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Lil Rhody Laugh Riot, Ballet RI and more | Weekend 401: What’s going on in Rhode Island

A little bit of everything: comedy, culture, nature and a dose of AI existentialism

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

Lil’ Rhody Laugh Riot

It’s the second year for this festival of comedy and it’s way bigger than last year. Headliners include Marc Maron, Jay Pharoah, Zarna Garg, Mark Normand and John Mulaney. Plus, you can catch local acts, a recording of the Sibling Rivalry podcast, drag brunch, a comedy bus and much more.

Where: Multiple venues in Providence and East Providence
When: March 26 - 29
Details: LilRhodeLaughRiot.com

Pure Dance

The latest program from Ballet RI showcases athleticism that rivals anything you’ll see during March Madness and they couple it with grace and artistry that are out of this world. You can see the neo-classical George Balanchine work Allegro Brillante, along with a contemporary septet by the company’s artistic director, Yury Yanowsky. The highlight of the show is a pas de deux called Liturgy set to music by Arvo Pärt. The dancers flow with one another across the stage, falling into each other, moving in ways that seem impossible. It’s a transcendent and moving performance.

Where: Woodman Center at Moses Brown
When: Mar. 28, 1:30 p.m.& 7:00 p.m. and Mar. 29 1:30 p.m.
Details: BalletRI.org

An Afternoon with Emmanuel Ax

The renowned pianist, who has performed and recorded with Yo-Yo Ma and Isaac Stern, will play in a benefit concert for Community Music Works, the music education and performance nonprofit in Providence. This event promises an intimate, deeply expressive musical experience, set within the new CMW Center Performance Hall’s state-of-the-art acoustics.

Where: CMW Center
When: Mar. 28, 4:00 p.m.
Details: https://communitymusicworks.org/an-afternoon-with-emanuel-ax-in-a-benefit-for-cmw/

Greenway Wild Walks - Looking under logs

Discover what lives under logs and leaf litter and how decomposers keep soil healthy. Make a poseable salamander or axolotl and go on a decomposer hunt in the park. Join the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) and 15 Minute Field Trips for a family-friendly guided walk along the Woonasquatucket River Greenway. Explore the science of nature, craft, and play, while discovering the plants, animals, and habitats right in your community.

Where: Woonasquatucket River Greenway, 15 Goldsmith Street, Johnston (Manton Pond)
When: Mar. 28, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Details: https://wrwc.org/events/greenway-wild-walks-looking-under-logs/

The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist

From the Academy Award-winning filmmakers behind Everything Everywhere All at Once and Navalny, a father-to-be tries to figure out what is happening with all this AI insanity. It’s a hand-made, eye-opening documentary about the most powerful technology humanity has ever created… and what’s at stake if we get it wrong.

Where: The JPT Film & Event Center, Newport
When: Mar. 26, 7:00 p.m.
Details: https://newportfilm.com/films/the-ai-doc-or-how-i-became-an-apocaloptimist/

Ballet RI and Community Music Works are underwriters of Ocean State Media. Editorial decisions are made independently of business support.

James learned the basics of audio editing while studying music at Missouri State University. He went on to get a Master of Fine Arts in Electronic Art at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he created electronic music, video art and internet-based media art. While at RPI, James went on the air for the first time, hosting an electronic music show on Rensselaer's station, WRPI, but his love of radio came from staying up late so he could hear punk rock on KKFI, the community radio station in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mareva joined Ocean State Media in 2022. In 2023, Mareva received two awards from the Public Media Journalists Association for her work with The Public’s Radio, including a first-place Multi-Media Presentation award for the 2022 Elections page, and a second-place Short Documentary award for editing and co-production of “The Secret of Chiqui Versace.”
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