Best of the week: Ronnie Spector, 'Cinderella,' Ike Reilly and more
She sang Brian Wilson's favorite song ("Be My Baby"), honed the most iconic female rocker look of all time (that beehive, that eyeliner) and recorded two of the most-played holiday radio favorites ("Frosty the Snowman," "Sleigh Ride"). Rock Hall of Famer Ronnie Spector of the Ronettes knows how to do the holidays in song, thanks to those aforementioned faves recorded with her then-husband Phil in 1963 and arguably the best Hanukkah song ever (2010's "Light One Candle" from her "Best Christmas Ever" EP). She'll celebrate the season and rock history.JON BREAM
7 p.m. Sat.-next Sun., Dakota, Mpls., $45-$75, dakotacooks.com
They're having two balls at the Children's Theatre — the dressy, formal kind and the swirling one from discothèques. Both styles are featured in "Cinderella," the most produced show in the company's repertory. Under director Peter Brosius, Cinderella and her prince are noble and beautiful, whereas the stepfamily is gaudy and gauche for comic effect. Altogether, that makes for a laugh riot for the whole family.
Rohan Preston
Through Jan. 8, Children's Theatre, Mpls., $15-$71, childrenstheatre.org
Walker Art Center unveils a new exhibition called "Question the Wall Itself." In installations spanning the past 50 years, 23 international artists concoct rooms and "interior architecture" that purport to critique the contemporary cultural zeitgeist. Or, as the Walker puts it, "that alter and decenter the terms of representation and power via decoy, ornamentation, copy, and void." Expect ducks.
Mary Abbe
Through May 21, $14 adults; Walker Art Center, Mpls.; walkerart.org
Between the Cubs and Trump victories, there should be plenty for the hotheaded, Irish-blooded Ike Reilly to stew, steam and scream over at his band's 14th annual trek up I-94 from Libertyville, Ill., a Thanksgiving Eve tradition going back to his 2001 debut "Salesmen & Racists." Last year's album "Born on Fire" kept up Reilly's tradition of self-effacing but universal workingman's anthems. But any year is a good year to catch this musical and emotional blowout.
Chris Riemenschneider
8 p.m. Wed. First Avenue, $16, or $66 with soundcheck reception benefiting ESNS.org, eTix.com
For more than 40 years, Laurie Van Wieren has been a staple of the Twin Cities dance scene. And now she reviews her career with "Temporary Action Theory," an improvisation-heavy show flooded with personal memories. The venue is significant: Van Wieren has performed and curated dozens of dance programs at the Southern Theater over the years. Perhaps the most memorable was her nude performance with the Japanese duo Eiko + Koma in 1981.
Sheila Regan
7 & 9:30 p.m. Tue. Southern Theater, Mpls.; $15, southerntheater.org
After living in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, acclaimed singer-songwriter Jonatha Brooke has moved to Minneapolis, her husband/manager's hometown. And she arrived this fall along with a splendid new album, "Midnight. Hallelujah." The pop-country title track prays for love as "a 2 a.m. amen," "Put the Gun Down" consoles a person in trouble, and "Really Really Love" celebrates the joy of romance. This will be Brooke's debut as one of us.
JON BREAM
7 p.m. Mon. Dakota, Mpls., $30-$35, dakotacooks.com
Minnesota playwright Aditi Brenna Kapil takes us on a journey that's both physical and psychic in her autism-themed play. A teenage girl named Leela travels from India to California for a family wedding, where she meets up with her cousin and goes on a trip to find the perfect orange. Director Jack Reuler stages this premiere with sensitivity and wryness, finding the humor and pathos in a show that offers windows into new ways of seeing the world.
ROHAN PRESTON
Through Dec. 4, Mixed Blood Theatre, Mpls.; $25, mixedblood.com
A new Miss Hmong Minnesota will be crowned at the annual Hmong New Year celebration. The event also features singing and dancing competitions, as well as live music and authentic food items. Guests can shop a series of vendor booths for handmade items.
Melissa Walker
8 a.m. Fri.-next Sun., RiverCentre, St. Paul; rivercentre.org
Best known as a member of Prince's New Power Generation and a co-founder of Greazy Meal, saxophonist Brian Gallagher died of a pulmonary embolism earlier this year. On the eve of what would have been his 53rd birthday, his cohorts and friends are staging a CD release party for music he recorded in January. A formidable parade of horns will stand in for Gallagher onstage.
BRITT ROBSON
9:30 p.m. Tue. Icehouse, Mpls.; $8-$10, icehousempls.com
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Critics’ picks for entertainment in the week ahead.