Art on the East Race, comedy at The Drop and drama at South Bend Civic this weekend

This weekend, the East Race beckons — with art. And rafting. If you want more fun outside, check out Joseph Dits' suggestions from this week's Outdoor Adventures column's to-do list.

If dining al fresco is on your agenda, Mary Shown has you covered with this Market Basket column.

There's also plenty of drama, comedy and music happening this weekend in and near South Bend. For more events, visit The Tribune's Calendar page. Here are a few highlights to consider.

GhostLight Theatre opens ‘Significant Other’

BENTON HARBOR — “Significant Other” opens June 9 and continues through June 19 at GhostLight Theatre, 101 Hinkley St.

Written by Joshua Harmon, the 2015 play explores the lives of four friends in their late 20s and their search for relationships in 21st century New York City.

In particular, Jordan Berman would love to be in love, but that’s easier said than done. So until he meets Mr. Right, he wards off lonely nights with his trio of close girlfriends.

But as singles’ nights turn into bachelorette parties, Jordan discovers that the only thing harder than finding love is supporting the loved ones around you when they do.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. June 9-11 and 16-18 and at 3 p.m. June 12 and 19.

Masks are required, regardless of vaccination status.

Tickets are $29-$12.

For more information, call 269-252-5222 or visit ghostlightbh.com.

Civic continues Wilson cycle with ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’

SOUTH BEND — “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” opens June 10 and continues through June 19 at South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main St.

The second installment of playwright August Wilson’s American Century Cycle at Civic, “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911.

Owners Seth and Bertha Holly play host to a makeshift family of people who come to stay — some for days, some longer — during the beginning of the Great Migration, when descendants of former slaves moved in large numbers from the South toward the industrial cities of the North and West, seeking new jobs, new lives and new beginnings.

The first in the cycle: South Bend Civic Theatre embarks on August Wilson Project with 'Gem of the Ocean'

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. June 10-11 and 15-18 and at 2 p.m. June 12 and 19.

Tickets are $32-$27.

For more information, call 574-234-1112 or visit sbct.org.

Comedian Ed Hill performs at The Drop Comedy Club

SOUTH BEND — Comedian Ed Hill performs at 8 and 10 p.m. June 10 and 11 at The Drop Comedy Club in Aloft Hotel, 111 N. Main St.

Originally from Taiwan, Hill is an award-winning comic who moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, thinking he was on vacation at his father's discretion.

Since then, he was named “Comic to Watch” in 2018 by Reader’s Digest and has appeared on AXS TV’s “Gotham Comedy Live,” “Laughs” on Fox, TED talks, Bite TV’s “Stand Up & Bite Me” and XM radio’s “Laugh Attack.”

Hill has performed at the Just For Laughs Northwest Comedy Festival, Comedy Masala in Singapore, Live Comedy Club in Taiwan, the Hong Kong Comedy Festival, NXNE and the San Francisco Comedy Festival. His tweets also have been featured on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, DOSE and Distractify.

TJ Wharry opens.

A native of Detroit who now lives in Lafayette, Ind., Wharry specializes in an affable, self-deprecating style of comedy. He gave up a four-figure salary as a hockey scout to become a standup comic and trophy husband.

Wharry was a finalist in the 2018 “Trial By Laughter” on Comcast, and his writing credits include “Comedy Central: Social Scene.”

Tickets are $20.

For more information, call 574-222-7649 or visit thedropcomedyclub.com.

Arts on the Race returns Saturday for the summer

SOUTH BEND — Downtown South Bend Inc. and South Bend Venues Parks & Arts present Arts on the Race from noon to 5 p.m. June 11 along the East Race.

Arts on the Race is an extension of Art Beat as local artists display and sell their artwork along the East Race.

Mediums include mixed media, photography, fiber art, glass, ceramics, jewelry, paintings, novelties and clothing.

Plan ahead: 2022 South Bend festivals and concerts to keep your summer full of fun

The June artists are Alternate and Persist — Art by Carly Norris, And Aubrey Was Studio LLC, COLLECTIVEemotions ART, Crochet Narasaki, Glass Fusions by Kerry, Leigh Robison, MJ’S Unica, Pathless Adventure Art, PatZFanArt, Rage Tamer, Terry Nix Nature Art and WoolleyWare.

The East Race also will be open for rafting.

Water safety: Life lost and saved: 3 men earn Carnegie Medals for boy's rescue on St. Joe River.

Arts on the Race also takes place July 9 and Aug. 13.

Admission is free.

For more information, call 574-282-1110 or visit downtownsouthbend.com. For more information about East Race rafting, visit sbvpa.org.

Lerman brothers bring their Colorado band Mr. Mota to Simeri’s

SOUTH BEND — The Colorado-based band Mr. Mota performs from 9 p.m. to midnight June 11 at Simeri’s Old Town Tap, 1505 W. Indiana Ave.

Members of the band include South Bend natives and brothers Ari Lerman on bass and Max Lerman on vocals, keyboards and saxophone. Their uncle, saxophonist Danny Lerman, plans to perform with the band.

The other members are Will Rosenthal on vocals and guitar, Willie Vogel on guitar, and Brendan Lamb on drums.

Listed: South Bend neighborhood tavern Simeri's Old Town Tap up for sale

Based in Boulder, the five-piece band plays a variety of covers and originals ranging from funk and blues to reggae and folk. Mr. Mota plans to release its first three original songs to steaming platforms this summer.

Tickets are $7.

For more information, call 574-289-1360.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Art, comedy, drama and music on tap in or near South Bend this weekend