Art, music, theater: 15 things to do in the Wilmington area for Super Bowl weekend

It's Super Bowl weekend, so by the time Sunday evening rolls around, chances are you'll be tuned in to the big game just like everyone else in America.

Right up until kickoff, however, Wilmington's got you covered with a variety of fun cultural events.

Two new play comedies open at Thalian Hall, and the Cameron Art Museum opens its latest exhibition.

Some excellent Wilmington bands have shows lined up, roots music rolls into town, Bourgie Nights is hosting burlesque AND cabaret, and there's even a bagpipe concert.

Details on all of these and more below.

ALL WEEKEND

'Stay In the Light: Works by Charles Edwards Williams'

At the Cameron Art Museum: New exhibit at Wilmington's premier art museum features the work of South Carolina-born, Durham-based artist Charles Edward Williams. Williams, who teaches at North Carolina Central University, has shown his work at galleries in Alabama, Louisiana, Cincinnati, Switzerland and elsewhere, and has been written up by such esteemed publications as The Washington Post.

At the CAM, the paintings and installations of "Stay in the Light" were inspired by photographs taken during the Civil Rights movement and, according to the museum, are meant to offer "a contemporary response to social and political issues of the past and present." The exhibit includes new work as well as past work from Williams’ series "Sun and Light." Opening reception for the exhibit, which features live gospel and blues from Ian Daviz, is 6-9 p.m. Feb. 8; $15, free for members. Exhibit opens to the public Feb. 9 and hangs through May 26.

'Steel Magnolias'

Feb. 9-18 at Thalian Hall: Thalian Association Community Theatre presents Robert Harling's beloved play about the denizens of a small-town Southern beauty parlor. Packed with laughs and culminating in tears, Emily Graham directs a cast that includes past Wilmington Theater Awards Best Actress in a Play winner Michelle Gagliano (as the cantankerous Ousier) and current Best Actress in a Play nominee Elizabeth Michaels (as the matron M'Lynn). Unlike the movie, which expands on the play and adds characters, the play is set entirely in Truvy's beauty salon, with Truvy played by Wilmington stage vet Alisa Harris. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-10 and 16-17, 2 p.m. Feb. 11 and 18. 910-632-2285.

'Dearly Departed'

Feb. 8-18 at Thalian Hall (studio theater): Big Dawg Productions revives this Southern funeral farce by David Bottrell and Jessie Jones, which the Wilmington theater company last staged in 2014. Steve Vernon directs the comedy, which centers on the death of the not exactly beloved Bud Turpin, whose wife wants his tombstone to read, "Mean and Surly." 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8-10 and 15-17, 3 p.m. Feb. 11 and 18. 910-632-2285.

Matt O'Brien

Feb. 9-10 at Dead Crow Comedy Room: Canadian comic O'Brien is a regular at Montreal's Just for Laughs festival, and he's been seen on Comedy Central, "Conan" and the late, lamented PBS kids' show "Odd Squad." O'Brien is based in L.A. now, and a lot of his material centers on the disconnect between living on the West Coast and growing up on a Canadian goat farm. 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Feb. 9-10, tickets are $18 and $28.

FRIDAY

Carlos Rising EP release show

Feb. 9 at End of Days: A year ago, long-running NBC reality competition show "The Voice" introduced Wilmington singer and songwriter Carlos Rising to America. Now, with a soul-drenched EP titled "It's Just a Phase" set to drop Feb. 9, Rising's silky voice and deft songwriting is on full display. The EP's tracks include "Money," which has a poppy R&B vibe and a great hook, and the warm, lush soul rock ballad "Blue For You," which was inspired by, and conveys, the crackly feel of a vinyl record. 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at End of Days Distillery, opening act is The Graes.

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Beach Tub & Narah

Feb. 9 at Jimmy's: Beach Tub at the beach? Yes, please. Wilmington band released its debut, self-titled EP last fall on Wilmington's Suck Rock Records, and Beach Tub blends classic rock with a punk vibe to arrive at something familiar yet emphatically new and undeniably fun on such songs as "Walked Away." Also on the bill are Wilmington rockers Narah, who've got a gritty yet polished sound that can go hard ("Starboy") or get mellow, and then go hard ("Speldosa"). 8-11 p.m. Feb. 9, free.

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Basilisk Burlesque

Feb. 9 at Bourgie Nights: Burlesque performers with names like Rusty Dawn, Flux Inqueerior and Pixie Moonbeam will bring their talents to this cozy downtown nightspot for what's termed an "anti-Valentine's show." 8 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. show, Feb. 9. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show.

Caleb Caudle

Feb. 9 at Live at Ted's: North Carolina singer's latest album, "Forsythia," was produced by John Carter Cash (son of the great Johnny Cash) and features the talents of such top players as Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush. Caudle's songs carry a nostalgic country folk vibe and are as pretty as a summer day. 8 p.m. Feb. 9. $25.

SATURDAY

Hyperloops

Feb. 10 at Reggie's 42nd Street Tavern: Big ol' four-band bill at midtown rock club Reggie's is headlined by Wilmington's own Hyperloops, which blends hard rock, psyche and a little jam into a heady mix that's both dynamic and tuneful. Rounding out the bill is Skull Servant, a psychedelic doom metal act out of Raleigh, and Wilmington acts Cool Jerk and Krokodil. 7 p.m. Feb. 10, $10.

Persephone's Pandemonium Cabaret

Feb. 10 at Bourgie Nights: Characters from mythology emerge from the underworld to perform at Bourgie for this highly themed cabaret show, with singers taking on the mantle of such legendary gods and goddesses as Aphrodite, Dionysus, Demeter and more. 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show, Feb. 10. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show.

'Girl Power'

Feb. 10 at Sunset River Gallery: Art gallery in Calabash hosts a multimedia show featuring more than 80 works of art from over 50 artists. From the gallery: "Delving into themes that include motherhood, stereotype, self-worth, strength, defiance and struggle, participating artists are presenting a broad range of interpretation (and) working in a broad range of media." Opening reception is 2-4 p.m. Feb. 10, 10283 Beach Drive SW, Calabash.

Songs from the Road Band

Feb. 10 at Live at Ted's: Asheville bluegrass supergroup is packed with top players, and they'll crank out a mix of traditional classics, originals and pop hits souped-up bluegrass style. 8 p.m. Feb. 10, $25.

Winter Warmer

Feb. 10 at Waterline Brewing: Big show co-presented by Wilmington record/book shop The Fuzzy Needle features a ton of cool vendors (peep the new issue of Immersed 'zine), the Sea Level food truck and lots of good music: Rapper Sheme of Gold, punk icons Tercel and more. 4-6 p.m. Feb. 10, free.

SUNDAY

UNCW Bagpipe Festival

Feb. 11 at Beckwith Recital Hall: Third annual festival co-sponsored by the University of North Carolina Wilmington's music department and the Scottish Society of Wilmington features William Caudill, a professional bagpipe player and the founder of the St. Andrews University Scottish Heritage Center. Caudill will play a variety of songs and styles on the Great Highland Bagpipe while also giving some of the history of the instrument. 4 p.m. Feb. 11, tickets are $9.34.

Chinese New Year gala

Feb. 11 at the Minnie Evans Arts Center: The Wilmington Chinese-American Culture Association presents this event that has been a Port City mainstay going back 20 years, although this weekend's celebration will be the first since before the pandemic. Artists, singers and performers from throughout the Carolinas will be on hand. 1 p.m. reception, 2-5 p.m. performances, Feb. 11 at Minnie Evans Arts Center. Advance tickets available at Asian Life Market, Saigon Market International Groceries, the Wilmington Chinese School and by calling 910-616-6973.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What's going on in Wilmington, NC this weekend, Feb. 9-11, 2023