This Week in KC, from Boulevardia to Big Slick

All seven of Terry McMillan’s novels have been New York Times bestsellers, and four have been turned into movies. Now the author of “Disappearing Acts,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “A Day Late and a Dollar Short” and “Waiting to Exhale” is promoting her new novel, “I Almost Forgot About You.” 7 p.m. Thursday, June 16. Unity Temple on the Plaza. 913-384-3126. rainydaybooks.com. $27.

What better way for the Kansas City Symphony to conclude its season than with Ludwig van Beethoven’s final symphony, No. 9, featuring “Ode to Joy.” Two other works for chorus and orchestra also will be featured. Beethoven’s “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage” is a setting of two Goethe poems, and Dmitri Shostakovich’s “To October” celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. 7 p.m. Thursday, June 16; 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 17-18; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 19. Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 816-471-0400. kcsymphony.org. $33-$90.

You might expect a play with the name “Parade” to be a musical, which it is. But you probably wouldn’t expect it to be the story of a Brooklyn-raised Jew on trial in 1913 Georgia for the murder of a 13-year-old girl. “Parade” was nominated for nine Tony Awards in 1999 and won two. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 16 (through June 26). Metropolitan Ensemble. 816-569-3226. metkc.org. $35-$49.

Working in aluminum, bronze, cast resin, wood, steel, stone and cast flint glass, as well as in charcoal, graphite and monoprints, Charles Jones is a versatile artist. His new show is “Wilderness: The Western Edge of a Dream.” Opening reception, 6-9 p.m. June 17; runs through July 7. Kiosk Gallery. 816-519-7717. kioskgallerykc.com. Free.

Three of R&B’s most popular performers will bring their “Lover’s Night Out” tour to town. Keith Sweat’s “Good Love” and Johnny Gill’s “This One’s for Me and You” both have reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Adult R&B charts in recent weeks. 8 p.m. Friday, June 17. Sprint Center. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $45-$99.

Hometown celebrities Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner will return to town for what has become an annual summer tradition to raise funds for Children’s Mercy Hospital. Their guests include actors Adam Scott and George Wendt, and singers David Cook and Chris Daughtry. Saturday’s bowling tournament and auction are sold out, but you can still attend the celebrity softball game at Kauffman Stadium and watch the red-carpet arrival before they bowl. Regular folks also can vote for their favorite “Comedy We Can Believe In” candidate at bigslickkc.org. 5 p.m. Friday, June 17, Kauffman Stadium; 9:45 a.m. Saturday, June 18, Pinstripes. bigslickkc.org.

Boulevardia is a music festival (Soul Asylum is scheduled to perform). It’s also a beer festival. And a food festival. Oh yes, it also has a bike ride (Ride2BLVDIA). And it raises money for charities. If you can’t find something to enjoy, you’re just not looking hard enough. 5-11 p.m. Friday, June 17; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday, June 18; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 19. West Bottoms. boulevardia.com. $15-$100.

Two stages will feature entertainment with a Latino twist at the 16th annual Fiesta Kansas City. The three-day event also will provide food, drinks and other treats from a variety of vendors. 5-11 p.m. Friday, June 17; noon-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, June 18-19. Crown Center Square. fiestakansascity.com. $10, $20 for three-day pass; free until 4 p.m.

Originally Jazz in the Woods, the SoJo Summerfest now includes about as many musical styles as you can imagine. To give you an idea, the headliners will be country rock band Big Time Grain Co. on Friday night and Irish rockers the Elders on Saturday. Four acts are scheduled each evening. 5:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 17-18. Corporate Woods. sojosummerfest.com. Free; VIP pavilion ticket $75.

The Heartland Men’s Chorus will be raising funds for its July trip to Denver for the GALA Choruses Festival. Chorus members will offer items for sale, and the public will be able to find bargains. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 18. Crossroads Church. 816-931-3338. Free.

Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, a pair of Southern hip-hop stars who recently released the joint album “ColleGrove,” will have the Sprint Center hopping at Summer Jam 16. Lil Wayne is perhaps best known for his five “Tha Carter” albums. 2 Chainz was part of the duo Playaz Circle before going solo. Kansas City native Tech N9ne brings his hits “Hood Go Crazy” and “Worldwide Choppers.” 8 p.m. Saturday, June 18. Sprint Center. 816-949-7000. sprintcenter.com. $39.50-$129.50.

With a play-within-a-play format, “The Drowsy Chaperone” pays tribute to and pokes fun at musical comedies of the 1920s. The play debuted in 1998 in Toronto and made it to Broadway in 2006, winning five Tony Awards, including Best Original Score. 8:30 p.m. Friday, June 17 (through June 19, plus June 22 to 25). Theatre in the Park, Shawnee Mission Park. theatreinthepark.org. $6-$8.

Comedian Maria Bamford will kick off the festival with a performance Monday night at Liberty Hall. The six-day event also will feature forums, lectures, movies, music and art. Other highlights will be concerts by Kris Kristofferson (Wednesday) and Public Enemy (June 25), plus the annual Beer Dinner (June 24) and Family Fun Fest (June 25). Monday, June 20, through Saturday, June 25. Multiple venues in Lawrence. freestatefestival.org. Prices vary, many events free; VIP pass $200; movie pass $50; Beer Dinner $100.

This story was originally published June 15, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "This Week in KC, from Boulevardia to Big Slick."