Hari Kondabolu Plays the Neptune, Donald Byrd Takes on Tchaikovsky, and Annie Leibovitz Captures the Zeitgeist

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, December 13, 2017

STAGE

Hari Kondabolu He was born in Queens, but Seattle claims this rising stand-up star for our own. Most recently he’s started a provocative conversation about the depiction of South Asians in pop culture with his doc The Problem With Apu, a look at The Simpsons’ problematically stereotypical convenience-store owner. The Neptune, 1303 N.E. 45th St., stgpresents.org. $23.50. 7:30 & 10 p.m. Fri., Dec. 15.

DANCE

Spectrum Dance Theater See a work-in-progress presentation of Donald Byrd’s adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s fairy-tale opera Iolanta (about a secluded princess’s awakening; the allegorical possibilities are infinite) and get a taste before its spring 2019 premiere. Spectrum Dance Theater, 800 Lake Washington Blvd., spectrumdance.org. $20. 8 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 14–Sat., Dec. 16, 2 p.m. Sun., Dec. 17.

CLASSICAL

North Corner Chamber Orchestra A nice miscellany from this conductorless ensemble—basically, it’s chamber music for 20 players. There’s a commissioned premiere by jazz trumpeter/composer Jim Knapp; Bach’s jaunty Brandenburg Concerto no. 1; Arvo Pärt’s medieval-evoking Fratres for winds and percussion; and Stravinsky’s recited/danced/theater piece/thing A Soldier’s Tale. Magnolia UCC, 3555 W. McGraw St., 2 p.m. Sat., Dec. 16, and The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., 7:30 p.m. Sun., Dec. 17. $15–$25. nocco.org.

BOOKS & SPEAKERS

Finnegans Wake Project In which Neal Kosaly-Meyer, by a commodius vicus of recirculation, performs/recites Part I, Chapter 4 of Joyce’s inscrutable but musical masterwork. From memory. Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center, 4649 Sunnyside Ave. N., wayward.music.com. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 16.

Annie Leibovitz The paramount portrait photographer shows and discusses works in her 12th published collection, Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005–2016. Caitlyn Jenner, Stephen Hawking, Barack Obama, Lin-Manuel Miranda: It’s the zeitgeist in 150 photos. Campion Ballroom, Seattle University, 914 E. Jefferson St., townhallseattle.org. $5 and up. (Sold out at press time, but see what you can do.) 7 p.m. Thurs., Dec. 14.

See all Seattle arts events for the week, and beyond, on our new-and-improved calendar.