'Life of Pi' After a shipwreck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a 16-year-old boy named Pi survives on a lifeboat with four companions – a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. Winner of three Tony Awards and the Olivier Award for Best Play, the Broadway and West End sensation dazzles. A stunning visual production. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 1:30 p.m. Saturdays; 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays now through Jan 26. Connor Palace Theatre, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.. playhousesquare.org Related: ‘Life of Pi’ actor returns to Playhouse Square to face a tiger in an epic story of survival “An American in Paris” and more The Cleveland Orchestra, featuring guest conductor Stéphane Denève, leads a spirited rendition of Gershwin’s “An American in Paris,” the 1928 symphonic poem that inspired the film starring Gene Kelly. “Roaring Twenties” works by countrymen Milhaud and Poulenc, as well as the CLE premiere of Guillaume Connesson’s saxophone concerto “A Kind of Trane” – inspired by John Coltrane and performed by the acclaimed saxophonist Steven Banks. Tickets start at $25. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9; 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11; 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan 12. Mandel Concert Hall, Severance Music Center, 11001 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. DETAILS Charlie Berens: Good Old Fashioned Tour This “Nope-to-’Ope” success story took more than a Manitowoc Minute to get going, but this Midwest-to-the-core comic knows how to “Keep ‘Er Movin’.” Want to know more? We just talked with Berens this week and our Q&A gives you a taste of what to expect. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10. Goodyear Theater, 1201 E Market St., Akron. goodyeartheater.com Hairspray: Millennial Theater Project Tracy Turnblad is going full-on Teen Queen in 1962 Baltimore. Her meteoric rise from quirky teen outcast to superstar is the subject of this beloved Knight Stage production – a musical comedy based on the 1988 film written and directed by John Waters. Three-weekend engagement begins 7:30 p.m. Friday Jan. 10. Akron Civic Theatre, 182 South Main St., Akron. akroncivic.com Kiry Shabazz The comic from CLE started his comedy journey on the West Coast as one of 1,250 stand ups who auditioned at open calls for “Stand Up NBC.” For him, there was only one thing left to do: “win the whole freakin’ thing.” With a late-night debut on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and an avalanche of appearances on Comedy Central’s “Stand Up Featuring” series, “Bill Burr Presents: The Ringers” and Epix’s “Unprotected Sets,” Shabazz is what’s next. 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m., Friday-Saturday Jan. 10-11; 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12. Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, E 4th St., Cleveland. pickwickandfrolic.com Jim Jefferies: Son of a Carpenter The Australian comedian, actor, and writer is headed to Playhouse Square’s KeyBank State Theatre for a provocative night of comic relief. Jefferies is best known for the FX sitcom “Legit” and the Comedy Central late-night show “The Jim Jefferies Show.” Irreverent and occasionally crass, he’s all about putting a unique spin on day-to-day existential foibles. 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10. KeyBank State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. playhousesquare.org History That Doesn’t Suck From the podcast to the Hanna Theatre stage, Dr. Greg Jackson tells the story of an unlikely Union’s first century through live music and video. The author-educator and frequent commentator in film documentaries (including those on the History Channel) encourages audiences to imagine they’re partying like its 1773 in Boston. He’s spilling the tea literally and figuratively. 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11. Hanna Theatre, 2067 E. 14th St., Cleveland. playhousesquare.org Illuminate the Circle Wade Oval in University Circle turns into a festive frostscape with dazzling holiday displays and immersive light shows every night. Free. Wade Oval, Cleveland. Through Jan. 26. DETAILS |
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Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers Indiana didn’t get off to the start that our Cavs did (they’re playing .500 ball). Injuries have plagued the Pacers; they lost both of their backup centers to season-ending injuries, which put them at the center of trade rumors for the Nets’ Cam Johnson. Don’t ever count them out. Coach Rick Carlisle always has the Pacers ready to physically pester. 6 p.m., Sunday Jan. 12. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 1 Center Ct., Cleveland. nba.com/cavaliers Cleveland Charge vs. Grand Rapids Gold (times two!) If you’ve been on the fence about checking out the G-League Charge in their “new” friendly confines, this is your sign to go. Cleveland Public Auditorium is beautiful, the roundball on display is spirited and getting two games back-to-back with the same team is kinda rare. 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10; 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11. Cleveland Public Auditorium, 500 Lakeside Ave. Cleveland. cleveland.gleague.nba.com Cleveland Monsters vs. Laval Rocket (times two!) Your AHL hockey team takes on the affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens (NHL) and Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL in a frosty, two-day face-off. The feeder team for le Club de hockey Canadien is playing hotter than their .500 big-leaguers. Both teams aren’t much for dump-and-chase hockey, so it should be a quick skating, physical match-up. Big fun! 7 p.m., Jan. 10; 7 p.m., Jan. 11. Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, 1 Center Ct., Cleveland. clevelandmonsters.com/games Flanagan’s Wake Take an imagined skip “across the pond” to a fictional Irish town for an interactive improv comedy show! With the audience dictating the direction of the story, “Flanagan’s Wake” is one of the most successful and longest-running improv comedy shows in Cleveland theater history! It kicked off last weekend and runs Fridays and Saturdays through the spring at Kennedy’s Cabaret. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through late April. Kennedy’s Cabaret, 1501 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. playhousesquare.org Bingorama & Drag Bingo with Sally Goose A night of outrageous fun is on offer at Dunlap’s Corner Bar, as attendees get ready to “dab, dazzle, and drink” their way to victory at their Drag Bingo extravaganza. Hosted by the fabulous Comatose, the night features outrageous fun, silly guests, ridiculous prizes and more in a night you won’t soon forget. Your face will hurt from smiling so much. 5 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11. Dunlap’s Corner Bar, 3258 W. 32nd St., Cleveland. dunlapsbar.com T.J. Miller Is he a comedian? Musician? Actor? Improvisor? Clown? Juggler? Vocal talent? Terrible ventriloquist? All of the above. Suffice it to say, the resume with this guy is long. With all the mad skills of an old-school Vaudevillian delivered with modern flair, this Renaissance Man makes a full-court press to wow his audiences. You never know what you’re going to get. 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11. Hilarities 4th Street Theatre, E 4th St., Cleveland. pickwickandfrolic.com Picasso and Paper at Cleveland Museum of Art This highly anticipated exhibition takes an unprecedented look into Pablo Picasso’s creative process, featuring nearly 300 works that explore the artist’s use of paper as a medium. Advance tickets required $11-$22. 11150 East Blvd., Cleveland. Now through March 23, 2025. DETAILS Related: Long-awaited ‘Picasso and Paper’ immersion at Cleveland Museum of Art celebrates a creative iconoclast Tobogganing at the Chalet Feel the thrill of winter at Cleveland Metroparks’ Mill Stream Run Reservation in Strongsville, whooshing down a 700-foot refrigerated ice chute on a classic toboggan. Tickets $13-$15. Reservations required. 16200 Valley Parkway, Strongsville. Through Feb. 23 (weather permitting). DETAILS 'Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang' The Crawford-Auto Aviation Museum is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the iconic Mustang automobile with a new exhibit. Titled “Wild Horses: 60 Years of Ford’s Mustang,” it features 20 examples of the Mustang, from the little coupe launched by Lee Iacocca to the 2024 Dark Horse and it’s 500-horsepower Coyote V-8 engine. Tickets $10 to $15. Cleveland History Center, 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. Through May 2025. DETAILS Western Reserve Historical Society Doll show Cleveland History Center's new exhibit, “All Dolled Up: 200 Years of Dolls and Miniatures,” presents the museum’s collection of dolls, doll houses, miniatures, and toys. WRHS members are free. All others included with general admission. Through August 2025. 10825 East Blvd, Cleveland. DETAILS GLOW: Neon and Light GLOW: Neon & Light premiered at the end of September at Akron Art Museum’s Arnstein Galleries and runs through early February. The sculptural exhibit uses glass, neon tubes, light bulbs and more for an immersive experience. Akron Art Museum, 1 S. High St., Akron. Through February 9. DETAILS |
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FOOD & DRINK Ritz-Carlton hosts luxury tequila tasting Tequila may be known best as the spirit of the margarita. But it is far more sophisticated than that. Learn more about tequila, especially premium tequila, from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, in an immersive tasting experience in Highball Cleveland, the elegant lounge venue at The Ritz-Carlton Cleveland. READ MORE Homestead Summit offers 36 classes in sustainable food production If you’re on social media, especially TikTok and Pinterest, you’ve probably seen the homesteading trend coming at you. Defined as a lifestyle focused on self-sufficiency, it can be as minimal as growing a tomato plant and raising a few chickens or as radical as going completely off-grid. Whatever your interest in sustainability, everyone can learn more at the Western Reserve Homestead Summit from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18 and 19 at the Lake Metroparks Farmpark, Kirtland. READ MORE Tartine Bistro schedules wine dinner Tartine Bistro in Rocky River is holding a dinner featuring Northern Italian vegan fare and wines. Each of the wines paired with the five-course menu come from a different Italian region. The dinner is Friday, Jan. 17. READ MORE Cask, Corks & Forks is coming up Grand River Valley wineries will showcase their wines Friday, Jan. 17, at Riverbend Hotel, a new hotel in Ashtabula Hotel. Each of five wineries will pair a different dish with a different wine. The night will feature the Grand River Valley Cask Red Wine Project, a collaborative winemaking initiative. READ MORE THIS WEEK'S DINING PICKS Cent’s Pizza + Goods Cent’s Pizza on Cleveland’s West Side is one of those restaurants that you crave to hangout in because it’s so cool. Sure, Cent’s is firing up some of the best pizza in town with toppings like vodka sauce, Luxardo cherries and speck, but that’s just the beginning. Cent’s feels like a modern-day pizza shop that’s easy to linger at. The staff is always playing cool music, there’s usually something entertaining projecting on the massive sheet screen and the vibes are generally relaxing. Plus, Cent’s has some of the most interesting wine options in town, available for dine-in and retail. Cent’s is at 5010 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland. -- Alex Darus DETAILS Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Even though Fleming’s base is its steaks, sometimes it’s nice to belly up to the bar and enjoy a nosh or two in an elegant setting. We recently nibbled on an ahi tuna poke stack while sipping wine. No drafts, but a few bottles are offered for beer, along with cocktails and friendly service. It’s at 4000 Medina Road, Akron. -- Marc Bona READ MORE Fiammi by Mendel Fiamma by Mendel at Eton Chagrin Boulevard opened last month in the former Mabel’s restaurant space. The kosher Italian restaurant opens into the mall, with a bar that juts into the concourse, making it great for people-watching. It’s a convenient place to stop before, after or during a shopping trip at the upscale collection of shops. Open for lunch and dinner, the menu offers healthy salads, handmade pastas and fresh seafood. Diners can see the imported pizza oven that cooks artisanal wood-fired pizzas. The beverage program features a curated selection of tequilas, whiskies, bourbons as well as wine and craft beer. -- Paris Wolfe DETAILS |
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TV & MOVIES ‘American Primeval’ "Yellowstone" meets "Game of Thrones" on Netflix's new limited series called "American Primeval," premiering Thursday. The six-episode show follows settlers during the westward expansion and stars Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin. Like the "Yellowstone" prequel "1883," this new series depicts how the fight for land in the American west was a violent one. DETAILS “The Pitt” Noah Wyle returns to where we first met him — in the emergency room — for his new series "The Pitt." Instead of playing a green intern, Wyle's character Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch is an experienced doctor at a fictional Pittsburgh hospital. Each episode follows one hour of Dr. Robby's 15-hour shift. John Wells, who was the showrunner of "ER" is an executive producer. Writer Michael Crichton wrote the pilot script for "ER" and his estate — led by his widow Sherri Crichton — has sued Warner Bros. Television, calling "The Pitt" an unauthorized rebranded version of "ER." "The Pitt" debuts Thursday on Max. DETAILS ‘On Call’ Dick Wolf's new police drama "On Call" drops Thursday on Prime Video. Eriq La Salle (another "ER" alum) is an executive producer, cast member and directs some of the show's episodes. "On Call" is set in Long Beach, Calif., and stars Troian Bellisario of "Pretty Little Liars" and Brandon Larracuente as patrol cops. The series uses bodycam and dash cam footage along with cell phone video to create a more realistic feel. Lori Loughlin, who spent two months in prison in 2020 for her part in a college admissions scam, plays a lieutenant. It's a departure from her past roles on "Full House" and in Christmas TV movies. DETAILS "Look Into My Eyes” One of the best American documentaries of last year, Lana Wilson's "Look Into My Eyes," will be available to stream on Max this week. The film takes a look into the lives of several New York City psychics – their sessions, their homes, their own stories, creating a rather profound portrait of humanity as contained in this strange, misunderstood and abused tradition. Wilson, who has also made documentaries about Taylor Swift with " Miss Americana " and Brooke Shields with " Pretty Baby," came to understand that perhaps it doesn't matter whether it's real or not. "I had trivialized it and seen it as this silly thing, despite the fact that millions of people around the world engage in it," Wilson told The Associated Press last year. "You can believe or not believe the supernatural part of this, but there's this human connection that is undeniably going on." DETAILS ‘Get Away’ British comedian Nick Frost ("Hot Fuzz") wrote and stars in the comedic horror "Get Away," about a family on a vacation to an unwelcoming island that's full of strange and sinister happenings. But they're stubbornly determined to continue the holiday despite feeling like they've descended on a "Swedish horror." Writing for Fangoria, critic Jordan Hoffman called it a "pleasurable film without too much depth." "Get Away" begins streaming on Shudder on Friday, Jan. 10. Aisling Bea, Maisie Ayres and Sebastian Croft also star. DETAILS ‘Special Forces: World's Toughest Test’ and ‘The Traitors’ — Two popular and addictive reality competition shows featuring celebrities return this week with new seasons. First up is Fox's "Special Forces: World's Toughest Test," which premiered Wednesday, where acting, reality TV and sports stars convene for a boot camp led by ex-special forces operatives. Season three features Denise Richards, Brody Jenner, Cam Newton, Stephen Baldwin and Trista Rehn and Ali Fedotowsky-Manno of "The Bachelorette." They attempt grueling tasks like jumping onto a helicopter from a speed boat and treading water for a really long time (while they're berated on camera) in the name of toughness and bragging rights. Episodes stream on Hulu. Peacock's hit "The Traitors," hosted by Alan Cumming, also returns on Thursday. Here, famous faces from (mostly) reality TV come together in Scotland for a compelling game of strategy and manipulation with a cash prize at the end. "The Traitors" won outstanding reality competition program at last year's Emmy Awards. |
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Cracker Party like its 1995 with David Lowrey & Johnny Hickman! From the ashes of Camper Van Beethoven, this project has been churning out great albums for years – spanning rock, alt-country, punk, psychedelic folk and blues. Will they get surly and play “Low,” “Get Off This,” “Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)” and “Euro-trash Girl” at the Beachland? When you go then you’ll know. 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10. Beachland Ballroom & Tavern, 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleveland. beachlandballroom.com Related: This college professor was a ‘90s rock star --and is bringing his band to town to celebrate 30 years of music Warren G. Speaking of 1995, you can’t be any geek off the street if you’re gonna hit hip-hop great Warren G’s show at the House of Blues on Friday. You gotta be handy with the steel, if you know what we mean. We don’t know if it will be a clear black night with a clear white moon, but if you’re tryna consume? Well, Regulators, you best be mountin’ up... the late Nate Dogg would have wanted it that way. 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10. House of Blues Cleveland, 308 Euclid Ave., Cleveland. hob.com/cleveland |
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