What’s happening in Lansing today

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Friday, April 4


‘Varekai’ by Cirque Du Soleil
A winged man falls from the sky, setting off an evening of gravity defying, jaw-dropping feats of acrobatics and visual effects. In “Varekai,” the Cirque Du Soleil performers whisk audiences off to a magical forest world populated with whimsical creatures and stimulating music. Imaginative costuming, awe-inducing balancing and juggling acts and slapstick comedy make for a mind-blowing evening that serves as a “tribute to the nomadic soul.” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 4 p.m. Saturday; 1:30 & 5 p.m. Sunday. $28.50-$148.50. Jack Breslin Student Events Center, 1 Birch Road, East Lansing. (517) 432-5000, breslincenter.com.


Julie Scoggins at Connxtions Comedy Club

Blue-collar comedian Julie Scoggins headlines this weekend; a portion of proceeds from the Friday night show support a local Relay for Life team. The self-proclaimed “motorcycle mistress” and ex-trucker has been touring for 15 years after being a sales rep for Frito-Lay in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “I sold Doritos on an island where 50 percent of the people smoked pot,” she says in one of her acts. “Talk about a market niche.” 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday. $15 donation, Connxtions Comedy Club, 2900 N. East St., Lansing. (517) 574-5573, connxtionscomedyclub.com.


MSU Opera Theatre presents Puccini’s ‘La Boheme’

If you liked “Rent,” now’s your chance to see the show that inspired it. The triple threat of MSU’s Symphony Orchestra, Opera Theatre and Children’s Choir come together to perform this bohemian love story. In the Latin area of Paris in the 1840s, Mimi and Rodolfo are free spirits who are young and passionately in love. But this is a tragic opera — do you really think they make it to the end? The performance is sung in its original Italian, but English subtitles are projected on the stage. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. $20/$18 seniors/$5 students. Fairchild Theatre, 542 Auditorium Road, East Lansing. (517) 353-5340, music.msu.edu.


‘Titanic the Musical’

Nearly 100 local homeschooled students handle every aspect of this production, including acting, lighting, sound and design. Sorry, no Jack or Rose here: This story focuses on the individuals who were actually on board the Titanic, including Captain E.J. Smith, J. Bruce Ismay and Isidor and Ida Strauss. The passengers, staff and crewmembers deal with class differences, immigration and the deadly power of nature. The show also runs April 11-12. 7 p.m. Friday; 1& 7 p.m. Saturday. $10/$8 in advance. Charlotte Performing Arts Center, 378 State St., Charlotte. (855) 472-1472, hpami.org.


Kings & Queens Dance Concert: A Tribute to Music Royalty

The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll (that would be Elvis Presley), the King of Pop (Michael Jackson), the Queen of Soul (Aretha Franklin) and lead singer of Queen (Freddie Mercury) unite for a one-night ode to music royalty. (What, was Prince too busy?) A company of 27 LCC students will move to a variety of dances choreographed by faculty, alumni and students. The dances include ballet, modern, jazz, lyrical, tap and hip-hop. 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. $15/$10 seniors, LCC staff and alumni /$5 students. LCC Dart Auditorium, 500 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-1488, lcc.edu/showinfo.


Shuto Con

Last year over 4,000 anime fans stormed downtown Lansing for the third annual Shuto Con festival, more than double the number the previous year. This year there will be three rooms devoted to panels, over 40 visiting artists and tables upon tables of gear. A dodgeball contest, a cosplay competition and door prizes will sweeten the deal if you’re thinking of debuting your Miku Hatsune costume. The Capital Area Humane Society will bring a horde of adoptable animals on Sunday afternoon. If you’re not ready for commitment, pay a small donation to play with these lively animals. $10-$45. Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. Radisson Hotel, 111 N. Grand Ave., Lansing. (517) 483-7400, shutocon.com.


‘The Hobbit’ at Riverwalk Theatre

Bilbo and his friends may have fought Smaug on the big screen in IMAX 3-D last winter, but All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre brings the story to life on a community theater stage near you. Forty-eight local youngsters make up the cast for this production, which follows Bilbo, the titular little person, on an epic trek to help a band of dwarves recover their treasure from a temperamental dragon. The show continues April 11-13. 7 p.m. Friday/2 & 4:30 p.m. Saturday/2 p.m. Sunday. $5-7. Riverwalk Theatre, 228 Museum Drive, Lansing. (517) 482-5700, riverwalktheatre.com.



Classes and Seminars

Alcoholics Anonymous. A closed women's meeting. 7:30 p.m. St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 6500 Amwood Drive, Lansing. (517) 882-9733.


Events

Comedy for a Cause. 8 p.m. $15 donation. Connxtions Comedy Club, 2900 N. East St., Lansing. Call Tina 242-6271 or Barb 574-5573 for more info. connxtionscomedyclub.com .

Ledge Craft Lane Art Aid. Fundraiser, silent auction, food and music. 6-8 p.m. $10/$15 for two. Ledge Craft Lane, 120 S. Bridge St. Grand Ledge. (517) 627-9843. ledgecraftlane.com.

Haslett American Legion Post Friday Fish Fry. 5-8 p.m. $9/$7 seniors and children 7 and under. American Legion Post #269, 1485 Haslett Road, Haslett. (517) 381-8762.

Lansing Cosmic Connections Convention. Psychic Fair. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. $5. admission. Comfort Inn, 2187 University Park Drive, Okemos. (810) 631-6887. mariashaw.com.

Mystic Lake Alumni Gathering. Dinner. Call/register online. 5:30-8:30 p.m. FREE. Woldumar Nature Center, 5739 Old Lansing Road, Lansing. (517) 827-9653. mysticlakecamp.com.


Music

The Jet Beats. Live performance. 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. FREE. Moriarty's Pub, 802 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 485-5287.

Matt LoRusso Trio. Jazz. 9 p.m.-midnight. Suits Tavern, 210 S. Washington Square, Lansing. (517) 702-9150.

CCR 30th Annual Spring Concert. Celebrating 30 years. 7 p.m. FREE, donations welcome. Delta Presbyterian Church, 6100 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing. (517) 321-3221. capitalcityringers.com.

Karaoke Night. Food, drink specials. 9 p.m.-1 a.m. FREE. Gus's Bar, 2321 W. Michigan Ave. Lansing. (517) 484-4714. facebook.com/gusbuster11.

Appleseed Collective. With Adam Ezra & Bard Owls. 7 p.m. $8 adv/$10 doors. The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing.


Theater

“Titanic the Musical.” Performed by local home-schooled children. 7 p.m. $8-$10. Charlotte Performing Arts Center, 378 State St., Charlotte. (855) 472-1472. hpami.org.

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