Thursday-Saturday: The Twin Cities troupe rolls out two premieres this week featuring some of the most exciting performers in town. Set to opera arias and new music from Scott Killian, "The Ophelias" re-imagines the character from Shakespeare's "Hamlet" via the brilliant and sure-to-be-unforgettable trio of Judith Howard, Laura Selle Virtucio and Erin Thompson (pictured). "Jack" features the stellar duo of Nic Lincoln and Scott Mettille as they delve into the origins of some well-known nursery rhymes. Brian Sostek of Sossy Mechanics will amp up the piece with his comedic text. The program also includes "A Moment Before," set to music of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and the 2011 masterwork "Burning Air," about the Great Hinckley Fire of 1894. (8 p.m. Thu.-Sat. $28. The Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls. 612-206-3600, www.thecowlescenter.org.)
CAROLINE PALMER
