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ONGOING EVENTS

‘Hamilton’ Through Jan. 28

With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical direction and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, “Hamilton” is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of founding father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first treasury secretary.

Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, “Hamilton” is the story of America then, as told by America now. Appropriate for ages 10 and up, since there is some strong language. 7-10 p.m. Presented by Broadway San Diego at San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave. bit.ly/2zUoMwf

‘Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin’ Through Jan. 7

Actor and international piano virtuoso Hershey Felder embodies the iconic Irving Berlin to bring you the musical story of an immigrant boy who gave a country its voice. From Czarist Russia to New York’s Lower East Side, and then throughout the world, Berlin’s life and music epitomizes the American dream, and his songs capture his patriotic vision of our country. Experience the stories behind this songwriter’s most popular and enduring work, including “God Bless America,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “White Christmas,” and more. Felder’s signature creation of character and musical performance will astonish, move and delight. 8 p.m. The Lyceum Stage, 79 Horton Plaza. bit.ly/2BBgQNS.

Friday, Jan. 5

Comedian Drew Michael

With an album that hit No. 1 on the iTunes comedy charts, his own Comedy Central half-hour special and a sweet gig as a writer on “Saturday Night Live,” Drew Michaels is filling a comedy bucket list at a record pace. According to Time Out Chicago, his show is “smart, funny and unabashedly crass,” with takes on everything from ex-girlfriends and religion to bestiality and Hitler. Show starts at 8 p.m. at the American Comedy Company, 818 B Sixth Ave. No cover.

Saturday, Jan. 6

Art Meets Jazz

Art and music converge at this pop-up exhibit of jazz-inspired art work featuring music by trumpet player Gilbert Castellanos and his band playing the songs of legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Clifford Brown and more.

Event starts at 6 p.m. at Bread & Salt, 1955 Julian Ave. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door for cash and $28 at the door for credit. Part of proceeds go to Arts for Learning San Diego. For tickets and information, contact Arlene Damasco at 619-869-5889 or email [email protected].

Petty – A Tribute to Benefit MusiCares

Andrew McKeag, Mario Rubalcaba, Timothy Joseph, Ben Moore, Chris Torres and more will be playing a blistering set of timeless songs by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. All proceeds go to MusiCares, a charity that provides a safety net for musicians in need.

Show starts at 8:30 p.m. at the Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Visit casbahmusic.com.

‘Seeing is Believing’

Bringing together a diverse and exceptional group of more than 30 photographs, sculptures, paintings, and illustrations, this exhibition will highlight the inspired minds and imaginations of each artist’s innermost thoughts, as they transform the everyday mundane into thought provoking explorations of the body, relationships, emotion, form, and inanimate objects.

At the Sparks Gallery, 530 Sixth Ave. Artist reception starts at 6 p.m. Gallery show runs through April 8. For more information or to RSVP for the reception, visit bit.ly/2EDJ7EO

Wednesday, Jan. 10

‘Your Tax Deduction Questions, Answered!’

Get your tax deduction questions answered at Keller Williams Realty’s January meetup by deductible expense guru Homer Ambrose. Armed with a CPA and MBA, Ambrose’s expertise is asset protection and limiting tax liability through creative tax planning and strategy. He will walk through an example of converting a sole proprietorship into a corporation and how it could save a substantial amount of money.

Free event is at 6 p.m. at Keller Williams Realty, 3965 Fifth Ave., Suite 300.

Thursday, Jan. 11

‘Orange is the New Barack’

Political satire troupe The Capitol Steps present their latest show titled “Orange is the New Barack” at the Spreckels Theatre. The show features a mix of song and standup that pokes fun at political leaders and the major issues of the day in a vaudeville-style show.

Tickets for the all-ages show cost $39–59 and are available at bit.ly/2lIaW7b.

Show starts at 7 p.m. at Spreckels Theatre, 121 Broadway, Suite 600.

‘The Color of Light’

Based on Henri Matisse’s spiritual romance with a young nun, this new play tells the fascinating story behind the creation of his final masterpiece, “Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence.” “The Color of Light” follows the relationship after the brilliant artist, an atheist, recovers from cancer and is cared for by Sister Jacques Marie. Vantage Theatre’s production combines an art experience with theater, with a pre-show art exhibit and talk about Matisse, art, color and form, and the religious life. See it live at San Diego’s Tenth Avenue Arts Center, 930 10th Ave.

Runs Thursdays through Saturdays Jan. 11–Feb. 3. Shows start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15, available at bit.ly/2Cc3VSe.

It’s About Time Festival

San Diego’s finest performing arts organizations come together for the San Diego Symphony’s “It’s About Time: A festival of Rhythm. Sound. And Place.” The month-long celebration runs Jan. 11–Feb. 11. The festival explores the world of percussion music over 30 exciting days and 25 performances, installations, conversations, and encounters. Renowned percussionist, conductor, author and University of California San Diego professor Steven Schick curated the festival that moves percussion music, instruments and musicians out from the shadows and into the spotlight.

The San Diego Symphony is the presenting organization for the following special performances: “Fascinating Rhythm” on Jan. 13, 8 p.m. and Jan. 14 at 2 p.m. at the Copley Symphony Hall at Jacobs Music Center 750 B St.

“Percussion: A Listener’s Guide” on Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Copley Symphony Hall at Jacobs Music Center.

“Places in Time” on Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. Copley Symphony Hall at Jacobs Music Center.

“Stories in Time” on Jan. 26 at 8 p.m. and Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. at Copley Symphony Hall at Jacobs Music Center.

“John Luther Adams: Inuksuit – A Border-Crossing Presentation” on Jan. 27 at 12:30 p.m. at International Friendship Park San Diego.

“The Roots of Rhythm” on Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. at Copley Symphony Hall at Jacobs Music Center.

“The Rite of Spring” on Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. at The Music Box, 1337 India St.

For a full list of festival performances, visit sandiegosymphony.org/itsabouttime.

‘West Coast Cool’ with Mark Winkler and Cheryl Bentyne

Two of the biggest names in jazz reunite at Martinis Above Fourth. Cheryl Bentyne is best known as the soprano from multi-Grammy-winning vocal jazz pioneers The Manhattan Transfer. Mark Winkler is an award-winning singer and lyricist who has written for Dianne Reeves, Randy Crawford and Liza Minnelli. You’ll hear tunes from Bentyne’s recent records covering Cole Porter and George Gershwin, solo works from Winkler’s new album “Jazz and Other Four Letter Words” and the two will sing together performing songs from their 2012 duet recording “West Coast Cool.”

Show starts at 8 p.m. at Martini’s Above Fourth, 3940 Fourth Ave. Tickets are $15, available at bit.ly/2A8cwDF.

Friday, Jan. 12

Giac Mo Mua Dong: ‘Winter Dreams’

The Vietnamese American Youth Alliance and the Vietnamese Federation of San Diego present a fundraising concert, “Winter Dreams” — a fundraiser for the San Diego Tt Festival. The concert features the prince of Vietnamese new wave music, Henry Chúc and the prince of Viet pop, Lu Vit Hùng and a few other special invited guests. Help support the San Diego Tt Festival by purchasing a ticket. The SD Tt Festival is the only completely free Vietnamese New Year festival in Southern California.

Tickets are $65 VIP and $45 general admission, available at bit.ly/2lIXEGA. VIP tickets include dinner. Festival opens at 6 a.m. at Ly’s Garden Chinese Restaurant, 4350 54th St.

Saturday, Jan. 13

2018 San Diego Beer Festival

The San Diego Beer Festival returns to Liberty Station with another fun-filled day of beer, food trucks and music. The event will feature dozens of local and international craft beers, as well as San Diego’s most popular food trucks (food sold separately).

Admission is $45 for general admission (1–4 p.m.) and $55 for VIP (noon–4 p.m.). Both include unlimited beer tastings, with VIP admission offering an added hour. The event is limited to 21 and over and no pets are allowed.

For more information, go to sandiegobeerfest.com. Tickets are not refundable after Jan. 6. Event is rain or shine.

Monday, Jan. 15

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

Rockers Black Rebel Motorcycle Club perform at House of Blues. $1 from every ticket goes to the nonprofit War Child that supports families affected by war.

Doors are at 7 p.m. All ages welcome; minors under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, or an adult age 25 or older with written permission from a parent or guardian.

Tickets are $27.50 to $55, available at livemu.sc/2DRc9zJ.

Saturday, Jan. 20

Plays by Young Writers 2018

The 33rd season of winning scripts from the 2017 California Young Playwrights Contest at the Sheryl & Harvey White Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way.

Opening night on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. features all four full productions.

Program A: Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Full production of “Sina and the Eel” by Kiegan Lee, age 17. Selfish gods ensnare teens in this re-telling of a Samoan origin story.

Full production of “Some-Body” by Tan’yeasia Brewster, age 17. A surprising discovery allows three preteens to contemplate the unknown.

Staged reading of “Alone by the Playground” by Aisling Archdeacon, age 11. Rock helps Paper and Scissors return home to the classroom.

Program B: Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Jan. 27 at 2 p.m.

Full production of “Fire Hazard” by Cassandra Hsiao, age 17. A rebel teaches a star student that the truth cannot be incinerated.

Full production of “Idiot, I’m Great” by Savannah Spatafora. age 16. She like-likes him; he just wants space. Can they be un-lonely together?

Staged reading of “A Life or Death Situation” by Sofia Miller, age 14. Life and Death find themselves united by humanity.

Tickets and information at playwrightsproject.org/productions/pbyw.

‘The Language of Things’

San Diego Art Institute in collaboration with the Tijuana Cultural Center presents a dynamic multimedia installation and curated event series by bi-national artist Roberto Romero-Molino.

A surreal landscape of electronic birdsong and Stonehenge-like arrangements of TV screens, “The Language of Things” is filled with sound and/or video that changes over time, so that every second during the exhibition period is a unique moment for the show and the spectator.

In addition to the display that opens to the public at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20, there will be a series of discussions, concerts and workshops relating to the display. For more information about “The Language of Things” and San Diego Art Institute, visit sandiego-art.org.

Sunday, Jan. 21

A Progressive Vision: San Diego’s Seventh Avenue

What began as a 10-acre, barren enclave owned by George W. Marston is now the shady and secluded 3500 block of Seventh Avenue, a cul-de-sac that is perfect for a 45-minute guided walking tour. This tour contains new content inspired by SOHO’s celebration called “Irving Gill: Progress & Poetry in Architecture.” The Marston House Museum & Gardens is one of about 10 homes on the street, built between 1905 and 1913. Many were designed by Gill, when he was a partner in Hebbard & Gill, and they illustrate his design progression from English Arts & Crafts to Prairie Style to his ultimate triumph, cubistic early modernism.

12:30–1:15 p.m. at the Marston House, 3525 Seventh Ave. Tickets are $15 available at bit.ly/2qfBrFG.

Friday, Jan. 26

Demeti Martin

Demetri Martin rose to relative obscurity when he started doing stand-up comedy in New York City and latere became a writer at “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and then a regular performer on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” He released a comedy album called “These Are Jokes” and then created and starred in his own television series called “Important Things with Demetri Martin.” This standup tour is called “Let’s Get Awkwanrd.”

Show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave. Tickets are $34, available at bit.ly/2CtBUtL.