Weekend preview

The Last Kiss "Scrubs" star Zach Braff follows his "Garden State" success with a drama about a man tempted to cheat on his longtime pregnant girlfriend.

Gridiron Gang The Rock gets into the inspirational-reform game as a probation officer who whips a bunch of delinquents into a successful football team.

* The Black Dahlia Stars aplenty -- Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank -- populate Brian DePalma's adaptation of the James Ellroy book of the same name, which explores the gruesome murder of a 1930s actress.

Everyone's Hero Co-directed by now deceased "Superman" Christopher Reeve, this animated tale of a persevering young baseball fan was inspired by Reeve's spirit.

GET INTO THE STREETS

SparkCon, a conference event aimed at sparking Raleigh's creative fires, kicks off its series of free, public events with tonight's filmSPARK, a screening of short films in Moore Square. On the bill are works of local filmmakers as well as Sean Lennon's "Friendly Fire." The event runs from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. downtown in Moore Square. Rain location is the Longview Center next to Exploris on Hargett Street. Events continue downtown throughout the weekend, including a fashion show featuring the works of local designers and body art Friday night and a big-screen slide show of local artists' works Saturday night. Details: www.sparkcon.com. Also on tap downtown, the Street Painting Festival runs from 3 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday on Martin Street and in City Market. Details: www.visualartexchange.org.

FIERCE COMPETITORS ON WHEELS

* Raleigh's roller derby-ing women go skate-to-skate against their counterparts from Las Vegas on Saturday at Dorton Arena. It's the first bout of interleague play on the 2006 season schedule, with the Carolina Rollergirls up against the Sin City Rollergirls. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The rough stuff starts at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids, available at Schoolkids Records in Raleigh, Percolator Lounge and Skate Ranch. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids at the door. Details: www.carolinarollergirls.com.

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND DANCE

Carolina Ballet brings "Carmen," a full-length story ballet by artistic director Robert Weiss, back to the stage starting tonight. The story of the gypsy Carmen and her lover Don Jose features breathtaking pas de deux and familiar music by Bizet. Read a version of Roy C. Dicks' review of the original production at the Arts & Entertainment page of www.newsobserver.com Performances run through Sept. 24. Tickets are $16-$55 with some $10 student rush tickets available. Details: 719-0900 or www.carolinaballet.com. Tickets also available via Ticketmaster.

The N.C. Symphony marks 75 years this weekend with "Blue Skies and Red Earth," a celebration of the state's diverse musical heritage. that will include Appalachian folksongs, American Indian flute music and African-American gospel. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday at Meymandi Concert Hall, Memorial Auditorium, Raleigh. Tickets are $27-$54. Details: www.ncsymphony.org or 733-2750.

AWARD-WINNING PLAY

PlayMakers Repertory Company unveils its new second stage series with the new Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning solo show "I Am My Own Wife," running through Sunday in the Elizabeth Price Kenan Theatre at the Center for Dramatic Arts at UNC-Chapel Hill. PlayMakers actor John Feltch portrays 35 characters in the drama, based on the true account of a homosexual transvestite living in Germany during the oppressive Communist and Nazi eras. Joseph Haj, PlayMakers' new producing artistic director, hopes to turn the Center for Dramatic Art, where PlayMakers is based, into a cultural hot spot with visual art, music and post-show shindigs. Shows are at 8 p.m. today through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $24. Details: 962-7529 or www.playmakersrep.org.