It’s not summer yet, at least not technically, and yes, most of the kids are still in school.
And yet, the weather and the ever-expanding entertainment calendar makes it feel like we’ve already arrived. This weekend in Wilmington has a downright summer-like lineup of events, from plays and concerts to an outdoor festival and the return of a favorite summer sports team. There’s a cool comedy show as well, so let’s see what’s up with what’s going down.
For more ideas of things to do in the coming weeks and months, check our list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area.
ALL WEEKEND
‘Mahalia: A Gospel Musical’
May 29-June 7 at Thalian Hall: Wilmington’s Techmoja Dance & Theatre Co. presents the Wilmington premiere of this musical about gospel singing legend Mahalia Jackson. Adriana Hough plays the title role. 7:30 p.m. May 29-30 and June 5-6, 3 p.m. May 31 and June 7. 910-632-2285.
Wilmington Sharks
May 28-30 at Buck Hardee Field/Legion Stadium: Longtime local baseball team in the Coastal Plain League — a summer, wooden-bat league for college players — returns for a full weekend of games after making their home debut May 26. Times and tickets at WilmingtonSharks.com.
‘Twelfth Night’
May 29-31 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Cape Fear Shakespeare opens its 34th annual month of free performances at Greenfield Lake with the Shakespeare Youth Company’s adaptation “Twelfth Night, or What Evah.” As part of the show, The Illyria Music Festival will feature area musicians before each performance. 6:30 p.m. gates, 8 p.m. show, Friday-Sunday and June 15-18 and 22-25. Adult company performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is June 5-7, 12, 14, 19-21 and 26-28. Free, donations accepted, picnics allowed.
Sunflower Celebration
May 30-June 14 at Trask Family Farms: Three-week celebration includes a sunflower maze, petting zoo, hayride, “bubble barn” and more at this farm on Blue Clay Road. Free sunflower for every guest. May 30-June 14, $8 during the week, $12 on the weekend. Details at TraskFamilyFarms.com.
‘Ten-Minute Miscellany’
May 29-31 at Thalian Hall (studio theater): Port City Playwrights presents its annual festival of one-act plays by local writers, including “Crazy or Not, Here I Come” (about a friendship between a homeless man and a volunteer) and “Good Morning Oregon” (a weather reporter overshares on-air). 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 910-632-2285.
‘Dear Evan Hansen’
May 21-31 at North Front Theatre: And Seen Theatrical Productions and PTPT Apprentice Theatre present this coming-of-age musical about a teenager’s struggle with mental health, identity and belonging. With a mixed cast of teens and adults. 7 p.m. May 28-30, 2 p.m. May 31. Tickets are $25.
‘Beetlejuice’
May 29-31 at CFCC Wilson Center: Broadway tour of the musical based on the beloved comedic horror film. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, with matinees 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $68.
‘The Lighthouse’
May 29-30 at the Hannah Block Second Street Stage, Community Arts Center: Theatre for All, the only Wilmington theater company for people with disabilities, presents a new, original show after winning for Best Original Production at the Wilmington Theater Awards in March. It’s about a “salty ol’ lighthouse keeper” who has a whale of a tale about shipwrecks, sea monsters and more. 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday.
‘Wilbur & Orville’
May 28-31 at The Workshop Upstairs: Final weekend for this one-man show written by and starring Wilmington actor Robert Leddy. It delves into the lives of Wilbur and Orville Wright, aka the Wright brothers, who built the first successful airplane in the early 1900s. Read our review. 7:30 p.m. May 28-30, 1:30 p.m. May 31. Tickets are $45.
FRIDAY
Eddie & The Getaway
May 30 at Bowstring: Up-and-coming Arizona rock singer is building a big following, with over 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
Free Concert Friday
May 29 at The Eagles’ Dare: All-female AC/DC tribute band Shoot to Thrill plays this weekly outdoor concert series. Shay’s Rebellion opens things up. 5 p.m. gates, 6:30 p.m. opener, 8 p.m. headliner. Chairs allowed. Free.
SATURDAY
CFCC Riverfront Boat Show
May 30, Wilmington Riverwalk: Annual show from Cape Fear Community College’s boat building program. With a variety of wooden and fiberglass boats displayed on land and water, “From handcrafted student-built vessels to custom boats created by local craftsmen.” 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, on the river between between Hotel Ballast and the Coastline Convention Center. Free.
Port City Highland Games
May 30 on Randall Parkway: Thousands of people are expected to attend this fifth annual event, which features Scottish-style athletic events, live music and more. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, tickets are $20 in advance, $10 for children.
Jesse Fox
May 30 at Live at Ted’s: North Carolina singer and songwriter, formerly of the folk act Love & Valor, plays a show at this Castle Street listening room. 8 p.m. Saturday, $15.
Kicking Bird
May 30 at Jimmy’s, Wrightsville Beach: High-energy Wilmington rockers have had their music featured on Amazon Prime Video series “The Runarounds.” This will be your last chance for a while to see the band with vocalist/keyboardist/songwriter Shayla Paul, who sings such tunes as the swirly and driving “What Did You Expect (with Such a Beautiful Wife).” Paul said she’s taking a performing hiatus. 8 p.m. Saturday, free.
SUNDAY
Don’t Tell Comedy
May 31, downtown Wilmington: The viral Don’t Tell Comedy series, which has featured scores of touring, up-and-coming comics, is doing shows in Wilmington. The catch? You won’t know who’s performing till you show up. Such past featured acts as Michael Longfellow, Geoffrey Asmus and Andrea Jin have gone on to find success. 5 p.m. Sunday, tickets are $27. Location revealed the morning of the show.
A Tale of Two
May 31 at Live at Ted’s: Folk and blues duo comprised of singer Stephanie Adlington and guitarist Aaron Lessard has played the Americana Music Association’s AmericanaFest and the Folk Alliance International Conference. 4 p.m. Sunday, $15.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.starnewsonline.com ’
