Liven Up the Weekend With These Online Arts Events

With another weekend of responsible social distancing upon us, several arts organizations are offering online programming in an effort to break up the monotony and give homebound residents a chance to support the nonprofit organizations dedicated to the arts.

The weekend kicks off Friday with Bay Street Theater’s Sip and Sing with Valerie diLorenzo, which theater director Tracy Mitchell said is drawing scores of patrons together for a 5 p.m. virtual sing-along with the celebrated singer and actress. Visit baystreet.org to register for this Bay Street To-Go program.

Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks will host an evening of acclaimed originals and classic roots toons on Friday, from 7 to 8 p.m., on Facebook Live. The concert is brought to viewers through East End Libraries. To enjoy the show, visit facebook.com/events/580805205866972.

After Gene Casey, head on over to youtube.com/user/natlas27 for the Friday Night Hustle with Nancy Atlas at 8 p.m. Montauk’s beloved singer-songwriter has been bringing people together for a night of laughs, guests, chats and of course, a lot of live music, every Friday.

Looking for something to do with the kids? On Saturday, April 25, from 3 to 4 p.m., the Goat on a Boat Puppet Theater will present Tucker Takes’ “It’s the Wolf!” The puppet show will be presented virtually through goatonaboat.org and is for children ages 4 years old through the adults with a child at heart and will include some of Mr. Furr E. Wolf’s most famous adventures including a spin on the “Three Little Pigs,” “Br’er Rabbit and the Wolf” and “Red Riding Hood.” Tickets are $10.

Our Fabulous Variety Show (OFVS) will bring its Virtual Variety Show to Zoom on Saturday, April 25, at 7 p.m.

“We are bringing our performance community together for a one night entertainment virtual extravaganza,” said organizers and OFVS co-founders Anita Boyer and Kasia Klimiuk in a press release issued earlier this week. “Fan favorites from across the country are joining us to lift our spirits and bring an evening of fun.”

The evening will feature tap dancing with Aaron Tolson, aerialist Laura Haley, Manhattan comedian Tyler Fischer, drag queens Naomi and RaffaShow, Samantha Slithers, and vocalists Miss Lucy Caracappa, Devon Leaver, Emma Hand, Nora Conlon, Julienne Penza-Boone, Caly and Fairleigh Stewart and Christiaan Padavan, with more surprises expected throughout the night.

A preshow will feature East Hampton’s own one-man band Josh Brussell with Boyer, Klimiuk and Joe Pallister serving as hosts.

Raffles, giveaways, comedy and more will round out the online experience, which supports the arts nonprofit. Tickets are available for any donation, with a suggested donation of $20 for adults and $10 for children. The event supports OFVS ongoing online programing available to children and adults throughout this crisis. Visit ourfabulousvarietyshow.org/donate! for tickets and more information.

Looking for something to calm your nerves during this stressful time? Visit southamptonartscenter.org and take advantage of Daniel Lauter’s “Calm Together: Meditation DJ Live Stream Soundbath Experience.” The 45-minute program, designed for beginners, will be held on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. for a suggested donation of $0 to $25. Lauter encourages those who cannot afford to pay to still come and be part of this experience. Headphones are recommended. Registration is at meditationdj.com/live-stream-sac.

On Sunday, April 26, from 3 to 11 p.m., OptoSonic Tea, NowNet Arts, and the Parrish Art Museum join forces to present OptoSonic [UnLock] (BYOTea), a community collaborative, audio-visual live improvisation network event featuring 50 artists from all over the world coming together for a virtual experience.

“The event is an exploration that will be new to many of the artists and musicians. It is less about the individual artist or musicians than about everybody performing together, something that musicians are much more used to than live visual artists,” said the organizers and curators Katherine Liberovskaya and Ursula Scherrer of OptoSonic Tea, and Sarah Weaver of NowNet Arts in a press release issued earlier this week.

The event will take place via Zoom. To register, visit parrishart.org.

Looking for a new movie? The Hamptons International Film Festival is screening “Once They Were Brothers,” “Slay the Dragon” and “Saint Frances,” all available online for rental, supporting not only the film festival, but also the production companies behind these movies and Guild Hall in East Hampton.