The best things to do in Boston this weekend: May 30-June 1

The Don't Tell Comedy people take their surprise shows seriously. So much so, the lineup for their upcoming show at The Tall Ship on May 30 will be kept a secret until the moment the funny men and women take the stage. But you can be sure it will be an All-Star line-up of comedians you’ve seen on YouTube, Netflix, and HBO. The show starts at 7:30pm, but come early at 6:30pm to hang out at laid-back waterside venue in Eastie for food vendors, bars, and outdoor games.

The UNIQLO Festival of Films from Japan returns to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) from May 22 through June 1. With an electrifying selection of bold new releases, this year's festival marks the eighth-annual showcase of Japanese cinema made possible through the MFA’s 10-year partnership with global apparel retailer UNIQLO. This year’s festival spans genres and generations, from Shinya Tsukamoto’s haunting war drama Shadow of Fire (2023) to the heartwarming journey of grief and reconciliation in Cottontail (2023). Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s Look Back (2024), adapted from the beloved manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, explores artistic passion and collaboration, while Bushido (2024) delivers a thrilling samurai epic infused with social critique. The festival also features the inventive time-loop comedy River (2023) and the nostalgic, jazz-infused biopic Between the White Key and the Black Key (2023). Check here for showtimes and dates.

For two nights in May, Keith Lockhart leads a program (with the help of the Boston Pops and Ani Aznavoorian on cello) of specially curated John Williams, featuring his own masterful film scores and the music of the composers who have inspired him. While Williams won’t be in attendance, you’ll hear such greats as Flight to Neverland from Hook, Out to Sea/Shark Cage Fugue from Jaws, Suite from Memoirs of a Geisha, the theme from Seven Years in Tibet, the Flying Theme from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Superman March, Celebrating Indiana Jones, Dear Basketball, and selections from Star Wars. The performances are May 29 and 31, both at 7:30pm.

On June 1 from 5:30-8:30pm, David "Big Papi" Ortiz will host his annual "Soiree of Hearts" casino night event to benefit the David Ortiz Children's Fund whose mission is to provide lifesaving heart surgeries and care to children in the Dominican Republic and in New England. The star-studded affair will be hosted at The 521 Overlook at Fenway Park, located in centerfield, and features casino games, cocktails, a silent and live auction, and more. The guest list will include some of Papi's celebrity friends, including beloved Boston athletes past and present, and is a pregame to his annual golf classic hosted at Brae Burn Country Club in Newton on June 2.

In celebration of the station's 75th anniversary, WBUR is hosting the WBUR Festival from May 29-31 across multiple venues at Boston University for a three-day lineup featuring captivating conversations, live podcast tapings, musical performances, and a lively street fair. The festival brings together an amazing roster of prominent guests, from conversations with the likes of Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, and Ina Garten, cookbook author and TV host, to discussions about the future of reproductive rights actress Busy Phillips to Sing for Science with Josh Ritter, and more. There’s even something for the kids, with KidStage activities taking place all day May 31 from 10-4pm.

To welcome Pride month, the Handel and Haydn Society and iconoclastic Brooklyn collective ChamberQUEER will present BaroQUEER: Historically Informed on May 30 at 7:30pm at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. Following a “pay what you wish” entrance, the program celebrates queer excellence in classical music and will offer Baroque bops and new jams from composers ranging from George Frideric Handel and Jean-Baptiste Lully to Julius Eastman and Caroline Shaw. This concert asks: "Whose histories inform the way we play and perceive Baroque music, and what would it mean to center performers' voices and stories?” and was selected as an event of Everyone250, redefining what it means to belong in Boston as America commemorates its 250th anniversary.  

Get ready to light up the coals for a serious summer clambake, as James Beard Award-winning Chef Tony Messina returns to his hometown neighborhood for an epic summer party at Cunard Tavern. On May 31 at 12:30pm, the party starts at The Layover, East Boston's tropical rooftop bar, with tropical cocktails and snacks overlooking the harbor. After you’ve had your fill, you’ll head downstairs for a curated summer feast, including a grilled half lobster and other surprises from Chef Messina.

Boston Ballet's 61st season concludes with the Boston premiere of Jean-Christophe Maillot's Roméo et Juliette, a fresh adaptation of the timeless Shakespearean tale. Beginning on May 29, the company will offer audiences a dozen performances featuring minimal sets and costumes to celebrate the contemporary choreography and emotionality of the dancers. The Boston Ballet Orchestra will perform the iconic score by Sergei Prokofiev. Performances are: May 29 and 30 at 7:30pm, May 31 at 1:30 and 7:30pm, June 1 at 1:30pm, June 3-6 at 7:30pm, June 7 at 1:30 and 7:30pm, and June 8 at 1:30pm.