“Three little MAAAAIDS … from school!” Of course, it’s one of the most beloved, evergreen operettas in the history of operettas, Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado,” and the Space Coast Symphony, in cooperation with Central Florida Arts and Opera del Sol, bring it, in the form of an unstaged production, to Community Church of Vero Beach this Sunday, Aug. 18. You are absolutely going to love the production the show promo rightly calls “laugh-out-loud fun for the entire family, as Victorian England meets an imaginary, imperial Japan.” Asian-American director Kit Cleto and veteran opera director Eric Pinder explain the work is an opportunity, in collaboration with the Asian-American community in Central Florida, to “celebrate Japanese art and culture via this satirical work.” The stellar lineup of musical/comedy talent includes Tamir Hernandez as YumYum; Japanese American opera luminary Arisa Kusumi as the (first female) Mikado; Met Opera regular Susan Neves as Katisha. Men of the cast include John Segers, Jacob Pence, Stephen Cauley and Bryan Hayes. After 134 years, this delightful tale of love and (mis)adventure still captivates. Curtain: 3 p.m. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, 18 and under or with student ID, free. 855-252-7276.
S“Cheeseburgers in Paradise” is such a fun Live in the Loop theme, Riverside Theatre gave it two big weekends. And this weekend, Aug. 16-17, is the second one. It’s paired with the popular Howl at the Moon Experience, that live music request show that brings two pianists and a drummer to the stage to play anything you can come up with, this weekend with a Jimmy Buffet-y flavor. (They challenge you to stump them. Like that’s going to happen.) While all that wild and crazy fun is happening inside, outside on the Loop its free live music and lots of food and bevs, via a full bar and grill. (Yes, of course, there’ll be cheeseburgers.) The Live on the Loop band will be the internationally popular, locally legendary Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Vero Beach’s own Landsharks. Reminders: toss a folding chair in the trunk just in case. Don’t bring food, bevs or Fido. Times: Live in the Loop, 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Howl at the Moon, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Tickets: Live in the Loop, free; Howl at the Moon, side seats, $12; table seating, $16-$22. You can reserve in advance. 772-231-6990.
Want more toes-in-the-sand tunes this weekend? Capt. Hiram’s has the music – and the sand. Smack on the water along Indian River Drive in Sebastian, you can catch live music pretty much any night you’re in the mood. Such as: this Friday, Aug. 16, it’s Zan Ricky, a guy/gal duo that promises to rock you out with acoustic favorites, starting at 3:30 p.m. Later Friday evening, 7:30 p.m., six musicians known as Panama offer top new and classic rock, funk and disco. Saturday, Aug. 17, 3:30 p.m., brings Live Bait to the Sandbar stage to play, says their promo, “a fantastic mix of old and new country/southern rock.” (I think I saw a flute in the promo pic.) At 7:30 p.m., it’s high energy rock, dance, country, and pop with the Sebastian band 21 To Burn. 772-388-8588.