CLASSICAL, ETC.

One day, we hope, a female conductor won’t be remarkable, but an expert 19-year-old cellist like Sheku Kanneh-Mason (who played at Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding) always will be. He joins the Seattle Symphony to solo in Tchaikovsky; Ruth Reinhardt also conducts Schumann, Saariaho (her shimmering, shivering Winter Sky), and Beethoven. Benaroya Hall, seattlesymphony.org. $45–$130. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 18 & 8 p.m. Sat., Oct. 20. 7 p.m. Fri. is a one-hour “Untuxed” concert w/o Saariaho.

Mahler’s Symphony no. 2—subtly subtitled “Resurrection”—is no less earthshaking, by all accounts, when organist David Briggs plays it in his own transcription—in this case accompanying four choirs in the grandiose St. James Cathedral. stjames-cathedral.org. $25. 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 19.

Seu Jorge, the samba artist whose Bowie covers added to The Life Aquatic’s charm, joins the Seattle Symphony. Benaroya Hall, seattlesymphony.org. $45–$100. 7:30 p.m. Tues., Oct. 23.

BOOKS & SPEAKERS

The five-lecture series Makers of the Now spotlights contemporary Native American and First Nations visual artists. This week, Sonny Assu. Frye Art Museum, fryemuseum.org. 7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 18.

From punk-rock provocateur/pater familias Henry Rollins, a sort of memoir, in photos and commentary, of his career travels. I’m betting he won’t stick entirely to that topic, though. The Neptune, stgpresents.org. $29, 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 19.

Stand-up comedian, writer, actress and co-creator/co-star of the podcast 2 Dope Queens Phoebe Robinson has a new book out called Everything is Trash, But It’s Okay. Benaroya Recital Hall, lectures.org. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 19.

During the Woodstock era, it was overshadowed in hipness by its provocatively political rivals: Laugh-In, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and, eventually, Saturday Night Live. But The Carol Burnett Show (1967–78)—the last example of a variety show, the genre that had once dominated television, to achieve both comic genius (sorry, Hee Haw) and wide appeal (one day, Tracey Ullman)—did break ground in one respect: It was arguably the gayest show on television until Will & Grace. (Harvey Korman could swish with the best of them, and all those handsome male Ernest Flatt Dancers? Oh, Mary, don’t ask.) Carol Burnett began her run as an up-and-coming talent and ended it an icon, and at 85 (!), she’s still going strong. Her show on Sunday will take off from her series’ warmly remembered Q&A cold opens, and include plenty of clips and stories. Benaroya Hall, seattlesymphony.org. $69–$179. 7 p.m. Sun., Oct. 21.

Jon Morris’s League of Regrettable Sidekicks introduces you to the weirdest bit players in comix history. Third Place Books Lake Forest Park, thirdplacebooks.com. 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 22.

Jill Soloway, the creator of Transparent and author of her memoir of transformation She Wants It, is joined by Hannah Gadsby (whose stand-up comedy special Nanette set Netflix on fire) and author Morgan Parker. They’ll discuss #MeToo and much more. Temple De Hirsch Sinai. $5. 7:30 p.m., Tues., Oct. 23. Soloway also appears alone at Third Place Books Seward Park, 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 22.

STAGE

The night S/HE came home! Ian Bell’s gender-bent Brown Derby Series and its staged sendups of cult classics takes on Halloween just in time for the horror flick’s 40th anniversary. Re-bar. $22. 8 p.m., Oct. 18–20.

The Fern Shakespeare Company, in its first season in Seattle, continues its all-femxle exploration of the Bard’s plays with Much Ado About Nothing. The Slate Theater, fernshakespeare.com. $12–$20. Oct. 18–Nov. 11.

Peace in the Middle East may seem impossible, but a Norwegian couple almost made it happen in the ‘90s. Oslo tells of the thrilling back-channel drama that led to the Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestine. ACT Theatre, acttheatre.org. $20 and up. Oct 18–Nov. 11.

The Can Can reinvents Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, burlesque-style with This Is Halloween. The Triple Door, thetripledoor.net. $29–$49. 7:30 p.m. Tues.–Thurs.; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Fri.–Sat.; 5 and 7:30 p.m. Sun. Early shows 17 and over, late shows 21 and over. Ends Oct. 31.

MUSIC

The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn preaches his poetic rock gospels of drunken and downtrodden Americana heartache during a night of solo sets at The Neptune with headliner Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem. stgpresents.org. $28.50. 8 p.m. Sun., Oct. 21.

FILM

How many horror films make you cry when the monster dies? The original 1933 King Kong does, doesn’t it? Grand Illusion, grandillusioncinema.org. $5–$9. Runs Oct. 20–23 & 25.

DANCE

Julia Kent created the score for The Midsummer, a Shakespeare-alluding piece by Beth Terwilleger’s new company the gray. Velocity Dance Center, velocitydancecenter.org. $15–$50. 8 p.m. Oct. 19–21.