Hip Hop Hoopla

Whoever would have thought that the culture of hip hop, with all its diversity and street cred, would take over a wing of the Ringling Museum for an exhibition? That day arrives with Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip Hop Art, May 21 through Aug. 15, featuring work by 10 artists in different media. 359-5700 or ringlingmuseum.org.

 

Behind the Music

Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his uneasy relationship with Stalin-era Soviet Union rule is the topic of this month’s Sarasota Orchestra Journeys to Genius series. You’ll hear the master’s Fifth Symphony, too, at 4 and 8 p.m. May 7 at the Sarasota Opera House. 953-3434 or sarasotaorchestra.org.

 

Screen Gem

Are you a Joan Crawford fan? You may or may not want to see the version of her we get with the Asolo Rep Extra show, The Passion of the Crawford. The movie goddess is portrayed by John Epperson as his drag alter ego Lypsinka; it should be fun—just don’t expect a reverent homage. May 9; 351-8000 or asolorep.org.

 

By George

The music—and at least some of the life story—of quintessential American composer George Gershwin is brought to the Asolo mainstage by pianist-actor-playwright Hershey Felder, who interprets famous songs including Swanee, I Got Rhythm and, finally, the great Rhapsody in Blue in George Gershwin Alone, May 19 through June 5. 351-8000 or asolorep.org.