Clyde’s
Clyde’s, written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage, takes place in a Pennsylvania truck stop where the kitchen is staffed exclusively by formerly incarcerated individuals looking for their shot at redemption (and possibly the recipe for the perfect sandwich). Vortex Theatre (2900 Carlisle Blvd. NE) presents its own version of this pointed comedy, directed by local multi-arts maven Marya Erin Jones, on Friday, May 23 starting at 7:30 p.m. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays (7:30 p.m.) and Sundays (2 p.m.) through June 8. Tickets (vortexabq.com) are $24 general admission or $19 for students.
Sabaku Con 2025
If you have the slightest clue what the terms kawaii, doujinshi, kemonomimi, shōjo, shōnen and ecchi mean, you’re probably among the prime audience for Sabaku Con 2025. It’s Albuquerque’s largest and longest running anime, gaming and cosplay convention. The Crowne Plaza Albuquerque (1901 University Blvd. NE) opens its doors to anime fans (costumed or otherwise) on Friday (11 a.m. to 2 a.m.), Saturday (11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) for a full weekend of panel discussions, voice actor autograph signings, Q&A sessions, karaoke tournaments, a ginjika cafe, concerts, costume contests and plenty of anime screenings. Tickets run $45 for the full weekend, $35 a day for Saturday or $25 a day for Friday/Sunday. Grab your ticket in advance or check out the full schedule at sabakucon.com.
Pridezilla 2025
Tractor Brewing Wells Park (1800 Fourth St. NW) kicks off Pride Month with another epic party. Pridezilla 2025 hits Saturday, May 24. From 4 to 10 p.m. organizers promise a pile of bands (Shoulder Voices, Blame it on Rebekkah, The Asteroids and more), a whole mess load of drag kings (Rocco Steele, Johnny Ruin, Michael Lynn Hertz and others), a poetry showcase (Marissa Prada, Bram MacLihr, Kristin Patton and friends) and a comedy cabaret (Mary Byrd, Royal A. Wood III, Danger K Varoz and plenty more jokers). There will also be food vendors, tattoo artists, tarot readers and more. Admission is $10, which goes to benefit Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico. For full event info go to pridezilla.org.