by Alex Melnick
Arts & Life Editor

Tired of spring parties? Wanna take a date somewhere that isn’t an alcohol soaked kiddie pool? Then check out this week’s section of Friday + Saturday!

April 17

Mississippi Jubilee: From Slavery to Freedomc
Where: Tougaloo & Jackson State University
When: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.
How Much: Free
Why: Because Mississippi history is awesome to learn (even if not awesome in content)

In honor of the 150^th anniversary of Emancipation, Jackson colleges are hosting a wide variety of events. The full schedule for the week can be found here but I’m focusing on Friday’s events, specifically two interesting panels. The first is  Expanding Emancipation, Education and the Meaning of Freedom, at Tougaloo at 9 a.m. Following that is an 11 a.m. panel entitled “The Emancipation Experience in Literature: Margaret Walker’s Jubilee” at Jackson State University.

33 Variations
Where: New Stage Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m.
How Much: $22 for students/ $28 for non-students
Why: Because Beethoven is dope and I’m a sucker for stories that span centuries.

33 Variations is a play that doubles as a Beethoven performance. The play itself is always two layers: the first being a young musicologist coming to terms with her ALS diagnosis as she researches Beethoven, and the second being Beethoven’s desperate struggle to complete his work as he slowly goes deaf. It’s dramatic, it’s awesome and it’s all set to Beethoven’s music.

April 18
“The Descent/Lifted Me”
Where: Belhaven, Black Box Theatre
When: 2 p.m.
How Much: $5 for seniors and students/$10 for general public
Why: Theater is neat, and seeing avant garde things is good for you

Our Belhaven neighbors have devised a play directed by Joseph Frost that focuses on ascensions, dissensions, and apparently resurrections. Does this mean religion? I’m unsure, you better go to the show and find out for me.

CU at the Zoo!
Where: The Jackson Zoo
When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
How Much: Free for the first 1,500 people. (You’ll make it, trust me.)
Why: Because you get to go to the zoo for free and also the Credit Unions of Mississippi want to teach you fiscal responsibility?

So here’s a sentence I did not anticipate myself typing: The Credit Unions of Mississippi have paid for 1,500 people to go to the zoo for free, and they want to give you free financial literacy brochures when you go? I mean, that seems like fun for the whole family. (Actual family, Greek family or just squad—all apply in this case.) Fiscal responsibility is the best, and so is seeing cute animals, so I guess you can combine the two for a great day?

Joking Around Comedy Night
Where: Center Stage
When: 9 p.m.
How Much: $15 in advance; $20 at door. Only patrons 21 and up will be admitted!
Why: Because comedian Special K will be there, and he was on Def Jam.

Comedians Special K, Marvin Hunter, Skip the Comic, and Jackson native Nardo Blackmon are putting on a comedy night at Center Stage! It’s also a BYOB event!