Eddie Izzard Swoops by the Byham; Mark Dignam Celebrates New Album (CPs Sat., 5/31/14)

1) English comedian Eddie Izzard visits the Byham Theater on his “force majeure” tour. Bizarre and flamboyant, Izzard feverishly muses over questions we didn’t realize we had—and comes to conclusions we didn’t realize we needed—on a slew of subjects, ranging from history to religion to popular culture. Sometimes intellectual, sometimes merely silly, Izzard is a raconteur in the truest sense of the word. His imagination is incredibly active, brimming with absurdity, and he’s been bringing it to life before audiences (often improvised) for more than 25 years now. His career is nearly as chaotic as his stand-up routine. He didn’t begin appearing on this side of the Atlantic until the late ’90s, at which point he was quickly embraced by American audiences. Since then, he has appeared publicly in an impressive range of capacities—stand-up comedy, theater, television, film, commercials, even political activism. 8 p.m. 101 6^th St., Cultural District.

2) Folk-rock singer-songwriter Mark Dignam and his band, The House of Song, play at the Rex Theater to celebrate the launch of their new album, Re-Build. Mellow, poignant, and at times outright angry (e.g. “Damn you California/For all your fairytales”), Dignam and The House of Song have been musically active for over 15 years. Originating in the suburbs of Dublin, Ireland, Dignam’s music combines his own Irish heritage with the American folk tradition. Dignam began his musical career as a street performer in Dublin and today tours internationally. Re-Build is his fifth studio release. 8 p.m. 1602 E. Carson St., South Side.

3) Join the Steel City Improv Theater for LawProv, the improvisational performance in which the sole aim is to make a mockery of mock trials (and the trials which they mock). In the tradition of improv comedy, the audience chooses the lawsuit over which the players squabble. The players then take on various roles and debate the finer points of the fictional suit. It doesn’t matter which loony legal agent comes out on top; in the end, the audience surely wins. LawProv was created and is produced by local attorney Chad Shannon, who also participates in the absurd proceedings. Apparently, it didn’t take him long to realize what fodder our real-life legal system is for improvisational parody. 8 p.m. 5950 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside.

4) Hear the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra in An Evening of Pink Floyd, a tribute to one of the greatest classic rock bands. Accompanied by London-based rock vocalists and performers Jeans ‘n Classics, the Symphony will perform what is arguably Pink Floyd’s magnum opus, Dark Side of the Moon, in full, along with selections from The Wall. The Westmoreland Symphony’s Daniel Meyer will conduct and Jean Meilleur of Jeans ‘n Classics will lead on vocals. If ever there was rock music ideal for fusion with classical orchestration, Pink Floyd’s is it; the impact of complex, cerebral tunes like “Time” surely only deepen with a full symphony orchestra backing them. 7:30 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg.

5) The Pittsburgh Power go helmet-to-helmet with rustbelt rivals the Cleveland Gladiators in Arena Football League action at Consol Energy Center. 5 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Hill District.

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