From musical theater watch parties to virtual visits from acclaimed authors to a rap open mic night through the Old Globe, we have your weekend arts plans covered.
Matilda Fun-Size Watch Party
Theater
I love the idea of a 30 minute performance stream. Perfect for our pandemic- and technology-ravaged attention spans. San Diego Junior Theatre performed some favorite clips from the beloved new musical adaptation of Roald Dahl's "Matilda," and it will stream Friday evening. Make some popcorn (or might I suggest chocolate cake) and teach the kids how best to use the homonym "revolting."
This performance had just wrapped up auditions and callbacks when the shutdowns hit. Originally scheduled for late April, this is a great way to show solidarity for the young actors and musicians.
Details: Friday from 7-7:30 p.m. San Diego Junior Theatre on Facebook Live, Free.
San Diego Writers Festival Summer Festival Days
Literature, Film, Poetry
Just in its second year, the San Diego Writers Festival had to do some major gear shifting to try to pull off this year's event. Originally scheduled for early April, the revisioned program has been divided into four separate "Summer Festival Days," each with a theme and a variety of programming, performances, workshops, panels and keynotes available to livestream. For this Saturday, the second in the series, the theme is "For The Love of Storytelling," and features several craft sessions.
For those of you looking for more entertainment than writing instruction, poet Gill Sotu will kick off the day at 10 a.m. with a spoken word performance. And don't miss the screening and Q&A for the powerful local short film "Isabel" — based on a true local story — at 11:45 a.m.
Details: Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. San Diego Writers Festival on Facebook Live, Free.
Word Up: Featuring Ric Scales
Music
Local rapper Ric Scales, half of the duo 18scales, will be featured in this week's Word Up, the Old Globe's weekly gathering, performance and open mic night session. Tune in to get to know Scales, listen to his performance, learn a thing or two about rap, or to try your hand at it in the community performance segment.
And I highly recommend this 18scales track, "Anything U Want" (feat. Devvlov & Mandi Jo), which came out in December.
Details: Friday at 6 p.m. The Old Globe Art Engagement on Facebook Live, Free.
Through The Blue Art Auction
Visual Art
Benefiting Build A Miracle, an organization dedicated to building homes and meeting basic needs in Tijuana's El Florido neighborhood, this art auction features works from dozens of local artists, and is produced in conjunction with SDSU and Bread & Salt Gallery.
The auction process is transparent, and operates more like an event or gala silent auction than an online or live auction. You can bid on works through Monday. Featuring visual art pieces by Griselda Rosas, Carlos Castros, Lael Corbin, Annie Buckley, Kline Swonger and more.
Details: Bidding open through Monday. Online, prices vary.
The Way To Reopening: Drive-Through Art Exhibition
Visual Art
The IN Gallery is a small art space in Barrio Logan, and they're hosting an experimental, socially distanced art event. Described mostly through hashtags on social media as a drive-through, drive-by, or walk-by exhibition, the gallery will display works by Khalid Alkaaby, Sarah Bisset, Irina Negulescu, Cassandra Schramm and photographer Matt Tarro who has been working in studio at IN Gallery during quarantine. Originally planned to include live music and bodypaint, regional health orders have changed in recent days so be sure to check the event listing for the latest updates. And you can still experience the art if you choose to stay home; the gallery has been posting pictures of the pieces in the Facebook event discussion.
Details: Saturday from 4-10 p.m. The IN Gallery, 1878 Main St, Barrio Logan. Free.
For more arts and culture events, or to submit your own, visit our KPBS/Arts calendar.
