20–21 The Hold Steady and Drive-by Truckers A dynamic pairing of two beloved rock bands brings us the "Rock and Roll Means Well" tour. Showbox SODO.
• 20–22 Kathy Griffin Don't pretend you're above it. They've just added a fourth show. The My Life on the D-List star promises to have plenty of dish to dish. Paramount Theatre.
20–22 Lost Action The acclaimed Dutch choreographer Crystal Pite brings seven of her dancers to enact a new ensemble work. On the Boards.
21–22 A Chekhovian Resolution The first production of Spectrum Dance Theater's new three-year initiative joins American and Israeli choreographers with Palestinian musicians. Moore Theatre.
21–22 Cornish Dance Theater A mixed program with choreography by Cornish regulars Christina McNeil, Deborah Wolf, and Jason Ohlberg. Broadway Performance Hall, www.cornish.edu.
21 Personal Injury Local musician Laura Veirs supplies a soundtrack full of hurt for woeful stories by Allen Johnson, Sallie Tisdale, and Richard Rodriguez. Richard Hugo House.
22–Feb. 8 Adaptation Video installations by Arturo Herrera, Guy Ben-Ner, Catherine Sullivan, and Eve Sussman & The Rufus Corporation explore how meanings shift from one medium to another; source texts include Moby Dick and The Rape of the Sabine Women. Henry Art Museum.
• 25 M83 Galactic French electro-maven Anthony Gonzalez may be flying solo at this point, but the M83 stars continue to shine brightly with the release of record #5, Saturdays = Youth, earlier this year. Though M83's known for taking a spacey approach to song structure, wandering willy-nilly in lush landscapes of distortion, Gonzalez paid more attention to structure and form on Saturdays = Youth. —S.B. Neumos.
26 Australia Do you know how we know Hugh Jackman's not gay? Because he rides a horse, herds cattle (not sheep!), and wears a beard in this frontier epic from Down Under. Virile! Also, in Baz Luhrman's long-delayed star vehicle, Jackman woos Nicole Kidman. And nothing proves you're hetero like hooking up with Nicole Kidman. —B.R.M. Various theaters, www.australiamovie.com.
• 28 Joel McHale The Seattle native and UW grad is home for the holidays. The Soup has him now, but Almost Live had him first. Moore Theatre.
28–Jan. 3 You Can't Take it With You The evergreen feuding-family comedy by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, first performed in 1936, will put your own clan's holiday squabbles to shame. Bagley Wright Theatre.
29–Dec. 27 Black Nativity Can I get a hallelujah? This favorite amalgam of theater, concert, and church service has become a Seattle tradition. Intiman Theatre.
• 29 Mudhoney and Supersuckers The self-proclaimed "World's Greatest Rock Band," Supersuckers and Seattle grunge heroes Mudhoney play one night only at the Showbox. Showbox at the Market.
December
3–28 Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Romance in the Oregon Territories never involved so much high kicking and high spirits as in this musical-comedy juggernaut. Some new songs have been added to the originals, which feature lyrics by Johnny Mercer. 5th Avenue Theatre.
4 Steven Kazlowski He'll show some amazing photos and share tales of the furry white endangered species from his environmental album The Last Polar Bear. Town Hall.
5–7 Next Fest NW The latest new things in Northwest dance. Velocity MainStage.
11–13 Winter Dreams Tchaikovsky and other holiday favorites may have you wishing you lived in imperial Russia. Or maybe not. Benaroya Hall.
12–18 Alexander Nevsky Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 historical epic, on a new print with the original Prokofiev score, may have you wishing you lived in medieval Russia. Or maybe not. If you missed it at SIFF this year, here's another chance. SIFF Cinema.
• 12–25 It's a Wonderful Life A GI tradition for three decades and counting, Frank Capra's 1946 holiday perennial stars James Stewart and Donna Reed—like you didn't already know that.—B.R.M. Grand Illusion Cinema, www.grandillusioncinema.org.
12 Jaap ter Linden All six of Bach's cello suites in one recital? They really oughta start earlier than 8 p.m. Town Hall, www.earlymusicguild.org.
12 Last Comic Standing The popular NBC show brings a fresh roster of funnymen (and women) for your approval. Or not. Moore Theatre.
13–Jan. 10 Beasts! Local artists including Peter Bagge have contributed to the fanciful new album of imaginary critters. Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery.
16–28 The Color Purple How beloved is the Alice Walker source novel? So beloved that Oprah herself is presenting this traveling musical stage show. Moore Theatre.
• 20 Messiah Seattle Baroque and the Tudor Choir team up again, after a few seasons off, for about as good a performance of Handel as you will ever hear. Town Hall.
• 31 Beethoven's Ninth Ring in the new year with the Seattle Symphony and Ludwig bloody Van. Benaroya Hall.
