School is almost over, but education never really winds down in Knoxville. In fact, the city seems to think it shouldn’t even have to feel like you’re learning. It can feel like a walk in the park, or a night at the playhouse, or maybe even an art contest on the sidewalk of your neighborhood. Whatever form it takes, the learning doesn’t have to be stuck behind a desk. It can fit into your summer plans as well.
Alyssa Edwards – Bijou Theater (May 14, 7:30 p.m.) The “sickening queen supreme,” as she’s been referred to by The Times, is making a pit stop in Knoxville along her cross-country drag tour. Most fans met Alyssa Edwards in 2012 when she won RuPaul’s Drag Race, and she quickly mounted one of the most impressive rises to fame in the space. She’s been capitalizing on that success ever since and is keen to show fans of her small-screen appearances that she’s got just as much charm in person.
Marsalis Swing Symphony – Tennessee Theater (May 14 – 15, 7:30 p.m.) The Marsalis Swing Symphony is all about anniversaries. Coming at the advent of the Knoxville Symphony’s 90th anniversary, Aram’s 10th, and the 250th anniversary of the United States, there’s a lot to celebrate with live music. Here, players and composers are aiming to illustrate the American landscape, showing us that even as we’ve changed, our home has remained the same.
Decoration Day – Borderland Playhouse (May 15 – 17, multiple times) Set right here in East Tennessee, this brand new production honors its ancestors by having its characters become intrinsically linked to them throughout the play’s runtime. Follow Kate and June as they remember the dead, try to reckon with the past, and have ghosts of another era come back to haunt them. Tickets for this production start at $23.
Rossum’s Universal Robots – Knoxville Children’s Theatre (May 15 – 17, 7 p.m.) What are humans to do when their purpose is put in metal hands who run off electricity instead of caffeine? That’s the question Karel Čapek initially posed to the audience in 1925, and it’s one that’s become even more pertinent to the young people of today. It’s no surprise that the youth might have their worries about AI, but it’s a testament to the KCT to have their finger on the pulse, even if it means looking back a whole century into the past.
Chalk The Plaza – Mayor Ralph McGill Plaza (May 16, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Think of it as an afterparty to the Dogwood Arts Chalk Walk, where neighborhood artists and amateurs can gather to turn the sidewalk into an art gallery. Come admire sketches and illustrations while you nibble on a bite from one of the food trucks, all while the kids play in designated children’s areas.
Children’s Festival of Reading – World’s Fair Park (May 16, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) A writer’s roundtable for budding readers is set to take place on the lawn of World’s Fair this Saturday, showing that learning can indeed coincide with fun-having. Dozens of authors, illustrators and musicians will be on location to help cultivate an environment of storytelling and a celebration of the arts. Maybe that dreaded summer reading book will pop out of the page and onto the grass along the way.
Introduction to Resin Art – Pellissippi State Community College Hardin Valley (May 17, 1 – 4 p.m.) While introductory, this specific class is pretty in-depth for a weekend activity and sure to have you feeling like an expert in the medium after three hours. Texture, technique and some nudges into personal flair will be taught by instructor Debbie Meritsky. Classes start at $99 per person.
Knoxville Opera Croquet Tournament – RecSports Field Complex (May 17, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) The Knoxville Opera is fully entrenching its patrons in the spirit of this old-world sport. The return of their annual Croquet Tournament sees a fundraiser supporting a historical art form by diving deep into recreational tradition the company is keen on preserving. Guests are encouraged to wear proper attire, with all sport whites being recommended for men and players, with women being suggested to wear dresses and garden party hats.
Adam Delahoussaye is a freelance writer for KnoxTNToday who loves telling stories about music, arts, and culture in and around his hometown. Have a story for Adam? He can be reached at delahoussaye1267@gmail.com or by text at 865-919-5059 with your story idea.
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