Things to do in Rhode Island this weekend: Guitar & Mandolin Festival, ‘La Zorra y las Uvas’ and more

Looking for some tips on what to do this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few recommendations from Ocean State Media’s Mareva Lindo and James Baumgartner.

This is the 10th anniversary of the weeklong event celebrating primarily classical guitar and mandolin. As usual, there are numerous performances from more than 40 artists, and workshops and lectures, as well. But there are a few new things this year. One is a luthier expo featuring some of the best guitar makers from around the country, giving talks, Q&As, and showcasing their work. Another is a “mega guitar orchestra” which you can see on the last day of the festival. It’ll be a group of 60 guitarists – students, educators, and other artists from across the East Coast – performing two works especially arranged for this huge orchestra of guitars.

Classical guitar – and mandolin – is typically a male-dominated field, and the festival can reflect that, as well. But one of this year’s headliners bucks that trend: Meng Su is a world-renowned virtuoso of the guitar from Qingdao, China. In a conversation with Ocean State Media’s Mareva Lindo, festival organizer Adam Levin said Su “has captivated audiences worldwide,” and “taken the instrument to new levels.”

Levin also reflected on the occasion of the festival’s 10th year, saying: “It feels incredible to have a moment – well and now, 10 moments, 10 years – to celebrate all of these musical offerings on the guitar, and now the mandolin. It’s a privilege, it’s an honor, and it’s an incredible feeling to have a platform that is the University of Rhode Island as a supporter of the arts.”

The URI Guitar and Mandolin Festival is Oct. 19-26, taking place at locations in and around the URI campus in Kingston. Schedule and more details here.

“La Zorra y Las Uvas” translates to “The Fox and The Grapes.” Written by Brazilian playwright Guilherme Figueiredo, it’s inspired by one of Aesop’s fables. It follows the story of Aesop, who is enslaved in the house of a wealthy philosopher. Aesop uses his wit and fables to win his freedom from this man who despises him. Meanwhile the enslaver’s mistress falls for Aesop, which leads to a life-or-death dilemma. The play is in Spanish with English supertitles.

More information about “La Zorra y Las Uvas” here.

The festival starts on Friday with “An Evening with Vashti Harrison,” who was the 2024 Caldecott Medal winner for her book “BIG.” It’s about standing out while feeling invisible at the same time. That’s Friday night at 7 p.m. And there are a dozen authors you can see and meet throughout the day on Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Details about the Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Books here.

There will be music from Olivia Dolphin, Vudu Sister, Space Cowboy Newt and some other spooky acts. Plus, tintype photography from Rachel Maeve, and tarot from Queen of Bones. If you come early, there’s a free tour of the cemetery at 2:30 p.m.

Learn more about the Mausoleum Hill Sessions here.

Brown University

There are two public events for John Cameron Mitchell’s residency at Brown, both at the Granoff Center. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. there will be a screening of “Hedwig & the Angry Inch.” It’s a classic of queer cinema and a powerful punk rock musical about fame, self-acceptance and the Berlin wall. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Mitchell, who wrote, directed and starred in the film. On Thursday, Oct. 23, at 5:30 p.m., Mitchell will introduce the subject of his latest work: French artist Claude Cahun. They were known for surrealist gender-bending art and photography, and went on to be active in the French resistance against Nazi occupation.

More information about John Cameron Mitchell’s residency here.

Got an event you think we should highlight? Send your tips to Mareva Lindo at mlindo@oceanstatemedia.org.