Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story

Opening: History Theatre had a big hit with this jukebox musical in 2009 and brought it back two years later. Now, Nicholas Freeman returns to play the Texas boy who might have been one of rock 'n' roll's biggest stars if not for the tragic plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa. Ron Peluso directs the production, which includes Andrea San Miguel as Holly's wife, Maria Elena, Allen Malicsi as Ritchie Valens and Charles Fraser as the venal record producer Norman Petty. Music director Gary Rue won Ivey recognition in 2011 for his work with the band (the show includes more than 20 songs). "The glory of these songs is that they sound so simple," said Rue. "They are anything but, and we got that award by paying close attention to the detail." (8 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., 10 a.m. Tue. Ends Dec. 21, History Theatre, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul, $15-$45, 651-292-4323 or wwwhistorytheatre.com.)

Graydon Royce

TU Dance

This weekend: TU Dance is teaming up with Icelandic choreographer Katrín Hall for a multimedia world premiere focusing on her uniquely lyrical movement sensibility, one that has taken the artist from contemporary theater to film, television and even a music video for Shakira. The evening also features "If and Or" from Dwight Rhoden as well as TU co-founder Uri Sands' playful duet "High Heel Blues." A highlight of the evening will be the return of Sands' poignant "One" that honors the legacy of Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cell, whose history contains both the celebration of discovery and the darkness of exploitation. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., $18-$31, The O'Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Av., St. Paul, 651-690-6700, or www.oshag.stkate.edu.)

Caroline Palmer

ZENON DANCE

Opening: Baseball is the central theme of "Coming Home," Osnel Delgado's world premiere for Zenon Dance Company. The Cuban choreographer and founder of MalPaso Dance Company draws upon baseball-inspired movements for this contemporary dance creation, which also tackles bigger life metaphors such as confrontation and collaboration. The evening also features a new work from Brooklyn-based choreographer Vanessa Anspaugh. Her "blind drive driveway" explores the concept of tension both within the self and between others. Stefanie Batten Bland's "Caught" and Wynn Fricke's "My Very Empty Mouth" round out the program. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Nov. 30, ends Nov. 30, $34, the Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-206-3600 or www.thecowlescenter.org.) C.P.