In this week’s To-Do List, John Legend is live at the Garden, a “Matrix” actor stars in a Hattiloo play and you can get a sneak peek at Stomping Grounds. 

Time on stage helps Memphis Allies’ SWITCH participants, including many former gang members, becoming more confident, sociable, empathetic and aware of their emotions.

“Suffs,” which runs at the Orpheum Theatre July 31-Aug. 2, highlights the Black activists behind the women’s suffrage movement, including two Memphians.

The Orpheum is expanding its run of shows this season with a Tony Award winner, a global phenomenon and the musical version of a beloved film.

Ballet Memphis holds an open house to showcase all it offers to the community. Besides dance for adults and kids, there’s Pilates and classes for Parkinson’s patients.

The show also highlights the movement’s Black activists and Memphians Ida B. Wells and Mary Church Terrell, who fought to keep questions of racial justice from being sidelined by white suffragists eager to appease Southern lawmakers.

Karaoke, spoken-word poetry, comedy showcases: With three new spaces and five new programs, Hattiloo Theatre is growing in Midtown.

Orpheum Theatre CEO Brett Batterson sees almost every new Broadway production in New York. The first question he asks himself: Should he bring it to Memphis?

You can call it a choreographed, you can call it a performance, you can call it entertainment. But don’t ever call wrestling “fake” unless you want to rile up folks like The Bite-Sized Brawler or Hucklebuck Jenkins. 

Celebrating the best in Memphis theater for the 2025-2026 season, this year’s Ostrander Awards take place at the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center.

The ceremony — hosted by Bowen Yang, formerly of “Saturday Night Live” — followed a 10-day intensive that included coaching sessions, training and rehearsals led by Broadway professionals. Participants come from 58 programs across the U.S.

The mainstage season opens Oct. 24 with “Rigoletto” at the Cannon Center in collaboration with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

Disney’s “first prince” and a beloved American president are the focus of the two shows opening this weekend.

Local dance director Katie Smythe’s new performing arts school recently bought Humes Middle, Elvis Presley’s alma mater in North Memphis. 

Opening this week: a darkly comic thriller about a barber whose quest for revenge turns into a spree of murder and cannibalistic meat pies. It also happens to be a beloved musical.

Memphis may be renowned worldwide for its barbecue and Blues, but in the Broadway realm, it’s known for its hospitality.

The lineup includes celebrations for the Shell, Hattiloo and Opera Memphis; festivals like Gonerfest; and concerts like Drivin N Cryin. 

Grant opportunities are now open to local visual artists and nonprofit or government organizations that want to address community issues through art.

Theatre Memphis and Germantown Community Theatre are producing musicals that open Friday. 

A Memphis native has returned home to take the Orpheum stage — and help his castmates find a good place to eat. Plus, the Peabody ducks are keeping time with the help of a new clock.

The Lakeland native started out in the children’s programs at Germantown Community Theatre, Playhouse on the Square, Harrell Theatre and New Day Children’s Theatre.

Jaylen Hunter has toured the U.S. in major stage productions of “The Lion King” and “MJ The Musical,” and in recent weeks, millions around the world have seen him play young Marlon Jackson in the blockbuster movie “Michael.”

“It’s just been amazing what we’ve done with just our sheer talent, just wanting to write and be heard,” Bria Saulsberry said.

The Collierville wins came on a night that brought together students from 56 schools across Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri.

Playhouse on the Square’s production of the Pulitzer prize-winning play “Primary Trust” opens at the Circuit Playhouse Friday, May 8.