Though it’s probably still going to be cold for a few more weeks, most of us are ready to re-emerge into polite society. Enough with the rush hour snow squalls, enough with the extreme winds and enough with hibernating. Let’s get cultured!
Here are eight of the top events (including some great theater productions) to help you expand your horizons this month.
“Henry IV, Parts I and II” at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company
Shakespeare’s two-part dramedy chronicles the misadventures of King Henry IV, Prince Hal, Henry Hotspur and Jack Falstaff. Part I picks up where “Richard II” left off. Henry IV has taken the crown and Prince Hal would rather mess around than act like royalty until he has to face his cousin Hotspur in battle. In Part II, King Henry IV’s days are numbered, Prince Hal’s friend Falstaff is still up to no-good and Hal needs to get his act together before becoming Henry V.
You can see each part separately or together on certain dates. “Henry IV, Part I” runs through March 30. “Henry IV, Part II” runs March 15-April 7.
“Indecent” at Baltimore Center Stage
The new work from Pulitzer Prize-winner Paula Vogel (“The Baltimore Waltz,” “How I Learned to Drive”) follows the true story of a playwright and a troupe of Yiddish theater artists from 1906 Warsaw to 1923 Broadway. Through March 31.
View the trailer:
“Dinner with Friends” at Everyman Theatre
Vincent M. Lancisi directs Donald Margulies’ Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about two couples at a dinner party who must grapple with issues of loyalty and commitment. This production celebrates the play’s 20th anniversary. March 12-April 7.
See director Vincent Lancisi on This Week in Baltimore Eating:
Weezer and Pixies at Royal Farms Arena
So many great ‘90s hits together in one concert! Rivers Cuomo and crew are touring in support of their new “Black Album,” but we’re hoping they perform “Beverly Hills,” “Buddy Holly” and “Hash Pipe.” And, yes, we really want to hear Black Francis and the rest of the Pixies perform hits from “Surfer Rosa,” “Doolittle” and “Bossanova.” Hey, here comes your man! March 17.
An Evening with Van Hunt at the Creative Alliance
If you’re more soul and funk than alt-rock, you’ll want to be at this performance. Van Hunt combines elements of punk, funk, soul, folk and jazz into his work and has drawn comparisons to Prince. So, we’re in all the way! March 17.
Listen to Van Hunt perform “Dust”
Purim!
This is that Jewish holiday where everyone is encouraged to dress up in costumes, make a ton of noise and get totally blotto so that you can’t tell the difference between a villain and a hero — Haman and Mordechai, in this case. (Not that we support crazy amounts of drinking – unless you’re home and staying there.) You also get to eat a lot of delicious cookies (hamantaschen). So, in other words: Best holiday ever! Celebrate at several Purim parties around town – including the Hamantashen Make and Take at the Owings Mills JCC March 10 and the Purim Party Extravaganza March 14 at the Park Heights JCC. The holiday is March 20-21.
Kinky Friedman & Dale Watson at the Creative Alliance
The Jewish cowboy (and novelist) from Texas is joined by another country music legend, honky-tonker Dale Watson, for a night of songs, stories and humor. March 21.
Also see: Quick 5: Perfectly Kinky
Baltimore Jewish Film Festival at the Gordon Center
For those of you who can’t get enough of “Shtisel” star Michael Aloni’s pretty face, you’re in luck. He also stars as nerdy Dan in “And Then She Arrived,” one of 10 international films showing at this year’s festival (March 26). Get your tickets soon, everything Aloni stars in turns to gold. Other movies in the lineup include “Azimuth,” which takes place a day after the Israeli/Egyptian Six Day War; “The Light of Hope,” a true story based on a Red Cross nurse who helped to save the lives of Jewish refugees in Nazi-era Spain; and “Carl Laemmle,” a documentary about the man who founded Universal Pictures and saved 300 Jewish families from Nazi Germany. The festival runs March 23-April 16.
Also see: Baltimore Jewish Film Festival Schedule and Stills
Additionally, join the Jmore staff at JBiz Live Local Shop Local on March 31 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the DoubleTree Pikesville. more than 40 retailers and service providers will be on hand with deals, giveaways, informational sessions and more.
Jmore Publisher Scott Rifkin, M.D., pays tribute to Marc Terrill and his 20-plus years leading The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.
The battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar reflects a deeper fissure in the rap industry, writes scholar Jonathan Branfman.
The bottom line is that people working in hybrid environments feel the most engaged at work, writes Candice White of the Ignite Career Center.
On Israel Independence Day, which this year falls on May 13-14, we need to recommit ourselves to the Israeli flag and what it stands for, writes Rabbi Dr. Eli Yoggev.