Friday, Nov. 24:
Pacific Ballet Academy: Under the direction of Marion and Rima Chaeff, PBA dancers perform the school’s 27th annual “Nutcracker,” with new, one-hour shows for tots (ages 3-5) in the afternoon along with the full-length evening presentation. [Noon, 2 and 6 p.m., Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View]
Our Sophisticated Denial: Jen Fedrizzi and Kat Culture appear in the carefully scheduled Black Friday “trash drowning” performance, a commentary on the cultural creation of disposable of waste products, which have disastrous effects on the environment. [Noon to 5 p.m., Artists’ Television Access window, 992 Valencia St., S.F.]
About Face-Intimacy and Abstraction in Photographic Portraits: Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, John Gutmann and Edward Weston are among the major artists represented in the show of 13 intimate portraits, dating from the 1920s to the 1940s. [11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Cantor Arts Center, Palm Drive at Museum Way, Stanford University]
Petty Theft: The San Francisco Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers tribute group plays Petty’s tunes — both classics and recent hits — in the spirit of the legendary band’s live shows. [9 p.m., Slim’s, 333 11th St., S.F.]
Comedy Oakland-Not So Late Show: Samson Koletkar hosts the evening of standup with Arjun Banerjee, Clay Newman, Jeff Applebaum and Ira Summer. [9:30 p.m. Howden Home of the Spice Monkey Bar & Restaurant, 1628 Webster St., Oakland]
Macy’s Tree Lighting: Us the Duo, the cast of San Francisco Playhouse’s “A Christmas Story” and Bay Area choirs perform at the 28th event. [5:30 p.m., Union Square, Powell and Geary streets, S.F.]
Ghirardelli Square Tree Lighting: The 53rd annual event showcases a 50-foot tree and hosts live music, Santa visits, snow and activities for kids. [4 to 8 p.m., 900 North Point St., S.F.]
Imago Theatre: The troupe presents “La Belle,” a “steampunk love story” described as part “Beauty and the Beast” and part “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” with two actors, automatons and shadow puppets. [8 p.m., Zellerbach Hall, Bancroft Way near Dana Street, UC Berkeley campus]
Saturday, Nov. 25:
Captured! By Robots: The San Francisco band led by Jay Vance (Jbot, who performs with two robots) is celebrating its 20th year of playing its unique mix of speed metal and grindcore. [9 p.m. Thee Parkside, 1600 17th St., S.F.]
Winter Walk: Union Square opens its seasonal holiday pedestrian plaza, with special events including food vendors, live performances and appearances by the Macy’s SPCA window puppies. [7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Stockton street, between Eliis and Geary streets, S.F.]
The Velveteen Rabbit: ODC/Dance kicks off a three-week run of the 31st anniversary production of its popular adaptation of the classic children’s book. [4 p.m., Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, 700 Howard St., S.F.]
Fool for Love: San Jose Stage Company’s second production of its 35th anniversary season is San Shepard’s modern classic. [8 p.m., 490 S. First St., San Jose]
The Black Rider: Shotgun Players stage the dark fairy tale for adults, adapted by William S. Burroughs and featuring music by Tom Waits. [1 and 8 p.m. Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley]
RAWDance CONCEPT series 21: The pay-what-you-can salon showcases works in progress by Bay Area choreographers Kristin Damrow & Company, Sarah Cecilia, Biana Cabrera/Blind Tiger Society, Courtney Mazeika and Rogelio Lopez & Dancers [3 and 7 p.m., Green Room, Veterans Building, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe: The band leader and funky saxophonist (who plays with the Rolling Stones) appears in a show billed “Eat a Bunch of Peaches,” a seeming Allman Brothers tribute; Austin rockers White Denim open. [9 p.m., Fillmore, 1805 Geary Blvd., S.F.]
Lianna Haroutounian: The Armenian soprano, whose performance as Tosca with San Francisco Opera in 2014 was a sensation, returns to the U.S. for her debut solo recital. [3 p.m., Herbst Theatre, 401 Van Ness Ave., S.F.]
