CONCERTS The preteen guitar heroes in Seattle’s School of Rock are infinitely cooler than I was at their age. Not only do they look the part—with Mohawks, skinny jeans, and a power guitar stance worthy of Slash—but they also play some fine rock ‘n’ roll. And then there are the shy ones, the kids who prompt the stage mom in all of us to yell “Sing out, Louise!” But they’re there to learn, and we’re there to wave lighters in their honor. Support the school at this weekend’s Smiths Versus the Cure cover battle at the Crocodile. Jan 22.

Soulful singer-songwriter Amos Lee returns to Seattle with a new album, Mission Bell, due out January 25—but you get a preview tonight at the Moore. Just a few tickets left! Jan 20.

OPERA Seattle Opera’s The Barber of Seville deserves a “bravissima!”: particularly for baritone José Carbó, whose wily barber Figaro is magnetic. Don’t miss this production of Rossini’s sprightly comedy; we hear there isn’t a weak link in either of the rotating casts. Thru Jan 29.

CLASSICAL Gerard Schwarz leads the Seattle Symphony in Mozart’s chilling Requiem and a world premiere by composer Daniel Brewbaker. Jan 20 & 22.

BOOKS & TALKS Though many know him as a lisping bumbler in The Princess Bride, Wallace Shawn is also an Obie-winning playwright and Oxford-educated philosopher. He reads from his nonfiction collection Essays at Town Hall. Jan 21.

Tonight at Town Hall: Ron Reagan Jr reads from his new memoir My Father at 100, which controversially suggests the former commander in chief showed early symptoms of Alzheimer’s while in office. Jan 20.

In his engrossing debut novel The Imperfectionists, journalist Tom Rachman shows the highs (and very low lows) of a struggling international newspaper. He reads at Elliott Bay Books. Jan 22.

Admission’s free, the beers are a buck and the writing is entertaining at Hugo House’s popular Cheap Beer and Prose night. This session features Suzanne Morrison, David Schmader, Jeremy Richards and Emily White reading new work. Jan 20.

THEATER Up-and-comer Renata Friedman stars in Seattle Rep’s new play The K of D: an urban legend about a girl with a lethal kiss. It just opened last night; check back on Monday for our review. Thru Feb 20.

VISUAL ART Singaporean artist Ming Wong makes his U.S. solo debut at the Frye with Life of Imitation, an award-winning exhibit exploring “the glory days” of his national cinema. Jan 22-Feb 27.

BONUS!
FILM The 10-day Sundance Film Festival opens this afternoon in Park City, Utah, and Seattle has four films representing our corner of the Pacific NW. Can’t be there? Sundance will stream celebrity interviews and conversations with filmmakers (including Seattle director Megan Griffiths on Jan 25) live at sundance.org/videos/live.