Our Friday Best: Noah Cyrus, 'Othello,' Dylan Hicks and Día de Muertos

Noah Cyrus

After releasing three EPs, opening an arena tour for Katy Perry and earning a Grammy nomination for best new artist in 2020, Miley's little sis finally released her debut full-length, "The Hardest Part," in September. At 22, she's clearly experienced a lot already. Such is life in a showbiz family when you've been acting since age 2 and recording since age 16. The lightly twangy album is dripping with compelling introspection delivered with a nuanced voice. The highlights are "My Side of the Bed," a fragile ballad about romantic insecurity, and "Every Beginning Ends," a pedal-steel-kissed duet with Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard about falling out of love. (8 p.m. Sat. Varsity Theater, 1308 SE. 4th St., Mpls., $29.50 and up, ticketmaster.com)

JON BREAM

'Othello'

You might say that veteran stage and screen actor Bruce Young was born to do the Bard, although he hasn't done as much Shakespeare as he would like. Young worked with Barbara Gaines in the early days of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, helping to get that Windy City company up on its feet in a pub. In the Twin Cities, Young also teased out ideas about forming what became Classical Actors Ensemble with Joseph Papke about 20 years ago. Now he's directing Papke as the antihero Iago in "Othello." Jamil Lee plays the title character in Shakespeare's tale of love, duty and betrayal. (7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. with pay-what-you-can Nov. 7 & 14. Elision Playhouse, 6105 N. 42nd Av., Crystal. $25-$45. 651-321-4024, classicalactorsensemble.org)

ROHAN PRESTON

Dylan Hicks & Small Screens

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

Rise for Roe concert

With the future of the vacant Sears site near the State Capitol still up for debate, its sprawling parking lot is being used for a similarly broad lineup of some of the Twin Cities' most reputable songwriters of the day; all women. Soulful, Southern-tinged folkie Chastity Brown and poppy indie-rock trio Bad Bad Hats top off an afternoon lineup that also includes electro-R&B singer Lady Midnight and hip-hop/Latin music crossover Maria Isa. Comedians, including Mary Mack, will also pitch in for this get-out-the-vote rally and fundraiser for women's reproductive rights. (Noon-5 p.m. Sat., 425 Rice St., St. Paul, donations requested, rockwhatyougotlive.com)

C.R.

Anne Sofie von Otter

ROB HUBBARD

'Fúria'

Walker Art Center first presented the work of Brazilian-based choreographer Lia Rodrigues 20 years ago at Patrick's Cabaret. Rodrigues returns this week, with her provocative, high-octane style, but will perform at the Walker's McGuire Theater. "Fúria" uses imagery and innovative movement vocabulary to tackle the anti-Blackness, sexual violence and issues of power and exploitation in Rodrigues' own community. Her company, Companhia de Danças, is in Maré, a favela (a name for a town that faces high poverty) in Rio de Janeiro. (8 p.m. Fri. & Sat., Walker Art Center, 725 Vineland Place, Mpls., $31.50, 612-375-7600, walkerart.org.)

SHEILA REGAN

'From the Bowels of Heck'

CHRIS HEWITT

Joanne Shaw Taylor

If you don't believe the hype about this award-winning hotshot British blues-rock guitarist/singer who was discovered at age 16 as Joannie B. Goode by the Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, then check out this year's "Blues From the Heart Live." It's a ferocious and bumping concert album, with fretboard fireworks and tough-as-nails blues-and-R&B vocalizing on tunes by Otis Rush, Fleetwood Mac, Don Covay and Taylor herself. The 37-year-old, who now calls Detroit home, gets some assists from famous friends Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Bonamassa, whose label released the record. This week, Taylor drops a new studio album, "Nobody's Fool." (8 p.m. Sat. Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., $39-$99, ticketmaster.com)

J.B.

'ViewPoints '22'

S.R.

'The Abortion Chronicles'

It's set in the waiting room of a fictional clinic but the stories are drawn from real life. Ariel Pinkerton, Mahmoud Hakima, Nissa Nordland and others share experiences that include a mother trying to help her daughter make the right reproductive decision, a woman with a precarious pregnancy and the life of a Planned Parenthood employee. Half of the proceeds will be donated to an area clinic. (7 p.m. Fri.-Sat., ends Nov. 5, 1516 W. Lake St., #105, Mpls. $20, sites.google.com/view/loringcollective.)

C.H.

'African Studies'

ALICIA ELER

Día de Muertos

CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio) and Midtown Global Market partner in celebration of the Mexican holiday that honors loved ones who have passed on. Artists will teach kids how to make ornate sugar skulls, make paper flowers and pecked paper. Traditional music and dance performances feature Adrian Paz, Kalpulli KetzalCoatlicue and Viviana Pintado. Día de Muertos delicacies of hot chocolate and Pan de Muerto are offered. (Noon-5 p.m. Sat. Free. 920 E. Lake St., Mpls. 612-872-4041. midtownglobalmarket.org.)