While you’re waiting for that next ‘Star Wars’ …

“Citizens of the Empire”

Friday through January 23

Calderwood Pavilion

527 Tremont St., Boston

$15-$25, 617-933-8600

Boston Public Works presents this space opera by Kevin Mullins. Taking place sometime around the year 2816, it follows Marcus Kent, an aristocrat who’s willing to put his title on the line to fight for the freedom of his people, and against his former peers in the court. If you’re impatient for the next “Star Wars,” check this out.

The Sunday Salons

Saturdays, 5 p.m.

Plaza Theater

539 Tremont St., Boston

Free, thesundaysalons@gmail.com

This weekly poetry and music series was on hiatus for a spell, but now it’s back weekly at the Boston Center for the Arts with new hosts Daniel DeLoma and Gerald Acevedo. Each session is recorded for digital radio broadcast. This weekend’s re-inaugural session includes poets Alex Dimitrov, Soren Stockman and Danniel Shooenbeek, and guest musician Johnny Sciortino.

Greg Jobin-Leeds and AgitArte

Thursday, 7 p.m.

Harvard Book Store

1256 Mass Ave., Cambridge

Free, 617-661-1515

What’s driving all this new social justice activism of the last few years, and what are the philosophies behind it? What inspires them and keeps them going? Author and activist Greg Jobin-Leeds will introduce a panel discussion with the collective AgitArte on their new book, “When We Fight, We Win!” which collects insights from some of the leading activists into these very questions.

“The Thing”

Friday and Saturday

Coolidge Corner Theater

290 Harvard St., Brookline

$12, 617-734-2500

As we move into the dead of winter, it’s worth remembering things could be worse—for instance, you could be a scientist trapped on an Antarctic research station, being stalked by a—well, some kind of horrible, horrible Thing. Such is the nightmare of John Carpenter’s 1982 horror masterpiece, a remake that became a classic in its own right.

Your Terrible Ex!

Fridays at 10 p.m.

The Riot Theater

146A South St., Jamaica Plain

Free

For this weekly improv show, the cast will take your stories about bad relationships and make comedy out of them, just like you weren’t able to do. Whether your ex was clingy, overbearing or just loved their cats more than you, let these quick wits turn your pain into communal amusement, because laughter is the best revenge.

Boston Chili Takedown

Sunday, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Middle East Downstairs

480 Mass. Ave., Cambridge

$20, 866-777-8932

Often you’ll see chili cookoffs hosted by the local neighborhood business alliance, with several area restaurants contributing, but at this event you’ll gorge on exclusively home-cooked chili. You can’t get this at a restaurant, only right here — unless you make friends with these people, of course. As for the status of your digestive system later, that’ll be your responsibility.

“I Know Just What You’re Saying”

Through January 31

Kingston Gallery

450 Harrison Ave., Boston

Free, 617-423-4113

This multi-artist show is the result of an intriguing experiment: one artist created a work to give to another, who then had to create another in response, but give it to a different artist, and so on. The works will be displayed in the order they were created, allowing the viewer to follow the unpredictable process of transformation.

Boston’s Celtic Music Festival

Friday and Saturday

Various Locations

Cambridge

$15-$65, 617-492-7679

This annual smorgasbord of music and dance from across the Celtic world—Ireland, Scotland, Cap Breton and more—returns. There are too many talents to name in this tiny box, so it’ll suffice to say Passim has put together another stellar lineup. It kicks up Friday night with the Boston Urban Ceilidh dance party.

The Prepared Piano

Saturday and Sunday

Institute of Contemporary Art

100 Northern Ave., Boston

Free with admission, 617-478-3100

For the musically adventurous: at these in-gallery concerts, part of the Institute of Contemporary Art’s exhibition on the radical art school Black Mountain College, pianist Elaine Rombola will perform some of John Cage’s “Sonatas and Interludes,” works which famously require the piano to be “prepared” by sticking various objects — screws, erasers, paper clips, etc. — in between the strings.