On occasion I like to share events that are on my calendar – or that might be on my calendar if I didn’t already have something on my calendar – that you, too, might be interested in knowing about. March & April are looking to be busy months for your Tatler – here’s why:

This week Fat Ham opens at City Theatre, directed by Monteze Freeland. I had the chance to catch this show on Broadway last year, and am very much looking forward to a second opportunity to enjoy this funny, moving, and timely queered adaptation of Hamlet. Opening night is Friday, March 8.

If you are looking for opportunities to enjoy art for free this weekend, you have a couple of options. On March 8 the Mattress Factory hosts the opening reception for three new exhbitions, by artists Isla Hansen, Marvin Touré, and Catalina Schliebener Muñoz – the event is free but registration is required. And on March 9 & 10 the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh will present two free performances entiteld “Coming Home” to introduce their new artistic director, Daniel Singer; this too is free with registration.

Next week is equally rich. On March 12 at 5:00pm, CMU’s Center for the Arts in Society (of which I am the director, so this is a bit of a shameless plug) co-hosts an artist talk with Isla Hansen (see above) at the Kresge Theater in the College of Fine Arts building, and on March 14, in the McConomy Auditorium of the University Center, we are presenting “To the Stars! The Colonization of Space in Print and on the Screen” – a panel on the representation of space in literature and film followed by a screening of the movie Elysium. Specialty coffee and mooncake cookies will be served! Both of these events are free and open to the public.

On March 15 you’ll find your Tatler at the opening of CorningWorks’ What did you think you think you just heard me say?!, a multidisciplinary dancetheater work that explores the psychological & emotional nooks & crannies of human (mis)communication. The performance has limited seating and runs from March 15-24. Also that weekend is Chatham Baroque’s Joy of Bach concert, featuring the Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 and Cantata 82, in celebration of Bach’s birthday – concerts on March 15 & 16 at 7:30, at Calvary Episcopal Church.

Speaking of Bach: on March 23, there’s the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh’s “Bach Day SMASH”, a fundraiser/ celebration of the Choir’s 90th year, and 20 years of innovative leadership by artistic director Thomas W. Douglas. VIP tickets include a special performance by Pittsburgh legend Treasure Treasure. Additional performances throughout the evening will be by Charlene Canty and Stephanie Ramos; specialty cocktails and mocktails (included in the ticket price for VIPs and General Admission guests) will be provided by TLC Libations, and there will be a dance party DJ’d by Kinsel Land from 9:00 to 10:00 PM. Early bird discount available through March 10.

They say March goes out like a lamb; what about with some timeless comedy, too? On March 30, the Pittsburgh Public Theater opens The Importance of Being Earnest, adapted and directed by Jenny Koons – I’ve always been a fan of this play and am looking forward to seeing it again.

April is also starting to look pretty packed. On April 5, Quantum Theatre opens Scenes from an Execution, directed by my colleague Andrew Smith and featuring actors Lisa Velten Smith, Bria Walker-Rhoze, and Robert Ramirez (all colleagues at CMU….things are startin’ to get a bit cozy here, eh?); the show runs through April 27 in Allentown. That same day, Attack Theatre opens its The Show of 1000 Tomorrows, which runs for two weekends, April 5-13. And on April 26 & 27 the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh will present Carmina Burana Africana, an adaptation of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with African drumming & dance; performances will take place at the Campbell Memorial Chapel on the Chatham University Campus.

Finally, a heads-up about a non-performance event that is, nonetheless, a highlight of spring: the Union Project’s “Mother of All Pottery Sales” which will take place this year on May 11 – perfect timing to pick up a last-minute Mother’s Day gift.

I bet I’m missing quite a few events here – feel free to add ’em to the comments, and when I have a spare minute I’ll update this post to feature them as well.