Campus calendar

"31st John Coltrane Memorial Concert (JCMC)" The 31st Annual John Coltrane Concert: "A Tribute to Trane" kicks off the Northeastern University Center for the Arts 2008-2009 season by featuring special guests, legendary hip-hop messenger Guru along with featured artist Solar. Guru's hip-hop and jazz fusion series, "Jazzmatazz" has led to collaborations with jazz greats Roy Ayers, Ramsey Lewis, and more. On Saturday, Guru and Solar are joined by DJ Doo Wop, Brownman, and David Scott in a tribute to John Coltrane. 8 p.m. $25; $20, non-Northeastern University Students and seniors; $10, Northeastern students with ID. Northeastern University, Blackman Theatre, Ell Hall, 360 Huntington Ave. 617-373-4700. www.jcmc.neu.edu

Tonight through Sunday"A Number" To celebrate the dedication of Gordon College's Ken Olsen Science Center, the theater arts department is mounting a performance of Caryl Churchill's play, "A Number." The disturbing play is a psychological thriller about the way loss can be distorted by science. The 50-minute drama follows a son who learns he is a clone and confronts his father. The father is played by Norman Jones, and all three sons are played by Chris Reber. Wed-Thu, 7:30 p.m.; Fri, 8 p.m.; Sat, 2 & 5 p.m. $10. Gordon College, Margaret Jensen Theatre in the Barrington Center for the Arts, Wenhem. 978-867-4235. www.gordon.edu

College night at the MFA The Museum of Fine Arts welcomes students back to Boston with their annual college night on Thursday. The art's on view, of course, but this is a special night. Want music? St. Vincent (Berklee College of Music alum Annie Clark) goes on at 7 and 8:45, and Liz Longley goes on at 8 and 9:30. Wanna dance? A student DJ starts spinning at 10. Want to shake your head in disbelief? The museum screens "Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation" at 10 p.m. This is a faithful recreation of Spielberg's "Raiders of the Lost Ark," done by three, 12-year-old boys who saw the original film in 1981 and began a shot-by-shot recreation, in their Mississippi backyards. Other than the leads aging considerably over the course of the film (what was in that ark?), the screen-by-screen comparisons are pretty incredible. 6 p.m.-midnight. Free. Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave. 617-267-9300. www.mfa.org

"The Gilbert and Sullivan Radio Hour" The New England Light Opera (NELO) kicks off its year-long residency at Salem State College with two performances of its original show, "The Gilbert and Sullivan Radio Hour." The show is two one-act plays -the first is Sullivan's "Cox and Box," and the second is Gilbert's "Happy Arcadia." Since 2001, NELO has been presenting operetta and early musical theater to preserve the genre. Fri, 8 p.m.; Sun, 3 p.m. $20; $15, seniors and non-Salem-State-College students. Salem State College, Recital Hall, 71 Loring Ave., Salem. 978-542-6290. www.salem state.edu/arts

CollegeFest OK, sure. Part of the point of this giant trade show at Hynes is to get sponsors face time with potential customers (that's you, college students). But they're giving out free samples, there are killer raffles (such as a pair of round-trip tickets that scream spring break), and musical guests Chamillionaire headlines on Saturday, and Soulja Boy headlines Sunday. Sat, noon-7 p.m.; Sun, noon-6 p.m. $10 with valid college ID. Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston St. www.collegefest.com

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