Straight on 'til morning
Director Diane Paulus is having a great year, with several shows playing on Broadway and on the road. "Waitress," the sleeper hit with music by Sara Bareilles, opens at the Orpheum in three weeks, but first up is "Finding Neverland," the "Peter Pan" prequel about author J.M. Barrie and the English family who inspired his tale. Adapted from the 2004 movie starring Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, it arrives for a weeklong run.Rohan Preston
7:30 p.m. Tue.-Thu., 8 p.m. Fri., 2 & 8 p.m. Sat., 1 & 6:30 p.m. next Sun. Orpheum Theatre, Mpls. $39-$139, hennepintheatretrust.org
It's like the 2014 music documentary come alive. This concert brings the soul and R&B sounds of Memphis and the Mississippi Delta with blues stalwart Bobby Rush (pictured, who won his first Grammy this year at age 83), harmonica superstar Charlie Musselwhite and comeback soul man William Bell (who grabbed a Grammy this year for best Americana album). They'll be backed by the Hi Rhythm Section that famously worked with Al Green.
Jon Bream
7 p.m. Tue.-Wed. Dakota Jazz Club, Mpls. $60-$90, dakotacooks.com
Charismatic actor Kory LaQuess Pullam leavens the Danish prince's melancholy and cracked psyche with wit and humor in director Joel Sass' streamlined adaptation of "Hamlet." The show puts a fine "House of Cards" gloss on the Shakespeare classic, with a gorgeous turn by Maeve Coleen Moynihan as Ophelia. Sass does triple duty here, contributing a set design that makes us feel something truly is rotten in Denmark.
Rohan Preston
2 p.m. Sun., 7:30 p.m. Thu.-Fri., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat. Park Square Theatre, St. Paul. $25-$60, parksquaretheatre.org
The Rose Ensemble is joined by Piffaro (pictured), a Philadelphia group of early music instrumentalists, for "Welcome the People," a landmark choral concert marking the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran Reformation. The program features first-generation Reformation composers and a reconstruction of the royal baptismal mass from 1616.
Terry Blain
7:30 p.m. Mon. Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.; 7 p.m. Tue. Zumbro Lutheran Church, Rochester; 7 p.m. Thu. Calvary Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Minn.; 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Augsburg University, Mpls.; 3 p.m. Sun. Ordway Center, St. Paul. $10-$38, roseensemble.org
Former Doobie Brothers singer Michael McDonald, the distinctive voice of "What a Fool Believes," is suddenly hip. At age 65, no less. He's connecting with millennials thanks to his recent collaborations with indie rockers Grizzly Bear and neo-R&B force Thundercat. Plus, many hipsters are embracing yacht rock, which includes the Doobies and Steely Dan (McDonald's other group) as well as Marc Cohn, who is opening for McDonald.
Jon Bream
7:30 p.m. Thu. State Theatre, Mpls. $58.50-$104, ticketmaster.com
Pillsbury House Theatre has renamed its Late Nite series, running the next three Saturdays, to honor the late Laurie Carlos. Spoken word and theater artist Renita Martin, musician Truth Maze and dancers/storytellers Kenna-Camara Cottman and Yonci Peaceful Jameson kick things off. The series continues with dance by Tony-winning "Rent" choreographer Marlies Yearby; spoken word by Tish Jones; and music from PaviElle French, Douglas Ewart and Mankwe Ndosi.
Rohan Preston
9 p.m. Sat. $15 suggested, pillsburyhousetheatre.org
The holiday season will be in full swing later this week, just as soon as the Halloween costumes are packed away. Find the perfect gift for that finicky someone at the eclectic Minneapolis Gift and Art Expo, with products ranging from upscale luxury to boho chic. Sample gourmet fare, take in a crafting demonstration and participate in workshops on screen printing, woodworking and other fine crafts.
Melissa Walker
Noon-8 p.m. Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. next Sun. Minneapolis Convention Center. $6, giftandartexpo.com
Five artists who won Jerome Fellowships explore social issues in their own ways. Nikki McComb delivers facts about gun murders through text and photos. Kelsey Olson explores mysterious materiality in collagelike prints. Edie Overturf's woodcuts portray magical scenes of apocalyptic futures. Jovan Speller imagines "black quiet" through brown photo prints, and Amanda Wirig co-opts 1950s imagery for contemporary messages of political empowerment.
Alicia Eler
Daily through Nov. 7. Minneapolis College of Art and Design, mcad.edu
An innovative fingerpicking guitar hero who also happens to be one of Mali's pre-eminent Afropop music stars, Habib Koité is back at the Cedar for the first time in three years just a few weeks after completing his first U.K. tour in a decade. The griot singer and his longtime band Bamada put on an uplifting show despite their songs often tackling problems back home and abroad.
Chris Riemenschneider
7:30 p.m. Sun. Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. $30-$35, thecedar.org
