MOVIES
Beatriz at Dinner
Salma Hayek stars as a Beatriz, a saintly practitioner of alternative medicine, in this socio-political black comedy. When her car breaks down after making a house call in a (very) posh neighborhood, her client awkwardly invites her to stay for a business dinner party. The guest of honor is an arrogant/ignorant (and criminal) housing developer. Things get pretty tense.
Now playing, Coolidge Corner Theater, 290 Harvard St., Brookline, $11-$13, coolidge.org
THEATER
Wicked
In “The Wizard of Oz,” Margaret Hamilton totally steals the show as the Wicked Witch—so much so that author Gregory Maguire felt a need to tell the Witch’s side of the story. The resulting novel, “Wicked,” was a bestseller, and the musical version became a contemporary Broadway classic. L. Frank Baum would be—well, confused, probably, but what does he know?
Through July 23, Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., Boston, $39-$256, broadway.boston.com
The Midvale High School Fiftieth Reunion
Emotions run so high in adolescence that it’s easy to mythologize it later—it just felt so mythic. But as time passes, things only distort more. That’s the trouble facing this romantic comedy’s central couple, Tom and Bettina, who are about to discover their memories didn’t go quite how they remember them.
Through July 2, Central Square Theater, 450 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, $16-$61, centralsquaretheater.org
ART
Fafnir Adamites/John Christian Anderson
Fafnir Adamites’ paper sculptures in “Holding Remnants” are meant to house memories; they’re inspired by the idea that trauma can become imprinted in DNA, and passed down. John Christian Anderson creates his work from scavenged objects; the title of his show, “My Inheritance”, sardonically refers to a post-apocalyptic future where junk will be the only art material left.
Through July 23, Boston Sculptors Gallery, 486 Harrison Ave., Boston, free, bostonsculptors.com
HABITAT/ion
MassArt’s latest biennial juried alumni exhibition feature work from 80 alumni, most of whom graduated within the last 25 years, but there are a few with more vintage degrees. The theme—habitat and habitation—is broad, but powerful. What’s more basic than a place to live? Food, maybe, but that’s for another biennial.
Through July 15, Bakalar and Paine Galleries, MassArt, 621 Huntington Ave., Boston, free, massart.edu
PETS
Puppy Yappy Hour
Your dog is your best friend. Nobody disputes this—certainly not your dog. And yet, you can’t take your best friend out to many bars. What gives? We won’t field that one, but at their occasional Puppy Yappy Hours, the Dorchester Brewing Company welcomes your dog to their patio. They’ve even got dog treats (there’s Jamaican food for humans).
June 29, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dorchester Brewing Company, 1250 Mass. Ave., Dorcester, no cover, dorchesterbrewing.com
MUSIC
Bessarabian Breakdown
Despite its influence on jazz, Klezmer is still perceived as a self-contained “ethnic” music. With his group Bessarabian Breakdown, bassist Jim Guttman tries to shake that perception up by putting Klezmer in dialogue with other styles, including “Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Tower of Power visiting the Caribbean, Erroll Garner’s work with Slam Stewart and the rapper Nelly” and more.
June 29, 8:30 p.m., ONCE Ballroom, 156 Highland Ave., Somerville, $17-$20, oncesomerville.com
Veronica Swift
This 22-year-old jazz singer is already establishing herself as a major force in her genre, and it’s not hard to see why. You can find her on YouTube singing “You Don’t Know What Love Is” and it’s pure dynamite, showing off her insistent, vintage style and climaxing with some virtuosic scat singing. It’s a bit like watching an Olympic gymnast.
July 1, 8 p.m., Scullers, 400 Soldiers Field Rd., Boston, $30-$80, scullersjazz.com
GOING OUT
Cambridge City Dance Party
Lest anyone dare question its status as a people’s republic, the City of Cambridge throws a big outdoor dance party in Central Square annually. They’ll close off Mass Ave. between Prospect St. and Bigelow St. A DJ will spin jams all evening, and after the sun goes down, a colorful light show will add to the revelry.
June 30, 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., Cambridge City Hall, 795 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, free, cambridgema.gov
COMEDY
Comedy, America!
There’s still time to catch the final 2017 performance of ImprovBoston’s annual Independence Day sketch and musical comedy revue, now in its fourth year. If Facebook has you burned out from political debate, worry not. This show is more about the things we share: things like turducken, day spas, Tom Brady, square dancing and toilets—you know, good ol’ American values.[tab]
June 30, 10 p.m., ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Cambridge, $18, improvboston.com
Carmen Lagala
Cityside Comedy welcomes this Brooklyn-based, Vermont-raised comic, a participant in last year’s Bridgetown Comedy Festival in Portland, Oregon. She wryly opened a recent New York City set with, “It’s, honestly, just nice to be off my phone for 10 minutes.” While many comedians seem to be either hammy or bone dry, she balances both tones, playing the part of the hopeful cynic.
July 3, 8:30 p.m., Cityside Bar, 1960 Beacon St., Brighton, free, 21+, facbook.com/citysidecomedy
TOURS
Boston by Foot
For more than 40 years, the non-profit Boston by Foot has been educating folks on Boston History. Seeing that it’s July 4th week and American history’s on the brain, we thought we’d remind you of the variety of tours they’re offering this season, with themes like Ben Franklin, “Johnny Tremain,” “The Dark Side of Boston,” the North End, and more.
Ongoing, meeting places vary, usually downtown Boston, $13-$15, bostonbyfoot.org
