POP singer turned award winning star of the musical theatre Marti Pellow heads the cast of the hit musical Chicago as it arrives at the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton for a two week run on Monday (September 28). The show, a cheery tale of murder, greed, violence, corruption, adultery and treachery, runs until October 9. Former Wet Wet Wet frontman Pellow plays super-slick and wonderfully corrupt lawyer Billy Flynn. The show has added poignancy following the recent death of Fred Ebb who co-wrote the score with John Kander.The team were of course also responsible for Cabaret. Telephone 023 8071 1811.

MUSICIAN, actor and storyteller Mika Maran bring his latest production Mahler: Song and dance Man to Lighthouse at Poole on Friday (September 24) and Saturday (September 25). The show offers some telling psychological insights into both Maran and Mahler and a few surprises for those who think that the composer was unremittingly dark in his approach to music. Telephone 01202 685222.

THOSE brilliant bard busters The Reduced Shakespeare Company are back, playing the Forest Arts Centre at New Milton on Saturday (Sep 18) and delivering the complete world of England's best-loved playwright in a smidgin over an hour and a half. What you get are three crazy Americans walloping through all 37 Shakespeare plays in just 97 minutes. Telephone 01425 612393.

The Salisbury Playhouse autumn season continues with a new production of Shakespeare's much loved comedy Much Ado About Nothing. It is directed by rising young talent Douglas Rintoul who directed Copenhagen at the Playhouse last year and The Taming of the Shrew there in 2002. It runs until Saturday September 25. Telephone 01722 320333.

A new stage production of Frankenstein - possibly the greatest tale of horror and humanity ever written - plays The Nuffield Theatre in Southampton until October 16. Artistic director Patrick Sandford directs Mary Shelley's masterwork. Telephone 023 8067 1771.

Comedian Mitch Benn brings an evening of music and mirth to the Forest Arts Centre in New Milton on Saturday (September 25) when he arrives with his very own two-girl backing band The Distractions. Benn's strength is that he is that rare combination a seriously funny comedian who is also an extremely good musician. Telephone 01425 612393.

The Christchurch Gilbert and Sullivan Society stage their latest production of that brilliantly inventive Gilbertian comedy Iolanthe at the Regent Centre in Christchurch until Saturday (September 25). Telephone 01202 499148).

The Award winning Theatre 2000 are back in action at the Regent Centre in Christchurch next week with their new play Masterclass. It focuses on three opera students on the receiving end of some tough-talking from Operas Grande Dame Maria Callas. Telephone 01202 499148.

MUSIC:

Singer-songwriter Gordon Haskell made headlines a couple of years back when he became an overnight sensation after 35 years in the business. The Dorset pup singer suddenly found himself riding high in the charts and at the centre of a high-profile battle for the Christmas number one spot. He came second to Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman not that he ever hankered after the world off celebrity. See him in action in more realistic surroundings at The Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne on Friday (September 24).

If quality songs are your bag, Michael Weston King includes a rare Dorset date at Club Hobo which convenes at the Royal Oak, Bere Regis on Wednesday (September 29). Having fronted acclaimed Liverpool alt-country outfit, The Good Sons, Michael's solo career has seen him incorporate soul music, blues, jazz and folk in his sound, earning favourable comparisons with the likes of Nick Cave and Elvis Costello. He'll be joined in Bere Regis by long-time friend Jackie Leven, who produced Michael's recent album A Decent Man. Jackie, whose Dorset links go back some 25 years, opened the Club Hobo sessions earlier this month with a stunning set. Tickets are £7. Info on 01202 314497.

Quality of a different flavour is promised with the appearance of British rapper Skinnyman at Bournemouth's Old Fire Station on Thursday (September 30). His debut album, Council Estate of Mind, has firmly established British rap as a force to be reckoned with its brutally frank accounts of life on the no-hope estate of north London. But rather than merely hold a mirror to the dirt and grime, Skinnyman injects his dystopian vision with a ray of hope, as on new single No Big Ting. Tickets: 01202 503888.

The Wessex Military Band host a Massed Bands Spectacular at Weymouth, Bournemouth and Salisbury this weekend. This annual indoor international Military Tattoo features some of the finest bands in the business with participants from England, Scotland, Germany, Poland, Belgium and Nepal. They play Weymouth Pavilion on Friday (Sep 24) Telephone 01305 783225, Bournemouth Pavilion on Saturday (Sep 25) Telephone 0807 111 3000, Salisbury City Hall on Sunday (Sep 26) Telephone 01722 327676 and Southampton Guildhall on Monday (Sep 27). Telephone 02380 632601.

Get your best Julie Andrews frock out and get along to Southampton's Mayflower Theatre to join in with Singalonga Sound of Music. It's on for one night only on Sunday (Sep 26). Telephone 02380 711811.

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra travel to Salisbury City Hall for a concert featuring music by Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Vivaldi on Saturday (September 25). Telephone 01722 327676.

The Don Lusher Big Band pay tribute to the late great bandleader Ted Heath when they play the Bournemouth International Centre on Friday (September 24)0870 111 3000.

Tony Jacobs and the Jim Barry Swingtet arrive in Christchurch on Sunday (September 26) with their tribute to the music of George Gershwin, Irving Berlin and Rodgers and Hart. Called The Gershwin Years, it revisits the evergreen favourites made famous by, among others, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and Frank Sinatra. Telephone 01202 499148.

Queen tribute band The Great Pretender strut their stuff at Mr Kyps in Lower Parkstone on on Friday (Sep 24). Tomorrow finds mod revival outfit Ian Page and the Affair in action with Orange Street as support and next Wednesday and Thursday hard-gigging favourites The Hamsters return for two different evenings of rodent-friendly rock. Wednesday finds them playing Hendrix and ZZ Topp covers while on Thursday they play their own blues-rock material. Telephone 748945.

ART:

A NEW exhibition marking the creation of Osborne School, Winchester opens at the city's Winchester Gallery on Thursday (Sept 30). Built on the site of Lankhills School, artists Trish Bould and Belinda Mitchell collaborated with architects, engineers, construction contractors and the school to create a permanent work of art for the building. Drawings from everyone involved were printed on the glazed balustrade running through its core, marking the many uses of drawing in every area and at every stage of its construction. The exhibition runs until October 29. Tel: 01962 852500.