39 Things to Do This Weekend

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah celebrates the 10th anniversary of Some Loud Thunder at Johnny Brenda’s Friday. (Michael T. Regan)

Friday, December 1

Company @ Drake Theater
11th Hour Theatre Company presents “an intimate concert version” of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s 1970 musical comedy, Company. Directed by Matthew Decker, music direction by Daniel Perelstein. Runs December 1-3.

Upright Citizens Brigade @ Suzanne Roberts Theatre
Two performances by a touring group of comedians from the word-famous improv comedy theater/school (founded by Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh). These shows feature performers Andy Bustillos, Sebastian Conelli, Alex Song and Molly Thomas. Friday & Saturday, December 1 & 2

Andorra @ Kung Fu Necktie
This band of “sweaty, bearded, boozehounds” from Philly celebrates the release of a new record, What You Wanted, What You Got. It’s good-time music.

Celtic Thunder @ Tower Theatre
The dramatic Irish singing group sings with a live symphony orchestra on this tour.

John Mulaney @ Academy of Music
The boyish comedian is known for his funny, excitable standup — 2012’s New in Town is one of my all-time favorite comedy albums — as well as his hit Broadway show with Nick Kroll, Oh, Hello. Friday & Saturday, December 1 & 2.

Conjunto Philadelphia @ World Cafe Live
Conjunto — Philly-based specialists in Pre-Revolutionary Cuban music — regularly hosts these parties entitled Havana Nights: A Celebration of Cuban Music and Food.

The Roast of Your 15-Year-Old Self @ Good Good Comedy
Comics Pete Steele, Kyle Harris, Shannon Fahey, Michael Kelly and Max Barth talk about the many ways they were terrible people when they were younger. Hosted by Alise Morales. Here’s what it’s kinda gonna be like.

Carbon Leaf @ World Cafe Live
This rootsy, alt-countryish rock band from Virginia has been doing it since 2002.

My Fair Lady @ Sedgwick Theater
Quintessence Theatre Group presents the two-piano version of the classic musical. Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics and book by Alan Jay Lerner. Stars Leigha Kato and Gregory Isaac, directed by Alexander Burns. Extended through December 23.

Philly Pops @ Kimmel Center
One of the city’s most esteemed cover bands plays a free concert for members of the armed forces, veterans, police and firefighters entitled “I’ll Be Home for Christmas: A Salute to the Military and First Responders.” Michael Krajewski conducts. RSVP ahead of time.

Chasing Trane @ Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books
The new Germantown shop hosts a screening of John Scheinfeld’s documentary about jazz great John Coltrane, followed by a conversation between jazz scholar/pianist Dr. Guthrie Ramsey and Dr. Marc Lamont Hill.

2 Milly @ Underground Arts
The Brooklyn rapper originated the “Milly Rock” YouTube dance craze.

Beauty and the Beast @ Media Theatre
Disney’s Broadway musical about a lady who dates a monster. Runs through January 14.

The Craftsman @ St. Stephen’s Theater
Lantern Theater Company presents the world premiere of this “darkly ironic” play by Bruce Graham. “From the ashes of World War II, Dutch patriots discover that one of their own — a rich and reputable art dealer — has sold rare Vermeer paintings to the Nazis. Accused of treason and on trial for his life, he must decide whether to destroy his own reputation or to reveal bigger secrets behind these works that the Dutch consider national treasures.” Runs through December 10. Note: Lantern is hosting three discussion events related to The Craftsman: In Conversation with David Hall: Art on Trial (Dec. 2); In Conversation with Linda Eaton: What Makes Art Real and Why Fakes Prove So Alluring (Dec. 3); and In Conversation with Colette Loll: Are Fakes and Forgeries in Art a Problem or an Opportunity? (Dec. 9).

New Italian Cinema @ Lightbox Theater
A weekend festival of free screenings, three per night Friday-Sunday, December 1-3. Includes films by Sergio Castellitto, PIF, Gianni Amleio, Andrea De Sica and more. Here’s the trailer for PIF’s At War For Love.

Sinbad @ Keswick Theatre
Standup by the veteran comedian and actor.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah @ Johnny Brenda’s
Jangly, jittery Philly/Brooklyn band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah struck a nerve with their self-titled debut in 2005, but didn’t get as much love for their 2007 follow-up, Some Loud Thunder. But the album — like frontman Alec Ounsworth — persists, and several gems still stand out as some of the best work in the CYHSY catalog.

Jay Z @ Wells Fargo Center
Lots of big pop/hip-hop records these days appear out of nowhere and leave the fans buzzing for weeks, but Jay Z’s 4:44 was old school in that respect. It was foretold with billboards and subway ads, then the record came out in June, collected mostly positive reviews, launched a few thinkpieces about love and fidelity and seemed to disappear. (Or maybe it only feels that way because I don’t have Tidal.) But the record exists. Lots of us streamed it and liked it, surely.

Deer Tick @ Union Transfer
The veteran indie band from Providence released Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, in September. One’s acoustic. The other’s electric. Consequence of Sound called it “messy and masterful,” which sounds pretty nice. Pitchfork said, “The discs both contain a more settled outlook from bandleader John McCauley than usual.”

Saturday, December 2

Aaron West & the Roaring Twenties @ World Cafe Live
Aaron West is what Wonder Years frontman Dan “Soupy” Campbell calls himself when he’s leading this folky, punky side project. The great Philly band Norwegian Arms opens, so show up on time.

Jack Frost Saves Christmas @ Media Theatre
Austy Hicks stars in this family-friendly play about a boy who’s sad because everything he touches turns things to ice. Saturdays at 11 a.m. and Sundays at noon. Through December 31

Dreamgurlz @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
Standup and storytelling by Christi Chiello, Sydnee Washington, Marie Faustin and Molly Austin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyqBvyHiTnE

Hundredth @ Boot & Saddle
Catchy Myrtle Beach punk with kind of a synthy, post-punk sheen. Listen.

Beach Slang @ TLA
Back in February, this Philly indie band released a mixtape of covers of songs by The Jesus and Mary Chain, Tommy Keene (rest in rock) — and holy crap they did a Candyskins cover. This is very nicely done:

Jackie Evancho Holiday Show @ Keswick Theatre
The “classical crossover” vocalist came in second on America’s Got Talent at age 10 back in 2010. Here she does seasonal favorites with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia.

Mihali @ Milkboy Philly
The NJ/Vermont artist is best known as the frontman for Twiddle.

Consider The Source @ Ardmore Music Hall
This NYC trio calls its sound “sci-fi middle eastern fusion.” Check this song out:

Berhana @ Voltage Lounge
The thoughtful Atlanta emcee/R&B singer Berhana has a new video for “Grey Luh” and it’s a good one, but I keep coming back to “Janet.”

George Lopez @ Tower Theater
The scratchy-voiced longtime comedian drops seemed get a spark lit under him with the rise of Donald Trump, and it’s been fun to watch.

Trancers @ Philadelphia Unnamed Film Festival
A free screening of the 1984 sci-fi/action movie starring Helen Hunt and Tim Thomerson.

The Barr Brothers @ Underground Arts
Dreamy folk from Montreal. Here’s one from their most recent album, Queens of the Breakers.

Big League: A Comedy + Music Show @ The Barbary
Comedy by Alex Grubard, Amanda Taylor, Geoff Jackson, Christian Alsis and Kath Barbadoro, plus music by house band Starwood.

Merry Chick-Mas @ PhilaMOCA
A celebration of Jack T. Chick, whose little fundamentalist Christian comic books have been terrifying the citizens of Earth for generations. Includes displays of comics and a multimedia presentation by Chick expert Kurt Kuersteiner, with whom I did a short interview yesterday.

Sunday, December 3

Todd Rundgren @ Keswick Theatre
Upper Darby’s favorite son returns to the area. Released in May, White Knight features contributions by Daryll Hall, Trent Reznor (see above) and a bunch more.

Dave Koz @ Scottish Rite Auditorium
The smooth-jazz sax player brings his 20th Anniversary Christmas Tour to the ’Wood, with guests David Benoit, Rick Braun, Peter White and Selina Albright.

Emily Fredricks Memorial Bike Ride @ Art Museum Steps
An 11:30 a.m. ride in memory of bicyclists, like Emily Fredricks, who died on Philly streets.

Narcotic Wasteland @ Kung Fu Necktie
This South Carolina death metal band specializes in heavy drug horror story songs. Their latest record, Delirium Tremens, came out in October.

Off The Blanket @ Space 1026
Space 1026’s annual art/merch sale features works by art, shirts and more by Andrew Jeffrey Wright, Crystal Stokowski, Miriam Singer and lots more.

Dustin Lynch @ The Fillmore
The Tennessee country artist’s Current Mood dropped in September.