Soapicks May 19-25

What better way to get psyched for the upcoming Cincy Fringe Festival than by taking in a show by one of the last year’s hit-producing authors. Andrew Hungerford and the Hunger Warrior Theatre present, Of People and Not Things, a duet of monologues at The Space @ Permafringe. This two night event involves just two actors, one chair and a traumatic event shared by both parties. The monologues take the audience on an exploration of the consequences of memory, action and loss. Both shows begin at 8:00 p.m. and there is a suggested donation of $8 at the door. To reserve your seat, email permafringe@zoomtown.com.

Get Down Tonight
May 22“

Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight.” Take out the part about making a little love and you’ve got lyrics for The 20th Century Theater’s Get Down Give Back Charity Concert. Musicians take to the stage to help out fellow musicians and the community during this one night, all out, concert that benefits the Music Resource Center and Habitat for Humanity. Dan Marshall and Amanda Orlando emcee the concert that features Headphone (Marshall Bertram & Monte Lykins), Kyle English, Hannah Bertram, Steve Henry, Fred Sfeffens, Ike Wilhelm and Zach & Mike. It’s only $5 to attend the benefit concert, but if you’re looking to get rid of that tuba that’s been taking up space since your middle school marching band days, admission is free with the donation of a gently used musical instrument. Show starts at 8:00 p.m. so don’t be too late to get down, get down, get down….

Classical
May 22-23

What’s better than one astounding weekend of music? Two back-to-back weekends of astounding music. May Festival 2009 Season kicks-off this weekend at Music Hall and Broadway legend Pattie LuPone is starting things off right. LuPone, under the conduction of 30 year festival vet James Conlon, stars as Anna in Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins-a tale about the search for fame and temptation along the way.  The evening closes with Mozart’s deeply personal and unfinished Requiem. And that’s just the first night. The May Festival has five total evenings of musical splendor including Verdi’s Luisa Miller, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, a Choral Spectacular and the final evening with Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand. Don’t miss this classic music festival. Click here for details and tickets.

Cincinnati by the Bite
May 23-25It wouldn’t be Memorial Day in the Queen City without the annual food extravaganza Taste of Cincinnati taking over downtown for an entire weekend of live entertainment, games and of course, FOOD! This celebration of Cincinnati cuisine has something for everyone: try a little ravioli from Bella Luna, a rib or two from City Barbeque,  some corn beef from Izzy’s, a slice of LaRosa’s pizza and the list goes on-elastic waist pants recommended. If you feel the need to take a breather and digest a little, there will be five stages of music rocking out all weekend long. With approximately 45 area restaurants, almost 200 different dishes-all under $5- and more than 60 musical performances, not stopping by the Taste is not an option this Memorial Day weekend. Click here for more details.