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 »

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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Tacoma Little Theatre starts spelling

TLT opens its season with “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” the Tony-winning musical about six nerdy teens (played by adults) competing for the world’s wackiest spelling competition. Opens today; 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays Sept. 2-25. $15-$25. Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N. I St., Tacoma. 253-272-2481, www.tacomalittletheatre.com

Eco-art on Vashon

Join artist and UWT professor Beverly Naidus for the opening of her eco-art project “Eden Reframed” on Vashon Island. Combining permaculture principles like a food forest and soil improvement with interactive sculptural story “hives” and a community …

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Tacoma Little Theatre’s managing artistic director Scott Campbell has just announced his resignation from the post he assumed only two years ago. The board of directors says it will take over the management of the current 92nd season of the historic community theater.

Campbell, who was not able to be contacted by the TNT, cited personal reasons as the cause of his resignation, stated in a press release issued yesterday. In his mid-40s, Campbell had taken on the TLT directorship in 2008 after working as assistant director at Lakewood Playhouse, and that time has introduced new events to the theater …

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More outings for my Free Arts Month, an ongoing blog story where I check out a free arts experience every day in January.

Thursday night was ArtWalk, and unless you’ve lived under a stone you’ll know what that means in Tacoma: free museums, galleries open late and often free performances too. There’s a wealth of choice for free arts, and I had to pass up a flute/guitar release of newly composed classical music by Meredith Connie plus the usual live Hot Shop glass blowing at the Museum of Glass, free entry to the Washington History Museum and a bunch of …

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This Friday there’s a one-off performance of “To the Sea,” two new short plays at TLT performed by an ensemble from Western Washington University. Dr. Rich Brown directs plays by Dan Erickson (whose “Convention” was seen at TLT’s 2009 festival of new works) and former TLT playwright-in-residence Bryan Willis.

7:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N. I St., Tacoma. Tickets are $10. 253-272-2281, www.tacomalittletheatre.com

“Annie” at Tacoma Little Theatre

If you want some feel-good holiday theater, you can’t go past “Annie.” The heart-warming musical by Strouse/Charnin about an eternally optimistic red-headed orphan and her cute dog has all those songs you love, like “Tomorrow” and “It’s the Hard-Knock Life.” 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday (and Christmas week) now through Dec. 24. $22-$26. Tacoma Little Theatre, 210 N. I St., Tacoma. 253-272-2281, www.tacomalittletheatre.com

Holiday singing from around the world

The University of Puget Sound’s Adelphian Concert Choir will perform two holiday concerts that go beyond Western singing, exploring music from the Congo, Eastern Europe, …

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“Noises Off” opens at Tacoma Little Theatre

Opening tonight at TLT is “Noises Off,” the Michael Frayn comedy about a disastrous play as seen from the backstage side. Ages 13-plus. 7:30 p.m. tonight, then 7:30 p.m. Fri-Sat and 2 p.m. Sun through April 25. Pay-What-You-Can 7:30 p.m. April 1. $16-$24. 210 N. I St., Tacoma. 253-272-2281, www.tacomalittletheatre.com

Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Pantages

The famed a cappella vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, multi-Grammy winners, brings its signature African harmonies and rhythms to Tacoma. 7:30 p.m. tonight, pre-concert lecture 6:30 p.m. $59/$45/$35. Pantages Theater, 905 Broadway, Tacoma. 253-591-5894, www.broadwaycenter.org

Northwest Sinfonietta …

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