Our weekly picks of the best things to do in Cleveland this weekend. Also check out our full Cleveland event calendar.
THU 04/09
CIFF50 Opening Night
The 50th iteration of the Cleveland International Film Festival opens with a special screening of a documentary about designer and activist Kenneth Cole. A cocktail reception with filmmaker Dori Berinstein and Cole starts at 5:30 p.m. at Playhouse Square, and the film screens at 7 p.m.
1501 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, clevelandfilm.org.
Dr. Sketchy’s Anti-Art School
Founded in 2005 in a dive bar in Brooklyn, Dr. Sketchy’s has now spread to more than 100 cities around the world. Dr. Sketchy Akron, a monthly drink and draw event that takes place on the second Thursday of each month at Jilly’s Music Room in Akron, gives patrons the opportunity to “draw glamorous underground performers in an atmosphere of boozy conviviality.” The fun begins at 7 p.m.
111 N Main St., Akron, 330-576-3757, jillysmusicroom.com.
Here Come the Mummies
This decade-old mystery band (members wear mummy outfits when they take the stage) sometimes embraces an old school R&B sound. For example, the tune “You Know the Drill” is every bit as funky as anything by George Clinton and the smooth sounding “Infinity” recalls Earth, Wind and Fire. Expect a lively, theatrical performance when the group plays at 7 p.m. at Kent Stage.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
Mai Khôi & the Dissidents
Musician and human rights activist Mai Khôi has just released her new album, Five Years in Exile. She and her jazz group that includes keyboardist Mark Micchelli, who’s played locally with the group Alla Boara, celebrate its release with this show at the Bop Stop. It begins at 7 p.m.
2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.
Schubert & Shostakovich
Finnish conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali leads the Cleveland Orchestra as it plays Schubert’s Ninth Symphony and Shostakovich’s Second Cello Concerto. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at Mandel Concert Hall, where performances continue through Saturday.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Starmites
This musical centers on a shy teenage who builds a fantasy world around the sci-fi comic books she collects. Tonight’s performance takes place at 7:30 at the Helen, where performances continue through April 19.
1407 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Tartuffe
Cleveland Play House presents its take on this French farce. Today’s performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Outcalt Theatre, where performances continue through April 26.
1407 Euclid Ave, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Throwing Muses
Stepsisters, Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly originally formed this group that went on to become critics’ darlings. The indie act had a good run in the ’80s and ’90s before disbanding. Since reforming, it has toured and recorded infrequently but appears to have found a second wind, and it returned last year with the studio effort Moonlight Concessions. It performs at 8 p.m. at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.
FRI 04/10
Astronomica
Featuring work from an international community of visual artists, this film includes imagery of auroras, starfields, nebulae, unknown planets and abstract internal landscapes, all set to a dreamy score by composer James Hood. It screens at 6, 7:15 and 8:30 p.m. at the Great Lakes Science Center.
601 Erieside Ave., 216-694-2000, greatscience.com.
Selwyn Birchwood
Singer-songwriter Selwyn Birchwood comes to Music Box Supper Club as part of a tour in support of his new album, Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues, his fifth for Chicago-based Alligator Records.
1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.
Chip Tha Ripper
The rapper out of Cleveland made a name for himself with his mixtapes that circulated in the early 2000s. He plays a local warm-up show before he hits the road with superstar Kid Cudi, a frequent collaborator. The concert begins at 7 p.m. at Brothers Lounge.
11609 Detroit Ave., 216-226-2767, brotherslounge.com.
Michael Colyar
Comedian Michael Colyar tells the kinds of jokes that aren’t designed to appeal solely to fans of a certain ethnicity, age or background. He aims at making everyone laugh. Colyar, who’s just unleashed a Donald Trump impersonation that finds him spouting things like, “Let’s make America white again,” performs tonight at 7 and 9:30 at the Funny Bone, where he has shows scheduled through Sunday.
1148 Main Ave., 216-696-4677, cleveland.funnybone.com.
Bob Dylan
The indefatigable rocker returns to the State Theatre as he brings his Rough and Rowdy Ways tour back to Northeast Ohio. His Rough and Rowdy album came out in 2020, and Dylan has toured relentlessly in support of it. While his voice has deteriorated over the years, his politically charged songs will undoubtedly resonate given our troubled times. The show begins at 8 p.m.
1519 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
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.
The Orchestra
Members of the Electric Light Orchestra have teamed up to present this concert that’ll feature renditions of ELO’s orchestral-pop tunes in the wake of the band’s farewell tour. The show starts at 8 p.m. at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage.
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.
Gary Sczerbaniewicz: Cloud of Unknowing and Ling-lin Ku: Morning After Opening Reception
These two concurrent exhibitions that open today bring together artists whose sculptural practices explore “the tension between the familiar and the unknown,” as it’s put in a press release. On view through June 6, the exhibitions feature new work by Gary Sczerbaniewicz and Ling-lin Ku, each of whom presents an immersive sculptural environment. The opening reception takes place at 5:30 p.m. at the Sculpture Center.
1834 East 123rd St., 216-229-6527, sculpturecenter.org
SAT 04/11
The 2026 Chagrin Falls Spring Avant-Garde Art & Craft Show
This annual event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Sun Valley in Chagrin Falls. There will be crafted jewelry, home décor and other arts and crafts. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Alex Angart Fershtman Foundation.
10000 Edwards Lane, Chagrin Falls, avantgardeshows.com.
Carbon Leaf
A former college party band, Carbon Leaf is known for playing an eclectic mix of original music that draws from blues, folk and rock. The current tour supports its 15th album, Time is the Playground. The group plays Kent Stage tonight at 7:30.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
Pete Correale
This comedian’s career got a big boost last year when he opened for his superstar friend Sebastian Maniscalco. Now, Pete Correale, who also hosts a podcast with Maniscalco, plays more intimate venues on his As I Was Saying tour. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Hanna Theatre.
2067 East 14th St., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.
Morris Day and the Time
A founding member of Prince’s band, the Time in 1981, Morris Day remained with the group until 1984 when he launched his solo career. He’s now back touring with the Time, and he brings the funk to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. The show begins at 8 p.m.
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 216-371-3000, oh-clevelandheightscainpark.civicplus.com/286/Morris-Day-and-the-Time.
John Legend: An Evening of Songs and Stories
The talented singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. at the Akron Civic Theatre. Billed as his Evening of Songs and Stories, the concert will feature stripped-down renditions of hits such as “All of Me,” “Ordinary People” and “Tonight” along with stories from his life and career.
182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.
The Lottery League Draft
Now in its seventh season, the Lottery League, an event that randomly pairs local musicians with one another to form brand-new bands, hosts the “draft” for this year’s season. More than 170 musicians from across Northeast Ohio will participate in this year’s event. Billed as “a full night of entertainment,” the draft takes place at 7:30 tonight at Ingenuity Cleveland.
5401 Hamilton Ave., 216-589-9444, lottery-league.com.
Microwave
The indie rock group celebrates the tenth anniversary of its Much Love album with this show that takes place at 6 p.m. at the Agora. Doors open at 6 p.m.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
SUN 04/12
Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards
The Cavs get a break as the lowly Washington Wizards, one of the NBA’s worst teams, come to Rocket Arena. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. It’s Fan Appreciation Night so expect plenty of good giveaways.
One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketarena.com.
The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus Honor Choir
Top choral students from Northeast Ohio will participate in this concert that takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Mandel Concert Hall.
11001 Euclid Ave., 216-231-1111, clevelandorchestra.com.
Let’s Sing Taylor
This tribute to superstar Taylor Swift takes place at 3 p.m. at the Agora. The show features a live band led by a Swift look-alike. Tickets don’t cost nearly as much (and aren’t nearly as hard to get) as seeing the real thing.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.
Liz Miele
Comedian Liz Miele started performing when she was just 16. Her popularity has steadily grown since several of her videos on Youtube, Instagram and Tiktok have gone viral. In a bit she calls “Feminist Sex Positions,” she talks about how she came up with three different sex positions that don’t totally humiliate women. She performs tonight at 7:30 at Hilarities.
2035 East Fourth St., 216-241-7425, pickwickandfrolic.com.
Soul Asylum
For thirtysomething years now, Soul Asylum, which originally started as a punk band, has delivered rock songs that draw from punk, blues and roots rock. Think of them as the Midwest’s answer to Social Distortion, the SoCal punk band from the same milieu. Still touring and recording after all these years, the group plays an acoustic show at 7 tonight at the Kent Stage.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.
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