Susan Murray
Three puppeteers control the movements of the War Horse, Joey
War Horse - Through Sunday, times vary - Kicking off SunTrust Broadway’s 2012-13 season, this winner of five Tony Awards features a life-size cane puppet complete with three puppeteers creating extraordinarily accurate horse-like movements. The horse and other puppets created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company are just one element in this inventive drama that tells a tale of courage, loyalty and friendship. DPAC, 123 Vivian St.; $35+; 919-680-2787
Pandit Birju Maharaj & Co. - Thursday, 8pm - A legend of Indian classical dance offers a primer on an ancient art form. Reynolds Industries Theater, 125 Science Dr.; $32-$38; 919-684-4444
Secrets I Never Told My Mother – Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 8pm - Based on interviews collected by choreographer Leah Wilks, the multimedia dance performance uses video design, audio documentary and the movement of five dancers to explore the practice of secret-keeping, and the societal expectations and human reasoning that accompany it. Trotter Building, 410 W. Geer St.; $10 in advance, $12-$15 at the door
Horton Grove Nature Preserve Grand Opening – Friday and Saturday, 2:30–8pm Fri. and 10am–4pm Sat. – celebrate the opening of Triangle Land Conservancy’s largest nature preserve, and its first in Durham. The 708-acre preserve is adjacent to Historic Stagville. Come explore the rich cultural and natural history of the area at this unique resource for Durham County and the entire Triangle region. Hart House, Jock Road; Free; 919-833-3662
Movies on the Lawn - Friday, 7:30pm and 9pm - Shut Up and Play the Hits, a documentary that covers the final performance of LCD Soundsystem in Madison Square Garden, screens beneath the Lucky Strike water tower at 9pm along with Under African Skies at 7:30pm, a film about Paul Simon's return to South Africa 25 years after his historic Graceland album. American Tobacco Campus, 318 Blackwell St.; Free; 919-433-1570
World Beer Festival - Saturday, noon and 6pA chance to taste and sample craft and specialty beers in two-ounce pours. Durham Bulls Athletic Park, 409 Blackwell St.; $45; 919-530-8150
Anonymous 4 + Mountain Goats - Saturday, 8pm - John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats and the singers of the all-female vocal quartet Anonymous 4 perform a collaborative song cycle called Transcendental Youth in this Duke Performances concert. The haunting pieces accompany a program of medieval songs by the quartet, a solo Mountain Goats set and another handful of collaborations between these two musical worlds. Reynolds Industries Theater, 125 Science Dr.; $32 and $38; 919-684-4444
Great American Tobacco Duke Race - Sunday, 1- 5pm - Thousands of people will line the banks of the Ol’ Bull River to find out who’ll win prizes for the swiftest ducks. The duck activities get underway with a duck decorating contest, followed by the duck race and concluding with an awards ceremony. Proceeds from this year’s race benefit Explorer Post 50, Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and Durham Literacy Center. American Tobacco Campus, 318 Blackwell St.; $10 per duck, $250 for corporate ducks; 919-433-1570
