SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Li’l Friday is a weekly roundup of events in art, music, theater, comedy, pop-up markets and more.
There are plenty of ways to stay entertained this weekend, particularly in theater. Six productions are scheduled, including a jukebox musical at UNCW based on music by The Go-Go’s, plus a musical on a children’s claymation classic, just in time for Christmas.
Aside from theater, there is also comedy with national comic Nikki Glaser performing at Wilson Center, plus two fall festivals, a benefit concert and classical music with the state symphony.
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, Nov. 14
“Head Over Heels”
UNCW Cultural Arts Building, 5720 Randall Drive • Tickets: $12-$15
A jukebox musical is coming to UNCW, a collaboration between the music and theater departments for the first time in more than a decade.
“Head Over Heels” centers around music by ‘80s pop-punk all-girl band The Go-Go’s. The group, led by Belinda Calisle, scored a slew of hits — “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “We Got the Beat” — and landed number-one on the charts for its 1982 album “Beauty and the Beat.”
The musical, written by Jeff Whitty and adapted by James Macgruder, is based on 16th-century “The Countess of Pembroke’s Arcadia” by Sir Philip Sidney. The story centers around the royal Arcadia family as they journey to keep their famous “Beat” — a force guaranteeing the king’s prosperity, which is threatened.
“Head Over Heels” officially launched in 2015 but opened on Broadway three years later.
The show covers romance, gender fluidity, identity, and duels and is directed by Mark Sorenson, with choreography from Nancy Podrasky Carson and musical direction by Bettsy Curtis.
The show takes place Nov. 14-17 and 21-24, and shows will take place Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday shows at 2 p.m. Tickets are $6-$15 here and available at Kenan box office by calling 910-962-3500.
OTHER THURSDAY EVENTS
“Hir” — Sihr Theater is producing its second show, directed by Tony Elias Choufoni, Sihr’s founder who wanted to bring to life under-the-radar productions, also inclusive of underrepresented voices and stories. “Hir” by Taylor Mac is a comedy that explores gender fluidity and queer theory. Set in the suburbs, the show centers on a household in disarray. Isaac, a Marine fresh from the war, returns home to caretake his ailing father and sees his newly out transgender sibling and her mom are taking on the patriarchy. The show runs through Nov. 17, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., at the Historic North Front Theater. Tickets are $15 and up here; the play is recommended for ages 18 and up due to strong language.
Friday, Nov. 15
Nikki Glaser
Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. • Tickets start at $47
Standup comic Nikki Glaser has two shows scheduled for Wilson Center on Friday evening. A few tickets are still left at least for the 9:30 p.m. event; she also is performing at 7 p.m.
Glaser is known for her no-holds-barred style, featured on Comedy Central mainstay, “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser.” She covers it all from relationships and sex, to single life and Target fashion. She also appeared alongside Amy Schumer in “Trainwreck” and currently hosts CW’s “Lovers And Liars,” which she also produces.
Praised earlier in the year for her roast of Tom Brady, which aired on Netflix and she hosts the “The Nikki Glaser Podcast,” which takes a brutally honest look into pop-culture.
Just last week Glaser was nominated for a Grammy for her HBO special “Someday You’ll Die.” In it she quips:
“Some moms think if you don’t have kids you’re a selfish person. And I get that. I just don’t feel like devoting my free time to something that could marry a DJ. I just think that’s reckless.”
OTHER FRIDAY EVENTS
Improvement Movement — Bourgie Nights is hosting an Atlanta band with a rotating cast of musicians who perform psychedelic pop. The band’s been described as: “a loose amalgamation of Atlanta songsmiths, a hostile corporate takeover of your dads favorite band, or a generous waste of time.” The team of artists released their first album, “Slump,” consisting of nine tracks, earlier this year. It features musicians Tony Aparo, Clark Hamilton, Marshall Ruffin, Zach Pyles, John Gregg and Danny Wytanis. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
HP Fangs “Hey, Thanks” — Flytrap Brewing is hosting a new art show with local artist HP Fangs, known in real life as Greyson Davis. Davis’ work is recognizable — often consisting of doodles with toothy happy faces. His pop art also features funky creatures, objects and more, often created like graffitied paintings or including phrases. The Flytrap show will consist of both new and unseen works. And the artists will be showcasing some of his “Oopsie” stuff to give viewers a full look inside his process. RizzyBeats will be spinning music all night and the show takes place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“Anastasia” — A Disney musical is coming to life at the Community Arts Center this weekend. Stacie Smith is directing “Anastasia” The Musical,” with music direction by Aimee Henderson and choreography by Candi Terry. It runs through Nov. 24 at the Community Arts Center on Second Street. The book is by Terrence McNally and music by Stephen Flaherty with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. The show is an escapade for the audience, from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing con man and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family. Tickets are $15, with the show running Nov. 15-17 and 22-24.
“The Thanksgiving Play” — In celebration of Turkey Day and Native American Heritage Month, a local production company is preparing for the debut of a satirical production, penned by an Indigenous American playwright. “The Thanksgiving Play” by Larissa FastHorse runs weekends through Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. except for 2 p.m. matinees on Sunday, at Thalian Hall’s Ruth and Bucky Stein Theater. It’s produced by Big Dawg Productions. FastHorse is of the Sicangu Lakota Nation and is an award-winning writer and 2020-2025 MacArthur Fellow. Her play revels in absurdity and takes aim at the hypocrisies of woke America, tackling second-grade Thanksgiving pageants, colonialism, Native American representation, gender relations, history, turkey bowling, and more. Tickets are $35 here.
Saturday, Nov. 16
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer the Musical”
Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. • Tickets start at $35
Love Rankin-Bass’ 1964 stop-motion holiday classic? Well, this show is for you.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” musical has produced more than 600 performances, bringing to life all of the show’s favorite characters — Hermey the Elf, Yukon Cornelius, and the Abominable Snow Monster to help Santa save Christmas.
The show includes nostalgic set design, projections, costumes, and characters and there are two chances to catch it Saturday: at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
A few tickets are left for the afternoon show and plenty of seating remains open for 7 p.m. performance.
OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS
Fall Family Festival — Taking place at Hi-Wire Brewing, a family-friendly festival will feature fun and games for all ages. Tickets will be $1 each and all money made will be donated to local nonprofits, many of which will also be set up onsite at a vendor fair: Step Up, Canines for Service, WARM NC, Coastal Buds, and Cape Fear Guardian Ad Litem, for instance . There will be an inflatable slide, soccer shots from Cape Fear, cotton candy, plus a pop-up shop from Roasted Bookery. Live music will also be performed by 6-18-year-old students of Revolver Music, performing classic rock along with songs by Taylor Swift. The event takes place from noon to 4 p.m. at 1012 Princess St.
Holiday Cheer Market — ArtWorks, in the South Front District, will be showcasing all of the locally made art from 40 local arts and craft vendors, and 50 artist studios. There will be a Venezuelan food tent set up outside as well and there is free entry and live music. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. The art village will have a plethora of various works, including paintings, ceramics, textile and fiber, photography and more.
Benefit Concert for Flood Victims — A benefit concert will be held at Brunswick Beer and Cider (1313 S. Dickerson Lane in Leland) from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. to benefit two local nonprofits. Brunswick Family Assistance helps people overcome losses from natural disasters and storms.All monetary donations will go to 86 Hunger, who is feeding victims of recent storms who don’t have access to a kitchen due to flood damage. A truck will be parked accepting items for Brunswick Family Assistance. Musicians include Dick LaRocca going on at 3 p.m., Curtis McLaughlin at 4:30 p.m., Tom Graney at 6 p.m. and Kenny Reeves at 7:30 p.m.
NC Brass Band Quintet — A blend of brass instruments will bring to life holiday music from N.C. Brass Band Quintet, under the direction of Brian Meixner, brings together artists from symphony orchestras, jazz groups and other professionals. The group blends choral concert features an enchanting repertoire of beloved holiday music. Experience brilliant musicianship the powerful blend of brass instruments and unforgettable melodies to fill your hearts with the holiday spirit. This is sure to be a Quintessential Holiday Concert Experience!
Smart Start Family Festival — Families with young children will host its annual Early Childhood Family Festival from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Long Leaf Park, 314 Pine Grove Drive. The event is free and includes hands-on activities for children 8 and under, with more than 50 community partners and vendors in attendance. The Broccoli Brothers Circus Band will be there, as will Scooter the Story Yeller, a fire truck and more. The event is hosted at shelters 5 and 6.
Sunday, Nov. 17
Oak Grove Cemetery Project: A Staged Reading
DREAMS Center for Ars Education, 901 Fanning St. • Suggested donation: $10
Mouths of Babes Theater Company is hosting a staged reading this week regarding Wilmington’s Oak Grove Cemetery — known as “poor man’s burial ground.”
Once located on 16th and 17th streets, near today’s Scottish Rite-Temple, the cemetery — established in 1870 — catered to the underprivileged, criminals and the impoverished. Nearly 10,000 people were buried in its three sections, representing Black people, a small portion of white people and it included a potter’s field, utilized for those who are unknown and paupers.
Rather than marking the graves with monuments and headstones, everyday items — seashells, mugs, beds and dolls — were utilized to indicate the grave locations.
Just shy of its 100-year anniversary, the city agreed to extend 16th and 17th streets and moved a portion of the cemetery near the New Hanover County landfill on Highway 421 at Flemington-Oak Grove Cemetery. The remainder of the graves are just off 16 and 17th streets still and in 2018 the county signed a 20-year declaration — that will automatically renew — disallowing construction on the land in order to protect the 19th century graveyard. This can only be revoked following a majority vote — four-fifths — and a public hearing.
Mouths of Babes has been researching the graveyard’s local history and is hosting its first staged reading about the event. According to the theater company: “The script follows a group of artists piecing together the long and controversial history of the creation, growth, destruction, and eventual ‘move’ of the graves.”
It takes place at 3:30 p.m. and there is a suggested donation of $10.
OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS
North Carolina Symphony Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 — Conducted by Carlos Miguel Prieto with pianist Stephen Hough, North Carolina Symphony presents Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3. The show also will feature Brahms Symphony No.1 and takes place at 3 p.m. at Wilson Center, 703 N. Third St. Tickets are $22 – $79.
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