BREUER’S BACK

If you’ve found yourself wondering lately, “What ever happened to Jim Breuer?” then wonder no more.

The comedian who first earned fame as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live,” playing such memorable characters as Goat Boy and Joe Pesci, has found it in his heart to come to Maine for a show.

Jim Breuer’s Heavy Metal Comedy Tour will stop at the State Theatre at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1.

After leaving “SNL,” Breuer secured cult-icon status with his stoner comedy film “Half-Baked.” With several television appearances since then, he has maintained an audience and undoubtedly drawn in a new crop of fans.

Tickets for the show are $17.50 in advance and $20 the day of the event. Sorry kids, this show is only for people who are old enough (18 years) to buy cigarettes and pornographic material – topics that may make their way into Breuer’s act.

Even though the show isn’t until December, this one might be worth planning ahead for. Tickets probably will go fast, so get on the horn.

Tickets are available at the Stonecoast Brewing Company box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 207-775-3331. Tickets are available at State Theatre box office the night of the show only.

JAZZ IT UP

The Downtown Waterville Jazz Fest is back for a second go-around, and this year, organizers have decided to kick it up a notch.

The Billy Bang Quintet, featuring Frank Lowe, has been called upon to bring its signature brand of jazz into the heart of Maine. Bang has recorded more than 20 albums and is considered by many to be the world’s premier jazz violinist.

Bang will be joined by Lowe on tenor sax, Naoko Ono on piano, Todd Nicholson on bass and Abbey Rader on drums and percussion at the Opera House at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25.

The festival opens with the Young Jazz Artists Series at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at The Center at 93 Main Street. Anyone with tickets to see Billy Bang will be admitted to this show for free.

Tickets to see Billy Bang are $14 apiece and may be purchased by calling the Waterville Opera House at 873-7000.

FANTASTICA

The Broadway in Boston/SFX Theatrical Group will perform “Mamma Mia!” featuring 22 of ABBA’s best-known songs, beginning Aug. 16 at the Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St., Boston. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster locations, by calling (617) 931-2787, at the Colonial Theatre box office, and at the Wilbur Theatre box office, 246 Tremont St., Boston. For groups of 20 or more, call Broadway in Boston Groups at (617) 482-8616. For information about Broadway in Boston, visit www.broadwayinboston.com.

PURR-FECT

If cats interest or intrigue you, you’ll want to be at the 11th Annual CAT Show Aug. 18 and 19 at One Civic Center Drive in Portland.

The show will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day and is hosted by the Pine Tree State Cat Club and the Cat Fanciers Association.

About 225 pedigreed cats will compete, including Persians, Oriental Shorthairs and, of course, Maine’s official state cat, the Maine Coon Cat.

For more information or tickets, call 775-3825.

– By Matthew Paul