Canonici sings Renaissance love songs

Step back to Valentine’s Day in 1550 with a cappella group Canonici, who present “Plaisir d’Amour: The Pleasure of Love” as part of the free Classical Tuesdays in Old Town series. The program includes Renaissance love songs in English, French and Italian. 7 p.m. Feb. 14. Free, all ages. Slavonian Hall, 2306 N. 30^th St., Tacoma. 253-752-2135, classicaltuesdays.blogspot.com

Kurt Weill with Tacoma Opera

Tacoma Opera’s annual Young Artists’ performances this weekend offer a cabaret version of music by Kurt Weill, the 20^th-century German composer and enormous stage influence, with works like “The Threepenny Opera.” Cast members include Celeste Godin, Woong Kim, Ksenia Popova, Bryan Hiroto Stenson and Heather Weirich. 8 p.m. Feb. 11, 2 p.m. Feb. 12. $30. Theatre on the Square, 915 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-627-7789, www.tacomaopera.com. Read more »

Last week for Kittredge tempera show

It’s the last week to see works in tempera by Nathan DiPietro at UPS’ Kittredge Gallery. DiPietro paints a bleak Northwest where lush native forests are replaced with developments and greenbelts. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Saturday through Feb. 11. Free. Kittredge Gallery, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Lawrence St., Tacoma.www.pugetsound.edu/kittredge

“The Pirates of Penzance” at UPS

It is indeed a glorious thing to be a Pirate King, at least at the University of Puget Sound this week, where vocal music students are putting on a production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s immortal comic operetta “The Pirates of Penzance” with orchestra accompaniment. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9-11, 2 p.m. Feb. 12. $12/$8/$5 UPS students. Schneebeck Concert Hall, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma. 253-879-3419, tickets.pugetsound.edu Read more »

PLU’s annual One Act Festival

Three one-act plays combine education and entertainment at Pacific Lutheran University’s annual APO One Act Festival “Loss…and Found,” beginning next Wednesday night. PLU’s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theater honor society, produces the festival; plays include “Recklessness” by Eugene O’Neill, “Otter Pops” by Alex Eddy and “Poor Little Doggy” by Myia Johnson. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25, 26, 27 and 28. $5/$3 students. Eastvold Mainstage, Pacific Lutheran University, Park Avenue South and 123^rd Street South, Tacoma. 253-535-7325, www.plu.edu

UPS folk-inspired cello concert

Prize-winning cellist and University of Puget Sound artist-in-residence David Requiro performs a recital of cello works inspired by folk music tonight, along with violinist Maria Sampen and pianist Tanya Stambuk. On the Eastern-European program is music by Janácek, Tsintsadze, Kodály and Bartók, including his “Rumanian Folk Dances.” 7:30 p.m. tonight. $12.50/$8.50 seniors, students, military and UPS faculty and staff/free for UPS students. Schneebeck Concert Hall, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma. 253-879-3419, tickets.pugetsound.edu Read more »

Brass and Organ Unlimited

This Sunday sees Brass Unlimited’s 14^th annual “Sounds of Brass Concert” atSt. Mark’s Lutheran Church, featuring the church’s new digital organ in music by Gabrieli, Saint-Saens, Mozart and Holst, with brass and percussion ensembles directed by Dr. John Falskow. 3 p.m. Jan. 22. Free. St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 6730 No. 17th St., Tacoma. 253-752-4966,www.smlutheran.org, www.brassunlimited.org

Eight hands, two pianos at UPS

Three of Tacoma’s best concert pianists and a guest artist will combine at the University of Puget Sound tonight to play orchestral works as you’ve (probably) never heard them before: Ravel’s “La Valse” played with four hands on two pianos and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture played with eight hands on two pianos, plus more. Artists include Duane Hulbert, Tanya Stambuk, Keith Ward and Central Washington University’s John Pickett, who’ll also play Liszt’s monumental Sonata in b minor for solo piano. The program opens the university’s 21^st annual piano festival. 7:30 p.m. tonight. $12.50/$8.50/free for UPS students. Schneebeck Hall, University of Puget Sound, 1500 N. Union Ave., Tacoma. 253-879-3419, ups.universitytickets.com

Grand Click Flick: “Astroboy”

This month’s free Click Family Flick at the Grand is the 2009 “Astroboy,” based on the classic Japanese animé series about a young robot with incredible powers. Doors open 9:30 a.m., screening 10 a.m. Jan. 21. Free to first 100 people. The Grand Cinema, 606 S. Fawcett Ave., Tacoma. 253-593-4474, www.grandcinema.com

New artists at Fulcrum

With a New Year come new artists, at least at Fulcrum Gallery, where the newly-opened “Dawn of 2012” features six emerging Tacoma artists. Julian Pena, Kelsi Finney, Gabriel Brown, Kirsten Marie Piso, Meghan Mitchell and Branden Urban present a variety of forms, imagery and materials, including repurposed. Noon-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday through March 10. Free. Fulcrum Gallery, 1308 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma. 253-250-0520, www.fulcrumtacoma.com Read more »

Cavalia brings the magic of horses

In Cavalia, opening this week at Marymoor Park, the equine power and beauty of horses meets the agility and grace of human circus performers. Jan. 18-Feb. 5. $17.50-$179.50. Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway NE, Redmond. 866-999-8111, www.cavalia.net

Gilbert and Sullivan at the Pantages

The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players present “I’ve Got a Little Twist,” a medley of the famous 19^th-century musical writers’ best hits (“The Mikado,” “HMS Pinafore”) mashed with more modern faves like “The Music Man.” 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14. $26/$36/$46/$59. Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-591-5894, …

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Trío Lucero del Norte play at Tacoma Art Museum

To complement Tacoma Art Museum’s current exhibition of Mexican folk art, Trío Lucero del Norte will play son huasteco and other traditional dances from the Huasteca region of Mexico this Sunday afternoon. Ticket price includes gallery admission. 2 p.m. Jan. 7. $15/$10 members/$5 students. Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. 253-272-4258, www.tacomaartmuseum.org

Saxophonist Patrick Lamb at Jazz LIVE at Marine View

The Jazz LIVE at Marine View concert this month features saxophonist Patrick Lamb, whose music fuses funk, soul, R&B and jazz. He’ll be backed by a …

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Rich Wetzel’s Groovin’ Higher Orchestra at the Harmon

Usher in 2012 with big band jazz played by Rich Wetzel and his Groovin’ Higher Orchestra this New Year’s Eve at the Harmon Brewery & Restaurant. 9 p.m. Dec. 31. Free, all ages. Harmon Brewery, 1938 Pacific Ave, Tacoma. 253-383-2739, www.harmonbrewingco.com

First Night Tacoma

Arts-based, family-friendly, alcohol-free First Night is back, celebrating the incoming New Year with giant dragon puppets, fire performers, fire pits, bands, dancing and more. Begins with parade 6:30 p.m. from Sanford and Son along Broadway to the Pantages Theater (901 Broadway), then various downtown locations until midnight. …

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Last call for “Oliver” at Lakewood Playhouse

There’s one last chance tonight to see “Oliver,” that Lionel Bart hit about a young orphan who falls in with singing pickpockets amid songs like “Consider Yourself.” 8 p.m. tonight. $28/$25/$22. Lakewood Playhouse, 5729 Lakewood Towne Center Blvd, Lakewood. 253-588-0042, www.lakewoodplayhouse.org

One more “Pinocchio” at Centerstage Theatre

One last chance tonight to see the British panto-inspired version of “Pinocchio,” replete with cross-dressing Dame, silly gags and song. 7 p.m. tonight. $27.50/$22.50/$10. Centerstage Theatre, 3200 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way. 253-661-1444, www.centerstagetheatre.com

And two more shows of “A Christmas …

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