VH1 casts 'spoiled' Gastonia woman

Fans of trashy reality TV shows: Get ready to root for (or against, maybe?) a bunch of spoiled brats.

The new VH1 series "You're Cut Off!" will feature Courtnee Mason of Gastonia among a cast of nine spoiled young women who "are turned loose by their fed-up benefactors, stripped of all cash and convenience and forced to live like 'normal people' -- right in the middle of a recession." The series premieres at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 9.

According to a VH1 press release, the 25-year-old Mason and her showmates "must complete daily chores and learn hard lessons from life coach Laura Baron. More than just getting the hang of buying groceries and vacuuming, their transformation is about finding the confidence and independence to grow up and to realize there's more to this world than material wealth."

Sneak-peek episodes of "You're Cut Off!" will launch at VH1.com the week prior to each on-air premiere. Full episodes will be available on the site the morning after they premiere.

Charlotte to host Playboy Bunny bash

Mez, a restaurant and lounge in the EpiCentre, has partnered with Playboy to host a party on June 10 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Playboy Clubs and Playboy Bunny.

Beginning at 10 p.m. on that Thursday, Mez will turn one of its theatres into a "Playboy Club," "illuminated with historic images and video footage from the famed Clubs." The featured guest is Playboy Playmate/N.C. native Amanda Paige (Miss October 2005, pictured). DJ Fashen will spin music.

This event is one of 50 parties Playboy will throw around the world in June to celebrate the milestone.

Tickets are available for $10 through www.bandtastic.com/playboyclub50, or for $20 at the door. Details: www.mezcharlotte.com or www.playboyclub50.com.

Santana's Charlotte show canceled

The Santana concert scheduled to play Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte on July 28 has been canceled due to scheduling. Refunds will be available at point of purchase starting Monday. Tickets purchased by phone or online will be refunded automatically.

For more information, go to www.livenation.com.

Theory of a Deadman concert moved

Due to the potential for inclement weather, tonight's concert featuring Theory of a Deadman and White Tie Affair, which was scheduled for Pavilion at EpiCentre, has been moved indoors to Whisky River.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with White Tie Affair slated to take the stage at 7 p.m. Those with VIP tickets can enter at Whisky River's front door, on the second floor of EpiCentre.

Another 'Sex' party, this one at Birkdale

Looking for an alternative to the EpiCentre's "Sex and the City 2" parties? Here are details from a press release about a similar bash taking place next week at Birkdale Village in Huntersville:

HUNTERSVILLE, NC -- Grab your girlfriends and get ready for more Sex.

That’s right -- Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda are back for “Sex and the City 2” and you can see it before anyone else on May 26 at Birkdale Village while helping out a very deserving charity.

Organizer Bruna Oliveira and her team raised more than $30,000 at a premiere party in 2008 for the first film. This year’s event is expected to best that fundraising total while living up to the theme of Bigger than Big, with proceeds benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Wednesday’s sneak peek event will be extravagant and decadent, packed with food, fun, fashion, cocktails, swag bags and of course “Sex and the City 2,” which attendees will see before everyone else (the film opens nationally on Thursday, May 27).

Each $100 ticket includes admission to the event that begins at 5:30 p.m. with a pre-show cocktail party at Dressler’s Restaurant, 8630-1A Lindholm Drive, Huntersville, complete with cocktails and delicious food, followed by a private screening of the film at Regal Birkdale Stadium 16.

Along the way, there will be belly dancing lessons, camels (or is it a mirage?) and a best shoe contest, in which the winner will take home a pair of Carrie’s favorite kicks. And don’t miss the fantastic silent auction jammed with prizes from local spas, restaurants and boutiques.

The simply fabulous night wraps up with a post-screening champagne and dessert party at Dressler’s Restaurant. The 2008 event sold out quickly, and this event is expected to as well. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Attendees must be 21 or older.

Tickets are on sale at Fresh Boutique, 813 Providence Road, Charlotte, 704.343.9071, shopfreshboutique.com; Monkee’s of Lake Norman, 624 Jetton St., Davidson, 704.896.7779, monkeesoflakenorman.com; and Poppies, 16926 Birkdale Commons Parkway, Huntersville, poppiesgifts.com, 704.896.3433.

Uptown's EpiCentre is primed for 'Sex'

Are you excited about "Sex and the City 2"? So is the EpiCentre.

Two hotspots at the dining/entertainment/shopping complex are celebrating this month's release of the anticipated movie sequel in their own special ways.

At StrikeCity: Four lucky women will win VIP passes to a special "Sex and the City 2" prescreening; they'll be given away Thursday night at StrikeCity’s weekly ladies extravaganza, "Strike and the City."

To be eligible to win, simply arrive at StrikeCity at 8 p.m. and begin bowling. Details of the contest will be announced during the course of the evening.

The special "Sex and the City 2" prescreening will take place on Wednesday, May 26, at EpiCentre Theaters. Additional information about the prescreening is available at www.officialprescreening.com. More information about "Strike and the City" is available at www.StrikeAndTheCity.com.

At Mez: On Thursday, May 27, the restaurant/lounge/movie theater welcomes Carrie and the gang back to the big screen by hosting a viewing party for the premiere of "Sex and the City 2."

DJ Mia from MTV’s "America’s Best Dance Crew" will be on hand, and prizes will be given away before and after the screening. A portion of all proceeds will be used to support breast health awareness. The party begins at 8 p.m. and the movie starts at 9:25 p.m.

Tickets to the event are $25 each and include champagne, dessert, giveaways and swag bags. For reservations or details, call 704-688-2400 or visit www.mezcharlotte.com or www.epicentretheaters.com.

Both StrikeCity and Mez are located at 210 E. Trade St. in Charlotte.

Concert news: Zac Brown Band, Gov't Mule

Several more recent announcements:

Zac Brown Band will play Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre on Saturday, Aug. 21. The Wood Brothers and Casey Driessen will open the show. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Gov’t Mule will play Uptown Amphitheatre at the Music Factory on Sunday, July 18. Jackie Greene will open the show at 6:30 pm. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday.

ZZ Top will open for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers during a concert set for Sunday, Sept. 19, at Verizon.

Those three shows are all being promoted by Live Nation, so tickets will be available at LiveNation.com, the venue box office, Ticketmaster, or by calling 800-745-3000.