The Wizard of Oz Live in Concert, arrives this Friday at Aotea Centre\u2019s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre.<\/p>\n
Prepare to be blown away as the ultimate movie-meets-musical experience, The Wizard of Oz Live in Concert, arrives this Friday at Aotea Centre\u2019s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre. With shows on May 8 and 9, visitors will experience the original The Wizard of Oz movie accompanied by Auckland Philharmonia\u2019s full-strength orchestra for a truly technicolor symphonic event. Be swept away by timeless melodies like Somewhere Over the Rainbow and The Merry Old Land of Oz, as the Auckland Phil performs Herbert Stothart\u2019s iconic score live in sync with the classic film. This 1939 cinematic masterpiece is a multigenerational must-see, and watching it on the big screen will be a journey down the yellow brick road like none before. <\/p>\n
Tickets are available now via aucklandphil.nz<\/a> and Ticketmaster<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3) Get on your bike<\/p>\n From humble beginnings in 2015, The Big Bike Film Night has grown into an international phenomenon that brings a love of cycling to cinemas. Curated by Taup\u014d-based \u201cFilm Pedlar\u201d Brett Cotter, this year\u2019s film line-up aims to take you from backyard adventures in New Zealand to the lush forests of the Canadian west coast and beyond, with a highlight being the world premiere of Queen of the Mountain, which follows adventure activist Annie Ford as she attempts to set the Guinness World Record for the biggest vertical descent on a mountain bike in 24 hours. Films are showing at cinemas all over Auckland until May 25, with tickets available at www.bigbikefilmnight.nz<\/a>.<\/p>\n 4) Ready. Set. Glow! <\/p>\n The KidsCan GlowRun<\/a> is lighting up Eden Park this evening with a fun, family-friendly night of glowing entertainment and community spirit. The legendary grounds will be transformed into a glowing playground, with glow zones, live DJs, interactive games and food trucks creating a festival-style atmosphere, and every ticket sold helps KidsCan provide essentials like warm jackets, shoes and food so children affected by poverty can turn up to school warm, dry and ready to learn this winter. The vibrant 2.5km fun run or walk invites participants of all ages and abilities to glow their way through one of New Zealand\u2019s most iconic stadiums, and whether you run or walk the course, or just come along to enjoy the GlowRun Village, there\u2019s something for everyone.<\/p>\n Registration opens at 4pm, with the first run wave lighting up the course from 6pm, and tickets available now at raceroster.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5) When the can-do attitude just won\u2019t cut it<\/p>\n Local comedian and ex-Canada\u2019s Drag Race writer, Marshall Lorenzo, is bringing his award-winning comedy show Serving Can\u2019t<\/a> to the Basement Theatre this May 7-9 as part of the New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Prepare yourself for a whirlwind of hilarity as Marshall dives head-first into a world of sketch chaos, embodying a range of unforgettable characters while delivering razor-sharp commentary on the crushing weight of capitalism and the absurdities of modern life. Fresh from winning the 2026 Sydney Touring Award and the 2025 NZ Fringe International Exchange Award, Serving Can\u2019t is the follow-up to his nine-time NZ Fringe Award-nominated sketch trilogies.<\/p>\n 6) Return of the Deva<\/p>\n Fans of the incomparable Deva Mahal<\/a> can catch the P\u014dneke-based, globally celebrated singer-songwriter on the last date of her current tour tonight at Double Whammy, where she will be giving the crowd the chance to experience the magic of her highly anticipated new EP, Future Classic Vol II: Future live. Mahal\u2019s career has taken her across the world working with the likes of Meshell N\u2019Degeocello, The Roots and De La Soul and performing at venues like the Hollywood Bowl, and this show is the perfect opportunity to see the soul-singing globetrotter up close and personal in one of the city\u2019s more intimate venues. <\/p>\n 7) A ray of sunshine<\/p>\n Described as \u201ca joke machine\u201d by the Telegraph, UK comedian Jake Lambert brings his show The Sunshine Kid<\/a> to SkyCity Theatre tonight, before it heads to Wellington and Christchurch. The comedy writer and funny man will be waxing lyrical about trying to navigate his way through everyday life, his fear of being normal, and asking essential questions like: why do we all feel the need to ask strangers what breed their dogs are? With his style of non-stop, gag-filled storytelling, he has appeared on Live At The Apollo and Comedy Central and earned him the job of support act for Michael McIntyre on his worldwide tour, so perhaps it\u2019s time to head along and see what all the fuss is about.<\/p>\n 8) Aotearoa\u2019s wildest food fest is back <\/p>\n This May, the Monteith\u2019s Wild Food Challenge returns after last year\u2019s hugely successful revival, bringing together more than 60 restaurants, pubs and eateries nationwide to create daring dishes, featuring the country\u2019s most adventurous ingredients, perfectly paired with Monteith\u2019s brews. From city favourites to small\u2011town heroes, venues across the country have spent months experimenting with wild, foraged and unconventional ingredients to craft one\u2011off creations that surprise diners and celebrate Kiwi creativity. The result is a nationwide showcase of culinary imagination, stretching from Riverton to Paihia. Public voting will again shape the competition, with Kiwis across the country casting votes to determine a shortlist of five dishes, before the expert judging panel chooses the ultimate winner.<\/p>\n For those ready to experience something new, head to wildfoodchallenge.monteiths.co.nz<\/a> to find the venues taking part.<\/p>\n Coming up<\/p>\n Forever Tomorrow: China Art Now<\/a>, May 2 \u2013 August 23, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o T\u0101maki Split Enz, Forever Enz Tour:<\/a> May 6, Wellington and May 9, AucklandServing Can\u2019t<\/a>, May 7-9, Basement Theatre, AucklandAutumn Plant Fair<\/a>, May 9, Auckland Horticultural Council, AucklandAuckland Travel Show<\/a>, May 9-10, New Zealand International Convention Centre, AucklandStephen K Amos – Now We\u2019re Talking<\/a>, May 9-10, Q Theatre, AucklandFIVE,<\/a> May 25, Trusts Arena, AucklandCate Le Bon<\/a>, June 5, Powerstation, AucklandL\u014demis Festival<\/a>, June 9-21, across WellingtonHeathers: the Musical<\/a>, June 10-14, The Civic, AucklandThe Marriage of Figaro<\/a>, June 17, 19 and 21, St James Theatre, WellingtonAuckland Live Cabaret Festival<\/a>, June 24 \u2013 July 5, The Civic, AucklandDoc Edge Festival 2026<\/a>, June 24 \u2013 July 26, nationwideThe Veils Fragile World Tour<\/a>, June 25 \u2013 July 11, nationwideThe Auckland Opera Studio 2026 Gala<\/a>, June 28, Auckland Town Hall, AucklandEnglebert Humperdinck: The Celebration Tour<\/a>, June 28, Christchurch Town Hall Matariki: Waiata Anthems in Concert<\/a>, July 9, Auckland Town HallPostmodern Jukebox<\/a>, July 11, Wellington Opera HouseDog Man: The Musical<\/a>, July 14-18, Bruce Mason Theatre, AucklandThe Harlem Globetrotters 100 Year Tour<\/a>, July 14-19, nationwideJason Derulo Last Dance World Tour<\/a>, September 27, Spark Arena, Auckland<\/p>\n Email canvasplanner@nzherald.co.nz with brief details of your upcoming event, including dates\/times, location and website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Wizard of Oz Live in Concert, arrives this Friday at Aotea Centre\u2019s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre. 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Marshall Lorenzo is bringing Serving Can\u2019t to the Basement Theatre.
Award-winning comedy show Serving Can\u2019t.<\/p>\n
Globally celebrated singer-songwriter Deva Mahal.<\/p>\n
Catch Jake Lambert at The Sunshine Kid show in SkyCity.<\/p>\n