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Weekend Preview: 'Divine Rivalry,' The Silent Comedy And Walking Urban Food Tours

Local band The Silent Comedy headline a matinee show at The Casbah on Sunday, July 8.
Courtesy photo
Local band The Silent Comedy headline a matinee show at The Casbah on Sunday, July 8.
Your weekend to-do list
GUESTSLiz Bradshaw, curator of The Loft at UC San Diego. Jim Hebert, theater critic at the U-T San Diego.

This weekend, treat yourself to some cultural fun. From new theater productions to live music to walking food tours, there's no excuse to get out and play.

Travel back in time to 16th-century Florence, Italy, and witness Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo as they face off in an artistic showdown in “Divine Rivalry” at The Old Globe. Based on a real-life painting competition devised by political mastermind Niccolò Machiavelli, "Divine Rivalry" begins previews Saturday and opens July 12. The play runs through August 5 at the Old Globe in Balboa Park. (U-T San Diego theater critic Jim Hebert previews the show.)

On Saturday night, take in (and take home) artworks at a benefit art auction at The JETT Gallery in Little Italy. The event is part of the weekend-long “BAM: Benefit of Arts & Music for the Museum School," and features works by more than 30 artists including Perry Vasquez, Tim McCormick, Allison Wiese and Jessica McCambly, among others. (You can preview the works up for bid on Friday from 4-7 pm).

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On Sunday afternoon, catch live music by The Silent Comedy, Rob Crow (of Pinback), Little White Teeth and more local musicians during a rare matinee show at The Casbah on Kettner Boulevard. Proceeds from both the art auction and the Casbah show will benefit arts and music education at the Museum School, a local charter school.

Composer Duncan Sheik and writer/lyricist Steven Sater team up again in “The Nightingale," the duo's first major collaboration since their smash-hit musical "Spring Awakening." The latest La Jolla Playhouse Page to Stage workshop, "The Nightingale" is based on the Hans Christian Andersen story about a Chinese emperor who neglects the enchanting song of a real-life nightingale in favor of a mechanical one that's built for him. The musical begins previews Tuesday and runs through August 5 at the La Jolla Playhouse.

Looking for a fun way to work up an appetite? NOSH San Diego leads walking urban food tours through North Park (Fridays) and South Park (Sundays). Get a taste of food and drinks at five different local spots, each reached by foot, during the three-hour walking/dining tour.

Cygnet Theatre presents “Man of La Mancha,” which begins previews tonight and opens July 14. The classic musical runs through August 26 at the Old Town Theatre in Old Town. (Jim Hebert speaks with Cygnet artistic director Sean Murray, who plays the lead role for the third time in his career.)

Learn the art of block printing with artist Wade Koniakowsky on Saturday at Bliss 101 in Encinitas. Koniakowsky, known for his ocean-inspired artworks, will be printing original designs on T-shirts and bags, which attendees can take home. (Bring your own T-shirt or purchase one there.)

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Looking for more options? Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and musician Roberta Flack performs Friday and Saturday with the San Diego Symphony.

And for those who prefer to stay at home, why not fire up the grill?