Happy Leap Day! What will you do with this “extra” day? There are many things to choose from this week. It’s the first week of the month and that means First Friday ArtWalk, among many others, so find your fun!
February 29 – March 3
Ballet Fantastique’s “Cinderella: The Rock Opera” | Get ready for a royal rendezvous that’s anything but traditional! Ballet Fantastique proudly presents “Cinderella: The Rock Opera,” where fairy tales meet the fabulous ’60s in a jukebox ballet extravaganza that’ll have you twisting and shouting in your seat. It’s Prom Weekend, the doo-wop dance floor grooves to The Beatles and The Supremes — and rebel Cindy is embracing her rock’n’roll spirit against all the odds. Don’t miss this unique and exhilarating immersive performance experience, bringing together the elegance of ballet, the energy of rock’n’roll, and the timeless tale of Cinderella. Get ready to rock out, sing along, and be swept away! With live music by Shelley James & The Agents Of Unity. Hult Center, balletfantastique.org
March 1
Oregon Contemporary Theatre’s “Ride The Cyclone” | This hilarious and outlandish new musical follows six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir whose lives are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortuneteller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. At once quirky and smart, edgy and beautiful “Ride The Cyclone” is a wildly original new musical — part comedy, part tragedy, and wholly unexpected. Show runs through March 17. Oregon Contemporary Theatre, octheatre.org
March 1
First Friday Art Walk | Join Lane Arts Council for the First Friday ArtWalk in Downtown Eugene! See their website for your ArtWalk guide and take a self-guided tour of galleries and art venues to discover the latest in Eugene’s art scene and work by local artists. ArtWalk is always free! The ArtWalk includes live music and the Artist Marketplace, a pop-up market featuring artists working across a variety of mediums, at the Farmers Market Pavilion (85 E 8th Ave). The March 1 ArtWalk will feature a collaboration & performance with #instaballet. The physical version of the ArtWalk guide will be available to pick up at the Farmers Market Pavilion, as well. Downtown Eugene, lanearts.org/
March 1
Kya Andrade | Friday nights at Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge means great live music and a perfect dinner night out with friends, family, or a special date! A variety of music performances will be showcased on Friday evenings, with some outdoors, weather permitting, though most will be inside the Lounge’s beautiful indoor space. Explore the complete lineup of gifted musicians on the Lounge’s online calendar. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Elizabeth’s Wine Lounge, heartoforegonwine.com
March 1 & 2
Florence Home And Garden Show | The Florence Events Center will be transformed into an exhibit of the latest home and garden inspiration, trends and innovative products for guests to peruse. Over 40 booths from local and regional vendors will show everything a homeowner could want for both indoor and outdoor spaces, from creative landscaping ideas to appliances and home improvement materials. Florence Events Center, florencehomeshow.com
March 1 & 2
Themed Wine Tastings at Sundance Wine Cellars | Sundance Wine Cellars’ free themed wine tastings highlight various wine regions on Fridays, and on Saturdays, they host local and regional wineries. Apart from the weekends, their tasting bar is always open and has free samples of their featured wines. Sundance Wine Cellars has Oregon’s largest selection of wine and is one of the oldest wine retailers in the Willamette Valley. Since 1983, Sundance Wine Cellars has provided an unparalleled selection of wine from Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Sundance Wine Cellars, orwines.com
March 1-3
“Mean Girls” | The Broadway production of Mean Girls is a high-energy musical adaptation of the popular teen comedy film. The production, with music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, follows the humorous and satirical journey of newcomer Cady Heron as she navigates the intricate social hierarchy of high school, encountering the infamous Plastics along the way. Hult Center, hultcenter.org
March 1-3
Spring RV Show | The 56th Annual Eugene Spring RV Show is a multi-dealer RV event showcasing hundreds of new and used RVs and RV products. Enjoy shopping and comparing hundreds of new and used RV’s, all from Western Oregon’s premiere regional dealerships. Event admission is cash only. Lane Events Center, eugenespringrvshow.com
March 1-3
Emerald Team Challenge | The Emerald Team Challenge, put on by the National Academy of Artistic Gymnastics (NAAG), is one of the top gymnastic competitions in the West and is NAAG’s largest event every year. The 2024 Emerald Team Challenge will be welcoming dozens of teams and hundreds of athletes from all over Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, and British Columbia. Bob Keefer Center, naag-gymnastics.org
March 2
Dodge for a Cause dodgeball tournament | Join the fun for the 3rd annual Dodge for a Cause dodgeball tournament that benefits Relief Nursery’s Parenting Education programs. Gather together a team of 6 to 15 players and join either the Play for the Cause or Play for the Win division, depending on your competitiveness. Or come out and watch an exciting afternoon of dodgeball. Relief Nursery is a child abuse prevention program that serves more than 1,000 children each year..Kidsports Civic Park Fieldhouse, reliefnursery.org
Opening March 2
Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan | Come face-to-face with wolves! Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan features the National Geographic photographer’s stunning images and videos of wild wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and Ellesmere Island in the high Canadian Arctic. Created by National Geographic Society and the National Museum of Wildlife Art, the exhibit features images and videos highlighting the contrast between wolves that live in perceived competition with humans and wolves that live without human intervention. Museum of Natural and Cultural History, mnch.uoregon.edu
March 3
Jazz at the Ciderhouse Hosted by Idit Shner | Join this ongoing event every Sunday from 4-6pm. WildCraft Cider Works, wildcraftciderworks.com
March 3
Michael Anderson & microphilharmonic | Michael Anderson and microphilharmonic present three 20th century American masterpieces by three of The Shedd Institute’s favorite composers: Samuel Barber’s 1936 String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11 (the second movement of which is his renowned “Adagio for Strings”), William Grant Still’s 1960 Lyric Quartette (Musical Portraits of Three Friends) [The Sentimental One, The Quiet One, The Jovial One]; and Aaron Copland’s original 13-instrument setting of Martha Graham’s 1944 ballet, “Appalachian Spring,” for which he won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Come early for dinner at 6 pm. The Shedd, theshedd.org/AmericanMasters
March 5
Marshall Tucker Band and Jefferson Starship | The Marshall Tucker Band baptized themselves with the name of a blind piano tuner after they found it inscribed on a key to their original rehearsal space — and they’ve been in tune with tearing it up on live stages both big and small all across the globe ever since. Jefferson Starship is one of the most successful arena rock groups of the 1970s and 80s. McDonald Theatre, mcdonaldtheatre.com
March 5
Meow Meow – Sequins And Satire, Divas And Disruptors: The Wild Women Of The Weimar Republic | Meow Meow is a postmodern cabaret sensation, a “phenomenon … an international siren, a comedienne extraordinaire, and a creator of beautiful mayhem” (Broadway World). Her new show is a thought-provoking and wildly entertaining tip-of-the-top-hat to the Republic’s notable “wild women,” both fictional and real. In this brand-new show, Meow Meow channels the era’s urgent blend of art, entertainment, and winking social commentary. Hult Center, hultcenter.org
March 6
Danish Smorrebrod Cooking Class | Develop new cooking skills while learning about a popular kind of Scandinavian cuisine. Chef Jeff Peterson will lead the class through the making and history of Danish Smorrebrod. Learn to make Smorrebrod with smoked salmon, another with roasted pork, and a third with golden potatoes. You’ll also learn to pickle cucumbers and onions and fry potato chips. Register for the class by March 1. The registration fee includes all ingredients needed. Scandinavian Festival Association, eventcooking.com
Through March 10
The Very Little Theatre’s “Talk Radio” | The VLT continues its season with “Talk Radio” by Eric Bogosian, directed by Paul Rhoden. Set in the spring of 1987, during a one night broadcast in a Cleveland radio studio, “Talk Radio” tells the story of Barry Champlain, a man who has invented himself by sarcastically and aggressively engaging his audience. Barry is energetic, dark, cynical, and funny, but on this night he is confronted by a not-so-shiny version of himself in the form of his callers — the venomous, lonely, scared people who call-in to his popular radio show. Very Little Theatre, thevlt.com
Month of March
Zone 4 All | Eugene’s incredible creativity is on display again at the New Zone Gallery during the month of March in its bi-annual Zone 4 All. This non-juried open show will wonderfully showcase the breadth of our local art scene. More than 200 artists will fill the gallery with the most eclectic work, from traditional to experimental and from paintings to 3D and assemblage, and everything in between. Expect a feast for the eyes! New Zone Gallery, newzonegallery.org
Through April 20
“Duality” Marina Hajek (Herrera) | Don Dexter Gallery hosts “Duality,” a limited exhibition of bronze sculptures from Guatemalan American artist Marina Hajek (Herrera) from January 6 – April 20, 2024. Don Dexter Gallery, dondextergallery.com
