Pencil This In

COMEDY: This weekend marks the 9th Annual Del Close Marathon. Del Close, if you don't know by now, "was the driving force behind improvisational comedy in Chicago for over 30 years influencing Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, John Belushi, Chris Farley and the Upright Citizens Brigade to name a few." The annual weekend began after Del's passing in 1999.

All Weekend // Various Times // UCB Theater [307 W 26th St] // $10 shows, weekend pass $20

EVENT: It's another Friday night which means the Whitney Live series continues. This time around celebrate the music of visionary Sun Ra. The evening will include "a reading of a new opera, Mr. Mystery: The Return of Sun Ra to Save Planet Earth!, with music by Fred Ho and libretto by Quincy Troupe. Additional performances by vocalist and sound artist Latasha N. Nevada Diggs; maverick coronetist and composer Taylor Ho Bynum; VJs Love Intelligence Group; and the infamous DJ Steinski."

Friday // 6pm // The Whitney [945 Madison Ave] // Pay What You Wish

MUSIC: Suicide (pictured) is playing the Seaport tonight! Do we really need to say anything more? School yourself on the pioneering New York duo here. The lineup goes like this: 6pm Richard Fearless, 7pm The Death Set, 8pm Suicide.

Friday // 7pm // South Street Seaport, Pier 17 // Free

THEATER: The title role of Shakespeare’s Richard III affords a delicious opportunity for actors to unleash their inner rogue as the "deformed, unfinish'd" royal schemes and kills his way to the throne. In a new production by Nicu’s Spoon, two performers double down on the diabolical tyrant. The part is physically embodied by Henry Holden, a disabled actor who uses crutches and speaks only Richard’s soliloquies, and Andrew Hutcheson, who, using just his voice from the shadows, reads Richard’s dialogue. Anthony C.E. Nelson calls the production “bold, strong, and enjoyable”. (Ends Sunday.) - John Del Signore

Friday // 8pm // Spoon Theater [38 W 38th St, 5th Fl] // Tickets cost $15

ART: Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition brings their "Really Big Art Show" to Red Hook Pier. The event features work from over 200 artists. This weekend's opening day reception will have art, artists and music!

Saturday (every weekend through August 19th) // 1 to 6pm // Red Hook Pier [499 Van Brunt St]

THEATER: The rooftop pool of The Holiday Inn Midtown becomes the unlikely setting for five short plays this weekend and next. Part of a series called Swim Shorts, each play is inspired by “the greatest summer invention of all time, the swimming pool.” (Peruse reviews of the plays here.) Flavorpill points out that “there is something luxurious about sitting poolside, in a chaise lounge, in the middle of Manhattan watching theater.” Plus, we're pretty sure bed bugs don't swim. - John Del Signore

Saturday // 7pm // The Holiday Inn Midtown Rooftop [440 W 57th St] // Tickets cost $18, or $25 for post-show swimming

MUSIC: Well it's another free show at the just-landmarked McCarren Pool as part of the Pool Parties this summer...and we have a feeling this one is going to be jam packed. TV on the Radio are headlining, with Celebration, Miles Benjamin, Anthony Robinson and DJ Ryan Rasheed also on hand. Get there early!

Sunday // 2pm // McCarren Park Pool // Free

Mothfight creates "a sort of avant-garde children's music." We just heard them via the below mp3 for the first time and want more! What do they sound like? Pretty much exactly like Animal Collective. The musicians who make up the troupe are directed by Kevin Adickes (former Octopus Project, Single Frame and...Pitchfork Media!). Also playing at the show is Angel Deradoorian of the Dirty Projectors.

Hopscotch.mp3 - Mothfight

Sunday // Death By Audio [49 S 2nd St, Williamsburg] // $tba

EVENT: End your weekend with some jazz at the summer garden at MoMA. It's free, outdoors and sounds pretty darn relaxing. Sunday features The D. D. Jackson Trio, who will provide jazz fused with Latin and other world-music influences.

Sunday // 8pm // MoMA Garden [54th St between 5th and 6th Aves] // Free

And don't forget to check out Wild Style at Summerstage this Sunday! Or Daniel Kitson at Union Hall!