I like to tell people, “be bold.” I also like to tell them, “Eating too many chips is bad for you,” right before I grab their bag of chips and help myself.
Sometimes they don’t fully appreciate the teaching moment and I have to make a hasty exit, preferably without the bag on my head. But what I have to say about being bold especially goes this weekend, with abundant opportunities for both kids and grown-ups to delve into the more daring aspects of their personalities.
Yes, grab the bag! Just try not to be left holding it. Or wearing it.
1. Kansas City Royals vs. Chicago White Sox
The surprising news that Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez suffered a freak luggage accident and will be out four to six weeks may require bold action from the Boys in Blue during the team’s season-opening contests against the Chicago White Sox. Like pretending it didn’t happen. That’s right, send him out there. Be a man! No? Alright, then everyone else needs to buck up, including the thousands of loyal fans who will populate the stands with the strongest possible chants of “Be a man!” Er, I mean, “Let’s go Royals!” My insanely bold prediction: We still win more than 80 games.
Thursday, 3:15 p.m.; Saturday, 6:15 p.m.; Sunday, 1:15 p.m.; Kauffman Stadium, One Royal Way, Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $11-$132.
2. The Toughest Monster Truck Tour
There’s tough, tougher and toughest. After that? The Toughest Monster Truck Tour hasn’t figured that out yet, which is probably fortunate for all involved. Still, there should be no shortage of bold behavior when loud-and-proud monster truck fans cheer on the mechanical mayhem that’s scheduled to be committed by competing oversize motor vehicles, including Bigfoot 21, Quad Chaos and Snake Bite – plus crazy freestyle motocross antics. Wait…how about toughest-er? OK, I’ll work on it.
Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 1 and 7:30 p.m.; Silverstein Eye Centers Arena, 19100 E. Valley View Parkway, Independence, Mo.; tickets: $12-$35.
3. ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’
Stephen Sondheim’s unflinching stage-musical ode to bad behavior, “Sweeney Todd,” makes an audacious request of its audience to relate to a perverse pair of protagonists: the titular killer and his cunning female accomplice. At turns grisly and guffaw-inducing, this scary yet darkly amusing musical boldly bids you to not worry a speck about where the meat comes from in the most delicious pastry you can imagine. Take the (burp) challenge!
Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.; Spencer Theatre, 4949 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $29-$75.
4. ‘Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream’
To make a dream come true, you first must dare to have one. That’s when the bold fun begins in the touring Disney skating spectacular that revisits uplifting adventures of five favorite Disney animated-movie heroines: Moana, Belle (“Beauty and the Beast”), Anna (“Frozen”), Rapunzel (“Tangled”) and Cinderella. Not surprisingly – hey, it’s Disney, right? – a combination of courage, strength and tenaciousness win the day. Whether you’re 8 or 80, it can for you, too.
Thursday, 7 p.m.; Friday, 10:30 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.; Sprint Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $20-$85.
5. Lorna Shore
The name Lorna Shore may sound like a pleasant place at the water’s edge, but the actual sound made by this dauntless New Jersey deathcore band would go better with a visit to the edge of Hell. Cuts from their latest brazen album, “Flesh Coffin,” are likely to get the most play when the group impudently storms into Westport on Easter Sunday. Too perfect.
Sunday, 7:30 p.m.; Riot Room, Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $12.
Employing a bold technique can mean the difference between victory and defeat – even when it comes to egg rolling. And it will be every egg-roller for themselves, when the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum hosts its version of the traditional White House Egg Roll, which has been rolling along since 1878 in Washington DC. There will also be a story time and a visit from the Easter Bunny, who might be convinced to give egg-rolling tips to those bold enough to inquire. Demand a demo!
Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, 500 E. U.S. Highway 24, Independence, Mo.; admission: free.
Brian McTavish is a regular arts and culture contributor for KCUR 89.3. You can reach him at brianmctavish@gmail.com.