Arts Alive San Antonio

You have heard it said many times: “Laughter is the Best Medicine,” so here is info about funny events to enjoy this weekend and get your mind off the inaccessible vaccine lists and the like. Comic storyteller Jim Breuer will bring his Freedom of Laughter Tour to the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Friday, March 19. You probably remember him from his appearances on Saturday Night Live, and maybe from his recent Facebook videos that recap baseball games as only he can. ($34.50-$49.50; 210-223-8624; tickets@tobincenter.org.)

Also, at the Tobin, you can still participate in the murder mystery parody based on the TV show, The Office. In fact, it’s called The Office! A Murder Mystery Parody: Who is the Scranton Strangler. Yes, this is a participatory event that starts at the Tobin but continues outdoors through “five walkable locations.” San Antonio actors play the sitcom’s TV characters and you can use your sleuthing skills to solve the mystery of the Scranton Stangler. (Runs through March 28; Start times are staggered at 30-minute intervals, rain or shine. To see the schedule, consult last week’s NEWS ROUNDUP. Tickets $39.50 – $44.50; tickets@tobincenter.com; 210-223-8624)

And speaking of laughter, we should remind you to check out the LOL Comedy Club where laughter is their bread-and-butter year-round. New York comic Jay Oakerson will appear this weekend, March 18, 19 & 20. His comedy is described as “raw, compelling and honest to the core.” He is also the host of a podcast called The Most Offensive Podcast on Earth.” You get the idea… (7:30 p.m.; 618 NW Loop 410, 78216; tickets $44-$132; www.improvtx.com/sanantonio/)

The Literary-minded may want to participate in the virtual VOICES OF TEXAS celebration and fundraiser organized by VOICES DE LA LUNA, a nonprofit organization that publishes the only independent literary magazine in the region, also named VOICES DE LA LUNA. The event marks the publication of the 50^th issue of the magazine and raises money for both the magazine and community outreach initiatives. The evening’s program is jammed-packed with literary celebrities, interviews, readings, and music. (See article from March 17 on this site.) The event also honors Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark, a longtime UTSA professor of bilingual education and the author and co-author of several books. A silent auction featuring many original artworks by San Antonio artists, will also be part of the festivities. (March 21, 4-5:30 p.m., preceded by a happy hour 3-4 p.m.; $50, www.voicesdela luna.org/gala)

The other literary organization in San Antonio, Gemini Ink, that now calls itself San Antonio’s Writing Arts Center, is offering new workshops to interested writers. Coming up on March 25 is Inner Craft, an open genre workshop with National Book Award finalist Reginald Gibbons (March 25 @ 6:30 p.m., which is already full) and Writing. Witnessing. Wishing., a nonfiction workshop with Dr. Norma Cantu, that will focus on the notion of “time,” past, present and future. ($75-$125, vis Zoom; for info 210-734-9673; to register go to https://geminiink.org/events)

And there’s music, too! And some of it is live on a real stage. At the Carver Community Cultural Center, you can actually buy a ticket and sit in the theater – albeit with fewer people than usual – to watch Bad Mama Jama Remix: Let the Record Show, a show with music conceived by San Antonio Poet Laureate, Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson who also appears on stage with seven other women. Through music, monologue, poetry and modern dance, “they reconstruct their own brand of femininity.” Sounds like a pretty unique piece of theater. (March 20 at 8 p.m. www.thecarver.org; box office 210-207-2234)

The Woodlawn Theater’s Be a Champion for Woodlawn Theater at Cool Crest, is a special event that will combine a show of Broadway melodies that the theater is known for with a round of miniature golf, plus some additional games to win “fab prizes.” The Broadway hits will be performed by Amy Mireles, Gid De La Rosa, Ana Hernandez, Heather Ortega McMillan, Antonio Cruz and Krystal Newcomer. In addition, top Woodlawn Academy students will also perform. (Sunday, March 21, 3-8 p.m.; $25, go to www.woodlawntheatre.org and click on “Experience” to purchase tickets. Food truck will be on the premises.)

Also on Sunday, there will be a special virtual concert to raise funds for Texans who need help in the aftermath of the freezing, no-power days we went through last month. Called We’re Texas, the event was put together by the Uvalde-born film actor Matthew McConaughey and his wife. The concert will feature big stars such as George Strait, Kelly Clarkson, Lyle Lovett, Clint Black, Khalid, Kacey Musgraves, and others. You can watch it at 7 p.m. on actor’s YouTube channel- YouTube.com/Matthew McConaughey.

And here’s news from Conroe, Texas!  Young Texas Artists (YTA), a nonprofit fine arts organization from that city is launching a free classical music video series designed to educate and entertain. The first installment this Sunday at 7 p.m., explores the question: What is Classical Music? Watch party participants will be able to type in questions for YTA and the series host St. John Flynn via Facebook’s live chat function. Each episode in the series will feature performances by alumni of the YTA Music Competition. For free access, visit https://www.ytamc.com and click on the watch part link on the home page.

The Public Theater of San Antonio is looking for a new executive/artistic director whose “primary focus” will be the artistic, organizational and relational management of the organization. To see all the requirements and submission instructions go to http://bit.ly/3rTYAc4.

 The Public is also starting a new round of classes for young artists, including dance, acting, voice and technical theater. All spring classes will be virtual. To register: http://bit.ly/2ODeuZS.