Shuffle, pedal then work, watch some magic
Sheepshead-palooza
Nicolet High School becomes the heart of the sheepshead universe Saturday for the 25th annual Glendale Open Sheepshead Tournament, held per tradition in the school’s cafeteria at 6701 N. Jean Nicolet Road. The doors open for the competition, limited to no more than 300 sheepshead players (would that be sheepsherders?), at 10 a.m., with registration starting at 10:30 and the games at noon. The tournament is sponsored by the Nicolet Recreation Department and the Glendale Senior Citizens’ Club. The entry fee is $20.
Info: rec.nicolet.k12.wi.us
Now you see them …
The Miller High Life Theatre draws a five of a kind Sunday, when the Broadway show “The Illusionists” takes the stage at 7 p.m., with five very different magicians showing their stuff. That stuff ranges from death-defying stunts to crafty sleight of hand to feats of deductive reasoning that would make Sherlock stammer. Tickets are $34 to $74, and available at Ticketmaster outlets and the theater box office, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave. Info: millerhighlifetheatre.com and theillusionistslive.com
Two-wheel fever
With more than 2,000 bicycles and thousands of accessories, Wheel & Sprocket calls its annual Bike Expo Sale the biggest bike sale in the world. But the 34th edition, this weekend at State Fair Park, is about more than selling and buying; it also has seminars and plans for rides, and lots of people to talk biking with. The sale’s hours are noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair, 8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis. Admission is free (but parking at State Fair Park is $6). Info: bikeexposale.com
And … they’re (finally) off
One of the first big running events of the season, the South Shore Half Marathon begins at 9 a.m. Saturday in South Shore Park, 2900 S. Shore Drive. Organized by Badgerland Striders Running Club, the half-marathon starts and ends in the park’s pavilion. Registration on race day is $30. Info: badgerlandstriders.org
Getting in tune with Art & Music
Art & Music, a fundraiser for WMSE-FM (91.7), is an art auction, music event and cocktail party in one. More than 300 works will be up for auction, served up with food and craft cocktails from local restaurants. The gala starts at 6 p.m. Friday at the Historic Pritzlaff, 333 N. Plankinton Ave. Tickets are $25, available at brownpapertickets.com. Info: wmse.org
More Magic (and more cards)
The open tournament for Magic: The Gathering players Saturday and Sunday at the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave., bills itself as part of the largest independent Magic tournament series in the world. Open to all players, it’s a steppingstone to bigger tournaments — and bigger prizes. Registration is $50; play starts both days at 10 a.m. Info: starcitygames.com
New on stage
“I and You”: Classmates working together on a poetry project find they have more in common than chapter and verse in Lauren Gunderson’s drama, being staged by Next Act Theatre. The production opens Friday, at 255 S. Water St., and runs through April 29. Info: nextact.org.
“Antarctica,
WI”: In Finegan Kruckemeyer’s folk tale (written with local input), a boy sees icebergs heading for Milwaukee and sets out to help the city make its way through the danger. First Stage co-commissioned the play with Filament Theatre of Chicago; it premieres Friday in the Todd Wehr Theatre at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, 929 N. Water St., and runs through April 22. Info: firststage.org.
“Top Girls”: A woman in line for a big promotion, over her male colleagues, celebrates her success with five legendary women from history, even as she weighs what she has to give up to get there. Renaissance Theaterworks stages Caryl Churchill’s drama starting starting Saturday night after previews beginning Friday in the Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center, 158 N. Broadway. The production runs through April 29.
Info: r-t-w.com.