This weekend, you’ll find bonafide powerhouse Terry Crews at the Weinberg Center as part of the Frederick Speaker Series. This is a terrific opportunity to enjoy downtown while being motivated and enjoying the infectious enthusiasm of Crews. You can even take advantage of a 50% ticket discount by using the code SPEAKER50.
You can also take in a Tiki-themed cocktail during winter Tiki Week at Tenth Ward and catch the new Comedy Pigs Sketch Show at the MET. You’re sure to have a good time! Also featured this weekend are three one-man shows at New Spires Stages, featuring master impressionist Charlie Ross as he performs his versions of The Avengers, Stranger Things and Lord of the Rings. Ross has created a spot-on send up of a whole universe of favorite films … and loaded it into hilarious solo shows. Come downtown to laugh and be inspired this weekend!
Frederick Speaker Series: TERRY CREWS
Friday, January 20, 7:30-8:30pm, Tickets $35-$40 with code SPEAKER50
20 W Patrick St
There are motivational speakers, and then there are “motivational do-ers.” Terry Crews is the latter. This bonafide powerhouse—actor, activist, best-selling author, former athlete, and beyond—has inspired countless individuals to “do something about it.” “It” can mean many different things to many different people: a difficult career choice, a seemingly unattainable goal, an addiction, an abusive relationship, or just life in general. Crews speaks from his experience—something he encourages everyone to do—but in the process, he is able to relate to universal stories of struggle.
Having endured abuse in childhood, Crews managed to turn his nascent passion for art into a prestigious scholarship at a young age, a path that would lead to an athletic scholarship at Western Michigan University and, eventually, Crews’ storied career in the NFL. Not content to slow down after retiring, Crews set his sights on Hollywood and launched the career for which he is most famous today. However, Crews will be the first to tell you that it was no easy ride. Between financial difficulties, confronting the challenges of a toxic masculine culture that included treatment for pornography addiction and an initial hesitance to talk about his experience with sexual assault in order to heal, Crews could have given up many times over. But he refused.
Crews believes that “whatever is meant to destroy you can be your salvation.” With a combination of radical honesty, effortless charisma, and infectious enthusiasm, Crews inspires audiences to overcome fear and shame, be honest, do the work, and live life to its highest potential.
Action-movie hero, sitcom star, children’s book illustrator, advertising pitchman, playable video game character, talent show host, high-end furniture designer, and human rights activist all describe the man that is Terry Crews. The unstoppable Crews starred on the NBC Golden Globe Award-winning hit series Brooklyn Nine-Nine hosts NBC’s top rated alternative series America’s Got Talent and spin offs AGT Champions, and AGT Extreme, and stars in the Netflix animated film The Willoughby’s. Crews is also the face (and muscles) of Old Spice, a playable character in Microsoft’s Xbox One game, Crackdown 3, and a force in the design and art world where his high-end furniture collection, in partnership with iconic Bernhardt Designs, has been picking up awards across the country.
BlackFrederick.com is teaming with the Weinberg Center to promote several of the Speakers for the Speaker Series this year! Get your tickets!! Save 50% using the code SPEAKER 50.
Tiki Week @ Tenth Ward Distilling Co.
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 20, 21, 22
55 E Patrick St
Now, we know what you’re thinking. Isn’t Tiki Week normally in the summer? Yeah, well, we’ve decided to switch things up to bring ya some sunshine in the middle of winter. Slide on in, grab a seat anytime during regular hours and try something from this one-time-only tiki-inspired menu. And you know we will stay true to our unconventional style. Whadda ya say? We’re already ready to pour you a drink!
The Comedy Pigs Sketch Show @ Maryland Ensemble Theater
Friday & Saturday, January 20 & 21, 8:30 pm, $15
31 W Patrick St
The Comedy Pigs are the region’s longest-running improv troupe, and they’re ready for a great time! Join them for their new Sketch Show!
One Man Avengers @ New Spires Stages
Saturday, January 21, 8pm, $25
15 W Patrick St
Portraying Iron Man’ armor, Cap’s shield, Hulk’s rage, Thor’s biceps and Thanos’ chin, artist Charlie Ross brings a new take on The Avengers with his one-man show. With contagious energy and a combined plot from some of your favorite Marvel films, One-Man Avengers will amaze and entertain you. With frenetic energy and power-packed parody, Ross has created a spot-on send up of a whole universe of favorite films … and loaded it into a hilarious solo show. It’s “Nerd heaven,” said the Chicago Tribune, and fortified with “nuclear levels of energy,” according to Variety. Imagine getting a blow-by-blow recap of a really fun movie from your best friend. Now scrap that and imagine your best friend is truly hilarious and can channel dozens of characters at once. You won’t believe what you’re about to see!
One Man Stranger Things @ New Spire Stages
Saturday, January 21, 8pm, $25
15 W Patrick St
Prepare to have your upside-down turned right side up! Charles Ross — best known for One-Man Star Wars and One-Man Lord of the Rings — parodies the Netflix smash series, Stranger Things. Ross single-handedly recreates Season 1 and 2 of the Netflix sensation: all the characters, dialogue, special effects, music, and egos in one superb, upside-down show. One Man Stranger Things will appeal to anyone who has marveled at the kooky 1980s setting, the mythology, and the weirdness— all of the factors which made the TV show shine.
It’s a Top 5 BONUS!
With three performance by Master Impressionist Charlie Ross happening this weekend, we couldn’t leave one out, so be sure to check out our Top 5 BONUS…
One Man Lord of the Rings @ New Spire Stages
Sunday, January 22, 3pm, $25
15 W Patrick St
Master-Impressionist Charles Ross takes you from the Shire to Mordor and back in one hour. A thousand perils, nine companions, and three masterworks. One Man to do it all. One Man to rule them all.
“Lord, we have a winner!” – ★★★★★ – Edmonton Sun
“Charles Ross is a theatrical genius!” – ★★★★★ – CBC Edmonton
“condensing J.R.R. Tolkien’s 1,350-page masterpiece into a one-hour work of solo genius” – ★★★★★ – Bartley Kives – Winnipeg FreePress
“Impressive? You bet. Go early — the weekend lineups were huge.” –★★★★★ – Adrian Chamberlain – Victoria Times-Colonist
