9+ things to do this weekend in Pittsburgh, March 28-31

What’s going on this weekend, March 28-31? Find out here. Know of a cool event? Email us.

Thursday, March 28: Queer Craft Night at Assemble
7-9 p.m.
Create crafts, collaborate with friends and celebrate community when Assemble kicks off its new monthly program series. Queer Craft Night offers a “safe, sober space for introverts and extroverts alike.” Bring a project you’re currently working on or try a new skill. Attendees will have access to the site’s materials and tools, including a 3D printer, and staff will be on hand to offer crafty tips. Nonalcoholic drinks and snacks are included. Tickets.

Thursday, March 28-Sunday, March 31: “Mamma Mia!” at the Benedum Center
Various times
Who can resist this “sunny, funny tale of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads on a Greek island paradise?” Add an irresistible soundtrack by ABBA and you have “storytelling magic.” Written by Catherine Johnson, the sweeping musical explores love, friendship and identity through the timeless hits of the Swedish pop supergroup. Leading the show’s 25th anniversary tour as Donna Sheridan is Christine Sherrill, who is joined by rising star Alisa Melendez playing her daughter Sophie. On the eve of her wedding, follow Sophie on a “quest to discover the father she’s never known.” Since premiering on Broadway in 2001, the blockbuster musical has inspired two award-winning films and has melted the hearts of millions around the globe. Now it’s your turn. Tickets.

Thursday, March 28-Sunday, March 31: “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the O’Reilly Theater
Various times
Hold onto your bonnets and britches, spring is here. And so is the season of “sparkling conversation, romance and sheer absurdity.” Revisit Oscar Wilde’s iconic “trivial comedy for serious people” with this new Pittsburgh Public Theater production adapted and directed by Jenny Koons. What will transpire when “debonair bachelors” Jack and Algernon attempt to win the hearts of two society ladies during a weekend in the country? Will their “lavish web of lies” catch up to them? Satire, charm, wisdom and plenty of wild plot twists will keep you LOLing while the haute couture fashions designed by Hugh Hanson will transport you to 19th-century high society. Tickets.

Friday, March 29: “Small Island Big Song” at The Pittsburgh Playhouse
7 p.m.
Journey to the island nations of the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean. Against the backdrop of panoramic visuals, theatergoers will “meet an ancient seafaring ancestry and confront the impacts of climate change” as performers and youth ambassadors share the authentic voices of their island homelands. Showcasing a talented roster of First Nation artists, the multimedia production investigates the environmental, political, social and cultural contexts of the planet’s ocean islands. Live performances of oceanic grooves and soulful island ballads will blend with spoken word, cinematic sequences and AV projections featuring footage collected during a three-year film trip across 16 countries. Tickets.

Friday, March 29: Reading & Conversation: Colter Harper, “Jazz in the Hill” at White Whale Bookstore
7-8 p.m.
Fans of jazz music and local history can’t miss this event with ethnomusicologist, musician and author Colter Harper. In his new book, “Jazz in the Hill: Nightlife and Narratives of a Pittsburgh Neighborhood,” Harper looks at how the iconic musical genre “shaped the neighborhood and created a way of life.” The fascinating book examines the “history of entrepreneurialism, placemaking, labor organizing and critical listening in the Hill District and forges connections to larger political contexts, processes of urban development and civil rights struggles.” Harper will be joined in conversation with Aaron Johnson, interim director of the University of Pittsburgh’s Jazz Studies Program, and Danielle Maggio, an ethnomusicologist, writer, educator and DJ based in Pittsburgh. The event will also be livestreamed. Register.

Saturday, March 30: Easter Egg Hunt at Church of the Holy Cross
2-4 p.m.
Have an egg-cellent afternoon in Homewood during this fifth annual Easter celebration at the historic Kelly Street church. Search for hidden golden eggs, snap a selfie with Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny and vie for special prizes. The festivities include free food and diaper giveaways. Register.

Saturday, March 30: An Afternoon with Jessica Stockholder at Carnegie Museum of Art
2-4 p.m.
Be among the first to experience the new exhibition, “Jessica Stockholder: Picture Making and Assembling,” opening today in the museum’s Scaife Gallery 16. After exploring the work, head to the theater to join Stockholder in conversation with curators from Carnegie Museum of Art and the Miller ICA. Stockholder will discuss her “multimedia genre-bending installations and site-specific interventions” and will share insights into her creative practice. Born in Seattle in 1959, Stockholder was also commissioned to create a work of public art for Carnegie Mellon University. Register.

Friday, March 30: Jellyfish Queer Dance Party at Spirit
8 p.m.-2 a.m.
Groove your way into spring when Pittsburgh’s premier queer dance party fills both floors of Spirit with the hypnotic sounds of disco, italo, new wave, house and more. Resident Jellyfish DJs Stephanie Tsong and Ricky Mawzlin welcome an international roster of guests, including Zombies in Miami (Mexico), Stacy Christine (Los Angeles), Juana (Washington, D.C) and Dorianne Gay (NYC). Tickets.

Sunday, March 31: “Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy” at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater
6 & 8 p.m.
Macabre mixology meets spine-tingling storytelling during this one-of-a-kind theatrical event. Step into an exclusive speakeasy to be immersed in the captivating realm of writer Edgar Allan Poe. Inside the eerie environment reminiscent of a bygone era, Poe historians will reimagine four of the writer’s iconic tales while the night’s lead mixologist handcrafts creepy cocktail pairings for each. Sip the Nevermore and the Pale Blue Eye and be served up an experience you are likely to never forget. Get your tickets now before they sell out.

Even more things to do this weekend …

On Thursday, March 28, the Pittsburgh Japanese Film Festival goes out on a high note with the “Ninja vs. Shark” Brew & View event at Row House Cinema, which means you can have themed beers delivered right to your seat while you watch the fantastical flick. The Carnegie Mellon University International Film Festival is underway with so much to see and do on and off campus through April 7. And on Saturday, March 30, don’t miss “Margaret Cho: Live and LIVID!” at the Byham Theater.

Find more things to do in Pittsburgh, including live music, outdoor recreation, shopping, festivals and family activities.