Northwest Sinfonietta does Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Schubert

Young violin prodigy Marié Rossano returns to play Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Northwest Sinfonietta this weekend. Other pieces on the program are Beethoven’s “Egmont” overture and Schubert’s Symphony no. 4, the “Tragic.” 7:30 p.m. tonight (Seattle), March 17 (Tacoma) and 2 p.m. March 18 (Puyallup.) $19-$49. Benaroya Hall, 100 University St., Seattle/Rialto Theater, 310 S. 9^th St., Tacoma/Pioneer Park Pavilion, 330 S. Meridian Ave., Puyallup. 888-356-6040, nwsinfonietta.org

“Hide/Seek” opens at Tacoma Art Museum

The controversial GLBT American portraiture show “Hide/Seek” opens at Tacoma Art Museum this weekend, with a curator talk and opening party Saturday. Taken down at the Smithsonian last year after patron complaints, it nevertheless received wide acclaim for the quality and diversity of gay and lesbian-themed artwork in multiple media. Curator talk 2 p.m. March 17 ($15/$10/$5). Opening celebration 7-10 p.m. March 17 ($25 advance/$35 at door/free for members). Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursdays through June 10. $10/$8/free for under-five and third Thursdays 5-8 p.m. 1701 Pacific Ave., Tacoma. 253-272-4258, tacomaartmuseum.org Read more »

Celtic music for early St. Patrick’s Day

Two local fundraisers get the jump on St. Patrick’s Day with Celtic music this weekend. The Magical Strings duo of harp and dulcimer play 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Fox Island Community Center to help support the center. $15 includes refreshments.690 9^th Ave., Fox Island. Ficra.org, magicalstrings.org

On Saturday Evolution Dance and Irish band Mooncoyne join forces for the second annual Bia-Ceol-Damhsa fundraiser for St. Leo’s Food Connection, with Irish food, music and dance. 6-10:30 p.m. March 10. $50. St. Patrick’s School, 1112 N. G St., Tacoma. 253-383-5048, foodconnection.org

“The Bad Plus” jazz up Stravinsky Read more »

“Zigzags” at the Telephone Room

The one-room Telephone Room gallery, housed in a private residence in the North end, opens a new show this weekend with work by Seattle artist Julie Alpert, who draws on the rooms cramped charm to create a three-dimensional painting. 6-9 p.m. March 3 and by appointment through March. Free.
Telephone Room Gallery,
3710 North 7th St., Tacoma. www.juliealpert.com,www.thetelephoneroom.blogspot.com

Lakewood Playhouse opens “The Farnsworth Invention”

Opening tonight at Lakewood is “The Farnsworth Invention,” a new play by Aaron Sorkin about the race to invent television back in 1929, and directed by the theater’s new managing director …

Read more »

Metamorphoses at UPS

You don’t have to have studied Latin to appreciate “Metamorphoses.” The play by Mary Zimmerman, based on Ovid’s writings of ancient Roman myths, hinges on an eternal truth – that nothing is permanent, including love, lust, riches and power. Some tales are familiar, like King Midas or Orpheus and Euridyce, now given a modern spin. Theater arts students at the University of Puget Sound open their production of the play tonight, directed by John Rindo. 7:30 p.m. tonight, then Feb. 25, March 2 and 3. 4 p.m. March 1, 2 p.m. March 3. $11/$7. Norton Clapp Theater, Jones Hall, UPS, 1500 N. Warner St., Tacoma. 253-879-3419, tickets.pugetsound.edu

Celebrate Asia with the Seattle Symphony

The Seattle Symphony presents its fourth annual Celebrate Asia concert tonight at Benaroya Hall, including gender-bending violin virtuoso Hahn-Bin playing Tchaikovsky, Chinese pipa player Jie Ma and the Cuong Vu Group playing the jazz-inspired new work “One,” as well as the winner of this year’s Celebrate Asia Composition Competition, Kay He’s “Legends of Old Peking.” Taiko drumming, Indian and Balinese music and a Lion Dance will begin at 6:30 p.m.; concert 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24. $17-$74. Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle. 206-215-4747, www.seattlesymphony.org Read more »

Tango at Madera

Madera Architectural Elements artisan gallery is hosting Latin Grammy-nominated vocalist Maria Volonté, singing blues-infused tango as part of her Blue Tango Tour. The Argentine singer, guitarist and composer is a Gardel Prize winner and member of the Tango Hall of Fame. 3 p.m. Feb. 19. $17.50. Madera Architectural Elements, 2210 Court A, Tacoma. 253-572-1218, www.maderawoodworking.com, www.brownpapertickets.com/event/220019

“Enron” at the Minnaert Center

At South Puget Sound Community College’s Minnaert Center the play “Enron” continues this weekend, written by British playwright Lucy Prebble to explore the inner workings of America’s famous corporate collapse. 8 p.m. Feb. 17, …

Read more »

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 »