ART
World on a String: Exploring Contemporary Interpretations of Bead Work
The art of beading doesn’t often get its own gallery show, which makes this showcase of top notch bead work in jewelry, sculpture, textile and vessels a special treat. There’s an astonishing variety here, from the seaside mosaics of Kate Boyan to the resonant portraits of Amy Clark Moore to the folk art lions of Kathlyn Leighton.
Through August 31, Mobilia Gallery, 358 Huron Ave., Cambridge, free, mobilia-gallery.com
THEATER
American Moor
In this one-man show, written and performed by Keith Hamilton Cobb, a black actor auditions before a white director for the role of Othello. But he is himself a sort of an Othello, a proud and accomplished, but frustrated and inevitably alien figure in an entertainment industry run by people who don’t understand him—and so things get a bit tense.
Through July 28, Plaza Theater, 539 Tremont St., Boston, $25-$35, bostontheatrescene.com
COMEDY
Thunderfest Comedy Bacchanal II: The Revenge
This five-day local comedy blowout began on Tuesday, but the greater part of it runs through the weekend. Most shows take place at Wonder Bar, but there’s also a crossover show with The Gas at the Great Scott, and a Thursday night show called the Know Show at a “secret location.” Don’t look at us! Check the website below for more juicy details.
Through July 29, Wonder Bar, 186 Harvard Ave., Allston, $10-$35, facebook.com/ThunderbarComedy
OPERA
The Elixir of Love
Boston Midsummer arrives to quench the thirst of opera lovers in these dry summer months, this time with Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love,” a romantic comedy centering around the titular potion, used by our hero to win his uninterested crush’s heart. Of course, the potion’s actually just cheap wine from a traveling huckster, but shhh—he doesn’t realize that yet.
Through July 30, Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown, $52-$62, bostonmidsummeropera.org
VARIETY
Glow Festival
There’s something completely different on each night of this mini-fest of performances, including “Justin Vivian Bond Shows Up,” in which the trans performer seeks, out of radical empathy, to leave their bubble, Brian King’s “Gravitational Fool,” described as “a sensual circus of the psyche,” Marga Gomez’s one-woman show “Pound,”Tammy Faye Starlite’s habitation of Nice, and the monologue/soundscapes of Penny Arcade.
July 27 through 30, Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Cambridge, $25-$45, americanrepetrorytheater.org
FOOD
Codman Square Caribbean Jerk Festival
That island vacation may still be a pipe dream, but you can at least get a taste tonight at this neighborhood festival, showcasing the Caribbean restaurants of the area, including Taste of Eden, Raphael’s Caribbean Cuisine, Irie, Island Style and others. There’s jerk chicken, of course, plus other island delights, ginger beer, desserts and live music.
July 27, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Codman Commons Park, Washington St. and Talbot Ave., Dorchester, $10, facebook.com/codmansquaresmallbusiness
GOING OUT FOR A CAUSE
Christmas in July
What do you do when you have a non-profit dedicated to bringing Christmas gifts (over 16,000!) to children in need, but you need to raise funds in the summer? You have Christmas in July, dammit. All of your ticket fee goes to Christmas in the City. There will be special holiday cocktails and a raffle with some sweet stuff, including Patriots and Red Sox tickets.
July 27, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., TAMO Terrance, Seaport Hotel, 1 Seaport Ln., Boston, $25, 2017christmasinjuly.eventbrite.com
MOVIES
Movie Nights in the Park: Racing the Rez
Catch an outdoor screening of this 2012 documentary by Brian Truglio, which follows the lives of five teenage cross-country runners living on the Navajo and Hopi reservations in Northern Arizona. Long-distance running isn’t just an extracurricular for these kids—it’s deeply bound up their traditional culture. Food and live music precede the screening at 7 p.m.
July 28, 8:30 p.m., Chuckie Harris Park, 3-17 Cross St. E, Somerville, free, eastsomervilleguide.com
MUSIC
Hans Zimmer
You probably don’t know Hans Zimmer’s name as well as his music, which includes scores for such disparate Hollywood blockbusters as “The Lion King,” “Gladiator,”“Pirates of the Carribean,” “Inception” and Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, among over 120 other films. He’ll conduct his orchestra—and some surprise guests—through some of his classic scores as well as some re-worked versions.
July 29, 8 p.m., Wang Theater, 270 Tremont St., Boston, $75-$168, bochcenter.org
Cambridge Jazz Festival
Philadelphia’s Pieces of a Dream are the headliners for 2017’s Cambridge Jazz Festival, presented by Compass. Active since they were prodigious high schoolers, the group’s core duo of keyboardist James Lloyd and drummer Curtis Harmon have drawn together an ever-shifting amalgam of influences over the decades. Locals Tia Fuller, the Ron Savage Trio ft. Eula Lawrence and Receita de Samba round out the bill.
July 30 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Danehy Park, 99 Sherman St., Cambridge, free-$20, cambridgejazzfestival.org
Davido
American-born Nigerian pop singer-songwriter Davido is one of Africa’s biggest pop stars. His breakthrough came with the club hit “Dami Duro” in 2011 and he’s been pretty much unstoppable since. With his charisma and crossover appeal, a global takeover seems only a matter of time, and he knows it: he’s already claimed his title, naming his upcoming album “The Baddest.”
July 28, 5 p.m., Royale, 279 Tremont St., Boston, $60-$110, 21+, eventbrite.com
OUTSIDE
Medieval Combat on Boston Common
Here we have a straight-up medieval brawl, but with padded weapons and armor, and cell phones in everyone’s pockets. Otherwise it’s total “Game of Thrones” madness. There are different scenarios, including one-on-one duels and castle sieges, and gear to rent including swords, shields, spears, axes, javelins and more. Anyone over 18 can participate, and must—otherwise, who will defend the Realm?!
July 30, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Boston Common, 139 Tremont St., Boston, free, facebook.com/anvard
