Best of the week: Chuck Berry film, 'Wicked,' Dessa with Minnesota Orchestra, John Mayer, more

A 1987 film documentary about Chuck Berry's 60th birthday concerts, "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" is more than a series of all-star performances with Eric Clapton, Linda Ronstadt, Keith Richards and others. Director Taylor Hackford takes you backstage and gives you a glimpse into the prickly personality of the rock pioneer. A panel of local musicians will expound on the subject before a screening of the movie, including Curtiss A and Cindy Lawson, moderated by Minneapolis rock impresario and author Rob Chapman. JON BREAM

7:30 p.m. Fri. Parkway Theater, Mpls., $10, vitalculture.com

Jonathan Cohen has emerged as one of the classical world's most insightful conductors of baroque repertoire. And now the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra has signed the English musician to its roster of artistic partners. Cohen leads the orchestra from the harpsichord in works by Pergolesi and Locatelli. The program also includes Haydn's Symphony No. 7.

TERRY BLAIN

11 a.m. & 8 p.m. Fri., 8 p.m. Sat.; Ordway, St. Paul; $15-$53, thespco.org

Talk about "Defying Gravity" — the Broadway tour of "Wicked" comes to the Twin Cities for its fifth engagement. Based on Gregory Maguire's prequel to "The Wizard of Oz," "Wicked" celebrates difference — in appearance, personality and color as it explains how characters in "Oz" came to be. Green-hued Elphaba (Jessica Vosk), a deep thinker and outcast, finds common ground with vain and vapid Glinda (Ginna Claire Mason) in this story powered by sisterhood.

ROHAN PRESTON

Dessa is once again a media darling. In March, she wrote a travel story for the New York Times. Last week, she got more media mentions for calling in sick for the national anthem at Target Field for the Twins opener than she might have gotten if she'd actually performed. Now the ever-popular Minneapolis singer/rapper/poet/essayist/author is going to make her debut with the Minnesota Orchestra. Sarah Hicks will conduct.

JON BREAM

8 p.m. Fri.-Sat. Orchestra Hall, Mpls., sold out

Bobb Fantauzzo examines the roots of jazz in unexpected ways with his arrangements of music by American Indian jazz artists. Lyz Jaakola of the Fond du Lac Band of the Lake Superior Ojibwe lends traditional Anishinaabe vocals and percussion to a performance of these works, while Fantauzzo plays his special American Indian-style flutes. High-profile local jazz musicians, including bassist Jeff Bailey and pianist Javi Santiago, round out the ensemble.

BRITT ROBSON

Qui Nguyen's celebrated new play "Vietgone" has been described as the Asian-American "Hamilton." That's partly because of its inventiveness, its frontal approach to topics such as love and sex, and its bad-ass attitude. This play, which tells of the playwrights' parents meeting in an Arkansas refugee center in 1975, slaps down Asian-American stereotypes with gusto. The cast is headlined by Sun Mee Chomet, Meghan Kreidler and Sherwin Resurreccion.

ROHAN PRESTON

Ends April 30. Mixed Blood, Mpls., $25 & free rush line, mixedblood.com

John Mayer isn't shooting off his mouth anymore. He's showing his various musical sides in concert, working in different contexts on his current the Search for Everything Tour. He plays with his full band, with his power trio featuring drummer Steve Jordan and bassist Pino Palladino, and with just his acoustic guitar. That should ensure plenty of pop payoffs and guitar fireworks. By the way, Mayer drops his new album, "Search for Everything," on Friday.

JON BREAM

At Eggstravaganza, you can hop into nature. The Three Rivers Park District is hosting an egg-citing event where guests can cuddle up to live bunnies. Bring hard-boiled eggs to dye naturally, then search for hidden eggs on a scavenger hunt.

MELISSA WALKER

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thu.-Fri. $6. Eastman Nature Center, Elm Creek Park Reserve, Maple Grove, threeriversparkdistrict.org

Franz Liszt is known as the greatest pianist of the 19th century and the first classical musician to attain superstar status, but that reputation ignores the central role of religion in his life. Liszt's contemplative side is fully evident in his "Via Crucis," a somber meditation on Christ's crucifixion, for choir and organ. The work receives a rare performance in this Good Friday concert by St. Mark's Cathedral Singers.

TERRY BLAIN