Durham
El Greco to Velázquez
Nasher Museum of ArtAside from the quadrennial French Impressionist blockbusters at the N.C. Museum of Art, Triangle residents have a better chance of seeing Old Masters by flying to New York and standing in line at the Met. Twenty years in the works, by Nasher curator Sarah Schroth and produced in conjunction with the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, this exhibit features 53 canvases from the reign of Spain’s Philip III, including seven late works by El Greco and three early efforts by Diego Velázquez, who would become the greatest painter in a nation of great painters. El Greco, for his part, wasn’t Spanish at all, nor was he even technically Greek, despite his nickname and his native tongue: He was born Doménicos Theotokópoulos in Cretethen part of the Venetian Republicand moved steadily westward, finding his lasting fame in Toledo. His unruly, unmistakable images are sui generis, and it will be interesting to see how the show links his work to the technical brilliance and keen intellect of Velázquez. The show, which runs through Nov. 9, opens today with hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with tickets required and valet parking available. A review will appear in the Indy next week. Purchase tickets at www.nasher.duke.edu/elgreco or by calling 660-1701. For more information, visit nasher.duke.edu/elgreco. David Fellerath

Chapel Hill
The Servant of Two Masters
Deep Dish Theater CompanyIf you like your comedy classicvery classichead on over to University Mall. Deep Dish Theater Company opens its eighth season with the classic comedy The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni and translated by Edward J. Dent. Directed by Derrick Ivey (HMS Pinafore, The Yeoman of the Guard), it tells of a case of multiple mistaken identities driven around the moonlighting servant Truffaldino (Laurie Wolf). Servant runs through Sept. 13 at the company’s home in University Mall. Showtimes are: Wednesday and Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; and Sunday matinee, 2 p.m. Ticket prices top out at $18, and season tickets are available. For more information, call 968-1515 or visit www.deepdishtheater.org. Zack Smith

Chapel Hill
Benefit for Cy Rawls: Colossus with Tooth and Grappling Hook
Local 506The steady flow of the local music community’s support for Cy Rawls isn’t surprising, given his far-reaching effect on its members’ lives in one form or another. The white-hot metal this lineup strikes is aimed at Rawls’ penchant for the heavy stuff: Between Raleigh’s riff-rockers Colossus, Durham thrash outfit Tooth and the Grappling Hook’s bared teeth, they’ll dig into the skin like the points on a Chinese throwing star. Get there by 9:30 p.m. and pay (at least) $8. Also, Nightlight presents a radical noise benefit for its former booking agent Rawls on Saturday, Aug. 23: Crowmeat Bob, Inspector 22, Clang Quartet, Yohimbe, USA Baby, Roxan Spiula, Secret Boyfriend. Pay, as Nightlight says, $5-$5,000 at 8:30 p.m. Chris Toenes