Best things to do this weekend in SW FL: Fringe Fort Myers, film festival

Looking for some entertainment in Southwest Florida?

Here are five fun things to do this weekend and beyond, including the Fort Myers Film Festival and the second-annual Fringe Fort Myers.

Plus we look at what's ahead in the coming weeks: Reggae legends Toots & the Maytals, SWFL SpaceCon, the amputee baseball team Louisville Slugger Warriors and more.

To submit events, email the details to reporter Charles Runnells at crunnells@gannett.com.

1. Comedians, dancers and more at Fringe Fort Myers

Nine comedians, dancers, theatrical acts and more perform on three stages over four days. Most performances are one hour or less. Fringe festivals are a worldwide phenomenon inspired by the long-running Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland. They’re best-known for their experimental, underground and cutting-edge performers, but just about anything goes. Thursday through Sunday, May 30-June 2. Other activities include Kids Fringe Fest and an opening-night reception/preview show. $16 per show. The Thursday preview show is $5. Broadway Palm, 1380 Colonial Blvd., and Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 939-2787 or artinlee.org/fringe

2. Fort Myers Film Festival

The annual Fort Myers Film Festival continues with more independent shorts, documentaries and feature films shown each day.  This year's offerings include the Florida premiere of the post-apocalyptic sci-fi drama "Echoes," written and directed by former News-Press sports reporter-turned-filmmaker Tim Ritter.  The award-winning film – screening at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 25 – was shot mostly in the Orlando area. The film festival takes place Thursday through Sunday, May 22-26. Tickets are $10 per film or block of films, or $20 for a day pass. Movies are shown at various Lee County locations, including Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, BIG ARTS, Alliance for the Arts, IMAG, Babcock Ranch and Broadway Palm. fortmyersfilmfestival.com

3. Romantic musical 'I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change'

The hit off-Broadway musical promises to reveal "everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit.” May 24-June 16. Discount previews May 21-23. $35-$55. Players Circle Theater, 13211 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. 800-3292 or playerscircletheater.com

4. Dinner theater mystery 'Murder Among the STARS'

Traveling theatrical troupe GibsonHouse Mystery Performers visits The Standard with this interactive murder-mystery dinner show. Audience members try to guess whodunnit and win prizes. The story involves a famous astrologer who dies from an apparent poisoning while attempting to entertain the audience. It's up to a young security guard – along with the audience – to solve the mystery. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 25. $60 (including meal). The Standard at Page Field Commons, 5031 S. Cleveland Ave.,  Fort Myers. For reservations, call 920-9463.

5. Hard rockers The Electric Mud at Nice Guys

The popular Fort Myers hard-rock band returns to Nice Guys to play some older songs, as well new music from their upcoming album. They'll be joined by alt-country band Sun State Blues from Bonita Springs. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., show starts at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, May 25. $15. Nice Guys Pizza, 1334 Cape Coral Parkway E., downtown Cape Coral.  facebook.com/NiceGuysPizza

MORE THINGS TO DO

Broadway Palm musical 'The Addams Family'

Last chance to see the 2010 Broadway musical based on the creepy, kooky family from the 1960s TV show and the popular movie franchise. One of those characters, the young Wednesday Addams, is the star of a recent hit Netflix TV series. Now through Saturday, May 25. $35-$80.Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com

AI-written play 'A.I. Genesis' at FGCU

Last chance to see Ghostbird Theatre Company's latest experimental work − written entirely using artificial intelligence. Directed and conceived by Barry Cavin, "A.I. Genesis" tries to answer the question, "What if the end of the world is brought about by artificial intelligence?" Friday and Saturday, May 24-25. $20 ($7 for students). Seating is very limited. The play is suitable for ages 16 and older. FGCU Arts Complex, Room 111, Florida Gulf Coast University, 10501 FGCU Blvd S., Estero. ghostbirdtheatrecompany.org

Comedy show 'A Cracker at the Ritz' at Arts Bonita

Satirical duo Compton & Bennett return with their popular musical poking fun at Southwest Florida. They perform twice a month at Arts Bonita. 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 28. $35-$45. Arts Bonita Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs. 495-8989 or artsbonita.org

'Men Are Dogs' at Fort Myers Theatre

Last chance to see the first of several Joe Simonelli plays planned for Fort Myers Theatre in 2024-25. The former New York playwright now lives in south Fort Myers. Simonelli produced, directed and even performs in "Men Are Dogs." The romantic comedy follows a psychologist who stages mock therapy sessions to help her neurotic patients in a support group for single and divorced women - all while dealing with problems of her own. Now through Saturday, May 25. $20-$35. Fort Myers Theatre, 16120 San Carlos Blvd., Unit #5, south Fort Myers. 323-6570 or ftmyerstheatre.com

LOOKING AHEAD

Broadway Palm jazz musical 'Swing!'

This 1999 musical celebrates the jumping, jiving Big Band Era with lots of dancing, singing and timeless songs such as “In The Mood,” “Sing Sing Sing” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got that Swing.” May 31-June 22. $60-$85. Broadway Palm dinner theater, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers. 278-4422 or broadwaypalm.com

Louisville Slugger Warriors: Amputee baseball team plays ball, films documentary

The nationally known baseball team Louisville Slugger Warriors is made up entirely of players with amputations. They'll compete against the Naples MSBL All-Stars while director/producer John Biffar films the game for his upcoming documentary, "Curveballs." 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1. Free. JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive, south Fort Myers. 802-777-7232

Wayne Newton in Naples

The Las Vegas legend is known for “Danke Schoen,” “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast” and other hits. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 1. $65-$85. Seminole Center at Seminole Casino Hotel, 506 S. First St., Immokalee. 658-1313 or moreinparadise.com

Music aLIVE SWFL FEST: Bands helping bands with free show

The nonprofit Music aLIVE SWFL hosts this new music festival featuring some of Southwest Florida's top musical acts. The lineup includes Jeff Lyons, Steve Lutke, James Wilder, The Patina Turners, Sideshow Bob, Radio Ghost, Tizzle Fritz, Smack Daddy and Darrell Nutt's "Funk Cancer" Allstars. 2-9 p.m. Sunday, June 2. Free with a suggested $20 donation. The event is a fundraiser for Music aLIVE SWFL, which gives financial assistance, education and more to Southwest Florida musicians. The Pickle-N-Pub, 15455 Old McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. facebook.com/musicaliveswfl

Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Fringe Fort Myers, film festival: Best things to do this weekend