THEATER
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Philadelphia Theatre Company presents the award-winning tale of six kids in the throes of puberty vying for the spelling championship of a lifetime, through Dec. 5 at Suzanne Roberts Theater, 480 S. Broad St.; (215) 985-0420.
Burn the Floor The international cast of champion dancers perform the theatrical Latin-influenced ballroom dance-themed show, through Nov. 13 at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Girl Talk: The Musical The new show featuring hit songs from Beyoncé, Aretha Franklin, P!nk, Carrie Underwood, the Pointer Sisters and more takes the stage Nov. 16-21 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Walnut Street Theatre presents an all-new production of the holiday Broadway musical, through Jan. 9, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
Jersey Boys The Kimmel Center’s Broadway series presents the award-winning musical about Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, through Dec. 12 at Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.; (215) 790-5847.
The Laramie Residency The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents “The Laramie Project” and ”The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later,” through Nov. 13 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.
Monty Python’s Spamalot PNC Arts Alive presents the popular and zany medieval comedy through Nov. 20, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, N.J.; (856) 858-5230.
My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy Society Hill Playhouse presents a comedic one-man show through Dec. 12, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210.
Office Politics Quince Productions presents four short plays set in offices, through Nov. 13 at Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 627-1088.
Run, Mourner, Run Flashpoint Theatre Company and out playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney present the story of a poor young man from a rural community in North Carolina who is suddenly thrust into a power struggle between the two richest men in town, through Nov. 20 at Second Stage at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 568-8077.
Silverhill InterAct Theatre Company presents a new drama about a self-supporting utopian community whose well-being is challenged by capitalism, through Nov. 14, on the Mainstage of The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 568-8077.
Simulations Plays & Players Theatre presents a fantastical story about a socially awkward woman who falls in love with her Sims character, through Nov. 21, 1714 Delancey Place; www.playsandplayers.org.
Uncle Vanya Lantern Theater Company presents its first-ever production of a full-length Anton Chekhov work, through Nov. 21 at St. Stephen’s Theater, 923 Ludlow St.; (215) 829-0395.
Urinetown: The Musical The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the award-winning comedy cabaret-style production, Nov. 16-20 at Bruce Montgomery Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.
MUSIC
A German Evening The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Strauss’ Second Horn Concerto, through Nov. 16 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Tan Dun’s The MapThe Philadelphia Orchestra performs a concert blending Eastern and Western influences, 7:30 p.m. Nov 12 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Tony Enos The out singer performs to benefit the Educational Justice Coalition. 9 p.m. Nov. 12 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; (215) 735-5772.
Ani DiFranco The singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.
Anna Crusis Fall Concert The choir launches its 36th season with performances at 8 p.m. Nov. 13 and 4 p.m. Nov. 14 at Unitarian Society of Germantown, 6511 Germantown Ave.; www.annacrusis.org.
Ben Folds The alt-rock pianist performs at 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Tower Theatre, 19 S. 69th St., Upper Darby; (610) 352-2887.
Justin Bieber The pop singer performs at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; (800) 298-4200.
Girlyman The folk-jazz trio performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Kavakos Plays Tchaikovsky The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with Spanish-born conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos and Greek-born violin virtuoso Leonidas Kavakos, Nov. 18-20 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
EXHIBITS
Art of the American Soldier The National Constitution Center presents the world-debut exhibition of over 15,000 paintings and sketches created by 1,300 American soldiers in the line of duty, through Jan. 10, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6895.
Best of Show University of the Arts hosts an exhibition of The Photo Review 2010 Competition Prize Winners, through Dec. 10 at Gallery 1401, 14th floor of Terra Hall, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) 717-6300.
The Big Sea ArtStar Gallery presents an exhibition of works from artist Andrew Zangerle, through Nov. 21, 623 N. Second St.; (215) 238-1557.
Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt The Franklin Institute presents an exhibition of 150 artifacts from Egypt, through Jan. 2, 20th Street and the Parkway; (215) 448-1200.
Desert Jewels: North African Jewelry and Photography from the Xavier Guerrand-Hermes Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of jewelry and historic photographs from Algeria, Libya, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, through Dec. 5, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
Eakins on Paper: Drawings and Watercolors from the Collection Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of 10 rarely seen drawings and watercolors that survey the early work of Thomas Eakins, through December, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
A Glimpse of Paradise: Gold in Islamic Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition exploring the unique status of gold in Islam through a small group of objects drawn from the museum’s collection, through April, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
Object and Fields AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of works by Mike Stack and Carrie Patterson, through Dec. 4, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.
Pleasures and Pastimes in Japanese Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of costumes, masks and poetry exploring the ways in which leisure time was interpreted across all social classes in Japanese art, through January, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
The Visionary State: A Journey Through California’s Spiritual Landscape University of the Arts hosts an exhibition by photographer Michael Rauner taking the viewer on a tour of California’s more eccentric religious movements, through Dec. 10 at Gallery 1401, 15th floor of Terra Hall, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) 717-6300.
DANCE Mazowsze The Kimmel Center presents a performance celebrating the culture of Poland, 3 p.m. Nov. 14 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Luis Bravo’s Forever Tango The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents a dance and musical performance exploring the history, culture and passion of Argentina, Nov. 16-20 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.
BalletX Fall Series 2010 Dancer, choreographer and filmmaker Tobin Del Cuore presents the world premiere of “Beside Myself,” a dynamic exploration of consciousness and duality alongside other BalletX favorites, Nov. 17-21 at The Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St.; (215) 546-7824.
Bombay Bellywood The Bellydance Superstars perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 18 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.
FILM A Night at the Opera The classic Marx Brothers’ film is screened at 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.
Sabotage The Alfred Hitchcock film is screened at 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; (610) 917-0223.
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World The action film is screened at 8 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
BOOKS
Janet Mason and Jim Cory The author of “Hitching to Nirvana” and the poet whose work has appeared in gay poetry anthologies such as “Son of the Male Muse” and “A Day for a Lay,” respectively, host a reading at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.
Zelda Lockhart The out author hosts a reading at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Moonstone Arts, 108 S. 13th St.; (215) 735-9600.
Judah Friedlander The comedian, “30 Rock” star and author of “How to Beat Up Anybody: An Instructional Karate Book by the World Champion,” hosts a book event at 2 p.m. Nov. 13 at Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St.; (215) 898-5965.
Greg Herren The author of the new young-adult novel “Sorceress” hosts a reading at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.
Wendell Potter The author of “Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans,” hosts a book event at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; (215) 686-5322.
CABARET
PGMC Cabaret Showstoppers: The Diva Within Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus performs its fall gala fundraiser from 7-10 p.m. Nov. 13 at Hamilton Hall, 320 S Broad St.; www.pgmc.org.
Steve Kolbo The cabaret singer performs at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Bob Egan‘s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
Aimee Robidoux The cabaret singer performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at Bob Egan‘s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
Back In The Army Cabaret Society Hill Playhouse presents the military-themed show filled with drag and drama, Nov. 18-28, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210.
ETC
U.S. Mr. Gay Competition This year’s competition features hosts Frank DeCaro and Ms. Brittany Lynn with celebrity judges Michael Musto, David Evangelista, Mickey Boardman, Terrance Noonan, Christopher Hayes, Ryan Nickalus and TJ Kelly, from 8-11:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Voyeur Nightclub, 1221 St. James St.; (215) 735-5772.
The Revival The event featuring performances by black queer poets Ms. Wise, Venus Thrash and J. Pope and LOVE the poet, rolls through town at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at 906 S. 49th St.; cereusrevival.eventbrite.com.