Your guide to entertainment in Charlotte this week
Friday
Theater
‘They Fight!’
8 p.m. (also Saturday). Duke Energy Theater, 345 N. College St. $10, $5 seniors/students. www.blumenthalarts.org.
Starring seven combatants and 10 actors – including Shakespeare Carolina veterans alongside newcomers – “They Fight!” brings to life those moments the plays gloss over: the sword fights.
Music
Aesop Rock
9 p.m. Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave. $18-$20. www.visulite.com.
On his seventh album, “The Impossible Kid,” the veteran alternative rapper’s personal musings include an ode to cats and recollections of growing up a music fan in a religious household.
Theater
‘The Tempest’ – A Teen Performance Experience
7:30 p.m. (also Saturday). ImaginOn, 300 E. Seventh St. $8-$12. www.ctcharlotte.org.
Shakespeare’s epic play centers on Prospero, the Duke of Milan, who has been living in exile on a remote island for 12 years. Performed by Teen Performance Experience students; for ages 12 and older.
Saturday
Music
Delta Rae
8 p.m. McGlohon Theater, 345 N. College St. $15.50-$39.50. www.blumenthlarts.org.
As Rolling Stone put it: “If Fleetwood Mac came up in North Carolina, they might resemble Delta Rae.” They have performed on “The Tonight Show” and at festivals including Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo.
Theater
‘Disney’s Aladdin Jr.’
10 a.m. Halton Theatre, 1206 Elizabeth Ave. $8-$12. tix.cpcc.edu.
CPCC Summer Theatre tells the tale of the street rat who became a prince. All your favorite characters from the hit Disney film – Aladdin, Jasmine, Iago, Jafar, the Genie and more – are in this musical adventure.
Celebration
Matthews People Parade
5:30 p.m. Matthews Town Hall, 232 Matthews Station St. Free. www.matthewsnc.gov.
Decorate your bike, wagon or scooter for this non-motorized parade, which goes from Town Hall to Stumptown Park. You can also enjoy food, kids’ activities and a concert from Too Much Sylvia at 7 p.m.
Music
Jazz at the Bechtler: Maria Howell
6 p.m. Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, 420 S. Tryon St. $8 museum members, $14 nonmembers. www.bechtler.org.
The Gastonia native – best known as the choir soloist in the 1985 film “The Color Purple” – can leave audiences mesmerized with her powerful, sultry, smooth voice. She’ll perform with the Ziad Jazz Quartet.
Sunday
Music
Plaza Midwood Independence Day Pig Pickin’
4-10 p.m. Moo & Brew, 1300 Central Ave. Free. www.facebook.com/pmpig.
This concert and 16th annual July 4 party features local music veterans Benji Hughes, whose latest album was released in February; rock ‘n’ roll band Temperance League; the Loose Lugnuts; and DJ Overcash.
Comedy
Deon Cole
Fri 7.01 7 p.m. (also 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday). The Comedy Zone, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd. $20-$25. www.cltcomedyzone.com.
The comedian is a regular on ABC sitcom “Black-ish,” had a role in the film “Barbershop: The Next Cut,” and will soon be seen in the TBS mystery-comedy “Angie Tribeca,” created by Nancy and Steve Carell.
Music
Lou Ford 20th Anniversary
9 p.m. Double Door Inn, 1218 Charlottetown Ave. $10-$12. www.doubledoorinn.com.
Charlotte’s Lou Ford wrote one of the most memorable, resonant local debut albums with “Sad, But Familiar.” With its second act, the Loudermilks, the core of Lou Ford celebrates time gone by.
Week ahead
Celebration
Fourth of July Celebration
Mon 7.4 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive. Free for members, $5 nonmembers. www.charlottemuseum.org.
Join for a patriotic celebration of Independence Day that will feature lectures, kids’ crafts, tours of the Hezekiah Alexander homesite and ringing of the American Freedom Bell.
Movie
‘The Secret Life of Pets’
Tue 7.5 In this animated family comedy – which takes place in a Manhattan apartment building – Max’s (voiced by Louis C.K.) life as a favorite pet is turned upside down when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke (Eric Stonestreet). They have to put their quarrels behind when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball (Kevin Hart) is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all happy-owned pets and their owners. Rated PG. Opens July 8.
WIN PASSES: To enter a drawing for a pair of passes to the promo screening (7 p.m. Tuesday in south Charlotte), email CLT@charlotteobserver.com with “The Secret Life of Pets” in the subject line and your name, age and phone number in the body. Deadline: 11:59 p.m. Friday.
Theater
‘The Wizard of Oz’
Tue 7.5 7:30 p.m. Belk Theater, 130 N. Tryon St. $29.50-$129.50. www.blumenthalarts.org.
Developed from the MGM screenplay, this production contains the beloved songs from the Oscar-winning movie score, all the favorite characters and iconic moments, plus a few surprises along the way.
Theater
‘Dixie’s Never Wear a Tube Top’
Tue 7.5 7:30 p.m. Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. $24.50-$44.50. www.blumenthalarts.org.
What do a jeweled crown, a cardboard cutout of Julie Andrews and a box of moon pies have in common? Spend the night with Dixie Longate, the fastest-talking Tupperware lady you’ll ever meet, to find out.
Music
Sublime with Rome
Tue 7.5 6:35 p.m. Charlotte Metro Credit Union Amphitheatre, 820 Hamilton St. $25-$49.50. www.livenation.com.
The collaboration between Eric Wilson, formerly of the band Sublime, and singer/guitarist Rome Ramirez. The group performs songs by Sublime, which was fronted by Bradley Nowell until his death in 1996.
This story was originally published June 30, 2016 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Your guide to entertainment in Charlotte this week."