The Boston arts scene will bloom beautifully this spring. That’s a claim we could normally make every year but, well, you know.
Put the past in the past and plan to see a ballet, freestyle hip-hop sensation or some truly trashy movies from Nick Cage and John Travolta.
CraftBoston: Pins + Needles, March 4 – April 17, online
Boston’s Society of Arts + Crafts wants your Zoom wardrobe to pop. This show features dozens of local and national artists selling jewelry and clothing that doubles as art. The event is the Society’s first collaboration with Queen Allotey-Pappoe, owner of Lowell-based textile studio Queen Adeline. (societyofcrafts.org)
DREAMstate, March 17 – 27, Opera House
If “The Nutcracker” was your gateway to the ballet, let this be the program that makes you a lifelong fan of the art. Boston Ballet’s “DREAMstate” features work ranging from iconic choreographer George Balanchine to Stephen Galloway, who has worked with the Rolling Stones, “Vogue” magazine and the American Ballet Theatre. “I call this one, ‘fasten your seatbelt,’” artistic director Mikko Nissinen told the Herald. “We go from the Rolling Stones to ‘Bella Figura,’ which is probably the most beautiful piece of art that I’ve ever seen.” (bostonballet.org)
Mardi Gras Mambo, March 18, City Winery
What kind of music does the Mardi Gras Mambo have? They got both kinds, they got brass band and zydeco. This Nola party features sets from the iconic Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas. (citywinery.com/boston)
Freestyle Love Supreme, March 18 – April 2, Emerson Colonial Theatre
Hip-hop and improvisation come together during this interactive theater event — straight from Broadway! — where the cast spins input from the audience into skits and songs. No two performances are alike. Every performance is thrilling. (emersoncolonialtheatre.com)
Anat Cohen Quartetinho, March 19, Artists For Humanity EpiCenter
The Celebrity Series’ jazz festival kicks off with Anat Cohen and her remarkable chops. The composer, musician and bandleader has been named Best Clarinetist by the Jazz Journalists Association for 15 straight years. It’s no surprise considering she can bounce through styles from different decades and across cultures. The Series offers loads more jazz concerts this spring, check them out at celebrityseries.org.
Vivaldi and Handel, March 19 & 20, Calderwood Studio
Vivaldi loved the four seasons but we’re mostly interested in spring at this point. Join Boston Baroque’s chorus and orchestra to celebrate the end of winter (fingers crossed) with Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Handel’s “Ode to St. Cecilia’s Day.” (baroque.boston)
Face/Off: Travolta/Cage, March 1 – May 3, Somerville Theatre
The two greatest actors of their generation? The two worst actors of their generation? Yes and yes! Every Tuesday from March to May it’s a Travolta vs. Cage double feature. A few of the tag teams: “Grease” and “Peggy Sue Got Married,” “Urban Cowboy” and “Raising Arizona.” It all crashes together with the May 3 screening of “Face/Off.” (somervilletheatre.com)
