Friday, June 1
Writing Funny
WHAT: Wits with Wyatt Cenac and Ted Leo
WHERE: Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul
WHEN: 8 p.m.
Comedy writers aren’t usually the guys who tour — that’d be the comedians themselves — but Wits has always favored brains over showmanship. Wyatt Cenac, who has worked on The Daily Show and King of the Hill, has both. He’s joined by Ted Leo, a quirky troubadour who subverts the form with punk irreverence (he’s been known to cover Kelly Clarkson). fitzgeraldtheater.org
Friday, June 1
Indie Kings
WHAT: The Shins
WHERE: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis
WHEN: 8 p.m.
The Shins, having moved their concert from the new nightclub Brick to the Orpheum Theatre, have a lot of room to fill with their mellow indie-rock. But the historic décor suits the vibe of their new album, perhaps their most elegiac yet, full of foggy choruses and fuzzy, downbeat melodies, just the way their fans like them. hennepintheatretrust.org
Saturday, June 2
Dancing In The Streets
WHAT: Flint Hills International Children’s Festival
WHERE: Ordway Center, St. Paul
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This all-day slate of top-flight entertainment (dance, music, theatre, puppetry) from around the world fills the Ordway (where it costs $5) and spills into the streets (where it’s free). Outside, the music ranges from tropical to East Indian to African and the dance troupes from Native American to Central American. Learn more at ordway.org
Saturday, June 2
Field Of Dreams
WHAT: Open Field
WHERE: Walker Art Center, Minneapolis
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The Walker’s artsy open-air entertainment venue reopens on the grassy hillside beside the museum. The opening includes DIY art activities, tours, and science learning for kids revolving around bugs and plants. Learn more at walkerart.org
Sunday, June 3
What You Did
WHAT: Rockstar Storytellers
WHERE: Bryant-Lake Bowl, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7 p.m.
The inspired troupe of yarn-spinners (well, it’s all mostly true) returns with a timely focus: tales of graduation, achievement, or lack thereof. Joseph Scrimshaw, Amy Salloway, and Allegra Lingo are among the performers, with Phillip Andrew Bennet Low hosting. Learn more at bryantlakebowl.com
Sunday, June 3
Ratings Are King
WHAT: Laughter on the 23rd Floor
WHERE: Park Square Theatre, St. Paul
WHEN: 3 p.m.
Neil Simon is experiencing something of a revival; though his plays never really went away, they’re now getting the gloss of classics. Which is only right: Just because Simon makes it look easy, here tossing out one zinger after another in a barely disguised send-up of the backroom at Sid Caesar’s show, doesn’t mean it isn’t the work of a master. Learn more at parksquaretheatre.org
