Wilmington has a diverse array of entertainment options heading your way this weekend.
There's the expected assortment of summer concerts to be sure, but also a new play, a new musical, lots of comedy and even an opera. Let's see what the weekend has in store.
For even more entertainment options, including concerts on weeknights, many of them for free, check out our big ol' list of outdoor summer concerts in the Wilmington area.
ALL WEEKEND
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'Tosca'
: Wilmington's sole opera company returns for its annual summer production. This year's offering is "Tosca," Puccini's classic of sex and violence. Shannon Kessler Dooley plays the title role of the fiery Floria Tosca, with Jonathan Kaufman as Tosca's lover Mario Cavaradossi and Joshua Conyers as corrupt police chief Baron Scarpia, whose unhealthy obsession with Tosca turns deadly. Sung in Italian with English supertitles. 7 p.m. July 19 and 26, 3 p.m. July 21 and 28, Mainstage Theatre in the Cultural Arts Building. Tickets are $30 and $70, $23 and $53 for youth. 910-962-3500.
'Beautiful: The Carole King Musical'
July 18-28 at Thalian Hall: Opera House Theatre Co. continues its summer season of musicals with the Tony and Grammy winner "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical," about the life and songs of hitmaker Carole King. Features tunes from her Goffin-King days ("One Fine Day," "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?"), classics from her album "Tapestry" ("You've Got a Friend," "Natural Woman") and more. Charlotte vocal coach Lindsey Schroeder comes to town to play the title role, with a cast of Wilmington standouts in other parts: Kendra Goehring as Cynthia Weil, Mathis Turner as Gerry Goffin, John Berry as Barry Mann and Zach Hanner as Don Kirshner. 7:30 p.m. July 18-20 and 24-27, 2 p.m. July 21 and 27-28. 910-632-2285.
'The Real Inspector Hound'
July 18-28 at Thalian Hall (studio theater): Big Dawg Productions revives Tom Stoppard's brilliant howler, which it last staged in 2016, nabbing a nomination for Best Play at the Wilmington Theater Awards. Lee Lowrimore returns to direct. A parody of theatrical murder mysteries, and of the critics who review them, "The Real Inspector Hound" overflows with wit and laughs. From my 2016 review: "Stoppard's delightful, well-written one-act … one-ups Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap,' which it brutally parodies, in terms of both plot twists and intellectual athleticism." 7:30 p.m. July 18-20 and 25-27, 2 p.m. July 21 and 28. 910-632-2285.
UNCW Summer Jazz Workshop
June 19-20 at UNCW's Beckwith Recital Hall: Two top-notch jazz performances this weekend as part of the UNCW music department's summer jazz workshop. Friday night it's the Taylor Lee Trio led by bassist and UNCW music grad Taylor Lee, who's played with the likes of Nico and Vinz, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, the Jeff Sipe Trio, Bela Fleck, Oteil Burbridge and Marcus King. Sitting in with Lee will be Wilmington's own Benny Hill on sax and Mike D'Angelo on drums. Saturday night it's Highway 17 playing a mix of original jazz and "reimagined arrangements of classic standards in the jazz repertoire." 7:30 p.m. June 19-20. Admission is free.
Sean Patton
July 19-20 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Affable New York comic returns to Wilmington. Patton has appeared on Comedy Central, the shows "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and "Conan," and his 2022 special "Number One," produced by SNL's Michael Che, is on Peacock. He's got self-deprecating jokes about his appearance ("I look like a beer") and some great material about life's misadventures. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. July 19-20, tickets are $20 and $30.
FRIDAY
The Sardines
July 19 at Satellite Bar & Lounge: Longtime Wilmington songwriter James Sardone (Brickbat, Burnley Brothers, Loose Jets) brings his newest band to the stage playing the poppy rock songs from his 2023 Fort Lowell Records release "Colors," singles from 2022 Fort Lowell comp "This Water Is Life, Vol. 1" and more. 8 p.m. July 19 at the Satellite, free.
Dispatch
July 19 at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Longtime Boston act rolls into town to play rootsy pop songs from the eight album the bands has recorded over the years. 7 p.m. July 19, tickets start at $67.
Friday Night Live
July 19 at the Pier at Port City Marina: No Doubt cover band Subliminal Doubt plays this downtown Wilmington concert series held right on the Cape Fear River. 7 p.m. July 19, tickets are $10.
Airlie Gardens concert series
July 19 at Airlie Gardens: Wilmington singer Bibis Ellison will play pop, rock and soul covers for this outdoor show. Parking is off-site at the Northeast Library, 1241 Military Cutoff Road, with free shuttle service to the concert starting at 5 p.m. Chairs, blankets and picnics are allowed, and guests can purchase food and beverages. 6-8 p.m. July 19, tickets are $10, $3 for ages 4-12, free for ages 3 and under. 910-798-7700
SATURDAY
Ben Folds
July 20at Greenfield Lake Amphitheater: Longtime North Carolina singer and songwriter Folds is known for such hits as "Brick" and "Rockin' the Suburbs," and for writing the excellent soundtrack to animated movie "Over the Hedge." His latest album is 2023's "What Matters Most," which contains such new gems as "Exhausting Lover" and "Clouds and Ellipses." 7 p.m. July 20, tickets start at $65.
Evening Shadows
July 20 at the Sandspur: Punk-pop icons Evening Shadows, led by vocalist Matt Hearn, boast former members of hard rock acts Valient Thorr, Strike Anywhere, ASG, Toke and White Tiger & the Bed of Roses. They'll play this Carolina Beach spot with openers Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion. 7 p.m. July 20, free.
SUNDAY
Port City's Top Comic
July 21 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Eight comedians will vie for the title of Port City's Top Comic as part of this annual competition. Reining champ Steve Marcinowski will hand over his crown to one of these stand-ups: Mike Byrd, Ellie Coleman, Chelsea Connor, Tyler Deese, Wolfgang Gohlke, Steve Melia, Weston Suggs or Annie Witter. 7 p.m. July 21, tickets are $15 and $25.
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