Thursday
Take two high-school girls, add an 11-year-old girl, and send them on a road trip. What do you get? An emotional, secret-filled roller-coaster ride, duh. That's exactly what Eric Lane's hilarious play, Ride, is. Though the story about forging bonds and uncovering secrets is about children, it's not meant for the youngest kiddies. Children six and under won't be admitted, so maybe make it a date night. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday through February 4 at Area Stage Company, 1560 S. Dixie Hwy., Coral Gables; areastagecompany.com. Tickets cost $10 to 15.
World-premiere alert! South Florida playwright extraordinaire Christopher Demos-Brown has penned thought-provoking plays such as the race-infused American Son and faith-focused Our Lady of Allapattah. Now, his latest work, Wrongful Death (& Other Circus Acts), billed as "a satirical look at the crude ways in which capitalism places value on human life," takes center stage at the Arsht. Thursday through February 4 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; arshtcenter.org. Tickets start at $50.
You don't have to venture to a Blue Martini happy hour to witness cougars in action. Sassy Mamas shows three of them — a divorcée, a widow, and a lifelong single. Whether you're on the prowl or have been bitten by a cougar, you'll get a good laugh out of this one. Thursday through February 4 at Sandrell Rivers Theater, 6101 NW Seventh Ave., Suite 79, Little Haiti; sandrellriverstheater.com. General admission costs $31; student, youth, military, and senior discounts are available.
The name of ScreenDance Miami is enough to make you want to leap into action. Celebrating its fifth year, the festival was designed to enhance professionals' skills when it comes to capturing dance on camera. ScreenDance offers a number of workshops and classes for experts and amateurs alike. It all kicks off with an opening night event at the Light Box, which will host the Florida premiere of Okwui Okpokwasili's 2017 documentary, Bronx Gothic. 7 p.m. Thursday at the Light Box at Goldman Warehouse, 404 NW 26th St., Miami; miamilightproject.com. Tickets cost $10 for general admission.
Friday
In a world where Florida Georgia Line and Nelly are collaborating, all bets are off. So why can't DJs and orchestras get their tune on together too? For Pulse: Late Night at the Movies, the New World Center will transform into the ultimate lounge setting, with sets by the always cosmic Dude Skywalker and the multifaceted New World Symphony. The program will include tunes from a number of blockbusters, such as Star Wars, Inception, The Godfather, and Bond films. 9 p.m. Friday at New World Center, 500 17th St., Miami Beach; nws.edu. Tickets cost $40.
The Bard's work is generally awesome, but it does put some haters to sleep. If you've ever wanted to see Shakespeare in a park (or if you just want to be serenaded to slumber in a beautiful setting), here's the perfect opportunity: Shakespeare Miami's version of Hamlet is going waterside for three days at the Barnacle. To sleep or not to sleep — that is the question. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday at the Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove; shakespearemiami.com. Admission is free; a $2 recommended donation will help with park restoration projects.
Wonderful worlds are colliding. In partnership with Paradise City Comic Con, Concrete Beach Brewery will host the geeky beer extravaganza Concrete-a-Con. For a second consecutive year, the event at the Wynwood brewery will include costume and videogame competitions, silent films, and a surprise movie release. Get all cosplayed out for the affair and get a buck off pints. It pays to nerd out. 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Concrete Beach Brewery, 325 NW 24th St., Wynwood; concretebeachbrewery.com. Admission is free.
Saturday
If only our president and North Korea's "rocket man" could settle their nuclear arguments over a cupcake. That's not likely, but at least a far more enjoyable competition will distract you from your bomb-related anxieties. At Dessert Wars, more than 40 vendors, including Misha's Cupcakes, Morella Gourmet Paletas, and Batter & Batches, will provide you with the ultimate sugar high. From key lime pies to cheesecakes to ice cream, there's a treat for everyone. 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at FIU Arena, 11200 SW Eighth St., Miami; dessertwarsmiami.com. Tickets start at $30.
In case you've completely violated what it means to be an American by never drinking beer at a ballpark, now is the time to make up for your lack of patriotism. The Miami Beer Festival will take over Marlins Park with food trucks and more than 200 beers from 80 breweries. Local faves such as MIA, Khoffner, and Barrel of Monks will be onsite, as will national breweries such as Ace Cider, Victory, Left Hand, and Dogfish Head. 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at Marlins Park, 501 Marlins Way, Little Havana; miamibeerfestival.com. Tickets start at $50; VIPs pay $60 for early entry at 5 p.m.
Let your inner child rejoice: This weekend, you can party and play after-hours in a science museum — and it's all for a good cause. The Big Bang: Sonic Odyssey is one of the Frost Museum of Science's most important annual fundraisers, whose donations support educational programs. The club-themed event will boast lights, lasers, live bands, tunes spun by DJ Irie and the Love Below, and a silent disco. 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science, 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; frostscience.org. Tickets cost $150.
Did you know Miami Dade College has a freaking radical art museum? The progressive and thoughtful exhibitions at the MDC Museum of Art + Design (MOAD) should be on your calendar. Right now, the museum is presenting a cross-disciplinary series of performance art around the city that reflects Miami's uniqueness, Living Together. This weekend at Miami Light Project, MOAD will host Bride of the White Widow, a surreal show including games with the audience, songs, and dance by the arts collective My Barbarian. The show appeared at Performa 02 at the Whitney Museum, so you have proof it'll be worth your time. 8 p.m. Saturday at Miami Light Project, 404 NW 26th St., Miami; mdcmoad.org. Admission costs $15; students with proper ID get in free.
