It’s time to get your parrothead on. This Friday and Saturday at Riverside Theatre’s wildly popular outdoor fun fest, Live in the Loop, the theme is – Parrotheads ready? – “Cheeseburgers in Paradise.” So, you’ll probably come for the Comedy Zone Show and arrive early for the live music and the cheeseburger-centric chow and bevs at the fully stocked bar and grill. Or just hang outside “on the loop,” getting into that island state of mind for the duration. Bringing the (free) tunes will be Beachland, five guys who know tons of Beach Boys, Buffett and ’70s oldies. This weekend’s Comedy Zone comics are Devin Siebold and Bill “Bull” Ohse. According to Riverside’s promo, Siebold is not only funny, he’s tall – 6-feet-6, to be precise. And he used to be a middle school teacher, which was probably more fun for the students than they had expected. His numerous comic credits include “Laugh TV,” Sirius XM, Pandora, writing for Uproxx, Nextround, and being picked as a finalist in Comedy Central’s “Up Next,” plus winning tons of local competitions. His success has been such, he says, that he has been able to move out of his van into a “slightly larger, newer-smelling van.” Ohse became a success in spite of beginning his comedy career on probably the worst possible night for laughter – the one-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. The show promo describes Ohse’s style as “unique, leaving the audience wanting more.” He tours nationally and is part of a nonprofit dedicated to helping people in need – “Comics Reaching Out.” Tips: free parking, no drink minimum, best for 18 and up. Don’t BYO food or bevs. Or pets. Times: Loop: 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Comedy Zone: 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Admission: Loop: free; Comedy Zone: side seats: $12; table seating: $14-$18; private, special occasion VIP booth: $36 per person. 772-231-6990.
Sunny, wonderful music for your late summer pleasure, with a “sail away” theme: The excellent Symphony of the Americas will present its Chamber Orchestra and performers and musicians from well-known European orchestras in the concluding performance of its 32nd season – Summerfest 2019 – this Sunday, Aug. 11, at Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church. According to the orchestra promo, its “musicians in residence” are visiting from the Opera Orchestra of Sofia (Bulgaria); the Mission Symphony of Switzerland; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande (Geneva, Switzerland); Rome Symphony Orchestra; Orchestre Francais, and others. Soloists will be Angelo di Veroli from Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma, and Summerfest Concertmaster Orlando Forte from Cuba. The Symphony of the Americas consistently brings audiences a thrilling repertoire which includes several styles of classical and popular music. According to Wikipedia, under the baton of renowned and award-winning Artistic Director and Composer James Brooks-Bruzzese, the orchestra “has taken an inventive approach each season by combining classical music with other art forms on stage to engage and develop new audiences with a variety of international guest artists.” This Sunday, Brooks-Bruzzese will lead a program featuring music of Humperdinck, Tartini, Mozart, Verdi, Elgar and Stamitz, which will include a commissioned composition by Italian composer-in-residence Lorenzo Turchi-Floris. The Cultural Council has invited music students from middle through high school to attend the performance as its guests. Time: 3 p.m. Tickets: $35. www.cultural-council.org/summerfest or 772-770-4857.
“The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” Very abridged. Extremely abridged. Opening this Friday, Aug. 9, the A.C.T. Studio Theatre in Stuart is screwing its courage to the sticking place and undertaking a presentation of The Bard’s works – all 37 plays – in 97 minutes. In the very words of the show promo, “three madcap actors in tights weave their way through Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you … helpless with laughter.” “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” runs through Aug. 18. Curtain: Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m. Tickets: $25. Call 772-932-8880 or visit www.actstudiotheatre.com.
Broadway Musical lovers, this one’s for you. The music of one of the Great Poobahs of musical theater, Stephen Sondheim, is currently in the spotlight at the Melbourne Civic Theatre. “Putting It Together,” is a Sondheim revue showcasing nearly 30 tunes, from such shows as “Sweeney Todd,” “A Funny Thing Happened …” “Assassins,” “ Into the Woods,” “Company,” “Follies,” “A Little Night Music,” “Dick Tracy” and other Sondheim favorites. Says the show promo, “Putting It Together” is performed by five people who are thrown together at a sophisticated cocktail party in a Manhattan penthouse, during which two couples reflect on the complexities of modern relationships, all woven into a clever “review” of Sondheim’s music. “With a bit of imagination, the guests transform the apartment into the stage of an abandoned theatre, an estate in Sweden, an island outside of Paris, a street off the Roman Forum, the woods of a fairy tale and a mythical town in the Southwest,” as emotions surface through the songs. Altogether, it is a joyful celebration of Sondheim’s incredible career in musical theatre. “Putting It Together” runs through Sept. 8. Curtain: Fridays – 8 p.m., Saturdays, 8 p.m., Sundays, 2 p.m., Saturday matinee, Aug. 24, 2 p.m. Tickets: $29/$31. 321-723-6935.
