MONDAY, DEC. 12

A Slow Succession with Many Interruptions: The group show featuring new acquisitions and pieces that consider “the fluidity of ideas and how artworks embody time,” is among three exhibitions newly installed in SFMOMA’s recently re-installed seventh floor galleries. [10 a.m. to 5 p.m., S.F. Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., S.F.]

Handel’s Sing it Yourself Messiah: Urs Leonhardt Steiner directs the Golden Gate Orchestra, Chorus and audience vocalists in the annual holiday program. [7:30 p.m., Mission Dolores Basilica, 3321 16th St., S.F.]

Community Music Center Holiday Concert: Singers participating in the center’s Older Adult Choir Program are appearing in a series of seasonal shows across The City. [2 to 2:30 p.m., Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, 515 Cortland Ave., S.F.]

Chloe Caldwell: The New York-based writer and teacher speaks about her new essay, “I’ll Tell You in Person” with San Francisco novelist Laura Goode. [7:30 p.m., Green Apple Books, 1231 Ninth Ave., S.F.]

Grace Cathedral Choir of Men & Boys: “A Cathedral Christmas” offers classic carols and sacred masterpieces with full orchestra and organ. [7:30 p.m., Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., S.F.]

Political Roundtable: Mollie Reilly of the Huffington Post, Steven Tavares of the East Bay Citizen and USF political science professor James Taylor are panelists at the Commonwealth Club’s end-of-the-year discussion (and holiday social). [6:30 p.m., 555 Post St., S.F.]

The Rolling Stones Olé Olé Olé!: The documentary follows the rock band’s 2016 tour through 10 Latin American cities as it attempts to pull off a once- in-a-lifetime open air concert in Havana, Cuba. [8 p.m., Century San Francisco Centre 9, 845 Market St., S.F.]

Gladys Knight: The “empress of soul” joins the San Francisco Symphony for an evening of R&B classics and seasonal favorites. [8 p.m., Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

TUESDAY, DEC. 13

A Christmas Carol: American Conservatory Theater stages the popular holiday classic for the 39th year, with James Carpenter as Ebenezer Scrooge and Ken Ruta as the Ghost of Jacob Marley. [7 p.m., 415 Geary St., S.F.]

Ghost Ship Benefit: Alcoholocaust presents the show, with performances by Murder, Murder, Jackal Fleece, Shame Wave and Voco. [9 p.m., Knockout, 3223 Mission St., S.F.]

The Madwoman in the Volvo: NPR personality and best-selling memoirist Sandra Tsing Loh opens her one-woman show with a preview performance. [8 p.m., Peet’s Theatre, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, 2025 Addison St., Berkeley]

Christian Gerhaher: San Francisco Performances presents the baritone, accompanied by pianist Gerold Huber, in an all Mahler program including excerpts from
from “Das Lied von der Erde.” [7:30 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

David Bazan: The indie singer-songwriter (of Pedro the Lion fame) sings songs from his Christmas album “Dark Sacred Night.” [8 p.m., Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market St., S.F.]

Chris Garcia: The standup comic is known for his vivid storytelling on This American Life and WTF with Marc Maron. [8 p.m., Punch Line, 444 Battery St., S.F.]

San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker: The holiday staple is in full swing, with Dores André as the Snow Queen in the matinee performance, and Lauren Strongin in the role in the evening. [2 and 7 p.m., War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]

Daddy Long Legs: TheatreWorks celebrates the holidays with a musical romance about a spirited orphan girl who is sent to a prestigious college by a mysterious benefactor. [7:30 p.m., Lucie Stern Theatre, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto]
A Cathedral ChristmasA Christmas CarolCalendarChloe CaldwellCommunity Music Center Holiday ConcertSing It Yourself MessiahSlow Succession with Many Interruptions