The name “Mesopotamia” derives from a Greek term meaning “land between the rivers.” The Royal Ontario Museum’s latest major exhibit, which opens on June 22, takes this literally, as visitors flow between painted representations of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers on the floor.

Presented by the British Museum and rounded out with pieces from institutions in Chicago, Detroit, and Philadelphia, Mesopotamia: Inventing Our World covers 3,000 years of human development in the cradle of urban civilization. Most of the 170 artifacts on display have never been shown in Canada.

There are a lot of chefs in the kitchen for the Canadian premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play, a triptych set in three time periods that tells the stories of amateur actors (played by real actors) involved in staging performances of the story of Christ. Three different Toronto independent theatre companies, all with reputations for innovative staging and creation in their past work, each tackle one of the three acts. Ordinarily, such a complicated arrangement would be to a show’s detriment, but not in this case. While you need to be prepared for a marathon of theatre (the show runs four hours, incluing two intermissions), you’re certainly going to get your money’s worth.

“A cross between Woodstock and the Algonquin Round Table,” is what Michael Redhill called it. Dorothy Parker grinding out an electric cover of “The Star Spangled Banner”? Well, not quite. Rather, Redhill, the literary curator for Luminato 2013, was describing A Literary Picnic, the annual festival’s celebration of storytelling, creativity, and the written word.

The 2013 Toronto Jazz Festival descends on the city this Friday with a huge “free for all” event. That means all of Friday’s programming at every Jazz Festival venue is, yes, completely free of charge. There will be concerts from local favourites Molly Johnson and Mary Margaret O’Hara, plus a show by Smokey Robinson and Martha Reeves, who will be launching the fest from its epicentre, Nathan Phillips Square.

Here’s a rundown of some of the shows worth checking out on Friday—and during the rest of the festival, when you’ll actually have to pay.

Folks who are planning on having a swim in the pool at Scadding Court Community Centre over the next few days may find themselves a little disappointed. Those who want to go fishing, however, will probably be ecstatic.

For the rest of the week, the Community Centre will be holding its annual Gone Fishin’ event, meaning its indoor pool will be an indoor fish pond. The pool has been drained, dechlorinated, and refilled with 2,000 rainbow trout, to be caught by local children and families.

A new exhibition features the work of five acclaimed photographers. Here: "The Dark Hedges" by Bret Culp.

MUSIC: Does this event have swag? Yes, yes it does. If you’re in the mood for some hip-hop beats, check out Magpie’s ridiculously stacked evening of artists that includes Mindbender Supreme, Canadian Winter, Class of 93, Hachey the Mousepiece, and L-Spex. Click here to get a taste of some of their tunes before the show. Magpie Taproom (831 Dundas Street W.), 8 p.m., PWYC (suggested $7-10).

ART: Here’s a type of performance art you don’t see every day—a musician will actually be playing the paintings of an artist. Here’s the backstory: Jazz musician/composer Bruce Cassidy met painter Judy Singer in 2008 and was so moved by her work that he felt like there was a possibility to blend some mediums and collaborate. Fast forward to today and we get Heart to Heart—an evening of jazz and art where you’ll get to check out Singer’s paintings while drifting along to the smooth soul of Cassidy’s tunes. The Trane Studio (964 Bathurst Street), 8 p.m., $15.

MUSIC: Close out your Thursday with the harmonies of this folk band’s debut CD release concert. Scarlett Jane, an extremely radio-friendly joint project between Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire (who have both led successful solo careers) is launching their new CD, Stranger, as the start of their epic touring schedule. Special guests also include Sarah Burton, Jadea Kelly, Sara Fitzpatrick, and more. The Dakota Tavern (249 Ossington Avenue), 10 p.m., $10.

CORRECTION: May 10, 2012, 5:29 P.M. This post originally misidentified the Leonardo Galleries as the Yorkville Gallery. The error has now been corrected.

Urban Planner is Torontoist‘s guide to what’s on in Toronto, published every weekday morning, and in a weekend edition Friday afternoons. If you have an event you’d like considered, email all of its details—as well as images, if you’ve got any—to events@torontoist.com.