7 top cultural picks for Nashville this week
Nashville Ballet’s 'Carmina Burana'
Nashville Ballet concludes its 30th anniversary season with the gorgeous “Carmina Burana.” Set to the iconic music of Carl Orff, this highly theatrical production features nearly 300 artists, including the Nashville Symphony, the Nashville Symphony Chorus, the Nashville Children’s Choir and more.
The season finale also will include the world premiere of Nashville Ballet Artistic Director & CEO Paul Vasterling’s “Layla & The Majnun,” with original music by renowned American composer Richard Danielpour. Reminiscent of “Romeo & Juliet,” this popular Middle Eastern story explores themes of unrequited love, devotion and enlightenment.
It runs Friday-Sunday at TPAC’s Andrew Jackson Hall, 505 Deaderick St. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets start at $28, available at www.nashvilleballet.com or by calling the TPAC box office at 615-782-4040.
—Amy Stumpfl, for The Tennessean
Shakespeare ’ s Birthday Bash
April marks the Bard’s 452nd birthday (and the 400th anniversary of his death). Nashville Shakespeare Festival will celebrate with the seventh annual "Biggest Balcony Scene Ever," plus live music, birthday cupcakes and treats (while supplies last). Theater lovers can get in on the act with costume contests and the mass recitation of “Romeo and Juliet’s” famous balcony scene at 1:30 p.m.
The free festivities begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Downtown Nashville Public Library, 615 Church St. Visit www.nashvilleshakes.org.
—Amy Stumpfl
'Improv Binge-Watch'
The Spontaneous Comedy Company has been a local favorite since 1998, serving up instantaneous live performances based on audience suggestions. With its unique blend of comedic, acting and musical skills, the company puts together a fast-paced improv show that’s full of surprises — and some serious laughs. Featuring Jackie Welch-Schlicher, Frank Rains Jr., Carolyn German and Josh Childs, with Kevin Madill at the keyboard.
The event is 8 p.m. Saturday at Darkhorse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Ave. Tickets are $20, available via www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2537951 or at the door. The show is PG-13.
— Amy Stumpfl
Patchbay debuts at Zeitgeist
Friday night, Wedgewood-Houston’s Zeitgeist Gallery will host the first installment of Patchbay, a program of cutting-edge multimedia art presenting collaborations between Nashville-based visual artists and music composers. The inaugural performance presents new work by Morgan Higby-Flowers, Zack Rafuls, Chris Strachan, Matt Kinney, Kay Kennedy and Mark Volker. The free performance takes place at 7 p.m. at the gallery, 516 Hagan St.
— Sara Estes, for The Tennessean
Hotel Indigo art unveiling
Also on Friday, Hotel Indigo will host a public unveiling of Nashville artist Mark Cowden’s large-scale painting, “The Wanderer.” The work, now on permanent view to the public, honors the rich history of Printers Alley. The reception includes cocktails, live music and an artist talk by Cowden. Reception is 4-7 p.m.; artist talk is at 5 p.m. at the hotel, 301 Union St. Admission is free.
— Sara Estes
Art Talk: Paul Polycarpou + Nina Covington
Head to the downtown Arcade’s first-floor gallery Corvidae Collective on Saturday where Paul Polycarpou, publisher of Nashville Art Magazine, will host an informative discussion with artist Nina Covington. Guests will learn about her motivation for the "Machisma" series, the stories behind the images and more about why Nina chose Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence to receive a portion of the proceeds from all work in this series. Refreshments and appetizers will be offered at 3 p.m.; talk begins at 4 p.m. at the gallery, 11 Arcade Alley. Admission is free.
— Sara Estes
Parthenon lecture series: Jerry Atnip, Bily Frist
Don’t miss the next enlightening installment of “The Parthenon Series: Conversations on Art and Architecture” on Tuesday. Titled “The Fourth Dimension in Photography,” the event features a conversation with professional photographer Jerry Atnip and art collector Billy Frist. Atnip has been published in more than 40 countries and received over 100 prestigious awards. Billy and Jennifer Frist are celebrated Nashville philanthropists and photography collectors. The talk begins at 7 p.m. at The Parthenon Museum in Centennial Park, 2500 West End Ave. Admission is free.
— Sara Estes