Fri. 12/02
Paul Russell The author of “The Unreal Life of Sergey Nabokov” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.
Danú The acclaimed Irish band performs a concert celebrating a traditional Irish Christmas 7:30 p.m. at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.
Alice Cooper The shock-rock icon performs 8 p.m. at House of Blues, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-343-4000.
Bill Burr The comedian performs 8 and 10 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Jingle Bell Rock Rock singers Eddie Money, Lou Gramm (Foreigner) and Mickey Thomas (Starship) perform 8 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650.
Ryan Adams The singer-songwriter performs 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Silent Night, Deadly Night The holiday-themed slasher film is screened 9:45 p.m. at Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge St., Phoenixville; 610-917-0223.
Tiesto The superstar DJ performs 10 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Sat. 12/03
The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis From “Joy to the World” to “Winter Wonderland,” catch the favorites in this modern holiday tradition 3 and 8 p.m. at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
James Hormel The author of “Fit to Serve: Reflections on a Secret Life, Private Struggle and Public Battle to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador” hosts a reading 5:30 p.m. at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; 215-923-2960.
Myq Kaplan The out comedian performs 8 p.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
James Blunt The singer performs 9 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Music Box, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Tiesto The superstar DJ performs 10 p.m. at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa Event Center, 1 Borgata Way, Atlantic City, N.J.; 609-317-1000.
Sun. 12/04
Celeste Giuliano’s Pin-up Peep Show Get your peek on 7 p.m. at The Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.
David Cook The “American Idol” winner performs 7 p.m. at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; 215-572-7650.
F**k That! Erin McKeown’s Anti-Holiday Show The out singer-songwriter gets her holiday humbug on 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.
Mon. 12/05
A Very QUINCE Holiday Cabaret Quince Productions presents a holiday cabaret 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Tabu, 200 S. 12th St.; 215-964-9675.
Groove Night Local musicians join forces to bring the R&B, soul, jazz and funk, 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.
30 Minutes or Less The comedy is screened 8 p.m. at The Trocadero Theater, 1003 Arch St.; 215-922-6888.
Tue. 12/06
An Evening with Corey Taylor of Slipknot The metal singer speaks and performs acoustically 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; 215-222-1400.
Itzhak Perlman The acclaimed violinist performs 7:30 p.m. at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
TuesGAY Nights Lyrics Lounge and DJ June Rodrigues hosts a weekly night of music and performers for the LGBT community at 8 p.m., 6527 Roosevelt Blvd.; 215-533-5888.
Wed. 12/07
4W5 Blues Jam Local musicians get down 7 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.
Anita Hill The woman who leveled sexual-harassment charges against Clarence Thomas during his Senate confirmation hearings hosts a reading of her new book about the effects of the housing crisis, “Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race and Finding Home,” 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.
Duncan Sheik The singer-songwriter performs 7:30 p.m. at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; 215-222-1400.
Thu. 12/08
Tom Brokaw The TV-news personality and author of “The Time of Our Lives: Past, Present, Promise,” hosts a reading 7:30 p.m. at Central Library, 1901 Vine St.; 215-567-4341.
Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show The outrageousness begins 11 p.m. at Bob and Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; 215-545-4511.
Fri. 12/09
Emerson Hart (of Tonic) The rock singer performs 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater 1894, 24 W. Temple Ave., Sellersville; 215-257-5808.
PGMC presents Nutcracker: A Tale of Sugarplum Fairies Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus performs 8 p.m. at Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut St.; www.pgmc.org.
Opening
Compagnie Marie Chouinard The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the acclaimed dance company Dec. 8-10 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; 215-898-3900.
Cabaret Red Light’s Nutcracker The cabaret company puts its stamp on the holiday classic Dec. 8-11 at Painted Bride Arts Center, 230 Vine St.; 215-925-9914.
Jersey Boys The Tony Award-winning Best Musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons hits the stage Dec. 6-Jan. 14 at Forrest Theater, 1114 Walnut St.; 215-923-1515.
The Philadelphia Legacy The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and pianist Yuja Wang Dec. 8-11 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Holiday Pops Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform Dec. 9-22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Continuing
Cultural Constructs Rowan University Art Gallery presents an exhibit blurring the lines between visual art and graphic design, featuring Philadelphia’s Andrea Gaydos Landau, through Dec. 14, 201 Mullica Hill Road, Glassboro, N.J.; 856-256-4521.
The King and I The Walnut Street Theatre presents Rodgers & Hammerstein’s classic musical through Jan. 8, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.
Let Me Tell You About A Dream I Had Through Dec. 30 at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St.; 215- 545-4302.
Molly Landreth/Aiden Simon The William Way Community Center hosts an exhibition of the photographers’ work through Dec. 31 at the center, 1315 Spruce St.; 215-732-2220.
Motherhood: The Musical Society Hill Playhouse presents the musical comedy from the creators of “Menopause: The Musical” through Dec. 31, 507 S. Eighth St.; 215-923-0211.
Noël and Gertie The Walnut Street Theatre presents the story of remarkable theater duo Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence through Dec. 31 at Independence Studio on 3, 825 Walnut St.; 215-574-3550.
Sound of Music Media Theater presents the musical through Jan. 15, 104 E. State St., Media; 610-891-0100.
StripWorks AxD Gallery presents an exhibition by Larry Wood of hand-etched imagery of the human form on steel and bronze through Dec. 31, 265 S. 10th St.; 215-627-6250.
Tristin Lowe: Under the Influence Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition debuting works from the Philadelphia artist through Jan. 29, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion Philadelphia Museum of Art through March 25, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Closing
Blowing on a Hairy Shoulder/Grief Hunters The Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania presents an exhibition of works by 20 artists from Israel, Greece, Germany, Belgium, Britain and America that examines the relationships between originality and origin with video, photography, drawing and sculpture through Dec. 4, 118 S. 36th St.; 215-898-7108.
Gruesome Playground Injuries Theatre Exile presents a different kind of love story through Dec. 4 at Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, 2111 Sansom St.; 215-218-4022.
Here and Now: Prints, Drawings and Photographs by 10 Philadelphia Artists Philadelphia Museum of Art presents the exhibition through Dec. 4, 26th Street and the Parkway; 215-763-8100.
Sounds of the New World The Philadelphia Orchestra performs through Dec. 3 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; 215-790-5800.
Wide Awake: A Civil War Cabaret The Wilma Theater presents The Bearded Ladies performing a cabaret show through Dec. 3, 265 S. Broad St.; 215-546-7824.