Top picks of the week
THURS 10-20
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN Her latest album contains a track based on a Maya Angelou poem, but back in the day, the deepest that Olivia Newton-John ever dared to venture was asking the eternal question ‘‘Have you never been mellow?’’ and visiting a mythical land called Xanadu on her roller skates. Ah, sweet memories. Newton-John is in Lowell tonight to revisit her catalog of hits. She’ll also be performing new material, or, as audience members call it, ‘‘Time to get more Junior Mints and Pepsi.’’ Tickets are $35.50 to $50.50. Lowell Memorial Theater, 50 East Merrimack St., Lowell. 978-454-2299.
THURS 10-20
MARK MOTHERSBAUGH Founder of Devo and composer of film scores for ‘‘The Life Aquatic’’ and ‘‘Rugrats,’’ Mark Mothersbaugh gets an opportunity to show off his other talent — distorting photos of perfectly normal humans and pets into living Rorschach prints. The creepy result is a technique that Mothersbaugh calls ‘‘corrected photo manipulations.’’ His bizarre prints are on display beginning tonight at 7, with a free reception to celebrate the Paradise Lounge’s third anniversary. The art will be up through Nov. 27. Paradise Lounge, 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. 617-562-8814.
FRI 10-21
‘‘GENDER BENDER’’ It’s probably easier to persuade Simon Cowell to wear loose-fitting clothing than it is to turn the much-coveted 18 to 35 demographic into regular patrons of the theater. Enter Bare Minimum Productions, a new theater company that has decided to convince these kids that theater can be more fun than a couple of rounds of Dance Dance Revolution after a pitcher of margaritas. To accomplish this feat, Bare Minimum co-founders Anne Continelli and Deb Malone vow that their company will produce fresh, thought-provoking scripts. This weekend, Bare Minimum introduces two shows. ‘‘Gender Bender’’ is a comedic farce that involves Mormon missionaries. To balance out the pious hilarity, the company also offers ‘‘Dear Daddy, Love Cassie,’’ which deals with a suicide attempt, violence, and a long-dead father. ‘‘Dear Daddy’’ opens tonight at 8. ‘‘Gender Bender’’ opens Friday at 8. Tickets are $21 for both shows. Boston Center for the Arts, Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont St., Boston. 617-933-8600.
FRI 10-21
AN EVENING WITH COLIN QUINN The cranky commentator spends an evening growling over headlines at the Comedy Connection. For those in need of more Harriet Miers and bird flu jokes, consider it $25 well-spent. Quinn performs Friday and Saturday night at 8 and 10:15. Comedy Connection, 245 Quincy Market Place, Faneuil Hall, 617-248-9700.
SAT 10-22
JAMIROQUAI What made John Heder’s funky jitterbug so impressive in the finale of ‘‘Napoleon Dynamite’’ — aside from the agility of his moon boots — was the song that accompanied his prancing. Jamiroquai’s ‘‘Canned Heat’’ is perhaps the funkiest song produced by a British artist since George Michael declared ‘‘I’m Your Man.’’ That may not be saying much, but Jamiroquai’s blue-eyed R&B provides an ideal soundtrack for a Saturday evening of heavy-duty booty banging. Jamiroquai is at the Roxy at 7 p.m. Tickets are $28. Roxy. 279 Tremont St., 617-931-2000.
SUN 10-23
‘‘BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S’’ As if you needed another excuse to sigh over Audrey Hepburn’s iconic beauty, the woman who once possessed the most perfect neck in Hollywood is on the big screen in Brookline. The Coolidge Corner Theatre shows the perfect post-Sunday-brunch-at-Zaftigs film, ‘‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s,’’ at noon. The trick to enjoying the film is ignoring Mickey Rooney and focusing on the romance. Easier written than done. Tickets are $7. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 617-734-2500.
MON 10-24
PUMPKIN COOKING CLASS Tosca chef Kevin Long leads a class through six courses of pumpkin-inspired goodies. The evening begins at 7 with instruction on how to prepare a pumpkin martini, and tipsily progresses to pumpkin gnocchi and lobster in pumpkinseed oil. The class, which includes as much tasting as cooking, is $100. Tosca, 14 North St., Hingham. 781-740-0080.
Christopher Muther can be reached at muther@globe.com
