Night & Day

tuesday
april 6
As a child you were a ham who always wanted to attend New York's High School of the Performing Arts. That is until you saw the movie and the TV series Fame. Watching those gifted, energetic kids have their dreams of showbiz stardom crushed convinced you that you had to be nuts to want to be a performer. Now that you're old and cynical, Fame has hit the stage and has been transformed into Fame -- The Musical. This time around you can feel either comfortably detached or completely inadequate because you opted for law school instead of following your heart and becoming a mime. The show opens tonight at 8:00 at The Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. Performances continue through April 11. Tickets range from $26 to $49. Call 305-673-7311.

wednesday
april 7
Arts and Letters Day is not as passive as it sounds: Readings, musical, dance, and theatrical performances, workshops, art and martial arts demonstrations, and movie screenings are just a few of the goings-on. Starting at 7:45 a.m. and running all day at Miami-Dade Community College's Kendall Campus (11011 SW 104th St.), the event is designed to showcase student, faculty and professional talents. Highlights include the premiere of M.I.A.M.I. Klanglfotte (Miami Sound Fleet), a new musical work by sculptor, poet, and inventor Trimpin at 9:45 a.m.; a performance by the college choir and JUBA gospel ensemble at 10:00 a.m.; a reading by poet Nikki Giovanni at 11:00 a.m.; an open-mike session led by writer Ricardo Pau-Llosa at 2:10 p.m.; and a performance of the musical Working at 8:00 p.m. All events are free. Call 305-237-2391.