THURSDAY-SATURDAY

>> Ride ‘em cowboy! Rodeo rolls into Waimanalo

Saddle up for Dita Holifield’s All American Rodeo, which returns to Waimanalo for four shows this week.

Revived by the country western singer six years ago, the event will bring in traditional rodeo contests like bull- and bronc-riding, as well as uniquely Hawaiian rodeo events like double- mugging, where two cowboys wrangle a cow on foot.

The family-friendly competition also features a Mutton Bustin’ competition, with keiki riding on goats, and roping and barrel racing for women. For those who prefer a less competitive environment, there will be pony rides and a petting zoo.

More than 120 paniolo from around the islands are expected to participate in the three days of competitions. Special guests include Kevin Higley, a top rodeo clown based in Utah, and the Hawai‘i Pa‘u Riders, who have represented Hawaii in several mainland parades and rodeos.

Powerful animals aren’t the only feature at this year’s rodeo. Several of the monster trucks from the last month’s Monster X Tour shows at Aloha Stadium have been kept on the islands and will be available for rides at the rodeo. Those shows were the first in 20 years in Hawaii. Motorcycles and new cars and trucks will also be on display.

The event is a fundraiser for Aloha United Way and other local charitable organizations.

DITA HOLIFIELD’S ALL AMERICAN RODEO

>> Where: New Town & Country Stables, 41-1800 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo

>> When: 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday

>> Cost: $15-$40

>> Info: hawaiiallamericanrodeo.com

FRIDAY

>> Cabaret show calls out talented cast of singers

All-round entertainer Kimee Balmilero just can’t stay away from the stage.

The actor, who starred in mainland productions of the Emmy-nominated series “Hi-5,” “Mamma Mia” and “Miss Saigon,” could have taken a summer break from her recurring television roles on “Hawaii Five-0” and “Magnum P.I.” Instead she’s devoting her energy to her theater company Stage Fish, which on Friday will present “An Unapologetic Night Of Singing Your Face Off!” at the Honolulu Museum of Art.

The cabaret-style show will feature songs from musicals, pop and opera, performed by talented artists who can’t commit to a long theater runs and want to appeal to younger audiences. Balmilero said her company is intended to fill “pukas” in the local theater scene, where big-time musicals predominate.

Many of the performers in this show are in the midst of developing their own careers in entertainment. Look for Jared Ming, lead singer for some local bands, and Sarah Halford, pictured at right, who has made a number of television appearances and runs her own acting school. Sarah’s brother, pictured at top, Reyn Halford is also a thespian who performs when he’s not working as a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines.

“AN UNAPOLOGETIC NIGHT OF SINGING YOUR FACE OFF!”

>> Where: Honolulu Museum of Art

>> When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

>> Cost: $35

>> Info: 532-6097, honolulumuseum.org

SUNDAY-JUNE 30

>> Tango treats open annual piano festival

The delightfully daring tango opens the 14th annual Aloha International Piano Festival this weekend.

Festival organizer Lisa Nakamichi is bringing Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Iggy Jang, pictured below, tango scholar and pianist Alfred Minetti, above at left, and bandoneon master Richard Scofano, above at right, and it should be quite an evening. Jang has been an ardent fan of tango since his days growing up in Paris, where tango was the rage, and he’s presented two entertaining programs of tango here in recent years. Minetti, one of Jang’s guests here, has formed a tango duo with Scofano that has toured internationally since 2014. The concert is Sunday at Orvis Auditorium.

Piano-music lovers might also want to check out the youth and amateur music competitions, which will be held from 9:30 a.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center on June 29. It’s a chance to see some up-and-coming local talent, with the festival attracting a number of budding virtuosi from the mainland and Asia over the years. The winners will perform at 2 p.m. June 30 at Orvis Auditorium. The weeklong festival includes a full slate of free afternoon masterclasses, where acclaimed pianists Jon Nakamatsu and Eugene and Elizabeth Pridonoff will give a public lesson to young musicians. Check alohapianofestival.com for a schedule.

ALOHA INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL

>> Where: Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawaii

>> When: 4 p.m. Sunday

>> Cost: $25-$30

>> Info: alohapianofestival.com

MONDAY-WEDNESDAY

>> Remembering a racial pioneer

In his years on the local stage, Curtis Duncan, pictured below, has played heroes and villains and characters in between. Next week, he stars as civil rights pioneer Thurgood Marshall in The Actors’ Group production of “Thurgood,” a one-man play by George Stevens Jr. that honors the man who became the first African-American on the United States Supreme Court.

Marshall grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, during a time when southern-style race laws were still in force. He began working with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People a year after he graduated from the Howard University School of Law in 1933. In the years that followed, Marshall successfully litigated a series of landmark cases that chipped away at “whites only” admissions policies and at the doctrine of “separate but equal” that was used to maintain racially segregated public facilities.

Representing the NAACP, Marshall won 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the Supreme Court. The most famous and far-reaching was Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954, which ruled that racially segregated public school systems were unconstitutional nationwide.

President Johnson appointed Marshall to the Supreme Court in 1967. Marshall served on the Court for 24 years and described his legal philosophy as, “You do what you think is right and let the law catch up.”

Thurgood Marshall retired from the bench in 1991. He died 18 months later.

Laurence Fishburn played Marshall when “Thurgood” opened on Broadway in 2008; Fishburn reprised the role when HBO presented a filmed version of the play in 2011. Duncan is the first actor to portray Marshall in a local production.

“THURGOOD”

Starring Curtis Duncan

>> Where: Brad Powell Theatre, Dole Cannery, 650 Iwilei Road

>> When: 7:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday

>> Cost: $20

>> Info: 722-6941, taghawaii.net

For additional events, visit staradvertiser.com/calendar.