THEATER Alegría Cirque du Soleil’s latest tour is an operatic introspection of the struggle for power and the invigorating energy of youth, relating the tale of power versus weakness, the king versus his jesters and age against youth, Oct. 13-16 at the Liacouras Center, 1776 N. Broad St.; (215) 204-2400, and Oct. 20-25 at the Sovereign Center, 700 Penn St., Reading; (610) 898-7469.
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays Crystal’s autobiographical Tony Award-winning blockbuster deals with his youth, growing up in the jazz world of Manhattan, his teenage years and, finally, adulthood, through Oct. 11 at The Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels The Walnut Street Theater presents the story of two suave and shameless con-men with two very different styles, through Oct. 25, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
The First Day of School: A Soccermom Sex Farce 1812 Productions presents a comedy where the characters desperately break free of the doldrums of suburbia in unexpected ways, through Oct. 25 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 592-9560.
Haunted Poe Brat Productions presents a theatrical take on a Halloween tradition, the haunted house, with an immersive, multi-sensory experience devoted to the 200th anniversary of Edgar Allan Poe’s birth, through Nov. 1 at Haunted Poe Warehouse, 38 Jackson St.; (800) 838-3006.
The History Boys The Arden Theatre presents the acclaimed drama chronicling the final school year of eight clever young British students in pursuit of sex, sport and admission into Oxford or Cambridge, through Nov. 1, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
Humor Abuse Philadelphia Theater Company presents the Obie Award-winning production based on Lorenzo Pisoni’s vagabond life as the youngest member of San Francisco’s Pickle Family Circus, through Oct. 25 at Suzanne Roberts Theatre, 480 S. Broad St.; (215) 985-0420.
Mister, Mister Quince Productions presents a dark comedy about murder, fame and not-so-innocent childhood, through Oct. 11 at Walnut Street Theater’s Studio 5, 825 Walnut St., and Oct. 15-25 at Shubin Theater, 407 Bainbridge St.; (215) 627-1088.
Nathan The Wise People’s Light & Theatre Company kicks off its 35th-anniversary season with the American premiere of a story celebrating our differences as well as our shared humanity set in 1192 in Jerusalem, where Jews, Christians and Muslims live side by side, through Oct. 11, 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern; (610) 647-1900.
Unidentified Human Remains and the True Nature of Love New City Stage Company presents a dark comedy-drama from the pen of Brad Fraser, one of the writers and producers of the Showtime hit “Queer As Folk,” as he examines the lives of several sexually frustrated individuals who try to learn the meaning of love while living in fear of a serial killer, through Oct. 18 at Adrienne Theater’s Mainstage, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 563-7500.
MUSIC classical Broadway Showstoppers: Revivals Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform a show that’s now the Broadway event of the season, through Oct. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Symphonie Fantastique The Philadelphia Orchestra presents a hallucinogenic depiction of an opium trip using some of the most brilliant images and colors in the entire symphonic repertoire, 2 p.m. Oct. 9 and 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Strange Fruit The Kimmel Center presents Danilo Pérez Trio and Lizz Wright performing the music of Billie Holiday, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Video Games Live The Kimmel Center presents an explosive entertainment experience featuring live music from the greatest video games of all time, at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
MUSIC other Nervous But Excited The folk duo performs at 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Richie Havens The singer-songwriter performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Bob Mould Band Out alt-rock icon Bob Mould performs with his band and Dinosaur Jr. at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.
Natalie Cole The Grammy-winning singer performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.
Lesbian Night Out Lesbian rock bands Hunter Valentine and September perform at 10 p.m. Oct. 9 at Triumph Brewing Co., 400 Union Square Drive, New Hope; (215) 862-7200.
The Bravery The alt-rock band performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.
Kiss with Buckcherry The raucous rock bands perform at 7 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Wachovia Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; (215) 336-2000.
Tiesto The world-renowned DJ performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Electric Factory, 421 N. Seventh St.; (215) 627-1332.
Everclear The alt-rock band performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 15 at TLA, 334 South St.; (215) 922-1011.
EXHIBITS The Art of Japanese Craft: 1875 to the Present The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition surveying the rich diversity of 20th-century Japanese craft, through Oct. 18, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
Art and Allegory Edge Gallery presents an exhibition featuring Virginia artist Harkrader, Philadelphia artist Salvador DiQuinzio and Canadian artist Ray Mantella, through Oct. 25, 72 N. Second St.; (215) 413-7072.
Common Ground: Eight Philadelphia Photographers in the 1960s and 1970s The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition examining a critical period for the art of photography and for the Philadelphia art scene, through Jan. 31, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
Diana: A Celebration The National Constitution Center presents an exhibition exploring Diana’s childhood, her engagement to Prince Charles, their royal wedding and Diana’s life and work as a global humanitarian, through Dec. 31, 525 Arch St.; (866) 917-1787.
Embracing the Uncarved Wood: Sculptural Reliefs from Shandong, China Leonard Pearlstein Gallery presents an exhibition featuring 18 large wood reliefs that combine traditional Chinese carving methods with very untraditional subject matter drawn from contemporary and international art sources, through Oct. 21 at Nesbitt Hall, 3215 Market St.; (215) 895-2548.
Henri Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of art inspired by the Mediterranean vacation spot, through Oct. 25, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
A Home For Ghosts ArtStar Gallery hosts an exhibition of works from artist Kurt Halsey, through Nov. 1, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557.
Lace in Translation The Design Center at Philadelphia University presents a new exhibition of contemporary work inspired by historic lace, through April 3, 4200 Henry Ave.; (215) 951-2860.
Peaks of Faith: Buddhist Art of the Himalayas The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition encompassing nearly a millennium of art from across the Himalayan region, through Fall 2009, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
Ragas and Rajas: Musical Imagery of Courtly India The Philadelphia Museum of Art presents a diverse selection of paintings and sculptures from across the subcontinent, through Feb. 28, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.; (215) 763-8100.
OPERA Madama Butterfly The Opera Company of Philadelphia presents the most popular work in all of the operatic canon, sung in Italian with English translations, Oct. 9-18 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Aida Amici Opera Company presents Verdi’s classic opera at 3 p.m. Oct. 11 at St. Nicholas Hall, 910 Pierce St.; (215) 224-0257.
DANCE Thank You, Gregory: A Tribute to the Legends of Tap Out dancer and choreographer Maurice Hines performs a tribute to his brother Gregory and other tap legends, Oct. 9-10 at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.
FILM Beyond Dracula: Modern Vampire Films Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents a course examining the figure of the vampire in a variety of incarnations, beginning with the prototype, Dracula, in Werner Herzog’s haunting and atmospheric “Nosferatu,” and continuing with more recent films offering diverse takes on the creature, through Oct. 28, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.
Moguls, Mensches and Nudniks: Jews and American Cinema Gershman Y presents a course discussing some of the ways in which the Jewish identity of the film industry’s early, prominent moguls was a key ingredient in Hollywood’s formation and success in the first half of the 20th century, through Oct. 14, 401 S. Broad St.; (610) 527-4008.
The Bride of Frankenstein & The Horror of Dracula The classic horror films are screened at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.
Trick R’ Treat The horror film starring Anna Paquin is screened at 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483.
The Godfather II Bryn Mawr Film Institute presents the second chapter of the Mafia trilogy at 7 p.m. Oct. 13, 824 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr; (610) 527-9898.
BOOKS Mary Cappello The author of “Called Back: My Reply to Cancer, My Return to Life” hosts a reading at 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.
Women’s Ink Barbara Berg, author of “Sexism in America: Alive, Well, and Ruining Our Future,” hosts a discussion followed by an open reading at 2 p.m. Oct. 11 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.
William C. Harris The author of “Queer Externalities: Hazardous Encounters in American Culture” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.
Steve Poses The author of “At Home By Steve Poses: A Caterer’s Guide to Cooking and Entertaining” hosts a reading at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.
Michael Awkward The author of “Burying Don Imus: Anatomy of a Scapegoat” hosts a reading at 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Robin’s Books and Moonstone Arts Center, 110a S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.
ETC Philadelphia Motorcycle Show Bikes, custom hogs, rice-burners, tattoos, BMX stunts, mixed martial arts and all sorts of two-wheeled entertainment are on display to be celebrated and pined for, Oct. 9-11 at Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks; (856) 626-3226.
Chris Hardwick The comedian seen on Comedy Central and G4’s “Attack of the Show” performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-5483.
Don Rickles The classic insult comic performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 at the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; (609) 317-1000.
Revved Up for the Cause: Tri-State Breast Cancer Awareness Ride The Philly Motorcycle Show hosts a motorcycle run to promote breast cancer awareness, featuring breast cancer survivor Jan Emanuel-Costley, the founder and president of Divas For A Cure, at noon Oct. 10. Registration starts at 11 a.m. Oct. 10 at Barb’s Harley Davidson & Buell, 926 Black Horse Pike, West Collingswood Heights, N.J.; (856) 456-4141.
Patton Oswalt The comedian performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.