1 Lang Lang Playing, with the Seattle Symphony, not one of the barnstormers he’s based his rep on, but Beethoven’s slender, Mozartean Concerto No. 2. Benaroya Hall, seattlesymphony.org.
2 Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner The popular, contrarian New York Times columnists discuss their latest, Superfreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance. Town Hall, kimricketts.com.
3–Feb. 28 Jamie Bennett/John Buck Bennett’s enamel-and-wire jewelry, running in parallel with Buck’s woodcuts, prints, and wooden sculpture. Bellevue Arts Museum, bellevuearts.org.
3 John Irving Last Night in Twisted River, his 12th novel, has a father and son on the run from the law in ’50s New England. Third Place Books, thirdplacebooks.com.
3 Steve Martin The veteran funnyman plays it relatively straight in support of his surprise hit album The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. Remember: He was playing that instrument long before SNL. The Steep Canyon Rangers join him. Benaroya Hall, theparamount.com.
4 These Hills of Glory Carla Kihlstedt, the odeonquartet, and a flock of other brilliant local new-music masters play Wayne Horvitz. Benaroya Hall, earshot.org.
4 Vogler Quartet Heard them play Berg’s Lyric Suite in a living room once. Scarred me for life. In a good way. Not to be missed. Here they play “Music of the New Jewish School.” Meany Hall, uwworldseries.org.
5 Sutton Beres Culler New sculpture, video, and prints from the city’s most admired enfants terribles. Lawrimore Project, lawrimoreproject.com.
5–8 Seattle Symphony Eine Alpensinfonie is Richard Strauss’ vastest tone-poem, and that’s saying something. Benaroya Hall, seattlesymphony.org.
5–8 Diana Szeinblum The Argentinian choreographer was a former protégé of Pina Bausch, and she works in the same intense dance/theater style. On the Boards, ontheboards.org.
5–15 Director’s Choice A reprise of the ever-popular West Side Story Suite, plus the premiere of Val Caniparoli’s dance set to Glazunov’s The Seasons. Pacific Northwest Ballet, pnb.org.
5–28 The Full Monty When times are tough, try stripping. Balagan Theatre, balagantheatre.org.
6 The Men Who Stare at Goats George Clooney stars as a mentalist/military man in this comic adaptation of Jon Ronson’s nonfiction book. Early reviews are quite promising. Area theaters.
6 Symphony of the Superhero Film composer Mateo Messina’s annual fundraiser for Children’s Hospital. Benaroya Hall, thesymphonyguild.org.
6 Marion Verbruggen The grande dame of the recorder is joined by locals Margriet Tindemans and Jillon Stoppels Dupree. Town Hall, townhallseattle.org.
6–15 Simple Measures This chamber-music series aims to bring string quartets to the people. Earlier this year they posted a video of themselves performing on the S.L.U.T. This fall they’re collaborating with the Seattle Dance Project, including some “Rock-n-Roll music arrangements.” Madrona Dance Studio and Fremont Abbey, simplemeasures.org.
6–Dec. 5 At Home at the Zoo Edward Albee’s expansion of his A Zoo Story adds a backstory. Theater Schmeater, schmeater.org.
7–Jan. 10 Jeppe Hein The Danish artist’s neon installation See Listen Taste Feel was commissioned by the Henry. His 360° Illusion II uses spinning mirrors to make the museum into a funhouse (we sincerely hope). Henry Art Museum, henryart.org.
7–June 13 Heide Hinrichs Handmade, everyday items are transformed in this showcase for the German-born, Seattle-based artist. At a recent Howard House show, for instance, she cut apart old soccer balls and made them into flowers, bowls, and vaguely organic objects. Seattle Art Museum, seattleartmuseum.org.
8 Evan Flory-Barnes The Earshot Jazz Festival closes with a large-ensemble premiere by the Seattle bassist/composer and fomenter of the Hang. Dancers will be featured too. Town Hall, earshot.org.
9 Ken Auletta Bitter or satirical? You be the judge when the media- and money-obsessed author of Googled: The End of the World as We Know It comes to town. Central Library, spl.org.
9 Music of Remembrance Paul Schoenfield’s Sparks of Glory headlines a concert to commemorate the 71st anniversary of Kristallnacht. Benaroya Recital Hall, musicofremembrance.org.
10–11 Celtic Thunder In the, er, tradition of Lord of the Dance, five Celtic singers combine their voices with a light show and, yes, dance. McCaw Hall.
11–Jan. 31 Meet Me in St. Louis Adapted from the 1944 Judy Garland film, this happily-ever-after musical follows the Smith family as they pack up and move during the 1904 World’s Fair. “The Trolley Song” is sure to be a high point. Village Theatre, villagetheatre.org.
12–14 Complexions Dance Company Founders Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, two Alvin Ailey alums, bring that full-body physicality to a seething, stylish repertory. Meany Theater, meany.org.
12–14 Seattle Symphony Love it or hate it, it packs ’em in: Orff’s thundering Carmina burana. Benaroya Hall, seattlesymphony.org.
12–Jan. 10 Peter Pan The classic musical about the boy who won’t grow up. Admit it, you love it when they fly. Seattle Children’s Theatre, sct.org.
13 Fantastic Mr. Fox Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums) tries his hand at animation in this treatment of the Roald Dahl story; Meryl Streep and Bill Murray are among the voice talent behind the talking menagerie. Area theaters.
14 Lightcatcher Opening The Whatcom Museum in Bellingham celebrates the opening of a new exhibition space, called the Lightcatcher, whose exterior includes a 34-foot glass wall. The museum will now be equipped to host shows from the Smithsonian, with which it is affiliated. Initial exhibits include a show of contemporary art from the collection of Boise-based collectors Driek and Michael Zirinsky, and a site-specific piece by the always-intriguing Seattle artist John Grade. Whatcom Museum, whatcommuseum.org.
14 Paul Taub Seattle’s high priest of the flute celebrates 30 years at Cornish with an all-contemporary recital. PONCHO Concert Hall, cornish.edu.
17 Al Gore Mr. Inconvenient Truth continues the globe-saving cause with Our Choice. Expect graphs. Town Hall, kimricketts.com.
18 Isabella Rossellini The child of Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman has put together a series of short films, Green Porno, in which she—in costume—helps enact the mating practices of insects and marine animals. Who needs David Lynch? Benaroya Hall, lectures.org.
18–Dec. 13 Equivocation Bill Cain’s fanciful historical thriller had its recent debut at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Here, Shakespeare and his crew from the Globe run afoul of King James. Seattle Repertory Theatre, seattlerep.org.
20–Dec. 30 Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol Erstwhile SW columnist and critic John Longenbaugh debuts his new play, a comic mashup of Conan Doyle and Dickens. Taproot Theatre, taproottheatre.org.
21 Silence Is Golden NWFF challenges local directors to create five-minute silent films in the manner of Chaplin and Keaton. Northwest Film Forum, nwfilmforum.org.
24 Lise de la Salle The President’s Piano Series brings back this up-and-coming French pianist. Meany Hall, uwworldseries.org.
25 The Road This adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s ultra-acclaimed, ultra-disturbing, post-apocalyptic novel was filmed partly in the ashes of Mt. St. Helens. Viggo Mortensen stars as the stoic father trying to keep his son alive. Area theaters.
27–Dec. 19 Penguins, Episode 1 Late night at Annex, brought back by popular demand, Scot Augustson’s neo-noir, semi-Sopranos look at Catholic politics. Annex Theatre, annextheatre.org.
27–Dec. 27 A Christmas Carol Kurt Beattie and R. Hamilton Wright tag-team as Scrooge. A Contemporary Theatre, acttheatre.org.
27–Dec. 30 The Nutcracker With choreography by Merce Cunningham to a sound collage by John Cage. Kidding! It’s the Stowell/Tchaikovsky/Sendak version you’ve known and loved since 1533. Only 42 performances (here, we’re not kidding), so get your tix now! McCaw Hall, pnb.org.
28–Dec. 20 Seattle Men’s Chorus “Santa Baby” is the title of SMC’s 30th annual holiday program. Benaroya Hall, flyinghouse.org.
30 Richard Price Presents The Wire The acclaimed novelist (Clockers) has written for the equally acclaimed HBO series, which he’ll discuss tonight (along with a screening of the episode “All Due Respect.”) He’ll make a second appearance Dec. 1 at Benaroya Hall with Seattle Arts & Lectures. Seattle Art Museum, seattleartmuseum.org.
