PERFORMANCE

Feb 5–8
Circus Oz
It doesn’t feature any high-flying kangaroos or a ringmaster placing his head inside the mouth of a wild koala, but australia’s Circus Oz provides more than its share of big-top thrills. the company’s latest show, But Wait... There’s More, combines punchy comedic satire, live music, and dazzling acrobatics in a madcap extravaganza that all ages can enjoy. Moore Theatre, $35–$55.

FILM

Feb 6–8
Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Film Festival
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, EMP’s SFFSFF expands to explore new frontiers. In addition to showing the 2015’s competitors’ works at Cinerama (February 7), the festival will also include a screening of John Carpenter’s Escape from New York scored live by local band Roladex, a midnight screening of horror shorts, and an SFFSFF retrospective featuring the best shorts from the event’s first decade. Various venues, $12–$75.

THEATER

Feb 6–Mar 8
Dear Elizabeth
Letter writing is a lost art. In the hands of master wordsmiths, letters encapsulate a relationship in beautiful, moving prose. Such was the case with the correspondence between the lauded 20th-century American poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell. Their 30-year friendship via postman—including their personal highs and lows and mutual admiration—comes to life on stage in Dear Elizabeth. Seattle Repertory Theatre, $32–$52.

Feb 5–Mar 1
Carousel
Rodgers and Hammerstein should have had trouble following up the gargantuan success of their debut collaboration Oklahoma!, but they didn’t drop off a bit with Carousel. In fact, Time dubbed it the best musical of the 20th century. The story of a carnival worker who meets his untimely demise only to be given a single day back with his wife and daughter 15 years later remains a moving tribute to endless love. 5th Avenue Theatre, $29–$100.

BOOKS & TALKS

Thur, Feb 5
Joyce Carol Oates
Literary powerhouse Joyce Carol Oates is a veritable printing press. The 76-year-old author still turns out novels, short stories, and, surprisingly, tweets at a breakneck pace. In her latest book, The Sacrifice, a group of white men attack a black teenage girl, sparking an exploration of society’s persistent racial tension. University Book Store, $27 (includes a copy of The Sacrifice).

DANCE

Thur, Feb 5
So You Think You Can Dance?
While some reality show competitions are clearly farce, the competitors in So You Think You Can Dance? must display real artistic diversity. These aren’t celebrities quickly learning a few steps or singers butchering covers of classic songs; they’re top-flight dancers. Apart from the So You Think You Can Dance?tour, what other show features classical, contemporary, hip-hop, ballroom, jazz, and club dancing all in one night? Paramount Theatre, $46–$66.

CLASSICAL & MORE

Feb 5–8
Beethoven's Violin Concerto
German violinist Christian Tetzlaff has become one of the world’s premier players of the classical canon, bringing a creative zest to the centuries-old masterpieces. In tandem with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Tetzlaff takes on Beethoven’s epic Violin Concerto in a program that also features pieces from Debussy, Ravel, and Berlioz. Experience Music Project, $18.

CONCERTS

Fri, Feb 6
Jen Wood
Jen Wood's voice may be best known as the counter point to Ben Gibbard on the Postal Service track "Nothing Better," but her range extends beyond light, conversational singing. The Seattle singer-songwriter has put together a substantial discography as a solo artist. Her 2014 release Wilderness is full of sincere songwriting, with tracks like "Fell In Love" showing off Wood's flair for the piano-driven power ballad. She is joined by Tangerine and Ruler at Columbia City Theater for a KEXP Audioasis benefit show. Columbia City Theater, $7–$8.

Fri, Feb 6
Sisters with the Seattle Rock Orchestra Quintet
Local indie-pop duo Sisters mines a lot of sound out of Emily Westman and Andrew Vait’s electronic keys, playful drumbeats, and vocal harmonies, but there’s always room to flesh things out further. The Seattle Rock Orchestra Quintet joins the fray for an evening of tracks from Sisters’ 2014 debut EP, Diamonds of Gold. Neumos, $12.

MUSEUMS

Feb 7–May 31
A Place at the Table
The story of Greek restaurateurs in the Northwest at the start of the 1900s is one of assimilation and community. Their diners were the reliable neighborhood gathering spots that typically served American food staples instead of Mediterranean cuisine. MOHAI’s a Place at the Table looks at how these joints built community by serving up warm food that thawed the Seattle freeze.  Museum of History and Industry, $17.