Doubly regal

For the first time in two decades, the Guthrie is alternating actors in the title role of a play, namely "King Lear." Like two different lead singers fronting a band, Stephen Yoakam and Nathaniel Fuller lend distinct phrasings and cadences to the same arrangements. Yoakam is earthier, Fuller more ethereal. Both arrive at the same place in the end, tugging our heartstrings in this Shakespearean tragedy about an aging monarch dealing with his heirs.

ROHAN PRESTON

1 & 7 p.m. Sun.; 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri.; 1 & 7:30 p.m. Sat.; 7 p.m. next Sun. Ends April 2. Guthrie Theater, Mpls., $29-$77, guthrietheater.org

Goodbye, lute. So long, orchestras. Bye-bye, Broadway. For the first time in 13 years, Sting has released an album of pop/rock songs, the likable "57th & 9th." And the chief of the Police is returning to small venues to play a handful of Police hits, some Sting solo career faves and plenty from his new disc. Fans haven't been able to stand so close to the King of Pain since the Police played at the Longhorn in 1979. Opening are The Last Bandoleros and Joe Sumner.

JON BREAM

8 p.m. Thu. Myth, Maplewood, $87-$300, ticketmaster.com

"Oyate Okodakiciyapi" is designed to highlight the artistry and sophistication of Native American contemporary dance. The program features solo works by native Hawaiian Christopher K. Morgan and Santee Smith from the Mohawk Nation as well as a new piece by San Francisco-based intertribal ensemble Dancing Earth.

SHEILA REGAN

7:30 p.m. Sat., Ordway, St. Paul, $19-$39, ordway.org

To warm up for the upcoming all-star Experience Hendrix Tour, blues-rock-soul firebrand Ana Popovic is flexing her chops in clubs. The Serbian-born, Los Angeles-based singer-guitarist is promoting her ambitious 2016 triple album, "Trilogy," which features 23 tracks and such guests as Robert Randolph, Joe Bonamassa and Bernard Purdie, among others. Popovic wrote most of the tunes herself but she also covers classics by Chaka Khan, Duke Ellington and Tom Waits.

JON BREAM

7 p.m. Sun.-Mon. Dakota, Mpls., $25-$30, dakotacooks.com

There's no shortage of international music on the Cedar Cultural Center's calendar nowadays, but the Global Roots Series helps make an especially rich week for it. Wednesday sees the return of Mali's powerhouse vocalist Salif Keita, who performs with Congolese guitar master Siama Matuzungidi. Ireland's Celtic music mainstays Solas perform again Thursday. Friday sees Congo's hot new soukous/funk band Mbongwana Star.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

7:30 p.m. Wed.-Fri., Cedar Cultural Center, Mpls., $22-$35, thecedar.org

In an effort to address gender imbalances in many operas — where parts for men tend to outnumber those for women — the all-female Garden of Song Opera troupe casts women to sing many male roles. As it happens, six of the seven parts in their abridged version of Humperdinck's classic fairy-tale opera "Hansel and Gretel" are for women.

TERRY BLAIN

8 p.m. Thu., 3 p.m. Sat. Baroque Room, St. Paul, $10-$20, thebaroque.com

Flowing ballgowns and pixie dust will flow through Target Center as the Disney princesses saunter in with all their glory in the latest Disney on Ice tour. Ariel, Rapunzel and Belle encourage children to "Dream Big" (the name of the show) as they share their adventures. Follow Anna and Elsa to Arendelle as they use their inner strength to make their own magic.

MELISSA WALKER

Wed.-next Sun. Target Center, Mpls. $16.50-$90, targetcenter.com

Stephen Colbert says that George Saunders is his favorite living writer, and no wonder. Saunders' last collection of stories, "Tenth of December," was boldly declared the best book of 2013 by the New York Times when it was released in January of that year. And now his long-awaited first novel, "Lincoln in the Bardo" — the story of Abraham Lincoln grieving the loss of his son Willie, narrated by a cadre of ghosts — is getting rave reviews.

Laurie Hertzel

7 p.m. Thu. Parkway Theater, Mpls., $35 (includes a signed copy of his novel), raintaxi.org

England's Richard Egarr has emerged in the past decade as one of the leading performers in baroque music, equally at home as a keyboard soloist or conductor. He'll play Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12 on the fortepiano with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. The concert also features a Bach concerto with newly appointed SPCO violinist Eunice Kim as soloist.

TERRY BLAIN

7:30 p.m. Thu., Temple Israel, Mpls.; 11 a.m. & 8 p.m. Fri., Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie; 8 p.m. Sat., United Church of Christ, St. Paul; $13-$43, thespco.org