WED 04/24
A Bronx Tale
Oscar winner Robert De Niro and Tony winner Jerry Zaks teamed up to direct A Bronx Tale, a musical based on the film of the same name. The story centers on a boy who aspires to be a mob boss, and it features tunes from Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin). Tonight's performance takes place at 7:30 at Connor Palace, where performances continue through May 12. Tickets start at $35. (Jeff Niesel)
1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Cleveland Stories Dinner Parties
Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is a weekly series that pairs fine food with storytelling. Through it, the folks at Music Box Supper Club hope to raise awareness of the mission of the Western Reserve Historical Society's Cleveland History Center. The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to "bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland's past — from sports, to rock 'n' roll, to Millionaires' Row," as it's put in a press release. Admission is free, with no cover charge, although a prix fixe dinner, designed to complement the night's theme, is $20. Tonight, Dr. Brad Ricca, the author of Super Boys: The Amazing Adventures of Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster – The Creators of Superman, will speak. Ricca won a Cleveland Arts Prize in Literature for Emerging Artist of 2014 and was winner of the 2014 Ohioana Book Award in Nonfiction. Doors open at 5 p.m., dinner is served at 6, and the storytelling starts at 7. (Niesel)
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
The Silence of the Lambs
In Jonathan Demme's classic thriller, The Silence of the Lambs, FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) works with imprisoned psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins) to track down a serial killer. The movie shows tonight at 7 at the Capitol Theatre as part of the Happy Hour Classic Series. Admission includes a complimentary cocktail or soft drink and light appetizers starting an hour before the screening. Tickets cost $10. (Niesel)
1390 West 65th St., 216-651-7295, clevelandcinemas.com.
Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk
Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk, a documentary film that covers more than 30 years of the California Bay area's punk music history, focuses primarily on the emergence of Berkeley's 924 Gilman Street music collective. Iggy Pop narrates the flick, and the punk band Green Day — one of the Bay Area's biggest musical exports — executive produced the movie. It screens tonight at 7 at the Rock Hall. Admission is free for members, or $5.50 for non-members. (Niesel)
1100 Rock and Roll Blvd., 216-515-8444, rockhall.com.
THU 04/25
Debussy & Scriabin
Regarded as one of the best pianists in the world, Jean-Yves Thibaudet joins the Cleveland Orchestra tonight at 7:30 at Severance Hall to premiere Scottish composer James MacMillan's "Piano Concerto No. 3: The Mysteries of Light," a piece which takes its inspiration from a set of reflections on the rosary introduced by Pope John Paul II. The orchestra will also play pieces by Higdon, Debussy and Scriabin. Guest speaker Caroline Oltmanns, a Youngstown State University professor, will give the pre-concert talk that takes place an hour before the concert. Performances continue through Saturday. Consult the Cleveland Orchestra website for more info. (Niesel)
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Zainab Johnson
Having grown up in Harlem as one of 13 siblings in a Muslim family, comedian Zainab Johnson has plenty of material at her disposal. Originally, she worked as a teacher, but after appearances on HBO's All Def Comedy and BET's Comic View, her career in comedy began to take off. She performed in the Montreal "Just For Laughs Festival" as one of the 2014 New Faces of Comedy, as well as one of the breakout new comedians on NBC's Last Comic Standing Season 8. She performs tonight at 7:30 at the Improv, where she has shows scheduled through Sunday. Tickets cost $17 to $20. (Niesel)
1148 Main Ave., 216-696-IMPROV, clevelandimprov.com.
Bob Marley
Comic Bob Marley doesn't play reggae, but he does sing out of his butt. Like the time his wife put him on the Atkins Diet and, he reports, the "assflac" duck flew out his butt as he hovered over the toilet with bacon grease dripping from his eyelashes. Yeah, this guy is not above fart jokes. Other topics of humor include the agonies of waiting for a pizza, the comparison of strippers to pillows, and the process of pretending to understand legal documents. He's pretty hilarious. The show starts at 7 tonight at Hilarities and performances run through Saturday. Tickets start at $25. (Liz Trenholme)
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Open Mic Night/Live Band Karaoke
Every Thursday, Stella's Music hosts a night of music, poetry and comedy. The club's doors open at 5 p.m., and performances begin at 8 p.m. Artists can sign up at stellasmusic.com/open-mic to secure a 15-minute time slot. Signups will be available at the club as well. Meanwhile, happy hour takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. Admission is free. (Niesel)
2217 East Ninth St., 216-272-3377, stellasmusic.com.
The Wild Pear Tree
In The Wild Pear Tree, director Nuri Blige Ceylan's first film since winning the Palm d'Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, a college graduate returns to the rural town where he grew up to deal with his father's gambling debts. The movie makes its Cleveland debut tonight at 6:45 at the Cleveland Institute of Art Cinematheque, where it also shows at 7:30 tomorrow night. Tickets cost $12, or $9 for Cinematheque members and students. (Niesel)
1610 Euclid Ave., 216-421-7450, cia.edu.
FRI 04/26
42nd Street
A small-town girl steps off the train in New York City with dreams of starring on Broadway, and when the lead breaks her ankle before opening night, she gets her shot. That's the plot summary of 42nd Street, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's 20th annual All-City Musical, which comes to the Ohio Theatre tonight at 7:30. Performances continue throughout the weekend too. Tickets cost $15. (Niesel)
1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater continues to push dance into new territory while still honoring signature classics like Revelations, Ailey's masterpiece of hope and redemption. The troupe comes to the State Theatre tonight at 8. Performances also take place tomorrow and Sunday. Tickets start at $10. (Niesel)
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Earlybird Music Festival
Festival season at the Nelson Ledges Quarry Park kicks off this weekend with the Earlybird Music Festival, which takes place today through Sunday. There will be camping, hiking, biking, swimming, cliff diving, basketball and volleyball. The Quasi Kings headline tonight and the Rumpke Mountain Boys headline tomorrow night. Jam acts such as the Cat's Meow, the Flying Jays, the JiMiller Band, Roots of Creation, Michelle Finacham and Cheryl Anne Crowe will be on hand. Admission is $70 for Friday through Sunday, or $50 for Saturday and Sunday. There is no extra charge for camping. (Niesel)
12001 State Route 282, Garrettsville, 440-548-2716, nlqp.com.
Flanagan's Wake
Here's another sign of the season: This weekend marks the final 2019 performances of Flanagan's Wake, the interactive, improvised comedy show that transports the audience to an Irish wake where villagers tell tales and sing songs for their dearly departed Flanagan. Finding the humor in life and death, the wake acts as a dark backdrop to an otherwise hilarious show in which alcohol fuels the humorous reminiscing. Sort of like a tragic Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding, the show engages the entire audience. This weekend's final performances start at 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday at Kennedy's Theatre on Playhouse Square. Tickets are $26. (Patrick Stoops)
1501 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Tyler Henry: The Hollywood Medium
The E! Entertainment TV hit show Hollywood Medium has helped to launch the career of Tyler Henry, a 22-year-old guy who believes he can speak with the dead and predict people's futures. Last year, Henry took his show on the road for the first time; now, he's swinging through NEO. His performance features a multi-media video presentation and interactive audience Q&A. It kicks off tonight at 8 at MGM Northfield Park Center Stage. Consult the website for ticket prices. (Niesel)
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.
Rembrandt: From the National Gallery, London and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Directed by Kat Mansoor, Rembrandt: From the National Gallery, London and Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam tells Rembrandt's life story via the 2014-2015 landmark exhibits in London and Amsterdam of his late works. Cleveland Museum of Art curator Betsy Wieseman worked on the exhibit in London; she'll be on hand at the screening to talk about the artwork and answer audience questions. The screening takes place at 1:45 p.m. at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets cost $14, or $10 for museum members. (Niesel)
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
SAT 04/27
Food Truck Round Up
Today marks the second annual Food Truck Round Up at Crocker Park, where an assortment of food trucks will be serving up grub from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants include Wild Spork, Hatfield's, Manna Truck, Southern Thangs Grub Truck, Barrio, Cameo Pizza, Cleveland Cookie Dough Co. and Sweet! Mobile Cupcakery. The roundup serves as a benefit for the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland, and, in keeping with the theme, customers will have the option to "round up" their bill to the nearest dollar. All the rounded-up proceeds will go to the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland. Today's gathering kicks off food truck season at Crocker Park. Starting next week, Truck Stop Tuesday will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday through Sept. 24. (Niesel)
189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com.
It Takes Two!
Now in its 11th year, the annual GroundWorks DanceTheater benefit, It Takes Two!, will showcase local celebrities who'll be partnered with GroundWorks company members to perform original dance routines in a Dancing With the Stars-style competition. Local celebs such as Western Reserve valuation services director Rand Curtiss, Fairport & Luma wealth advisor Emily Drake, Brunswick Companies senior veep Michelle Hirsch, Cleveland Foundation program officer for evaluation and learning Myron J. Marshall Jr., Evergreen Cooperatives CEO John McMicken, City Club of Cleveland CEO Dan Moulthrop and Calfee senior advisor Cindy Vrsansky Schulz will participate. The evening benefits GroundWorks' educational and outreach programming. This year marks the fourth year the gala has gone down at the Cleveland Museum of Art; but, for the first time ever, the gala will take place in the museum's beautiful Atrium. All attendees will also enjoy dinner, live music and dancing. The fun begins at 7 p.m., with performances starting at 8. Consult the GroundWorks site for details and ticket prices. (Niesel)
11150 East Blvd., 216-751-0088, groundworksdance.org.
Native Gardens
Described in a press release as a "hilarious hot-button comedy about thorny neighbors with good intentions," Native Gardens focuses on two people who've just bought a fixer-upper next to a house with a pristine English garden. A disagreement over a fence erupts into all-out war. The Cleveland Play House production of the play comes to the Allen Theatre tonight at 7:30. Performances continue through May 19. Tickets cost $25 to $97. (Niesel)
1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000,
SUN 04/28
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, In Concert
Written and directed by Steven Spielberg and featuring a score by John Williams, Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a sci-fi classic. It centers on Roy Neary (Richard Dreyfuss), an electrical lineman who experiences a close encounter with a UFO. He becomes increasingly obsessed with the experience and makes his way to Devil's Tower in Wyoming to find out more about the aliens. Today at 3 p.m. at Severance Hall, the Cleveland Orchestra plays the score during a screening of the movie. Check the orchestra website for ticket prices. (Niesel)
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Leadbelly
Gordon Parks, the terrific African-American photographer whose early work is currently on display at the Cleveland Museum of Art, directs Leadbelly, a biopic about the famous folk and blues singer and guitarist. The film focuses on the man's troubled youth in the segregated South, including his time in prison. The movie screens at 1:30 p.m. today and at 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday at the Cleveland Museum of Art. Tickets cost $12, or $9 for CMA members. (Niesel)
11150 East Blvd., 216-421-7350, clevelandart.org.
The Nightingale A Cappella Concert
The Nightingale, a popular women's ensemble, performs today at 2 p.m. at the Beachwood Community Center, where it will deliver a set of a cappella music, including jazz tunes, doo-wop songs and pop hits. The program is presented by the Beachwood Arts Council. Admission is free. (Niesel)
25325 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, 216-595-3400, beachwoodartscouncil.org.
Sunday Beat
The Sunday Beat is a free weekly live music series featuring jazz, roots, Americana, folk, blues and bossa nova at Visible Voice Books. Purchase a Sunday New York Times, and you'll receive a free bottomless mug of coffee or tea and half off a Jim Alesci's Place pastry. Music runs from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. As an added bonus, anyone who shows a same-day receipt from brunch at Music Box, Prosperity Social Club or any Tremont or Ohio City restaurant receives 10 percent off any Visible Voice book purchase. The bookstore is open today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Niesel)
2258 Professor Ave., 216-961-0084, visiblevoicebooks.com.
MON 04/29
Monday Night Trivia
Do you have tons of obscure music knowledge? Are you a student of fast food menus and their nuanced histories? What say you about the geographic evolution of Scotch whisky? Tonight's your chance to wow your friends, make yourself instantly more desirable to someone you're newly dating, and hang with Cleveland's headiest hipsters and hot dog lovers. It's the Happy Dog Monday Night Trivia. Starting at 8 p.m., expect themed rounds and general knowledge questions that seem considerably trickier than some of the other live trivia locales in town. Obviously, have a hot dog and a craft brew while you're at it. And arrive early: Tables fill up fast. (Sam Allard)
5801 Detroit Ave., 216-651-9474, happydogcleveland.com.
Shit Show Karaoke
Local rapper/promoter Dirty Jones and Scene's own Manny Wallace host Shit Show Karaoke, a weekly event at the B-Side Liquor Lounge wherein patrons choose from "an unlimited selection of jams from hip-hop to hard rock," and are encouraged to "be as bad as you want." Fueled by drink and shot specials, it all goes down tonight at 10 p.m. (Niesel)
2785 Euclid Hts. Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-932-1966, bsideliquorlounge.com.
TUE 04/30
Open Turntable Tuesday
Tonight from 6 to 9, the Winchester hosts its weekly Open Turntable Tuesday. Jason Gokorsch will book guest DJs and offer slots to people who want to bring their own vinyl and spin their favorite songs or deep tracks. First time DJs are encouraged, and equipment is provided. Patrons can also bring records for the night's DJ to add to their set. Sign up on Northeast Ohio Vinyl Club's Facebook page. (Niesel)
12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/TheWinchesterMusicTavern.
Truck Stop Tuesday
Crocker Park in Westlake has launched its seasonal Truck Stop Tuesday, a weekly food truck gathering that takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Needless to say, admission is free, but the food will cost you. Truck Stop Tuesday continues through Sept. 25. (Niesel)
189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake, crockerpark.com.
Vinyl Night
Jukebox owner Alex Budin has described his 1,350-square-foot music-focused bar in the Hingetown 'hood as "a place where people can expect to hear and learn about music of multiple genres, all of which is concentrated in a constantly evolving jukebox." The club hosts a vinyl night every Tuesday that serves as a listening party for new releases, partnering with Loop in Tremont, so patrons can hear a new album on vinyl. You can bring your own vinyl and spin it too. It all starts at 5 p.m. (Niesel)
1404 West 29th St., 216-206-7699, jukeboxcle.com.
