LIFELINE: 10 COOL THINGS TO DO IN TWO WEEKS

STACEY ABRAMS Photo by Gage Skidmore

11/17

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THEY FIGHT 2.0

“Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests,” Macbeth tells Macdu . “I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born.” This lines leads to swordplay, mayhem and decapitation, but you don’t get a good description of the action in Shakespeare’s play. Spinning o the barest of stage directions found in classic theatre, Free Reign Theatre presents They Fight 2.0, a stage combat show spotlighting the best brawls in literature — iconic scenes featuring Macbeth, Cyrano de Bergerac and more. The theatrical brawling includes ashing blades, sticu s and even a wrestling match. More: $20; Nov. 18-21, times vary; Brooklyn Grace, 219 S. Brevard St.; blumenthalarts.org

RENLUKA MAHARAJ Photo courtesy of McColl Center

11/20

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A CONVERSATION WITH STACEY ABRAMS

In Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial race, political leader, voting rights activist, entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author Stacey Abrams was robbed. Republican candidate and then Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp used his position to suppress lowincome and Black votes to win the election. Abrams responded by turning Georgia into a battleground state that currently boasts two Democratic U.S. senators. Her book, Our Time is Now, chronicles a chilling account of how the right to vote continues to be under attack. More: $32.50 and up; Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m.; Ovens Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.; blumenthalarts.org

ARCHITECTURE AND IDENTITY: SITUATING PHIL FREELON

In his 40-plus-year career, late North Carolina architect Philip G. Freelon focused on projects that foreground African-American communities. Freelon believed architecture should be more than a container, it should help tell the story of the content of the public parks and buildings he designed. The Gantt Center hosts a panel of experts on architecture and identity who will discuss the way their individual work investigates and reveals intersections between African-American culture and the design of the built environment, plus explore how Freelon’s buildings relate to these wider narratives. More: Free; Nov. 18, 7 p.m.; online; youtube.com/GanttCenter

AVANT GOODYEAR: MATTHEW SHIPP

The Avant Goodyear series brings NYC piano legend Matthew Shipp to Charlotte for a solo concert. With a unique and instantly recognizable style, described as a vortex of swirling gravity, Shipp has enlivened the jazz scene since the late 1980s. Downbeat calls Shipp “the politically active icon of New York’s underground jazz scene.” He ricochets beyond any boundaries, entangling free jazz, post-bop and modern classical in an impenetrable Gordian Knot of out-of-this-heliosphere musical magic. He’ll be accompanied by Charlotte’s incomparable makers of vital sounds, jazz combo Ghost Trees and Dylan Gilbert performing a solo set. More: Free; Nov. 18, 7 p.m.; Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave.; petrasbar.com

OPEN STUDIO SATURDAY

McColl Center hosts this free event, featuring hands-on art workshops and activities. Artist-inresidence William D. Caballero hosts a motioncapture technology demonstration. Attendees are also invited to have their artistic portrait taken with artists-in-residence Ken West and Renluka Maharaj. A veteran of the digital-design world, photographer West creates documentary images that stand in stark contrast to the binary world. A descendant of indentured laborers from Trinidad and Tobago, mixedmedia artist Maharaj incorporates photography, installations, research and travel to bring attention to a time in history that often goes forgotten. More: Free; Nov. 20, 12 p.m.; McColl Center, 721 N. Tryon St.; mccollcenter.org

NOV. 27, 2021 . KNIGHT Theater

AT LEVINE CENTER FOR THE ARTS

BlumenthalArts.org . 704.372.1000

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THE WORLD OF ANNA SUI OPENING

The World of Anna Sui shines a spotlight on designer Anna Sui’s process, allowing the viewer to step inside her imagination and watch it unfold in her fashion designs. No other fashion designer captures the zeitgeist of a historic period, place, or artistic movement in such a timeless yet contemporary look. Sui designs the entire look, from dress to accessories, hair styles to makeup, and even sound and scent. The exhibit examines the designer’s heroes from her youth and the importance of her collaborators, including the New York City Garment District. More: Free; Nov. 20, 11 a.m.; Mint Museum Randolph, 2730 Randolph Road; mintmuseum.org

ANNA SUI Photo by Raoul Gatchalian

11/20

LOFIDELS, 2 SLICES, SALTI RAY

Lo dels centers on Lenny Muckle, a self-described synth-punk Cthulhu and a Black musician in a mostly white punk rock world, who launched the project as a one-man band in 2014. Inspired by stuttering roar of The Dead Boys’ “Sonic Reducer” and the angular pot-punk neo-Marxist funk of Gang of Four, Muckle creates textured alternative rock where electronics and guitars tangle with lyrics that are angry, vulnerable and philosophical. Muckle has said his music is exploratory and experimental not because it sounds avant-garde, but because his creative process welcomes experimentation. More: $10; Nov. 26, 9:30 p.m.; Snug Harbor, 1228 Gordon St.; snugrock.com TUE11_30

FRIENDS! THE MUSICAL PARODY

A group of 20-something Manhattanites hang around a fountain while a catchy handclapping theme song plays. Then they hang around a co ee shop and trade quips. One of the characters sings about her smelly cat, and the song’s title goes on to give its name to a popular NoDa co ee shop. With the show’s subsequent success, alt-pop band The Rembrandts pumped up their 30-second theme to a three-minute hit single. FRIENDS! The Musical Parody recreates iconic moments from all 10 years of the sitcom through an uncensored, fast-paced music- lled romp. More: $28.50 and up; Nov. 27, 7:30 p.m.; Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.; blumenthalarts.org

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER

Who knew that a trio of tinpot robots kibbitzing about less than stellar movies would prove to be such a durable concept? Created by Joel Hodgson, Mystery Science Theater 3000 premiered on a Minneapolis TV station in 1988. Thirty-three years, 217 episodes, one feature lm and three live tours later, Mystery Science Theater 3000 LIVE hits town with an all new production. Host Emily Connor and the world’s greatest movie-ri ng robots, Tom Servo, Crow and GPC tackle the 1985 German horrorfantasy mis re Making Contact, directed by Independence Day auteur Roland Emmerich. More: $25 and up; Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m.; Knight Theater, 430 S. Tryon St.; blumenthalarts.org

RYAN ZIMMERMAN, PATRICK MAWN, KEVIN GOODWIN

Long Island Beach, NJ, troubadour Ryan Zimmerman tops a bill devoted to melodic singer-songwriters. A mélange of roots music in uences inspire Zimmerman’s sharp songwriting, which is bolstered with windmill rhythm guitar reminiscent of Robbie Roberson. Bostonborn, Queen City-based Patrick Mawn crafts tunes that entwine indie, folk and rock into a braided stream of rhythm and melody. Charlotte-based Kevin Goodwin describes his lively songs as music to make you feel like the main character in a coming-of-age movie. More: $10; Nov. 28, 8 p.m.; The Milestone, 3400 Tuckaseegee Road; themilestone.club

LENNY MUCKLE, AKA LOFIDELS Photo by Lenny Muckle

11/26

NOV. 30 KNIGHT THEATER

AT LEVINE CENTER FOR THE ARTS