Theater
‘Peter Pan’
Oct. 18 through Dec. 30
City Hall Plaza
One City Hall Plaza, Boston
$50-$90, 888-772-6849
This flashy family show claims faithfulness to the J.M. Barrie novel, so don’t expect it to be like either the Disney or the Broadway versions (or, for that matter, that movie “Hook”). Performed on a custom-built 360-degree stage with CGI back-grounds assisting stunning flying effects, it’s unlike anything you’re likely to see this year.
‘Three Decembers’
Friday through Sunday
Boston University Theatre
264 Huntington Ave., Boston
$7, 617-933-8600
This one-act opera, based on a Terrence McNally play, details the complicated relationship between boozy, has-been actress Madeline Mitchell and her two adult children over three Decembers between 1986 and 2006. Among her crimes against them: Lying about their father’s death and refusing to accept her son’s homosexuality.
Art
‘Knitting Nation’
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Institute of Contemporary Art
100 Northern Ave., Boston
$10-$15, 617-478-3100
Artists and fashion designer Liza Collins has created a performance piece out of the least likely pursuit, knitting. At this show, subtitled “Darkness Descends,” five performers will be dramatically lit in the midst of darkness as they labor away on knitting machines to produce a site-specific, and presumably warm and cozy, installation. See tomorrow’s Metro for Nora Dunne’s story on it!
Music
Crooked Still
Friday and Saturday
Somerville Theatre
55 Davis Square, Somerville
$28, 617-876-4275
This alternative bluegrass band met up as music students in Boston 10 years ago. They depart from bluegrass purism to create a unique sound that’s easily accessible to people more familiar with indie pop and folk. In 2008, they had a song featured in the TV series “True Blood,” because everyone knows vampires love bluegrass.
Sarah Chang
Sunday, 3 p.m.
Symphony Hall
301 Mass. Ave., Boston
$50-$70, 617-482-2595
This violinist was a child prodigy, playing with the New York Philharmonic before she was 9 and recording a Billboard-charting album at 10. Now 30, she has beauty, passion, and skill in such extraordinary excess that it makes you wonder how life could possibly be fair — until you realize how lucky you are to get to see and hear all three.
Comedy
Michael Ian Black
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Wilbur Theatre
246 Tremont St., Boston
$20-$25, 800-745-3000
Like that paperclip in MS Word, this guy just keeps popping up. Some notable Ian Black appearances: MTV’s short-lived “The State,” Comedy Central’s “Reno 911,” VH1’s “I Love the …” series, the movie “Wet Hot American Summer,” and the comedy trio Stella. His stand-up is a combination of chiaroscuro irony, straight-faced deadpan and little kid nonsense.
Literature
The Art of “The Wire”
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Back Bay Events Center
180 Berkeley St., Boston
$20, 617-252-3249
The creator of “The Wire,” David Simon, prefers to think of his baby more as a “visual novel” than a TV show. Perhaps that’s how the Boston Book Festival can justify opening its festivities with this panel discussion featuring “Wire” writer/producer George Pelecanos, several actors from the series, and a couple of people who inspired it, directly and indirectly. But this is only a single highlight of the BBF, which takes place this weekend. Visit their website to plan out your literary pursuits.
