10 things to do this weekend around Columbus includes 'Wakanda Forever,' ProMusica

Can you handle some Handel? Or do you like your music on the harder side? Whatever your taste, this weekend will bring a plethora of sounds to town, from the classical strains of the ProMusica and Worthington chamber orchestras to the island beats of Afro-Cuban music.

If you want to start your weekend a little early, there's the much-anticipated “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” sequel to the 2018 blockbuster, which opens Thursday in local theaters. (Also on the big screen will be the animated "Where Is Anne Frank" on Monday at the Wexner Center for the Arts.)

For the small fry, Baby Shark (doot-doo-doo-doo!) also will swim into town on Thursday with a Christmas show featuring other tunes besides the ubiquitous theme song.

This is just a glimpse at what's happening this weekend in the Greater Columbus area. Read on for more details about these and other events!

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Heavy metal, country rock at the Schott

Co-headliners Five Finger Death Punch and Brantley Gilbert will raise a ruckus at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Value City Arena, West Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road. Heavy metal quintet Five Finger Death Punch has been touring with a rotating cast of musicians for the past 15 years, and recently released another album, “Afterlife.” Gilbert slants toward the hard-rocking edge of country. Tickets start at $59.50. (schottensteincenter.com)

Abbey Theater offers new social-politics drama

The Abbey Theater of Dublin will present the world premiere of “City Jail,” local author and trial lawyer Catherine Adams’ realistic social-politics drama, drawn from her own cases, exploring what happens when a woman advances a false claim of sexual harassment in the workplace, why she does it and the horrible consequences. Performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Abbey Theater, 5600 Post Road, Dublin. Tickets cost $20. (DublinOhioUSA.gov/abbey-theater)

ProMusica to present Handel's 'Messiah'

Experience one of the most majestic works of music ever composed as performed by one of Greater Columbus’ leading classical music groups. George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” will be performed by the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Southern Theatre, 21 E. Main St. Joining the musicians will be soprano Yulia Van Doren, mezzo-soprano Julie Miller, tenor Daniel McGrew, bass-baritone Kevin Deas and the LancasterChorale. Tickets start at $18. (www.promusicacolumbus.org)

Beautiful classical music by Worthington Chamber Orchestra

The music promises to be beautiful at the Worthington Chamber Orchestra’s upcoming concert. The program, “Beauty and Beethoven,” to be performed at 3 p.m. Sunday at the McConnell Arts Center, 777 Evening St., Worthington, will feature Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 2,” Felix Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides” and the premiere of a new composition by area composer Linda Kernohan, “A World In Which Such Beauty Exists.” Tickets cost $25 in advance, or $30 at the door, or $15 for students, or $20 at the door. (www.mcconnellarts.org)

Celebrating central Ohio dance

City Dance Showcase IV, presented by local dance company Hixon Dance, will shine a spotlight on eight Greater Columbus choreographers whose work has been chosen for its promise by a group of adjudicators (who worked with the choreographers on developing their work). The showcase will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Columbus Dance Theatre, 592 E. Main St. Tickets cost $18, or $15 for students and senior citizens. (www.hixondance.com)

'Black Panther' sequel opens

This Marvel Cinematic Universe sequel to the 2018 blockbuster “Black Panther” tries to move on in the absence of star Chadwick Boseman, who played T’Challa in the first film and died of colon cancer in 2020. The nearly three-hour epic “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” stars Letitia Wright as Shuri, the princess of the Wakanda kingdom, which must take up arms following T’Challa’s death. Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira and Angela Bassett co-star in the film, which Disney will release in multiplexes on Thursday. Consult area theaters for showtimes and tickets.

Alonso brothers to play Latin, Afro-Cuban music

Latin jazz, Afro-Cuban music and other distinctive sounds will emanate from a pair of 9-foot Steinway grand pianos: At 4 p.m. Sunday in St. Mary Catholic Church, 684 S. 3rd St., Cuban-born pianists (and siblings) Orlay and Orlando Alonso will summon the sounds of their home nation in “Havanesque.” Tickets cost $25. (www.southcolscatholic.org/musicseries) 

An animated film about Anne Frank

Israeli filmmaker Ari Folman will be in Columbus to introduce a screening of his new animated film “Where is Anne Frank” at 7 p.m. Monday at the Wexner Center for the Arts, 1871 N. High St. Folman will also participate in a Q&A about the film, which centers on the character of Kitty, the imaginary friend of Anne Frank, the German Jewish girl who hid from the Nazis before dying in a concentration camp. Tickets cost $9, or $7 for senior citizens and Wexner Center members, $5 for students. (www.wexarts.org)

Baby Shark and friends to entertain kids

Tuneful Baby Shark, a hit with kids if not always with their parents, will take center stage at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad St. "Baby Shark Live: The Christmas Show" transports the very young to a world where Baby Shark and alien fox Pinkfong journey to the jungle and under the sea to learn about colors, numbers and more. Expect Baby Shark's theme song as well as other familiar numbers including “Wheels on the Bus” and “Five Little Monkeys.” Tickets start at $29. (capa.com)

CSU Chorus to celebrate 'Sounds of Blackness'

The Central State University Chorus will take listeners on a tour through the decades in “Sounds of Blackness: A Celebration of African American Music” at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Lincoln Theatre, 769 E. Long St. The 50-member chorus of students from the university, under the direction of Carlos Brown and featuring Callie Day and Camille Betton Williams, will highlight the music of African American composers and arrangers. Tickets start at $32. (capa.com)

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 10 things to do this weekend around Columbus includes ProMusica