Thomasina Petrus does Billie Holiday
There's a special poignancy attached to Petrus making her Chanhassen Dinner Theatres debut with her show "The Best of Billie & Me." The company was co-founded by one of her mentors, Lewis Whitlock III, the influential dancer, choreographer and actor who was in the first Broadway tour of "The Wiz." Whitlock, who died last year, later produced a student version of "The Wiz" at North High School in the 1980s that ignited the dreams of Petrus and other youngsters. An actor, singer and onetime dancer, Petrus has become known for her uncanny ability to summon the voice and spirit of Billie Holiday. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen, $44, 952-934-1525 or chanhassendt.com/shows/billie)
ROHAN PRESTON
Kacey Musgraves
Last seen in town headlining the Basilica Block Party on a truly golden night in 2019, Musgraves is kicking off her "Star-Crossed" tour in St. Paul in mid-January, a brave move for a Texan. The country-to-pop crossover singer also bravely sings about her divorce on her new album, far more somber than 2018's breakthrough record "Golden Hour," but she promises the show will still be fun. Electro-pop acts King Princess and MUNA open. Read our interview with Musgraves in Monday's Variety section. (8 p.m. Wed., Xcel Energy Center, 175 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, $16-$100, ticketmaster.com)
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
'Paris Is Burning'
Jenny Livingston's 1990 documentary gets a rare screening at Paisley Park, and it's not difficult to imagine Prince himself admiring the film's approach to gender and performance. Livingston focuses on the drag ball scene in New York City in the 1980s, showcasing the styles and language that continue to influence pop culture (there would be no "RuPaul's Drag Race" without these artists). Tickets are pricey but the film is a masterpiece. (7 p.m. Sat., Paisley Park soundstage, 7801 Audubon Road, Chanhassen, $25 plus $20 on-site parking, paisleypark.com)
CHRIS HEWITT
Xavier Foley/SPCO
In addition to being the rare bass virtuoso who solos with major orchestras, Xavier Foley is a composer who has written "For Justice and Peace," a work marking the 400th anniversary of the first slave ship arriving in North America. It's one of two double concertos for violin, bass and orchestra he'll perform with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and SPCO violinist Eunice Kim, the other being by Giovanni Bottesini. And SPCO artistic director Kyu-Young Kim solos on Beethoven's "Kreutzer" Violin Sonata. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun; Ordway Concert Hall, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; $12-$50, students and children admitted free; 651-291-1144 or thespco.org)
ROB HUBBARD