Autumn brings a full arts slate to Las Vegas

Grip a paintbrush. Grab a camera. Recite a passage. Clutch a baton. Seize an instrument. Lift your voice. Hit the downbeat. Raise the roof.

You're not the artist? You're the audience? Then lend an ear, feast your eyes, open your heart and nourish your soul.

Or just peel yourself away from that plasma screen and get out of the house.

The autumnal arts scene in Las Vegas is about to sprout vibrant colors to rival fall foliage on Mount Charleston: Nevada Ballet Theatre to Nevada Pops, E.L. Doctorow to Garrison Keillor, Japanese dolls to Chinese painters, brass bands to classical quartets, Italian folk dance to Scottish drums, holiday "Nutcracker" -- this year at Paris Las Vegas, no less -- to "Forbidden Broadway Christmas." An abundance of arts from A to Z.

Herewith, some highlights:

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Performing Arts Center, 895-2787)

Virsky Ukrainian Dance Company, Sept. 26

Cleo Parker-Robinson Dance Company, Oct. 9

Classical guitarists Slava and Leonard Grigoryan, Oct. 14

Violinist Midori, Oct. 23

"Tricks and Treats," Nevada Pops, Oct. 30

Reading with author E.L. Doctorow, Nov. 10

Classical guitarist William Kanengiser, Nov. 18

"A Forbidden Broadway Christmas," Dec. 5

"A Celebration of Christmas," Nevada Pops and Desert Chorale, Dec. 7

Donna Beam Fine Art Gallery at UNLV (895-3893)

"Way Out West" exhibit, through Sept. 19

"At First Glance: Three Painters from the Boston Area" exhibit, Sept. 25-Oct. 31

"Extreme Sensibility: Taiwanese Contemporary Video Arts," Nov. 13-Dec. 13

Marjorie Barrick Museum at UNLV (895-3381)

"State of Change" photographic exhibit, Friday-Oct. 30

"An Evening with Garrison Keillor," Sept. 23

"A Reading with Er Tai Gao," Chinese writer, painter and critic, Dec. 2 Las Vegas Philharmonic (performances at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall; 258-5438 for information, 895-2787 for tickets)

Guest performer, violinist Giora Schmidt, Saturday

"The Night at the Movies," concert of movie music, Oct. 3

Guest performer, pianist Joel Fan, Nov. 21

Christmas Celebration, Dec. 12

Nevada Ballet Theatre (243-2623)

"Timeless Innovation," Oct. 17-18 (at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall)

"The Nutcracker," Dec. 18-24 (at Paris Las Vegas, call 946-4567 for tickets)

College of Southern Nevada (651-5483)

"Joe Williams Music Scholarship Fund Concert," Oct. 8

Vocal Jazz Solo Night, Oct. 9-10

Fall Dance Concert, Dec. 4-5

Jazz Combos, Dec. 6

Orchestra Concert, Dec. 7

Concert Band concert, Dec. 8

Twin Big Bands concert, Dec. 9

Winter Choral Concert, Dec. 10

Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art (693-7871)

"12+7: Artists and Architects of CityCenter," Sept. 18-April 4

Southern Nevada Museum of Fine Art (382-2926)

"Contemporary Asian Art Retrospective," through Oct. 10

Contemporary Arts Center (382-3886)

Untitled video installation, Saturday-Oct. 18

"Politically Correct" sculptural exhibit, Oct. 24-Nov. 28

"Pressing the Limits" imprinting exhibit, Dec. 4-Jan. 3

City of Henderson (267-2171)

Events Plaza

"The Dolls of Japan Exhibit," through Oct. 10

Pavilion

Henderson Symphony Orchestra concerts, Friday and Oct. 10

The Gallery

"Sweet Serenity" exhibit of paintings, Sept. 14-Oct. 9

Susanne Reese photographic exhibit, Oct. 19-Nov. 13

Convention Center

Henderson Symphony Orchestra concert, Dec. 10

Clark County Library (507-3459)

UNLV Jazz Ensemble, Oct. 14 and Nov. 4

Las Vegas Brass Band, Oct. 18 and Dec. 13

"An Afternoon with Author James Ellroy," Oct. 25

"An Evening with Author E.L. Doctorow," Vegas Valley Book Festival, Nov. 8 (507-3459)

West Las Vegas Library (507-3989)

"Our Voice: A Celebration of Black Women in Music," Sept. 20

Sahara West Library (507-3630)

Classical soprano Iryna Mendoza, Sept. 26

West Charleston Library (507-3940)

"An Afternoon with Author Brandon Sanderson," Oct. 31

Summerlin Library Performing Arts Center (490-3119)

"A Tribute to George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Jester Hairston," Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society, tonight (call 451-6672)

Bridge Gallery, City Hall (229-1012)

"In Danger" art exhibit, Sept. 25-Nov. 25

Charleston Heights Arts Center (229-6383)

"Measure Twice, Cut Once" art exhibit, through Nov. 19

"M&M American Dance Theater: Dance with Me," Sept. 19

Clark County Government Center Rotunda Gallery (455-7030)

"Inscribed Messages" exhibit, through Nov. 20

Fifth Street School Auditorium (229-4614)

Willson & McKee Celtic music concert, Oct. 7

Reading by U.S. poet laureate Kay Ryan, Vegas Valley Book Festival, Nov. 5

West Las Vegas Arts Center (229-4800)

"Historical Journey Into Jazz" art exhibit, through Dec. 31

Nathan Tanouye Jazz Sextet, Sept. 26

Nevada Dance Project's "Through Time and Space," Oct. 3

Reed Whipple Cultural Center (229-6211)

"It's a Girl Thing" exhibition, through Oct. 10

Rachel and EJ Delgado jazz concert, Sept. 18

Winchester Community Center (455-7340)

Garrett Hypes Jazz Sextet concert, Oct. 11

Mary Ellen Spann Jazz Quintet, Oct. 16

Tradizone Vivente Italian folk dance performance, Oct. 18

"Dead or Alive, You're Coming with Me" exhibit, through Oct. 23

R. Carlos Nakai, Native American flute concert, Oct. 25

"Day of the Dead" exhibit, Oct. 30-Nov. 21

The Desert Skye Pipes and Drums Scottish Sounds concert, Nov. 7

Southern Nevada Musical Arts Chorus concert, Nov. 8

Xyachimal Mexican folkloric dance troupe, Nov. 14

Mariano Gonzalez Ramirez, Paraguayan harp concert, Dec. 5

Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Plaza (229-1087)

Las Vegas Blues Festival, Sept. 26

Las Vegas Youth Orchestra Concert, Oct. 15

Hispanic Museum of Nevada (www.hispanicmuseumnv.com)

"Musical Landscapes of Buenos Aires" exhibit, through Sept. 30

Brett Wesley Gallery (433-4433)

Gallery grand opening, tonight

Contact reporter Steve Bornfeld at sbornfeld@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0256.