Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.
THU 03/19
Chan Conducts Bartok
Conductor Patricia Kopatchinskaja makes her Cleveland Orchestra debut and will lead the orchestra as it plays Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 1. The concert takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances repeat tomorrow and Saturday.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Jim Messina
The veteran singer-songwriter who famously played bass in the classic rock act Buffalo Springfield and guitar in the country rock band Poco performs tonight at 6:30 at the Kent Stage. Messina also made a name for himself by collaborating with fellow singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins in the early 1970s, and the two sold records by the truckloads as Loggins and Messina.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
NCAA Men’s Wrestling Championship
Division I men’s wrestling championships come to Rocket Arena this week. The sessions kick off today at noon, and matches continue through Saturday. Check the Rocket Arena website for more info.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
Our Day Will Come: NEO Women Rock
Thomas Mulready, who published the local events newsletter Cool Cleveland, leads this talk that documents the impact of women on the Northeast Ohio rock scene. The local glam group Vanity Crash will also perform. The event begins at 7 p.m. at Music Box Supper Club.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits!
This series at Music Box Supper Club will highlight the best of Shakespeare’s work as presented by the Cleveland Shakespeare. Founded in 1977, the Cleveland Shakespeare Festival has been dedicated to bringing Shakespeare to life for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show takes place in the supper club.
1148 Main Avenue, 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com/.
Telescreens
The New York rock band that emerged in 2020 with its debut album, The Return, comes to Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood. The group just released the lurching single “Preacher,” a tune with discordant, Helmet-like guitars and echoing vocals.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.
Tower City Fan Fest
Tower City Center hosts this special event during the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Wrestling Championships from today through Saturday. It’ll feature full-size competition wrestling mats in Skylight Concourse, and offer demonstrations, clinics and meet and greets. Vendors will be on hand to sell wrestling gear, virtual training platforms, books and magazines. A special pop-up bar will be open at the Eatery, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Beat the Streets Cleveland, a nonprofit that provides wrestling programs and mentorship opportunities for youth across the city.
230 W. Huron, 216-771-0033, towercitycenter.com.
Water for Elephants
A young man joins a traveling circus after literally hopping onto a moving train in this musical based on the best-selling novel by the same name. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through March 29
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
FRI 03/20
Alonzo Bodden
Comic Alonzo Bodden likes to make fun of the news, or lack thereof. Bodden, who has a matter-of-fact delivery is funny because his material is so sharp. His Seinfeld-like observations about everyday life are generally on the money. A regular commentator on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me, he performs tonight at 7 and 9:30 and tomorrow night at 6:30 and 9:15 at Hilarities.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Cleveland Home & Remodeling Show
Exhibitors who can help you rebuild your garage or remodel your home will be on hand today for the Cleveland Home & Remodeling Show. The event takes place from today through Sunday at the I-X Center. Check the I-X Center website for hours and more info.
1 I-X Center Dr., 216-676-6000, ixcenter.com.
Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach
This musical centers on a young man sent to chop down an old fruit tree. In the process, he embarks on a magical journey inside a giant peach. Featuring a score by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team behind Dear Evan Hansen and The Greatest Showman, the play comes to Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30, and performances continue through March 29.
17801 Detroit Ave, Lakewood, 216-521-2540.
Flanagan’s Wake
Part improv, part scripted, this interactive Irish wake is back again at Kennedy’s Theatre at Playhouse Square. Performances are set for 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Handel’s Messiah
The Cleveland Ballet presents this adaptation of Handel’s famous classical composition. The performance will also include a live orchestra and choir. Performances take place at 10:30 a.m. and at 7 p.m. today at the State Theatre, where performances continue through Sunday.
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Zara Larsson
This Swedish pop singer’s popularity soared in 2008 after she won Swedish talent show competition Talang. Her tour in support of last year’s Midnight Sun arrives at the Agora. Singer-songwriter Amelia Moore opens. Doors are at 7 p.m.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Macbeth
Great Lakes Theatre takes on Shakespear’s classic play about corruption and power. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Hanna Theatre, where performances continue through April 4.
2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Rob Schneider
SNL alum Rob Schneider can lay claim to having been on SNL before the show started to suck. He relives many of those glory days in his standup routines, where he often talks about backstage shenanigans with Adam Sandler and recounts his experiences on the set of films such as Waterboy and Grownups. He performs tonight at 8 at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage.
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.
Shang
A writer/performer on the now defunct syndicated TV show The Newz, the comedian also did the audience warm-up for the show which was filmed at Universal Studios in Orlando in the 90s. The guy has toured the country as a standup ever since. Raised in Brooklyn, he has a tough guy mentality that comes through in his raunchy bits. He performs at 7 and 9:30 tonight and at 6:30 and 9 tomorrow night at the Funny Bone.
1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.
Joanne Shaw Taylor
The singer and guitarist brings her tour in support of her new album, Black & Gold, to the Kent Stage. Taylor plays a bit of everything — rock, soul, pop and blues. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Third Friday
From 5 to 9 p.m., many of the 78th Street Studios resident artist studios and galleries will be open as part of this monthly event. There will be live music, and Local West, a Gordon Square sandwich shop, will serve food. BARneo will have a selection of adult beverages as well. Admission is free. third Friday of every month.
1300 West 78th St., 78thstreetstudios.com.
Two Trains Running
Set in Pittsburgh in the 1960s, August Wilson’s play centers on the characters who frequent a coffeeshop in the city’s Hill District. Local Jimmy Woody directs the play, and tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, where performances continue through March 29.
17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-2540, beckcenter.org.
SAT 03/21
2026 Maple Sugar Festival & Pancake Breakfast
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and tomorrow, Hale Farm & Village hosts live demonstrations of tree tapping and sap boiling in the wood-fired syrup evaporator at C.O. Hale’s 1910 Sugar House. The event aims to show what life was like on farms in the Cuyahoga Valley during the 1800s.
2686 Oak Hill Rd., Newton Falls, 330-666-3711, halefarm.org.
Artist in the Atrium
Every third Saturday of each month, stop by the Ames Family Atrium between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to get a firsthand look at the art-making process. Each session provides the opportunity to engage and interact with a different Northeast Ohio maker during pop-up demonstrations and activities.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Charlie Berens: The Lost and Found Tour
The comedian and podcaster brings his Lost and Found Tour to the Agora. Taking a page out of the redneck comedy lingo, his catchphrase is “keep ’er movin.’” Doors open at 7 p.m.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Ekoostik Hookah
The grandfathers of Ohio’s expansive jam band scene — culturally and musically — have always maintained close ties to the Cleveland area and regularly venture up to these parts from their Columbus home base. The group performs tonight at 8 at the Beachland Ballroom.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.
Lower 13
As the local melodic groove/prog/thrash metal band Lower 13 approached its 20th anniversary, drummer Eric Kruger wanted to do something to mark the occasion. He recruited Druparia, Khandria and Throbber to share a bill with Lower 13 as it plays a 20th anniversary party at the Foundry.
4256 Pearl Rd., 440-637-5483, foundryconcertclub.com.
Sensory-Friendly Saturday
Sensory-Friendly Saturday events at the Cleveland Museum of Art offer “adaptations” to meet diverse sensory-processing needs every third Saturday of each month from 9 to 10 a.m. Guests on the autism spectrum, people experiencing dementia and those of all ages who have intellectual or developmental disabilities are invited to participate in a calming museum experience with less stimulation in a section of the museum’s galleries before they open to the public.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story
The Simon & Garfunkel Story covers the duo’s humble beginnings as Tom & Jerry to their incredible success as one of the best-selling music groups of the ‘60s, as well as their dramatic split in 1970. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Akron Civic Theatre.
182 South Main St., Akron, 216-241-6000, akroncivic.com.
Rick Wakeman — Wakeman and Son Tour
The former Yes and Strawbs keyboardist brings his tour with his son Oliver to the Kent Stage. Wakeman Sr. has had a successful solo career thanks to his heady prog rock albums such as Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and Wakeman Jr. has collaborated with the likes of prog guitarist Steve Howe and actor Derek Jacobi. Doors are at 6:30 p.m.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
SUN 03/22
Martin Hayes & the Common Ground Ensemble: An Irish Celebration
Fiddler player Martin Hayes and his Common Ground Ensemble will play traditional Irish music at this special concert at Mandel Concert Hall. The concert begins at 7 p.m.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Les Délices Presents “Marianne Mozart”
Keyboardist Marianne Mozart joins the local early music ensemble Les Délices for this special performance that takes place at 3 p.m. at Cleveland Museum of Art. The concert includes a recital for fortepiano and violin that places sonatas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart alongside works by Margarethe Danzi, Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen and Franziska Lebrun.
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
Our Lady Peace: 30th Anniversary Tour
The Canadian alternative rock band celebrates its 30th anniversary tour with this show at House of Blues. Expect to hear grunge-y anthems such as “Starseed,” “Superman’s Dead” and “Clumsy.” The show begins at 6:30 p.m.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.
Railroad Earth
The jam/bluegrass band that dates back to the early 2000s performs at 6:30 p.m. at Globe Iron. The group played the Telluride Bluegrass Festival shortly after forming and takes musical inspiration from the Grateful Dead, often improvising during live performances. Released in 2022, All for the Song, finds the band in good form as songs such as the twangy “Blue Highway” and the jazzy “It’s So Good” show off its musical chops while delivering sharp hooks and vocal harmonies.
2325 Elm St., globeironcle.com.
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