Riverside Theatre is the place for everyone this weekend. The big deal is the Riverside Dance Festival which is hosted by Riverside Theatre and Ballet Vero Beach. The event celebrates dance companies from New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Florida that have participated in the Riverside Dance Festival over the past 10 years, including: Ariel Rivka Dance, Ballet Vero Beach, Chicago Dance Crash, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, konverjdans and Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre. Members from these seven dance companies will return to perform. The performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 17, and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 18, on the Stark Stage. Tickets are $10 to $75. You can get tickets at RiversideTheatre.com or at BalletVeroBeach.org. This may inspire some of you to sign up for adult dance classes. Those classes, which range from ballet to hip/hop contemporary and to tap begin June 3 and cost $100. These classes are designed for adults ages 18 and older. The classes for younger dancers are already filled. Riverside Theatre’s Comedy Zone brings in headliner Mike Rivera and feature act Vien “The Comic” Phommachanh this weekend. Adding another facet to these two standup comics is that Rivera is called “America’s most hilarious teacher” and Phommachanh is a real-life doctor during the day and a standup at night. Jim Harpring will emcee. The shows are at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, May 17, and Saturday, May 18. All seats are $25. Get tickets at RiversideTheatre.com. Live in the Loop concerts this weekend feature Vince Love & the Soul Cats performing rock, blues, dance and Motown hits. They perform from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, May 17. Sleepin’ Dogz plays songs from Aerosmith, Bonnie Rait, Foo Fighters, Led Zeppelin, Melissa Etheridge, U2 and more. They perform from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Both concerts are free. Bring a chair because they’re held outside. There will also be drinks and eats for sale. Finally, Riverside’s children program, “Playtime in the Park: Dance Along with Mia,” begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 18. Children are invited to join faculty members of the dance education program, Ballet Vero Beach and current dance students for a “dance along” class, mini performance and more. This is free and takes place outdoors. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Dr., Vero Beach. For more information about any of these events, you may call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
The Vero Beach Museum of Art opens its next exhibition this weekend: “Rock ’n’ Roll Billboards of the Sunset Strip: Photographs by Robert Landau” will be on view Saturday, May 18, to Sept. 1. This traveling exhibition culls images of large, iconic billboards from Hollywood. While there, you may want to sign up for the museum’s summer classes. They will be held from June 3 to Aug. 10. They cover art history ($190), contemplative arts ($75, chair yoga and Qigong), ceramics ($355, includes a 25-pound bag of clay), drawing ($190), open studio ($190) and painting ($190). Prices shown are for non-members. Museum members get discounts. The Vero Beach Museum of Art is at 3001 Riverside Park Dr. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays (last admission is at 4:15 p.m.), and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays (last admission is at 3:45 p.m.). Admission is $12 general, $11 seniors 65 years and older, $5 students with ID and free to members, children 17 years and younger, active military with ID, first responders with ID and healthcare works with ID. For more information, call 772-231-0707 or visit VBMuseum.org.
The Treasure Coast Chorale presents “My Favorite Things – a Birthday Concert” at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at the First Baptist Church, 2206 16th Ave., Vero Beach. There will be pianist Judy Carter, guitarist Dave Munday, drummer Richie Mola, The Dolls, the Festival Brass Ensemble, the Carillon Handbell Choir and the Carter Family Singers. $10 donation appreciated.
The Central Florida Animal Reserve will hold “Wild Whispers – A Night for Big Cat Conservation” from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 8th at the Vero Beach Yacht Club, 3601 Rio Vista Blvd. The benefit features experts speaking about wild cats, including the Florida panther, and their conservation challenges. There will be food, drinks, a silent auction and entertainment. Tickets are $175 and include heavy hors d’oeuvres and two drink tickets. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit CFLAR.org/wild-whispers.
