Long Island Artists Exhibition

WHAT The 56th annual Long Island Artists Exhibition, one of the Island's oldest juried art shows, opened Sunday, with works selected by noted East End landscape/seascape painter April Gornick. Sponsored by Art League of Long Island, the show features works by 65 artists from Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as Queens and Brooklyn, including oil paintings, black-and-white photographs, clay sculptures and mixed-media abstracts. For its first 48 years, the show was held at Huntington's Heckscher Museum before moving to the art league's Dix Hills building upon its completion in 2004. Awards of excellence went to Monica Agosta of Huntington Station for her "Badlands" photograph, William Mensching of Rockville Centre for "Wave" and Jim Molloy of Miller Place for "Steadfast," both oil paintings.

WHEN | WHERE 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends through April 14, Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery, 107 E. Deer Park Rd., Dix Hills

INFO artleagueli.org, 631-462-5400

'Antony and Cleopatra'

WHAT In its long history, the Hofstra Shakespeare Festival had never performed the romantic tragedy "Antony and Cleopatra." That changes with this weekend's opening performances in the 64th annual festival at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. Directed by James Kolb, professor in Hofstra's Drama and Dance Department, "Antony and Cleopatra" is based on what was known in the Bard's time about one of history's most famous romantic couples. A companion piece, "This Bud of Love," a one-hour version of "Romeo and Juliet," will be staged twice during the festival, along with a "Star-Crossed Lovers" concert of early music from Shakespeare's era by the Hofstra Collegium Musicum, with guest artist Christopher Morrongiello playing the lute. Among Hofstra alums who've appeared in past festivals are Phil Rosenthal, creator of "Everybody Loves Raymond"; Tony nominees Peter Friedman and Tom McGowan; TV actresses Susan Sullivan and Margaret Colin, and the late Madeline Kahn.

WHEN | WHERE Through March 24, Adams Playhouse, Hofstra University, Hempstead. "Antony and Cleopatra": 8 Friday night and Saturday night, March 22 and 23, 2 p.m. Sunday and March 24. "This Bud of Love" and "Star-Crossed Lovers": 2 p.m. Saturday, "This Bud" only: 8 p.m. March 22.

INFO $6-$12; 516-463-6644

St. Patrick's concerts

WHAT Three picks for St. Patty's Day: First, celebrate on the eve with "Celtic Nights," featuring six singers delivering Irish ballads before a thundering line of step dancers telling the story of people who carved out a new life in the New World. For a St. Patrick's matinee, check out "The Women of Ireland," bringing music-and-dance traditions from hearthside in Irish homes to stateside in concert halls. As for the men of Ireland, the Celtic Tenors sing three-part harmonies and deliver a few Irish quips.

INFO "Celtic Nights": 8 p.m. Saturday, Staller Center, Stony Brook University; $38, staller center.com, 631-632-2787. "Women": 3 p.m. Sunday, Patchogue Theatre, 71 E. Main St.; $39-$47, patchoguetheatre.com, 631-207-1313. "Tenors": 4 p.m. Sunday, Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, 76 Main St.; $25-$45, whbpac.org, 631-288-1500