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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8

BENEFITS

AN EVENING WITH CHAMPIONS TO BENEFIT THE JIMMY FUND AND DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE is a figure skating exhibition tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. at Harvard University, Bright Hockey Rink, North Harvard St., Brighton. Tickets $10-$30; (617) 493-8172.

THE RUMI CONCERT TO BENEFIT THE HOUSE OF ONE PEOPLE with Coleman Barks, David Darling, Glen Velez, and Zuleikha is at 8 p.m. at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. Tickets $25-$75; (413) 367-2048.

AT THE CLUBS

DJ. We don’t start our day without checking Nick Barat’s Catchdubs blog for the latest in rare-sneaker availability, hip-hop gossip, Dipset worship, and indie-pop guilty pleasure. An accomplished graphic designer (see, among others, the Hollertronix Web site) and DJ (holding down an NYC residency at Triple Crown), he’s tag-teaming tonight with the hip-hop critic, blogger, and Thursday-night Enormous Room resident DJ Hua Hsu for a party that’s sure to be, to borrow a Catchdubbism, thoroughly chainless. That’s at Enormous, 567 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square; call (617) 491-5550.

The Re:Sound DJ collective, which includes members of the late, lamented Toneburst group, have an installation up at the Cambridge Art Council examining "the history of sound-system culture from ‘60s Jamaica to ‘70s Bronx to ‘80s London," and there’s also a "listening event" with sets by junglist-dancehall scientists DJ Flack and DJ C (who operate the Mashit label and the Monday-night Beat Research residency at Enormous Room), local riddim professor Wayne and Wax, and others. That’s at the CAC’s Gallery 57, 344 Broadway in Cambridge, at 7 p.m.; call (617) 349-4380.

OLD SCHOOL. Boston’s alternative pop singers got all the headlines in the ‘90s, but the real action was taking place below the radar, where bands like Red Bliss, Kudgel, and Green Magnet School (briefly signed to Sub Pop) were creating a localized idiom that rivaled Amphetamine Reptile for total mayhem. Tonight (and last night), several bands of the era reunite to benefit the family of superfan Tim Bartley, a former Newbury Comics employee and tireless supporter who died suddenly at age 39, leaving behind a wife and an infant daughter. Tonight: Kudgel, Red Bliss, Ambulance Driver, the Beatings, and St. Bastard. That’s upstairs at the Middle East, 472 Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square; call (617) 864-EAST.

ROCK. "Play this for your most gullible indie-loving friend and tell them that it is an unreleased Karen O/Rapture collaboration," Fluxblog’s Matthew Perpetua recommends of the new Les Georges Leningrad single, "Supa Doopa." Which isn’t far from the mark: Montreal’s most riotous post-punk band have just issued their most body-rocking disc to date, Sur les traces de Black Eskimo (Alien8), and the group are playing the Central Square YWCA, 7 Temple Street, with Toronto’s the Creeping Nobodies, in a 7 p.m. all-ages show; call (617) 491-6050.

Meanwhile, Chris Ballew is back on the campaign trail with Love Everybody, a new album from the Presidents of the United States of America, who have managed to put out an album in each of the past three presidential election years despite not having had a hit since 1995’s "Lump." They’re at the Paradise (617-423-NEXT) in Boston tonight and the Call (401-751-2255) in Providence on Sunday. Beastie Boys, who recently released their first album since the Clinton administration, will bring their latest dog-and-pony show to the Centrum on Tuesday.

JAZZ MEMORIAL. The Memphis-born pianist James Williams made his first mark on the Boston scene as a teacher at Berklee from 1975 to 1977, but it’s as if he never left. Through the years, he worked here often, as a member of the Art Blakey Jazz Messengers, as a leader in his own right, or just showing up to play with innumerable friends and colleagues in the area. His style was both erudite and soulful (he was, after all, from Memphis), and his influence as a bandleader and teacher lives on. Now his former colleague, saxophonist Bill Pierce, working with booking agent Brian Walkley, has assembled an all-star memorial: pianists Mulgrew Miller and Donald Brown, trumpeters Bill Mobley and Greg Hopkins, saxophonists Pierce, Andy McGhee, Bill Easley, and Javon Jackson, bassists Ron Mahdi and John Lockwood, and drummers Tony Reedus, Yoron Israel, Ron Savage, and John Ramsey, will all convene at Ryles, and the proceeds will help establish a James Williams Scholarship at Berklee. That’s at 9:30 p.m. tonight and tomorrow at 212 Hampshire Street in Inman Square, and tickets are $30; call (617) 876-9330.

OTHER LIVE SHOWS:

For the following shows, see the Club Directory for phone numbers and addresses.

AVALON, Boston. At 6:30 p.m., Alter Bridge, Crossfade, Submersed.

THE BEACHCOMBER, Quincy. 16 Years of Grace, Bionic, Vegas Temper.

BRAVO at THE MFA, Boston. Rusty Scott.

BULL RUN, Shirley. Tom Constanten, Candles.

CAPO’S, Lowell. At 8 p.m., Professor Louie & the Crowmatix. At 10 p.m., Stanley Maxwell.

CHOPPIN’ BLOCK PUB, Boston. Raising Kubrick, Doom Syndicate, Fireborn, Cleansed by Fire, Sacreligion.

CLUB 58, Quincy. "Get Some Fridays," hip-hop with the Freakas.

CLUB PASSIM, Cambridge. Narissa & Kathryn Nields.

COMMON GROUND, Allston. Reaganomics.

DICK’S LAST RESORT, Boston. Rockfish.

DRUID PUB, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Traditional Irish Seisiun" with Peter Molloy & Friends.

ENCORE, Boston. "Cabaret Open Mic" with Jan Peters, Colleen Powers, Michael Ricca, Brian Patton.

THE ENORMOUS ROOM, Cambridge. "Defenestration" with Daniel Wermser.

EVOS ARTS, Lowell. Catalyst, Tristan Da Cunha, Amateur.

THE GOOD LIFE CAMBRIDGE, Cambridge. Jose Ramos & the No Way Jose Band.

THE GOOD LIFE DOWNTOWN, Boston. Weepin’ Willie.

GREAT SCOTT, Brighton. Blues Bastard, Rattle Battle, Shanghai Valentine, DJ Mark V.

GREEN DRAGON, Boston. Complaints.

GREEN STREET GRILL, Cambridge. Kilombo Mambo.

HARPERS FERRY, Allston. Young Dubliners, Say Hey.

THE HARP, Boston. Burnt Sienna.

HENNESSY’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Me & Julio. At 9 p.m., Incadence.

IRISH VILLAGE, Brighton. "Funky Friday" with Elyte, Cnyce, Mas.

JASMINE & KENDALL LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., Marianne Solivan Jazz Quartet. At 10 p.m., Carol O’Shaughnessy.

JOHNNY D’S, Somerville. Milo Z.

KENNEDY’S, Boston. Matt Fulton.

KIRKLAND CAFE, Somerville. Din, Butter-knife, My Own Worst Enemy, Mickey Bliss Organ Combo.

LES ZYGOMATES, Boston. Ronnie Ron Trio.

LIZARD LOUNGE, Cambridge. At 7:30 p.m., Munk. At 9:30 p.m., Nikulydin, Count Zero, Specimen 37, IIJ.

MIDDLE EAST, Cambridge. Upstairs: "Bartley’s Choice Benefit" with Kudgel, Red Bliss, Beatings, St. Bastard. Downstairs: Fu Manchu, Cougars, Rolling Blackouts.

MILKY WAY, Jamaica Plain. Kevin Devine, Static Age, Mommy & Daddy, Ponies in the Surf.

MR. DOOLEY’S TAVERN, Boston. Sunday’s Well.

O’BRIEN’S, Allston. Automatic, Blacklisted, Dennis Most & the Instigators, Uncomfortables.

OCEANA RESTAURANT, Boston. Mike DiBari Trio.

THE PALACE, Saugus. "Rio" Brazil’s Carnaval; "Oxygen" rap, hip-hop, top 40, and progressive dance; "Male Encounter" all-male dance review; "Rockpile."

PARADISE LOUNGE, Boston. At 10 p.m., Dan Bern, Garrin Bednfield.

PARADISE ROCK CLUB, Boston. At 9 p.m., Presidents of the United States of America, Washington Social Club, United States of Electronica.

PARRIS, Boston. Zone.

PA’S LOUNGE, Somerville. At 9 p.m., Caged Heat, Joe Mazzari Band, Crash Alchemist.

PLOUGH & STARS, Cambridge. At 6 p.m., "Irish Seisiun." At 9:30 p.m., Los Diablos.

REDLINE, Cambridge. At 9 p.m., "Touch" with Shadowkings.

REGATTABAR, Cambridge. At 7:30 and 10 p.m., "Jazz Tribute to Frank Sinatra."

RYLES, Cambridge. "James Williams Tribute" with Mulgrew Miller, Donald Brown, Bill Pierce, John Lockwood.

SCULLERS, Boston. Keely Smith & Vegas.

SEA NOTE, Nantasket Beach. Mission of Blues.

SISSY K’S, Boston. At 5 p.m., Matt Browne. At 9 p.m., Stu Sinclair & Kevin Kirrane.

SKY BAR, Somerville. New Fire, Straight to Video.

TOAD, Cambridge. Starhick.

TOP OF THE HUB, Boston. Chris Taylor Quartet.

T.T. THE BEAR’S PLACE, Cambridge. Lockgroove, Singapore Sling, Hopewell, Subject.

WALLY’S CAFE, Boston. At 9:30 p.m., Jason Palmer/Warren Wolf Jazz Collective.

WESTERN FRONT, Cambridge. Mighty Fantastic.

WONDER BAR, Allston. Johnny Horner/Joe McMahon Quartet.

ZEITGEIST GALLERY, Cambridge. At 7 p.m., Kevin Harris Project. At 9:30 p.m., Daniel Levin Group, Robert Rivera’s Viper Group.

ZUZU, Cambridge. Gian Carlo Buscaglia.

OTHER DJ SHOWS:

AN TAIN, Boston. At 5 p.m., DJ Sean O. At 10 p.m., DJ David Natola.

AN TUA NUA, Boston. "Superlovers," early hits to the latest sounds with DJ Vinny.

ARIA, Boston. "Plush," NYC house with guest DJs. In the Angel Room, NYC hip-hop with DJ Thanos.

ATLAS DANCE, Boston. "Top 40 Dancing."

AVALON, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Avaland" with special guest DJs.

THE AVENUE, Allston. At 9 p.m., DJ Steve Auston.

AXIS, Boston. At 10 p.m., "All Access" with DJ Dru Nyce.

BLARNEY STONE PUB, Dorchester. Commercial dance and R&B.

BLUE CAT CAFE, Boston. DJ Pete Winfrey.

BOSTON ROCKS, Boston. Top 40 Dance & hip-hop with DJ Bruno.

BUCK MULLIGAN’S, West Roxbury. R&B, rock, and dance with DJ Keith.

BUZZ BOSTON/EUROPA, Boston. "Club Twist for Women."

CLUB CAFE, Boston. "Non Stop Video Show" with VJ Tom Yazbek.

DEVLIN’S LOUNGE AND BAR, Brighton. DJ Bruno James.

EKCO LOUNGE, Boston. At 10 p.m., "The Pill" ’80s Mod Night.

EMBASSY, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Urban Grooves" with DJ Ricky Fatts.

THE E ROOM AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE, Brookline. Vocal house, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s with DJ Bob Gallagher.

THE EXCHANGE, Boston. House and hip-hop with DJs Tiziano & Luca.

G-SPOT, Boston. "Deep, sexy house" with DJs Mike Traylor & Paul Incus.

GUIDO OSHEA’S, Brockton. "Mirage Night Club," Haitian, Caribbean and Cape Verdean music.

HONG KONG, Cambridge. Top 40 Hip-Hop, Rock & Club Classics with M.C. Renn.

THE INTERNATIONAL, Boston. "The Basement" house music with DJ Bradford James.

JUKEBOX, Boston. Top 40 and retro dance night.

THE KELLS, Allston. "Ladies Night" with DJs Doc and Kieran.

LA BOOM, Boston. "Fashion Fridays" with DJ Roland Lopez.

MAN RAY, Cambridge. "eXmortis," goth industrial fetish with DJ Chris Ewen and industrial with DJ Mothra.

McGANN’S, Boston. At 10 p.m., "Friday Night Fever" with DJ Will Wilde.

THE MODERN, Boston. At 10 p.m., Latin house with DJ JC.

ORLEANS, Somerville. DJ Tom.

THE PALACE, Saugus. "Rio" Brazil’s Carnaval; "Uptown" DJs spin faves from the ’70s and ’80s; "Oxygen" rap, hip-hop, top 40, and progressive dance; "Male Encounter" all-male dance review; "Rockpile."

PHOENIX LANDING, Cambridge. "Grooveyard" with DJ Greg.

THE PLACE, Boston. At 10 p.m., VJ Laptop.

THE POINT, Boston. "Fluid," house and techno, with DJ troupe Recordheadz.

Q, Boston. "Hip-hop & Top 40" with DJ Massai.

THE RACK, Boston. At 10 p.m., DJ Johnny C.

RIVER GODS, Cambridge. "Diversion" mello tekno, scsi disko, NeuSoul, with DJ Easy.

ROGGIE’S, Brighton. Upstairs: Ali. Lounge: "Dance Your Ass Off" with DJ Hoff.

THE ROXY, Boston. At 10:30 p.m., "The Cat Club" with DJ Manolo and special guest DJs.

SCRUFFY MURPHY’S, Dorchester. "Party Time" with DJ Jen.

SISSY K’S, Boston. Upstairs: Hi-NRG and pop house, with DJ Tom McKenna.

SUGAR SHACK, Boston. "Boston’s A-List" Hip hop, old school, and top 40 with DJ B-Spin.

SWEETWATER CAFE, Boston. Old and new dance hits with DJs KC and Gallo.

SW1, Boston. Top 40 RMX, Hip-Hop, and House with DJ Littles.

TOAST, Somerville. "International Night."

TRATTORIA IL PANINO, Boston. ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s with DJ Zino; progressive, top-40, club, and international with DJ Peter D.

21st AMENDMENT, Boston. DJ Sean Daly.

VENU, Boston. "Roomba," Latin sounds with DJ Roger M, and house with DJ Arsit.

VERTIGO, Boston. "Dream Lounge," international, Latin and house with DJ Marcocci, and vocal and high energy house with DJ Soulheris.

WEST STREET GRILLE, Boston. Top 40 funk and dance with DJs Gabe and Lazee Boy.

AT THE COMEDY CLUBS

Wondering who does the voice of Helen Higgins on Comedy Central’s annoying-yet-hilarious Crank Yankers? It’s none other than talented funny lady Susie Essman. You may also recall her more cerebral comedy work, playing Susie Greene on HBO’s critically acclaimed Curb Your Enthusiasm. You can catch her raucous stand-up performance tonight at the Comedy Connection (245 Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston). She’ll be laying down straight-faced, insightful laughs you’ll surely be sharing the rest of the weekend. If you can’t make it tonight, you can pay the slightly increased ticket price for tomorrow night’s show. Both shows start at 8, and tickets are $25 for tonight and $29 for tomorrow. For more information and tickets, call (617) 248-9700.

BEANTOWN COMEDY VAULT, Boston. "Boston Attitude" with John Turco.

BUZZ BOSTON/EUROPA, Boston. At 8 p.m., The Tribe.

COMEDY CONNECTION, Boston. At 8 and 10:15 p.m., Susie Essman.

COMEDY STUDIO, Cambridge. Josh Iverson, Rob O’Reilly, Tammy Two-Tone, Tommy Morello, Mark McKay, Shaun Robbins, Walsh Bros.

DICK DOHERTY’S AT THE CHINA BLOSSOM, North Andover. Stephanie Peters, Ben Boime, Ben McCaul.

IMPROV ASYLUM, Boston. At 8 and 10 p.m., "Lies, Half Truths and the American Way."

IMPROVBOSTON THEATRE, Cambridge. At 8 p.m., "Election." At 10 p.m., "TheatreSports."

JIMMY TINGLE’S OFF BROADWAY, Somerville. At 7:30 p.m., "Jimmy Tingle: Election Year Humor & Other Observations."

KOWLOON, Saugus. At 8 and 10 p.m., Mike McCarthy, Joe Carroll, Joe Wong.

NICK’S COMEDY STOP, Boston. At 8:45 p.m., Chance Langton, John Turco, Todd Verdonk.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS

It’s the second week of the BSO season and already we have the first program change, guest conductor Charles Dutoit replacing Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture with Ravel’s Ma Mère l’Oye ("Mother Goose") Suite and guest pianist Yefim Bronfman substituting Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto for the originally scheduled Brahms Second. Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances remains, however. That’s at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, today at 1:30 p.m., and tomorrow and Tuesday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $27 to $105; call (617) 266-1200.

Is she the world’s finest classical pianist? After hearing Dubravka Tomsic’s April 2003 Bank of America Celebrity Series recital, in which her Chopin Études evinced unbelievable speed, clarity, and feeling, we wouldn’t say no. And we certainly won’t miss the Slovenian artist’s return visit, when she’ll play two Mozart piano sonatas, in G major (K.283) and A minor (K.310), and all four Chopin Scherzi, plus, we trust, an encore or two or three. That’s at 8 p.m. at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston, and tickets are $32 to $57; call (617) 482-6661. (And if your world’s best classical pianist is Maurizio Pollini, don’t fret: the Celebrity Series is bringing him to Symphony Hall on October 24.)

OTHER CONCERTS:

BOSTON ORPHEUS ENSEMBLE performs works by Bach and Pergolesi at 8 p.m. at Boston University, Marsh Chapel, 735 Comm. Ave., Boston. Free; (617) 216-2951.

BRUCE BRUBAKER performs piano works at 8 p.m. at Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. Free; (617) 585-1122.

POPULAR MUSIC CONCERTS

MARC ROSSI GROUP performs at 7:30 p.m. at Depot Square Gallery, 1837 Mass. Ave., Lexington. Suggested donation $8; (781) 863-1597.

ONEROUS QUARTET AND HOLUS-BOLUS perform at 8 p.m. at Artists-at-Large Gallery, First Congregational Church of Hyde Park, 6 Webster St., Boston. Suggested donation $8; (781) 631-7641.

DANCE/PARTICIPATORY

BALKAN DANCE is at 7:30 p.m. at Scalzi School of Dance, 101 Bigelow Ave., Watertown. Tickets $8; (617) 840-2362.

DOUBLE DANCE: ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING AND CONTRADANCING is at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Methodist Church, 80 Mount Auburn St., Watertown. Suggested donation $6; (781) 324-7355.

ENGLISH FOLK DANCE is at 7:30 p.m. at Harvard-Epworth Church, 1555 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Tickets $6, $3 for students; (781) 641-2782.

HAVANA CLUB SALSA is at 8 p.m. at the Brookline Community Center for the Arts, 14 Green St., Brookline. Tickets $10; (617) 738-2800.

HAVANA CLUB SALSA PARTY is at 8 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, 55 Bishop Allen Dr., Cambridge. Tickets $10; (617) 312-5550.

INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCE is at 8 p.m. at Park Avenue Congregational Church, 50 Paul Revere Rd., Arlington. Tickets $7, $4 for students; (781) 662-7475.

RENAISSANCE DANCE features music by Renaissonics at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 11 Garden St., Cambridge. Tickets $8; (617) 661-3353.

SANGRÍA AND SALSA is at 6 p.m. at Sophia’s, 1270 Boylston St., Boston. Tickets $10; (617) 351-7001.

SUPERSHAG DANCE PARTY is from 9 p.m. to midnight at SuperShag Mega Dance Complex, 406 Moody St., Waltham. Tickets $12; (781) 894-7424.

TANGO LOUNGE is at 9 p.m. at Springstep, 98 George P. Hassett Dr., Medford. Tickets $10 (lesson), $15 (lesson & dancing); (617) 771-2554.

DANCE/PERFORMANCE

TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY: The word "bolshoi" in Russian means "big," and there are few bigger — or more prestigious — dance companies than Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet, which is making its first visit to Boston in 15 years, under the auspices of the Wang Center and the Bank of America Celebrity Series, and bringing along Don Quixote (tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.). Here’s the casting for the major roles — they may not be household names, but there was a time when Nureyev and Baryshnikov weren’t either. Tonight: Kitri: Maria Alexandrova; Basil: Yury Klevtsov. Tomorrow: Kitri: Nadezhda Gracheva; Basil: Sergey Filin. And Sunday: Kitri: Anna Antonicheva; Basil: Dmitry Belogolovtsev. All performances are at the Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont Street in the Theater District. Tickets are $45 to $92; call (617) 482-6661.

EVENTS

TOPSFIELD FAIR with a pig barn, sand sculpture, rabbits, bees, a midway, sheep, cattle, flowers, and more is today through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Topsfield Fairgrounds, Rte. 1, Topsfield. Tickets $10 (weekdays), $12 (weekends); (978) 887-5000.

AT THE MOVIES

OPENING THIS WEEKEND. We all could use a little guidance these days. Would that real life imitated David O. Russsell’s I Y Huckabees, where Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin are a husband-and-wife detective team who solve existential crises including those of Jason Schwartzman, Jude Law, Naomi Watts, and Mark Wahlberg. If in-your-face counseling is what you’re looking for, try Tim Story’s Taxi, with Queen Latifah as a boisterous NYC cabbie who gives tips to rookie cop Jimmy Fallon. If it’s tough love you need, check in with Peter Berg’s Friday Night Lights, in which Billy Bob Thornton coaches a crusading high-school football team from a depressed Texas town. Too bad Bill Pullman’s older and wiser stockbroker in Rick doesn’t try to coach his younger, callow boss in Curtis Clayton’s updating of Verdi’s Rigoletto. In Sean McNamara’s Raise Your Voice, meanwhile, team effort works in shaping teen diva Hilary Duff as she heads from the sticks to LA and a performing-arts high school. And some couples counseling or a twelve-step program might help Carole Bouquet and Jean-Pierre Darroussin in Cédric Kahn’s Feux rouges/Red Lights, a thriller based on a Georges Simenon novel.

READINGS & LECTURES

JANE BROX reads from her Clearing Land: Legacies of the American Farm at 6:30 p.m. at the Harvard Book Store, 1256 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Free; (617) 661-1515.

COLIN CHANNER reads from his Passing Through at 7 p.m. at Jamaicaway Books and Gifts, 676 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. Free; (617) 983-3204.

S.E. HINTON reads from Hawkes Harbor at 7 p.m. at the Harvard Coop, 1400 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. Free; (617) 499-2012.

THEATER

The Virginia Wimberly Theatre in the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts opens its doors with the world premiere of area writer/actor Melinda Lopez’s Sonia Flew, the first full-scale production of a work by a Huntington Playwriting Fellow. Back in early-’60s Cuba, Sonia’s parents, apprehensive about the new Castro regime, sent her to the US, intending to join her later, but they never did. Now Sonia is in Minneapolis raising two children with her Jewish husband and struggling "to come to terms with her past, her parents’ decisions, her children’s choices, and her duty to her adopted country." Helmed by Huntington Theatre artistic director Nicholas Martin, Sonia flies through November 28 at the Wimberly Theatre, 527 Tremont Street in the South End, and tickets are $14 to $50; call (617) 266-0800.

Since 1999, when Another American: Asking and Telling debuted Off Broadway and won an Obie, Marc Wolf has done a veritable tour of duty with his one-man docudrama about gays in the American military, its title inspired by the Clinton administration’s "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy. The performer/playwright has traveled to theaters in Washington, Los Angeles, Princeton, and Providence, and this weekend he opens in Boston courtesy of Boston Theatre Works. Wolf spent three years interviewing gays, lesbians, and straights in the military as well as civil-rights lawyers, federal judges, professors, and politicians; he then boiled the material down to create 20 real-life portraits. Directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello, the show runs at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street in the South End, through October 23. Tickets are $20 to $32; call (617) 933-8600.

KUNTZ WATCH. Local performer John Kuntz’s thespian dance card is full this fall, with a turn as the title Crookback in Actors Shakespeare Project’s Richard III to be followed by a one-man gallop through Becky Mode’s Fully Committed for the Lyric Stage Company of Boston. But in his spare moments, Kuntz turns out plays, and the latest is going up at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre. Described as "lyrical, mysterious, theatrical, and ultimately shocking," Jasper Lake is set in the sedate and lovely gated community of the title, where something nasty lurks beneath the glassy surface. You can drink it in through October 17 at 949 Commonwealth Avenue in Boston. Tickets are $15, $10 for seniors and students; call (617) 358-PLAY.