The best in the world of entertainment this April

The Dandelion Chandelier Luxury Entertainment Calendar highlights notable new events in theater, film, popular music and television in April 2018. It’s a quick read, after which you’ll be pop-culturally literate all month! For the rest of the Luxury Calendar, click here. And for a list of fantastic new books being published this month, click here.

With so many thrillers coming out this month, you might want to be sure you have a supply of sedatives on hand.  After a frenzied build-up, the film A Quiet Place opens in theaters. We’re dying to know why the characters have to be silent, aren’t you? Other notable releases in April include You Were Never Really Here and Traffik. The small screen isn’t light on action either, with debuts like Killing Eve and the return of both Westworld and The Handmaid’s Tale.  If you’re inclined toward true crime drama, check out the new podcast Death in Ice Valley, which is based on an unsolved murder in Norway. Too much excitement? If you’re looking to escape to your happy place, you’ll find lighter fare in theater and pop music. We’re keen to catch Instructions for Correct Assembly at The Royal Court Theater – and we’re all in for the cannot-miss event of the music world this month: Beyoncé, Eminem and The Weeknd headlining Coachella. Yaaass!!!

Film

The true-life suspense drama Chappaquiddick explores the mysterious events surrounding the tragic drowning of a young woman, and the ensuing scandal, when Ted Kennedy drove his car off the infamous bridge in Martha’s Vineyard. Starring Jason Clarke as Ted Kennedy and Kate Mara as Mary Jo Kopechne – April 6

The Florida Film Festival in Hollywood, Florida celebrates it’s 27th year – April 6- 15

John Krasinski’s thriller A Quiet Place revolves around a family who must navigate their lives in silence after mysterious creatures that hunt by sound threaten their survival – April 6

You Were Never Really Here is a revenge thriller from writer/director Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin) and stars Joaquin Phoenix as a hired killer who unearths dark secrets while trying to save a girl from a life of prostitution – April 6

Borg vs. McEnroe finally gets a US release this month; the film tells the story of the epic rivalry between Swedish tennis legend Björn Borg and his greatest adversary, the brash American John McEnroe – April 13

Founded in 2000, the East End Film Festival is one of the UK’s largest film festivals – April 11-29

The Tribeca Film Festival will open its 17th edition with the world premiere of the documentary LOVE, GILDA – April 18- 29

In Traffik, an action-packed thriller, a couple spending a romantic weekend in the mountains is accosted by a bike gang; Omar Epps and Paula Patton star – April 20

Anna Faris stars in a remake of 1987 film Overboard, (which starred Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell) – only this time, roles are reversed with Faris playing a working-class single mom of three hired to clean the luxury yacht of a selfish, spoiled, rich playboy from Mexico – April 20

Avengers: Infinity War hits the big screen on April 27

Television

On David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction on Netflix, JAY-Z takes the hot seat this month

John Legend stars, Sara Bareilles is Mary Magdalene, and Alice Cooper is King Herod in NBC’s prime time live broadcast of Jesus Christ Superstar – April 1

Legion returns to FX – April 2

If you’re hungry for more of Jordan Peele’s genius (and we totally are), you’ll want to see The Last O.G. He co-created and executive produced the project, which stars Tracy Morgan as Tray, an ex-felon adjusting to life outside prison and Tiffany Haddish as the mother of Tray’s children – April 3

HBO’s latest drama Paterno examines the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal that rocked Penn State’s college football program; it focuses on the two-week period when the story first became public. Al Pacino stars as Joe Paterno – April 7

M. Forster’s seminal 1910 novel, Howard’s End, about two strong-willed sisters dealing with love and loss at the turn of the 20th century, gets the miniseries treatment; Hayley Atwell and Matthew Macfadyen star – April 8

Killing Eve on BBC America is based on Luke Jennings’ Villanelle books, and stars Sandra Oh as “a bored MI5 security officer whose desk job does not fulfill her fantasies of being a spy.” That all changes when Oh is thrown into a deadly cat-and-mouse game with Jodie Comer’s psychopathic assassin – April 8

Following the reboot trend is Lost in Space on Netflix. This version promises to be darker and more ambitious than its campy ’60s predecessor. The show again revolves around the Robinson family, led by Toby Stephens and Molly Parker, as they fight to survive on a foreign planet – April 13

Westworld returns to HBO after a nearly two year wait – April 22

The Handmaid’s Tale Season 2 premieres this month on Hulu; its highly-anticipated, “much darker” new season promises to expand on the world of Gilead and its inhabitants – April 25

Bobby Kennedy For President, an original 4-hour documentary series from Dawn Porter (Gideon’s Army), and RadicalMedia will premiere on Netflix; this month marks the 50th anniversary of Kennedy’s historic 83-day presidential run – April 27

Theater

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ best-selling book about race, Between the World and Me, will receive a theatrical performance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem; the live event will be a presentation of excerpted selections, read monologue-style by notable guest artists with newly composed music by pianist Jason Moran (“Selma” and “Netflix’s 13th”), direction by Apollo Executive Producer Kamilah Forbes, and interactive visual storytelling by projection media artists.- April 2-3

The Moderate Soprano is the story of an intense love affair and the unrelenting search for artistic excellence in the face of searing scrutiny, sacrifice and the impending Second World War.  The show make its West End premiere at the Duke of York’s Theatre – Previews April 5, opens April 12

Award-winning actor Sir Antony Sher rises to the teetering throne in King Lear at BAM, giving a career-defining performance as the all-too-trusting monarch in the twilight of his sanity – April 7-29

Set in 15th-century France, Saint Joan follows a country girl whose mysterious visions propel her into elite circles. When the nation’s rulers become threatened by her popularity and influence, they unite to bring her down and she finds herself on trial for her life; Condola Rashad stars – Previews April 3, opens April 25

Thomas Eccleshare’s new play at the Royal Court Theater, Instructions for Correct Assembly, is a funny and poignant study of nature, nurture and flat pack furniture. It follows parents Max and Harry in their attempt to build themselves a perfect son – Previews April 7, opens April 13

A new folk opera by Guy Chambers opens at the Vaudeville Theater in London; entitled The Selfish Giant, it’s based on the short story of the same name by Oscar Wilde – April 10

Summer and Smoke takes place in turn-of-the-century Mississippi, where the local minister’s daughter walks the line between piety and sensuality with the neighborhood doctor who grew up next door. Jack Cummings III helms this sultry Southern Gothic masterpiece by Tennessee Williams at the Classic Stage Company – Previews April 13, opens May 3

Speaking of summer, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical presents the complexities and conflicts the famed songwriter and singer faced in her meteoric rise and descent. The show features a score with more than 20 of Summer’s classic hits including “Love to Love You, Baby,” “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff” – in previews now, opens April 23

Chess gets its first major West End revival in over 30 years at the English National Opera.  The musical tells a story of love and political intrigue, set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s. The music is by ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus – Previews April 26, opens May 1

Ryan Murphy and David Stone have gathered a dynamic group of stars to bring Mart Crowley’s groundbreaking play The Boys in the Band to Broadway for the first time.  Jim Parsons, Matt Bomer, Zachary Quinto, Andrew Rannells and Robin De Jesús play a group of gay men gathered in a New York City apartment for a friend’s birthday party. As the evening continues, the cracks beneath their friendships begin to show, exposing the self-inflicted heartache that threatens their solidarity – Previews April 30, opens May 31

Popular Music

Haim starts their Sister Sister Sister tour in the states in Portland before heading out to Europe for the summer – April 3

Golden is the 14th album by Australian singer Kylie Minogue – April 6

Before Camila Cabello joins Taylor Swift’s tour this summer, she embarks on a solo month long tour across North America.  Her Never Be the Same Tour kicks off in Vancouver – April 9

Bruno Mars take his 24K Magic tour to Japan with four shows in Saitama – April 11-12, 14-15

Jason Aldean’s latest album Rearview Town will boast 15 new tracks and a guest appearance by Miranda Lambert – April 13

The Indio desert once again becomes a fashionable hive of the coolest bands and the coolest people with the return of Coachella. Beyoncé, Eminem and The Weeknd headline – April 13- 22

Dua Lipa performans at O2 Apollo Manchester – April 15

The unlikely duo of Sting & Shaggy will release their new collaborative island-inspired album, entitled 44/876 – April 20

Janelle Monáe drops Dirty Computer – April 27

Releasing a new album for his birthday is becoming an annual tradition for Willie Nelson, who releases his next LP, Last Man Standing just days before he turns 85 – April 27

The Annual Jazz & Heritage Festival returns to New Orleans. This year’s line-up of performers includes Aerosmith, Rod Stewart, Sting, Jimmy Buffett, Jack White, Beck and Lionel Richie, among others – April 27- May 6

New Podcasts

Fresh off a successful guest appearance on HBO, the comedian Michelle Buteau is getting her own show, called Late Night Whenever. The podcast will adapt the late-night-show format for your earbuds – complete with an in-house (one-man) band, stand-up performances, and celebrity guests – April 3

Death in Ice Valley will follow investigative reporter Marit Higraff and documentarian Neil McCarthy across Norway as they attempt to solve a crime from the winter of 1970; the body of a woman, badly burned, was discovered in the Isdalen Valley near Bergen, Norway. After almost five decades, the woman’s identity still remains unknown – April 16

See other April 2018 Events:

— Travel

— Food & Drink

— Planes, Yachts & Autos

— Fitness & Sports

— Fashion & Design

— The Arts

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