Funny Bone hosts commedian/actor

3/15/2012
BLADE STAFF
John Witherspoon
John Witherspoon

Comedian John Witherspoon will perform live at the Funny Bone Comedy Club this weekend. Best known for playing rapper Ice Cube's cranky father in the 1995 comedy Friday, Witherspoon is a staple in black comedies, including Boomerang (1992) with Eddie Murphy and Hollywood Shuffle (1987) with Robert Townsend. In the earlier days of his career, Witherspoon opened for Richard Pryor and later was featured on the short-lived Richard Pryor Show in 1977. He now plays Robert Freeman, aka Granddad, on the animated series The Boondocks.

Shows begin at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday. Sunday's show will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $23; patrons must be 21 or older to attend.

West Side Montessori and its parent group, PACC, are hosting a free screening of Race to Nowhere, Sunday at the Maumee Indoor Theater, 601 Conant St., Maumee. The documentary sheds light on problems in the education system and the high pressure, high-stakes American culture. Doors open at 2 p.m. and the show begins at 2:30 p.m.

Ohio Northern University's Freed Center for the Performing Arts will present the Miller band at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Biggs Theatre. Miller is a family band, composed of three brothers who perform a mix of blues and rock. The band has shared the stage with musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, and B.B. King. General admission for tonight's concert is $20. For tickets call 419-772-1900 or visit freedcenter.com.