The May River Theatre Co. opens its 17th season with A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters,” taking the stage May 2-5 to tug at the funny bone and the heartstrings. The play follows two childhood friends and their life-long correspondence. It’s full of shared nostalgia, missed opportunities and deep closeness.

“Love Letters” establishes the characters without the aid of set, costume or movement. It stars Daniel and Debbie Cort, who headlined May River Theatre’s productions of “The Pajama Game,” “Man of La Mancha” and “The Addams Family.”

CHRIST-DRIVEN

“You belong” is the mantra at Church of the Palms, as it is with intention that this body of believers aims to make all who visit feel welcome, regardless of where they come from, what they believe, or what race, creed, orientation or denomination they are — “...for all are welcome in God's house.” And so it is with this purpose and the newly constructed Christian Life Center, which nearly doubled the church’s footprint, that Church of the Palms serves as an outreach center for the Okatie community. Each week the church hosts several groups and organizations including Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Lowcountry Youth Wind Symphony, Al-Anon, Koinonia Caps (caps handsewn for people living with cancer) and, of course, our weekly Bible studies, which include Sisters at 2 p.m. Tuesdays and 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays and Brothers at 8 a.m. Thursdays and 7:30 a.m. every other Saturday.

MAYFEST’S FAMED UGLY DOG CONTEST PAYS TRIBUTE TO MAN’S BEST FRIEND

There’s been a tasteful, yet undeniably transformative, change happening in Bluffton in recent years. Sophisticated fine art galleries have sprung up among Old Town’s eclectic shops. Upscale dining has found a seat at the table next to stick-to-your-ribs barbecue and freshly shucked oysters. And it’s not unusual to find a sparkling new Bugatti parked alongside the beat-up old pickups and golf carts.

Salsa dancing, a taco competition and games for kids are just some of the fun activities planned for the seventh Cerveza Estrella Jalisco Fiesta de Mayo. This celebration of Mexican culture and heritage put on by La Isla magazine will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 19 at Shelter Cove Community Park on Hilton Head Island.

Pockets Full of Sunshine will host the 2019 Fun in the Sun for Everyone Day from 10 a.m. to noon June 7 in front of Marriott’s Surfwatch on Hilton Head Island. 

Special-needs participants and their families of all ages and abilities are invited to join in this annual event on the beach in a safe and inclusive setting. 

Neil Simon’s Broadway hit comedy Barefoot in the Park closes the Lean Ensemble Theater season with a light-hearted look at a newlyweds Corie and Paul Bratter, who are just returning from their honeymoon.  Their bliss is punctured by reality in the dumpy Greenwich Village apartment they now share. To make matters worse, it’s February. 

PUBLIC ART PROJECTS BUILD PRIDE ON HILTON HEAD

Everyone on Hilton Head Island has the chance to be an artist this year— thanks to a dynamic new public art series sponsored to the town to promote community engagement.

Art and culture are catalysts for civic engagement, and by participating in public art projects people build a stronger connection with where they live, said Jennifer McEwen, director of the Town of Hilton Head Island’s Office of Cultural Affairs.