SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets and more.
All events featured were scheduled as of Thursday; however, it’s wise to check in ahead of attending any one. Inclement weather, changes in schedules and unforeseen circumstances may shift for organizers at the last minute.
Thursday, Aug. 31
‘Two Jews, Talking’
Thalian Hall Ruth and Bucky Stein Theatre, 310 Chestnut St. • Tickets: $36
After hosting nine sold-out shows of this first Off-Broadway run for Big Dawg Productions in the spring, the theater company is bringing back the funny drama, “Two Jews, Talking.”
Big Dawg secured rights to the show from MarMaxMedia back in March and has secured rights to two more Off-Broadway shows for next season: “Pay the Writer” and “Windows” by best-selling author Tawni O’Dell.
READ MORE: ‘Business side of theater’: Big Dawg secures first rights, royalties to 2 Off-Broadway shows
“Two Jews” originally ran Off-Broadway with Tony Award-winner Hal Linden (“You People,” “The Samuel Project”) and Bernie Kopell (“The Love Boat”) as the leads.
The premiere for Wilmington — written by Ed Weinberger (“The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” “The Bob Hope Special,” “The Bill Cosby Show”), a Peabody, Golden Globe, and Emmy award winner — was a smash. The play consists of two one-acts — one follows the story of Lou and Bud in the Biblical past, and the other features Phil and Marty having a chat in modern-day Long Island.
“I’m always looking for new shows to add to future seasons, especially shows that might appeal to more diverse audiences,” Big Dawg artistic director Steve Vernon told Port City Daily in the spring.
The Big Dawg production, directed by Holli Saperstein, stars Jamey Stone and Lee Lowrimore.
“It’s not just two guys talking,” Stone explained. “It’s discussions on belief, faith, religion, philosophy, love, sex, loss, and loneliness, tackled in both hilarious and serious ways.”
Aside from the humor derived in it, the show can be a reminder for others to learn how to overcome divisive world views in civil conversation. It’s something Stone said the Jewish people he grew up around managed to perfect.
“They had a way of debating and arguing that could be both simultaneously combative and hilarious, but somehow often ended up in mutually begrudging respect,” Stone explained. “What happens when you engage in discussions with someone you don’t have anything in common with or may not even agree with on everything? Occasionally, you might be surprised by how much less distance there is between the two of you than you originally thought.”
The show is dialogue-heavy, something Stone approached before with “extreme terror.” Challenges have risen in the conversational loops, one piece eventually connecting back to another — phrases and themes constantly on repeat. Yet, Stone admitted the cues are similar in numerous places to help the actor stay on track.
“Zone out for a millisecond and you’re hopelessly lost in the wilderness, like Moses in the desert!” he quipped.
Previous iterations of “Two Jews, Talking” have cast men in their 90s; Saperstein has gone with younger talent just over 50. As the acts take place 3,000 years apart, she said the fact the Jewish characters still manage to struggle with the same questions is hopeful.
“[They cover] timeless subjects each of us look at in our own lives, especially as we get older,” she said in the spring.
“There’s a saying, ‘history doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes,’” Lowrimore added. “That’s what happens with these two one-acts. You’ll be going along talking about Mt. Sinai, and suddenly you think, ‘Am I talking about the mountain or the hospital?’”
Tickets to the show can be purchased here; it takes place over the next two weekends at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and on Sunday at 3 p.m.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
Circus Social — It’s a meetup of show artists at Cargo District’s Barzarre. The club often hosts fire dancers, juggling acts, hoppers and magicians. Thursday at 7 p.m. it welcomes acts to come together and and share their tricks or perform new moves. It’s free to attend. Barzarre is at 1610 Castle St.
Goat Yoga — Zen Hooves is bringing a one-hour yoga class to Waterline Brewing (721 Surry St.) from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. No yoga experience is needed and ages 8 and older are welcome. Aside from stretching out those limbs, there will be goats on site to pet and cuddle and climb over people in the middle of class. Participants must bring a mat or towel.
Flights + Bites — Foodies and wine lovers will be treated to a flight of three wines from around the world at Second Glass (South Front District) and will receive a small plate of nibbles for free. It’s offered every Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pours of flights rotate weekly.
Friday, Sept. 1
Andrew Orolfo
Dead Crow Comedy Room, 511 N. Third St. • Tickets: $18-$28
Dead Crow has stand-up comics touring through downtown Wilmington practically every Friday and Saturday night. This week is Andrew Orolfo, a Filipino-American who won 2022’s New Face at the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal.
Orolfo interacts with the audience in a self-deprecating manner during his set: “Can we agree this year has been a little better? Music festivals are back. I went to Coachella this year, but y’all knew that when you saw this haircut.”
Orolfo headlines the comedy club and university circuit and has been featured on Comedy Central, “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and Dan Levy’s “Coming to the Stage,” featuring up-and-coming comic talent.
Tickets are $18 to $28 and there are two shows each night, 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Moon Taxi — Nashville’s indie-pop rockers are returning a year after playing Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. The show starts at the same venue at 6 p.m. The band — Trevor Terndrup, Spencer Thomson, Tommy Putnam, Wes Bailey and Tyler Ritter — is touring in support of new music, “Set Yourself Free.” It’s the band’s eighth album, released in June on 12th South. Tickets are $45. Read an interview with the band from last year here. Opening will be The Stews, Alabama-based rock-n-roll outfit created by four guys who met at Auburn University.
Boardwalk Blast — A tropical storm won’t stop Carolina Beach from having the last bit of summer fun. The final weekend of free live music and fireworks over the beach happens Friday. Playing at the CB Gazebo will be The Main Event, performing beach music and classic rock, funk, country and soul. The band? starts to play at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks take place around 9 p.m. Head to the boardwalk for the action.
Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ — Atlanta, Georgia’s Southern rock outfit that formed in 1985 is making a stopover in Wilmington’s newest burger joint and brewpub, Bowstring Brewyard, which also hosts live music. Upon opening over July Fourth weekend in the Soda Pop District, co-owner Matt Golden told Port City Daily the goal was always to bring in larger acts. The bar is large enough to hold around 500 people when clearing some of the floor space, and the flow between outdoors and indoors is seamless with four garage doors that open. Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ garnered college radio fans in the late ‘80s and charted on the top 50 U.S. modern and main rock charts in the ‘90s, with singles like “Smoke” and “Turn It Up,” “Build a Fire” and “Fly Me Courageous.” Tickets are $20-$25.
Saturday, Sept. 2
Historical Walking Tour of Oakdale Cemetery
520 North 15th St. • Tickets: $22-$25
OK, so maybe it sounds morbid, but for those who have never toured through Wilmington’s most historic cemetery, well, do it. It’s fascinating the stories to be learned about the people interred there.
The cemetery was founded in 1855 and was part of the rural cemetery movement, wherein graveyards were built as gardens, with lush foliage and ornamental flowers. Also, its history is expansive.
Local historian Dr. Chris E. Fonvielle Jr., an author and professor emeritus in UNCW’s Department of History, is hosting a 9 a.m. tour. It starts at the main gate at the north end of 15th Street near downtown Wilmington.
Fonvielle will discuss life stories of the final resting place of many people, dating back to the cemetery’s opening. For instance, Dr. William C. Willkings died in the North Carolina’s last fatal duel in 1856. One year later, Nance Martin, who died at sea but was placed in a cask rum for preservation, was buried in Oakdale in the cask. Captain William A. Ellerbrock and his beloved pet dog Boss were buried together after being killed in a terrible fire in downtown Wilmington in 1880.
Tickets are available here.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Vintage Fashion Show and Market — In its second year at Flytrap Brewery, Sun and Shine Vintage is hosting a fashion show and pop-up market. Fun retro styles and vintage looks will take the the runway in the beer garden at 2 p.m. Plus, there will be apparel for sale by the local vendors involved in the show — Sun and Shine Vintage, Thrift Hive Threads, Crybaby Vintage, Threads by Sydney, and The Vintage Cellar. The event is also a donation-based fundraiser for the Junior League of Wilmington, so attendees are encouraged to bring clothes, home goods, kids toys and more to give to the nonprofit for its upcoming fall bargain sale (learn more here); proceeds are donated back into the community. The market will be open until 5 p.m., with food truck Seoul Sushi providing Korean BBQ and sushi rolls from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
49 Winchester — Country-music lovers will be able to catch Virginia’s most buzzed about outfit, 49 Winchester, at 6 p.m. at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater. The five-piece describes its sound as “Appalachian country soul” and released its latest album “Fortune Favors the Bold,” Nashville’s New West Records label; it’s the fourth of three studio albums. The band blends “tear-in-your-beer country” tunes with a rock edge. Tickets are $25.
OKI Summer Concert Series — Miss the Main Event Band in Carolina Beach on Friday. Well, here’s another chance to catch them. Oak Island’s last of the Summer Concert Series takes place at 6:30 p.m. It’s free and concert-goers are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics to Middleton Park Complex Amphitheater. The band plays R&B, soul, beach, country, and funk.
Jesse Stockton — The local singer-songwriter has been entertaining audiences with his folk-rock style for more than a decade. He will be at Wilmington Distillery (12 Dock St.) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Stockton has written and released three studio albums, has performed at festivals aplenty, such as Merlefest, and opened for award-winning artists such as Yonder Mountain String Band and Old Crow Medicine Show. Live music is free and the distillery churns out its own specialty made rum, vodka, moonshine and whiskey.
Chocolate Paws and Kitten Kisses — A fundraiser to take place at 21572 Highway 17 in Hampstead, Friends of Animal Services and Blurry Chocolates are coming together for a pet adoption event. Cats and dogs will be onsite at the sweet retail shop, as will foster families. Donations welcome and Blurry Chocolates will have its handmade candies and ice cream for sale.
Halyburton Park Luau Virtual Race — A 5K, 10K and half-marathon is taking place. It’s $27 to register and since it’s virtual, it means participants can run anywhere at any time as long as it’s completed by 8 a.m. Sat., Sept. 2. All runners and walkers will receive a finisher medal, mailed to them. Finish time must be clocked virtually. Sign up here.
Sunday, Sept. 3
Louis Tee and Friends: Music and Comedy
Bourgie Nights, 127 Princess St. • Tickets: $10
On Sunday evening a group of comedians, musicians and other local talent will take the stage at downtown venue Bougie Nights. Hosted by Tim “TMI” Joyner, it will include Frank Grant, Brian Grainger, Regina Righter, DJ Battle, Popcasso, and LouisTee.
LouisTee tied for third place in the 2023 Port City Top Comic hosted at Dead Crow earlier in the summer. He has also brought events from the Brewer’s Kettle to the After Brunch Show at Wilmington Distillery. This weekend’s show is his first performance headlining, with opening acts consisting of Tee’s friends.
Host TMI is known as a community activist and spoken-word veteran, while Grant has toured across the Carolinas and performs original music as well as covers from Stevie Wonder to Harry Styles. DJ Battle will be spinning tunes in the background throughout the evening as well, with Popcasso, who dropped his debut “Juanita” in 2020. Regina Righter, new to the comedy scene, as well as veteran comic and former Port City Top Comic winner Brian Granger will have sets.
The show starts at 7 p.m.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
Mannkind Brewing Labor Day Cookout — Leland’s newest brewery opened earlier this month and it’s hosting a cookout for patrons. It will serve complimentary hot dogs at 4 p.m. and have Coastal Craft Creamery on site selling homemade ice cream from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Jeff Gover will perform live at 8 p.m. and Mannkind’s one-of-a-kind beers will be flowing from the tap. Read more about the brewery here from Port City Daily.
Labor Day Jam — At another location across the bridge, Wrightsville Beach Brewery is hosting a day of music in its beer garden from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dubtown Cosmonauts will play its brand of electric funk and bring otherworldly vibes to the Oleander Drive hangout. The show is free.
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