THURSDAY 15
Speaker: Mitch Albom
Do you remember the first time you read “Tuesdays with Morrie?” The Mitch Albom classic was absolutely stuffed with wisdom from the titular Morrie, inspiring generations of readers to “accept who [they] are and revel in it.” Albom, of course, couldn’t spend so much time with Morrie without absorbing some wisdom of his own. Hear it for yourself when he comes to Frederick’s Weinberg Center, armed with years of experience as the author of multiple bestselling books and popular columns and as founder of 10 charities.
March 15. Weinberg Center for the Arts, Frederick. $40-$50. 301-600-2828, weinbergcenter.org
Music: Lee Ann Womack
Catch country queen Lee Ann Womack as she graces the stage in Rams Head’s intimate Annapolis venue. As part of her “All the Trouble” tour, the “I Hope You Dance” singer will perform songs from her latest album, “The Lonely, The Lonesome and The Gone,” as well as selections from her wide library of classic hits. Leave the kids at home (the show’s 21+) and gear up for a night of unbridled girl power.
March 15, Rams Head on Stage. Tickets: $65. 410-268-4545, ramsheadonstage.com
Theater: Aubergine
Everyone knows that a great meal can bring people together. But in Julia Cho’s lyrical play “Aubergine,” food does more than foster good feelings, it holds a family together. As a Korean family fights to stay connected in the midst of emotional turmoil and cultural divide, it’s their shared culinary tradition that helps to bridge the gap. Come see why the San Francisco Chronicle calls it “sweet, savory and uncommonly nourishing.” Plus, it’s the show’s Mid-Atlantic debut!
$15-$65. March 14-April 15 at Everyman Theatre. 410-752-2208, everymantheatre.org
FRIDAY 16
Theater: The Glass Menagerie
In Tennessee Williams’ classic play The Glass Menagerie, a struggling family experiences a temporary reprieve in their stresses when a young man comes to call. The ensuing story will have you reaching for your Kleenex (or, at the very least, your fellow theatergoer’s hand). Film adaptations of the show have been panned by critics, so do yourself a favor and see it live.
March 16-April 15, Annapolis Shakespeare Company. $38-$65. 410-415-3513, annapolisshakespeare.org
Theater: Menopause the Musical
Hot flashes, mood swings, immovable muffin tops … Menopause the Musical covers it all. The hilarious show follows four women as they undergo “the change”: A business woman, a housewife, an “Earth mother” and a drama queen. Set to parodies of pop hits from the ’50s and ’60s (think: “My Thighs,” a spoof on “My Guy”), the production is equal parts laugh-out-loud funny and poignant. Grab your gracefully aging girlfriends for the perfect GNO.
March 16, Weinberg Center for the Arts. $33-$48. 301-600-2828, weinbergcenter.com
Food: Baltimore Coffee Fest
If you’re just as happy with a gas station cuppa as you are with an artisan drip, we’ll be honest: The Baltimore Coffee Fest probably isn’t for you. The weekend-long trade show is an immersive experience of all things brew and bean, designed for established and aspiring professionals in the tea and coffee industries, meaning it’s not open to the public. But if you’ve ever hoped to open a café or become a barista, now’s your chance. The festival features 130+ exhibitors, sessions on cold brewing and other skills, a one-day CoffeePreneur intensive and more, as well as demonstrations and competitions designed to up your caffeination game. March 16-18, Baltimore Convention Center. $30 registration. coffeefest.com —K.U.
Opera: La Traviata
It’s a tale as old as time: Boy meets girl, girl must decide between true love and her life as a princess/noble/A-lister/etc. Though we’ve seen the story play out in countless ways, somehow it remains compelling. Exhibit A: “La Traviata,” Verdi’s classic Italian opera based on Dumas’ play “La Dame aux Camélias.” This time, courtesan Violetta must end her fun, fabulous life to accept the love of the impoverished Alfredo. But don’t automatically assume a happily ever after, as Violetta may not be exactly as she seems.
$25-$100. March 16 and 18 at Maryland Hall. 410-263-5544, marylandhall.org
Art: Glistening
See Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts’ first-ever all-video exhibition, “Glistening: Nature Mirrored in Video Art.”
March 14-May 5 at Maryland Hall.
SATURDAY 17
Music: Celtic Woman
Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in style with Celtic Woman: Homecoming, a special show featuring the wildly popular all-female Irish singing group (that is not a singular Celtic woman, as its name may suggest). The group, called “’Riverdance’ for the voice,” combines traditional Irish music with contemporary elements in a style that has won multiple Billboard awards and sold more than 9 million records. What better way to get into the spirit?
March 17, Hippodrome Theatre. $58-$95. 800-982-2787. hippodrome.theatrebaltimore.com
Party: St. Patrick’s Day
Nearly every Irish pub in Baltimore will be bustlin’ with food specials, free-flowing drinks, and more.
Citywide.
SUNDAY 18
Music: Blake Shelton
Yee-haw, y’all: Blake Shelton is coming to town for the “Country Music Freaks” tour. “The Voice” coach’s performance comes on the heels of his 11th studio album, “Texoma Shore,” which was released last fall and skyrocketed to the top of pretty much every country music chart in America. For his stop in Charm City, he’ll be joined by Brett Eldredge, Carly Pearce and special guest Trace Adkins … Gwen, unfortunately, can’t make it.
March 18, Royal Farms Arena. $46-$95. 410-347-2020, royalfarmsarena.com
Art: Constructing Cultural Contexts
The Walters’ new cultural-consciousness lecture series explores “Gendered Narratives” with Ravon Ruffin and Amanda Figueroa, founders of Brown Girls Museum Blog, in conversation with Christine Sciacca, Associate Curator of European Art.
2-3:30 p.m., The Walters. Free, but registration is suggested.
