Best of the week: 'Sunday in the Park With George,' Diana Ross, Santana, Natalie Merchant, more

The Sondheim musical "Sunday in the Park With George" is based on Georges Seurat's painting "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" about relaxation and leisure. The first act imagines the lives of the people in the painting in 1885, and the next act looks at their descendants a century later. Erin Mackey is a showstopper in this elegant production, and T. Mychael Rambo and Emily Gunyou Halaas have a spectacular turn as Americans in Paris.

ROHAN PRESTON

7:30 p.m. Tue.-Thu. 7:30 p.m. Sat., 1 p.m. Sun. Ends Aug. 20. Guthrie Theater, Mpls., $34-$87, guthrietheater.org.

Talk about serendipity. On Tuesday at Northrop, Motown goddess Diana Ross returns with her regal wardrobe and solid-gold repertoire including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." On the same night, "Motown the Musical" — the fantasized story of Berry Gordy's life (he romanced Ross and made her the queen of his court), opens at the Orpheum. Take your pick: the hit-filled romanticized story or the real thing.

JON BREAM

Diana Ross 8 p.m. Tue. Northrop, Mpls., $59.50-$137.50, northrop.umn.edu; "Motown" Tue.-next Sun. Orpheum, Mpls., ticketmaster.com.

Artist/activist Jimmie Durham often uses found objects, piecing them together to form nonlinear narratives, playfully juxtaposing charged materials, often referencing his supposed Cherokee heritage. His work also discusses America's history of colonialism, reflecting his leadership in establishing treaty rights for indigenous peoples. Later pieces in his four-decade retrospective "At the Center of the World" deal with headier art-world questions, like messing with the monumental nature of sculpture.

Ends Oct. 8. Walker Art Center, Mpls., walkerart.org.

Carlos Santana always looks for new ways to spur his creativity. In 2014, he recorded his first Spanish language album. Last year, he delivered "Santana IV," created with the same musicians (including Neal Schon and Greg Rollie) who helped make the classic "Santana III" in 1971. On July 28, the guitar great, who turns 70 next week, will offer his collaboration with fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees — the Isley Brothers — called "Power of Peace."

JON BREAM

8 p.m. Thu. Mystic Lake Casino Amphitheater, Prior Lake, $39-$300, ticketmaster.com.

In 2014, the elusive Natalie Merchant released her first album of original material in 13 years. In 2015, she re-imagined the material on her 1995 solo debut, "Tigerlilly." With her richer voice, "Paradise Is There" features stripped down readings of "Carnival," "River," "The Letter" and other favorites. String quartets, acoustic instruments and a deeper understanding give these tunes new meaning — and give us new faith in the queen of granola folk music.

7:30 p.m. Mon. Minnesota Zoo, Apple Valley, $61-$98.50, suemclean.com.

Argentine composer Ástor Piazzolla is famous for taking the tango to new levels of musical sophistication, but his "tango opera" is less well known. Mill City Summer Opera stages his sultry "María de Buenos Aires" at the Machine Shop, a hip new industrial space. Smoky Colombian soprano Catalina Cuervo sings the title role in this tale of poverty and prostitution. Bonus: Show up early to learn a few tango steps from pro instructors.

TERRY BLAIN

7 p.m. Fri. and Sun. Ends July 20. Machine Shop, Mpls., $50-$125, millcitysummeropera.org.

Hard to believe former Sonic Youth co-leader Thurston Moore is up to his fifth solo album. This one's a conspicuously sunny, hopeful collection, "Rock n Roll Consciousness," produced with British studio whiz Paul Epworth and featuring the same impressive band Moore takes with him on tour, including Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley and My Blood Valentine bassist Debbie Gouge. They don't do any songs by the old group but have plenty of recent nuggets.

8:30 p.m. Wed., Turf Club, St. Paul, $20, eTix.com.

Although some men may opt for a traditional kilt, do not doubt the strength of those competing during the Scottish Fair and Highland Games. Sports such as open stone put challenge contestants to hurl a 16- to 22-pound rock farther than their competitors can. The nasally blare of pipe bands will provide background music to highland dance, exhibitions, workshops and a Scottish marketplace.

MELISSA WALKER

9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat. 980 Discovery Rd., Eagan, $12-$17, mnscottishfair.org.

Momentum is Minnesota's premier showcase for up-and-coming dancers. This year's festival kicks off with the experimental duo Fire Drill conjuring a dystopian world plagued by climate disaster, while the eight-member Blaq troupe reflects on home and sisterhood. And that's just Week 1. Look for a fresh serving of Momentum dance performances next week.