship Chapel Baptist Church on Friendship Chapel Road. The evening begins with a light fellowship meal at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. Local choirs will perform, the student winners of the writing, art and performance contests will be honored, and there will be a guest speaker.

Bright Star Touring Theatre, a national professional touring theatre company based in Asheville, will offer two free performances of “Let It Shine: The American Civil Rights Movement” on Saturday, Feb. 9. Geared for ages 6 and older, the free performances are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Alston-Massenburg Center at 416 North Taylor Street. Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Freedom Riders and more come to life in this powerful production that celebrates the American Civil Rights Movement. The show also features inspiring performances and the songs of the Civil Rights era. Admission is free, and everyone is invited. This production is part of the Wake Forest Renaissance Centre’s Arts For All free community performance series, which is supported by United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County. For more information, visit wakeforestrencen.org or contact Renaissance Centre Specialist Debra Horton at 919-435-9566 or dhorton@wakeforestnc.gov<mailto:dhorton@wakeforestnc.gov>.