Hari Kondabolu Plays the Neptune, Donald Byrd Takes on Tchaikovsky, and Annie Leibovitz Captures the Zeitgeist

The week’s best arts and entertainment.

STAGE

Hari Kondabolu He was born in Queens, but Seattle claims this rising stand-up star for our own. Most recently he’s started a provocative conversation about the depiction of South Asians in pop culture with his doc The Problem With Apu, a look at The Simpsons’ problematically stereotypical convenience-store owner. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., stgpresents.org. $23.50. 7:30 & 10 p.m. Fri., Dec. 15.

DANCE

Spectrum Dance Theater See a work-in-progress presentation of Donald Byrd’s adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s fairy-tale opera Iolanta (about a secluded princess’s awakening; the allegorical possibilities are infinite) and get a taste before its spring 2019 premiere. Spectrum Dance Theater, 800 Lake Washington Blvd., spectrumdance.org. $20. 8 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 14–Sat., Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Sun., Dec. 17.

CLASSICAL

North Corner Chamber Orchestra A nice miscellany from this conductorless ensemble—basically, it’s chamber music for 20 players. There’s a commissioned premiere by jazz trumpeter/composer Jim Knapp; Bach’s jaunty Brandenburg Concerto no. 1; Arvo Pärt’s medieval-evoking Fratres for winds and percussion; and Stravinsky’s recited/danced/theater piece/thing A Soldier’s Tale. Magnolia UCC, 3555 W. McGraw St., 2 p.m. Sat., Dec. 16, and The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 7:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 17. $15–$25. nocco.org.

BOOKS & SPEAKERS

Finnegans Wake Project In which Neal Kosaly-Meyer, by a commodius vicus of recirculation, performs/recites Part I, Chapter 4 of Joyce’s inscrutable but musical masterwork. From memory. Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., wayward.music.com. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 16.

Annie Leibovitz The paramount portrait photographer shows and discusses works in her 12th published collection, Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005–2016. Caitlyn Jenner, Stephen Hawking, Barack Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda: It’s the zeitgeist in 150 photos. Campion Ballroom, Seattle University, 914 E. Jefferson St., townhallseattle.org. $5 and up. (Sold out at press time, but see what you can do.) 7 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 14.

See all Seattle arts events for the week, and beyond, on our new-and-improved calendar.

<em>If you can’t get into Leibovitz’s talk at Seattle U., she’ll be signing at Elliott Bay Book Co. Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.</em>

If you can’t get into Leibovitz’s talk at Seattle U., she’ll be signing at Elliott Bay Book Co. Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.

Hari Kondabolu Plays the Neptune, Donald Byrd Takes on Tchaikovsky, and Annie Leibovitz Captures the Zeitgeist

If you can’t get into Leibovitz’s talk at Seattle U., she’ll be signing at Elliott Bay Book Co. Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.

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