B. MADONNA

Saturday: Performance artist and choreographer Maureen Fleming makes the case for a shared lineage between the myth of Persephone and the Black Madonna images of early Christianity. With her surreal, sculptural movement, Fleming mines the concept of miracles while exploring the tale of Persephone, who was kidnapped by Hades and later freed, only to return each year for the delicious pomegranate seeds she tasted in the underworld. Born in Japan of American parents, Fleming brings a Butoh-influenced aesthetic to this multimedia performance, featuring music by Philip Glass (performed live by pianist Bruce Brubaker), text by David Henry Hwang and three-dimensional video projections by Fleming's longtime collaborator Christopher Odo. (7:30 p.m. Sat., the O'Shaughnessy, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul, $22-$35, 651-690-6700, oshag.stkate.edu)

SHEILA REGAN

THREADS DANCE PROJECT

Friday-Saturday: In "Warrior of Light: A Manual" Brazilian author Paulo Coelho suggests to his readers to look at the world through a child's eyes, without bitterness. That text, which is made up of Coelho's teachings and includes selections from the Tao Te Ching, the Bible, the book of Chuang Tzu and the Talmud, provides the starting point for choreographer Karen L. Charles' second evening length work for the Threads Dance Project is a collaboration with composer Sanford Moore, filled with live music, dance and visual design. Friday's performance includes a reception beginning at 6 p.m. and a post-show discussion. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., $24-$29, 612-206-3636, thecowlescenter.org)S.R.

A Sacred Passage

Opening: When Rick Shiomi stepped down as head of Mu Performing Arts a year ago, he promised that he was not going away. He was simply seeking another stage. Shiomi has found it. Alongside such mature artists as James A. Williams, Martha Johnson, Lara Trujillo and Stephanie Lein Walseth, Shiomi has founded Full Circle Theatre Company. Their first show, "A Sacred Passage," sounds like a stage ode to a transformative art form. It incorporates storytelling, choreography and music, and features a cast that includes Carolyn Pool and Rhiana Yazzie. Shiomi directs.

(7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Nov. 22. Dreamland Arts, 577 N. Hamline Av., St. Paul. $5-$15. 651-645-5506 or dreamlandarts.com)

Rohan Preston

feast of wolves

Opening: Workhaus Collective brings this new play by Alan Berks to the Southern Theater. Terry Hempleman and Charity Jones star in a modern story based on the Greek Oresteia. A soldier returns home from combat and finds fate, vengeance and an appetite for power awaiting in his family's home. Jeremy Wilhelm directs. Berks is one of hardest-working local playwrights and always has something interesting to say in his stuff. (7:30 Sat., Mon., Thu.-next Fri., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Nov. 15; Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Av. S., Mpls.; $24, 612-340-0155 or southerntheater.org)

Graydon Royce

BLUEPRINT

Opening: Writer and performer Candy Simmons, who explored mortality in "Expiration Date" a few seasons ago, interviewed women from across the political spectrum to craft her latest one-woman show. The production, "Blueprint," uses video and movement while Simmons assumes the character of a cowgirl to explore ideas of gender and power, of femininity and hierarchies. The show is codirected by choreographer Laura Holway and dramaturge Ruth Weiner. (8 p.m. Sat., Sun. & Thu. Ends Nov. 14, Red Eye Theater, 15 W. 14th St., Mpls. $20. sgp-blueprint.brownpapertickets.comR.P.

doubt

Opening: New Epic Theater is offering a production of John Patrick Shanley's best-known play that deserves attention. Well-known actor Claudia Wilkens will play the iconic role of Sister Aloysius, a strict traditionalist who has a new priest in her cross hairs. The New Epic cast includes Aeysha Kinnunen, Austene Van and Adam Qualls. (8 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun, 8 p.m. Thu. Ends Nov. 21; Lab Theater, 700 N. 1st. St., Mpls.; $20 — $10 rush — newepictheater.org)

G.R.