CLASSICAL & MORE

May 7–21
The Flying Dutchman
Think opera is dull and stuffy? Well, can I interest you in...ghost pirates? Wagner’s tale of nautical folklore follows a cursed captain who can only set foot on land once every seven years in hopes of finding a bride and thereby breaking the curse. A love story unfolds as the performers sing with enough breathy power to guide a ship at sea. McCaw Hall, $25–$297

DANCE

May 5–22
A Rap on Race
Social commentary and art are inseparable entities in the eyes of Spectrum Dance, and the world premiere of A Rap on Race underscores that point. The company collaborates with MacArthur Fellow and playwright Anna Deavere Smith to transform the 1970 literary conversation about race between black writer James Baldwin and white anthropologist Margaret Mead into an immersive stage creation. A Rap on Race highlights those societal issues that remain unchanged over 40 years later. Seattle Repertory Theatre, $42

THEATER

Thru May 29
Death of a Salesman
Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman remains a theatrical masterpiece because pain of Willy Loman and his steadfast hopefully belief in the fleeting American Dream still rings true. Loman’s struggles at work, daydreaming, struggles with his sons’ lack of achievement, and eventual demise can still rip out an audience’s heart, as it does in ArtsWest’s stripped down production of this American classic. ArtsWest, $30–$38

Thru May 22
Romeo and Juliet
What happens when a director matches literature’s famous star-crossed lovers with dark fantasy comic book inspiration from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman? Set in the present, this version of Shakespeare’s classic Romeo and Juliet sees the characters ushered into an otherworldly realm where dreams and death intersect. Cornish Playhouse, $32–$50

COMEDY

May 5–20
A Very Special Episode
When sitcoms need to get serious about drugs, child predators, or any other social ills, they turn to the tried-and-true TV trope of the very special episode. As it turns out, the disconnect created by the overly solemn tone and stiff acting in the episodes often breeds unintentionally hilarious results. Jet City Improv follows the formula but cuts out the sincerity for a night of improvisational comedy and important life lessons in its new show, A Very Special Episode. Jet City Improv, $10–$18

CONCERTS

Thur, May 5
Har Mar Superstar
One can’t truly be a rock star without an absurd abundance of confidence. Har Mar Superstar (Sean Tillmann) sweats bravado out his pores. While he may seem unassuming when he first takes the stage, when the music starts he instantly transforms into a white hot ball of energy. Har Mar brings tunes that radiate warm and breezy pop rock sweetness on his new album, Best Summer Ever. Tractor Tavern, $12

Fri, May 6
Kris Orlowski: Often in the Pause Release Show
Kris Orlowski can capture an audience’s attention with just an acoustic guitar and his voice, but he’s growing ever better at fleshing out his ideas with his musical friends. The earnest Seattle troubadour delivers his most polished collection of songs to date on the new album, Often in the Pause. The fresh tunes find Orlowski and his band tapping into a bigger, slightly darker, more rocking sound (with ultra sleek production) while still maintaining the same melodic songwriting core. The group heads to the Crocodile to celebrate Often in the Pause’s release with opening support from the Hollers and Silver Torches. The Crocodile, $20–$22

BOOKS & TALKS

Sat, May 7
Epilogue/Prologue: A Celebration of Hugo House 
All good books (and things) must come to an end... but some things are not gone forever. Celebrate Hugo House’s last days in their current abode before temporarily moving out so that a brand new home can be built on the same lot. Mingle with the local literary scene, share your own Hugo House stories in a confession booth, grab some food from the Skillet food truck, and, most importantly, write on the walls. Excerpts writings will be photographed and scanned into an ebook. Endings don’t have to be sad, this one has a guaranteed sequel. Hugo House, Free 

Sat & Sun, May 7 & 8
Friends of Seattle Public Library Spring Book Sale
For 45 years, Friends of Seattle Public Library has hosted an annual book sale with proceeds going to the Seattle Public Library. This year, with over 100,000 of the library’s excess items for sale at a wallet-loving prices: $1 paperbacks, $1 CDs and DVDs, $2 hard covers, $3 rare books, etc. Your brain and the library will thank you. Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, Free

VISUAL ART

Thru May 8
Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic
This weekend is your last chance to catch painter Kehinde Wiley's bold vision at Seattle Art Museum. Using his African American brethren from Harlem, Wiley mimics the grandeur of classic European portraiture without its stuffy whiteness. Each work bursts with vibrant colors and sets the lively subjects against loud, colorful patterns that jump off the canvas and demand the viewers’ attention. His forays into religious works (including stained glass) and sculpture pack an equal punch. Seattle Art Museum, $20

May 5–28
Jesse Link: American Majestic
There’s a chance you’ve encountered artist Jesse Link’s creatures out in the urban wild: perhaps along Second Avenue construction walls or on the facade of Shack Coffee. Link specializes in wood-panel acrylic paintings of animals that mix street art and vivid colors to make viewers wish each critter had its own adventurous backstory. He shows off his wares in American Majestic. Artifact Gallery, Free

May 5–31
Carrie McGee
Meditative calm flows forth from Carrie McGee’s transparent plastic panels. With metal leaf, rust, and oil, the artist employs both natural and chemical processes to imbue each acrylic panel with beautifully subdued color, then hangs the squares and rectangles in repeating patterns. The results achieve a balance between aesthetic relaxation and pleasure. Patricia Rovzar Gallery, Free