KATHA DANCE THEATRE
Friday-Saturday: Katha Dance Theatre, led by artistic director/choreographer Rita Mustaphi, teams up with composer J.D. Steele for "Karna — The Abandoned Hero" for a first — an African-American and Indian dance opera. The impressive cast features singer/musicians Billy Steele, Robert Robinson and Mark Anderson plus the KDT company members. "Karna" blends the northern Indian classical dance form with stories from the "Mahabharata," the ancient Sanskrit epic that still influences Indian culture. Deb Shree will contribute original movement painting to the far-reaching production. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. $15-$25. The O'Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul. 651-690-6700, http://oshag.stkate.edu.)
