Best of the week: 'She Loves Me,' 'Black Nativity,' Amanda Shires and more

Not interested in taking out a second mortgage in order to score "Hamilton" tickets? How about seeing what was arguably the next best musical of 2016, for less than two Hamiltons? A performance of "She Loves Me," a critically hailed revival that garnered eight Tony nominations, will be screened nationally at 500 movie theaters, including nine in the Twin Cities area, on Thursday. Laura Benanti and Zachary Levi star as lovers in denial in this romantic comedy based on the same Hungarian play as "You've Got Mail."REBECCA RITZEL

7 p.m. Thu., various theaters including Showplace Icon and Rosedale AMC. $18, fathomevents.com

Penumbra offers what may be the Twin Cities' most soulful holiday tradition. Music director Sanford Moore conducts the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Choir to support Langston Hughes' spirit-filled story. The whole effort is delivered in a 90-minute wallop, with Uri Sands choreographing dancers Taylor Collier and Randall Riley in the roles of Mary and Joseph, plus headliners Greta Oglesby and Dennis Spears calling down the cherubim and seraphim.

Rohan Preston

Through Dec. 23. Penumbra Theatre, St. Paul. $15-$40. 651-224-3180, penumbratheatre.org

Can classical music be too expressive? New York composer David Lang thinks so. "Darker" reflects the narrower, slower-moving realities of his own inner life — as opposed to "the giant emotional leaps from one extreme to another" heard in many classical compositions. This Midwest premiere features St. Paul Chamber Orchestra musicians and live art projections by Lang's wife, Suzanne Bocanegra — created with water, oil and colored pigment.

TERRY BLAIN

After becoming a mom and touring in husband Jason Isbell's band over the past year and a half, Amanda Shires stored up a strong batch of songs and ample inspiration on her latest album, "My Piece of Land." Echoes of Emmylou Harris and Shawn Colvin can be heard throughout as the fiddling singer/songwriter from the Texas Panhandle offers the kind of personal reflection her hubby has been known to revel in, too.

Chris Riemenschneider

9 p.m. Fri., Turf Club, St. Paul. $15, etix.com

It was drummer Michael Bland's idea to put together a power trio featuring guitarist Jesse Johnson and bassist Sonny Thompson. Best known for his work in the Time, L.A.-based Johnson recently toured with D'Angelo and played at the White House behind Mick Jagger and others. The trio's set list will include tunes associated with Johnson, Prince, the Time and Jimi Hendrix. Bland, who is now in Soul Asylum, and Thompson spent time in Prince's NPG.

JON BREAM

British artist Bruce Munro has illuminated the grounds of the 1,200-acre Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with six light installations, some incorporating pulsing colors and sounds. Enlivening the wintry landscape, his magical sculptures create poetic illusions from optical fiber, acrylic pegs and prismatic rods.

MARY ABBE

Through April 9, $12 ages 13 and up, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska. 952-443-1400, arboretum.umn.edu

For 28 years, Darlene Love sang "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" on the Letterman show, and now she's bringing it to St. Paul for her Minnesota debut. Love was featured in the Oscar-winning film "20 Feet From Stardom." She also sang backup on many hits, including the Ronettes' "Be My Baby," Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash" and Frank Sinatra's "That's Life." Last year, she released an impressive comeback album, "Introducing Darlene Love."

JON BREAM

Union Depot is packed with holiday cheer this season. The festivities start Friday with live entertainment and a tree-lighting ceremony. Check out the European-style Christmas Market for gifts, delicacies and holiday decorations. And take a ride aboard the North Pole Express with steam engines and vintage train cars rolling into the station for 90-minute rides with Santa and his elves.

Melissa Walker

4-9 p.m. Thu.-Fri.; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat.; noon-6 p.m. next Sun. Union Depot, St. Paul. 651-225-3923, uniondepot.org

The final concert at Mill City Nights before the venue shuts down happens to be a big one for extreme metal fans. Still going strong 20 years on, guitar-wiz frontman Alexi Laiho downscaled Children of Bodom to a four-piece without losing any of the thunder on the group's latest album, "I Worship Chaos." The Finnish vets are on tour with black-metal artist Abbath, Californians Exmortus and prog-rocky Canadian band Oni.

Chris Riemenschneider