STAGE

Antigone

Classical Greek Theatre of Oregon goes back to basics this year with a period production of Sophocles' tragedy about what happens when you try to bury your son's girlfriend alive. Hint: It ain't pretty. As usual, Keith Scales directs. Reed College, 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd., brownpapertickets.com. 4 pm Saturdays-Sundays, noon Sept. 17-19 and 24-26. $10-$20. Map

Blackbird

JoAnn Johnson directs Allen Nause and Amaya Villazan in David Harrower's Olivier Award-winning play about Una and Ray, the man who raped her when she was 12. Artists Repertory Theatre, 1515 SW Morrison St., 241-1278. 7:30 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 pm Sundays, 11 am Sept. 24 and Oct. 1. $20-$47. Map

BUILT

Sojourn Theatre's newest show draws from six months of interviews and workshops in Portland and Chicago to pose questions about how cities should grow. There may be tightrope walkers. Presented by Portland Institute for Contemporary Art's Time-Based Art Festival. South Waterfront Discovery Center, 0680 SW Bancroft St., 224-7422 (PICA reservations). 4:30, 6:30 and 8:30 pm Friday, Sept. 5; 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 pm Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 6-7. Free with reservation. Map

Cabaret Babylon

Weimar-style filth and fun by Noah Mickens and company. Fez Ballroom, 316 SW 11th Ave., 221-7262. 9 pm Thursday, Sept. 4. $10. Map

Dwight Slade

Portland comedian Slade comes home to film Right and Raunch, a double-feature DVD showcasing both his high-energy, family-friendly clean act and the despicable filth that fills his soul. Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 233-1994. 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 6. $20-$25. Map

Hedda Gabler

Northwest Classical Theatre Company takes a fresh look at Ibsen's 1890 sob fest. Poor Hedda is trapped in a terrible marriage in an inflexible town, so (SPOILER ALERT!) she blows her brains out. Shoe Box Theater, 2110 SE 10th Ave., 971-244-3740. 7 pm Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 pm Sundays. No show Sept. 25-26. Closes Oct. 12. $15-$18. Map

The Phantom of the Opera

It’s the same old Phantom: a few good songs, a hilariously bad book, an abundance of underwhelming special effects (you call those measly wisps fireballs?) and the least intimidating supervillain since the Mysterious Masked Matador (see Daredevil No. 5, December 1964). When taken as a comedy, the first few scenes of this show-that-will-not-die, in which Andrew Lloyd Webber gleefully skewers the conventions of classical opera, are actually pretty hilarious. Everyone can sing, some can even act a little, and the chorus of ballerinas is pleasingly attractive. But then comes the interminable second act. The Phantom’s tantrums and Raul’s impotence cease to amuse an hour before curtain, and viewers over the age of 14 find themselves nodding during incessant reprisals of the title song. Beware The Phantom. BEN WATERHOUSE. Keller Auditorium, 222 SW Clay St., 241-1802. 7:30 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 7:30 pm Saturdays, 1 and 6 pm Sundays. Closes Sept. 7. $23-$73. Map

Razzle Dazzle Die!

[DINNER THEATER] Interactive murder-mystery musical dinner theater. Food by Timothy Fuhrman, murder by Eddie May. Pine Street Bistro, 221 SW Pine St., 524-4366. 7:30-9:30 pm Fridays-Saturdays. $69 per person. Map

Tim Crouch

England is Tim Crouch’s award-winning experimental play that doubles as an investigation into the nature of the audience. This is the Time-Based Art Festival, so you’re going to need a strong head, either because your mind’s going to get blown or because you’ll be at risk of wearing a hole in your cranium from scratching it so hard trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Also, you’ll need strong legs, as the audience is expected to spend a portion of the performance standing. That’s right, you lazy bastards, you’re going to have to work, too. Now that's meta. MATT GRAHAM. Elizabeth Leach Gallery, 417 NW 9th Ave., 224-0521. 6:30 pm Wednesday-Thursday, Sept. 10-11. $20-$25. All ages. Map

Who Stole My Dead Husband?

Lou Pallotta’s Italo-sploitation family dinner theater, starring Jim Caputo. Madison's East Wing, 1125 SE Madison St., 800-966-8865. 7:30 pm Fridays-Saturdays. Open-ended run. $64-$69, dinner included. All ages. Map

CLASSICAL

Art Resnick Trio

The veteran composer-pianist’s threesome is joined by multisaxophonist Blake Lyman in Resnick’s jazz originals. BRETT CAMPBELL. The Cave, 636 SW Jackson St., 274-4294. 8 pm Saturday, Sept. 6. $5. Map

Cappella Romana

The fine local vocal ensemble hosts a recital and reception for composer Ivan Moody, who’ll be in attendance while donations are sought to support CR’s upcoming recording of Finnish Orthodox music. BRETT CAMPBELL. St. Agatha's Catholic Church, 1430 SE Nehalem St., 4 pm Sunday, Sept. 7. Donation. Map

L. Subramaniam

Aretha may be the queen of Soul, but this venerated master of sinuous classical South Indian (Carnatic) music has been officially proclaimed (by an Indian governor) “emperor of violinists.” No wonder: He’s recorded more than 200 albums; composed film scores (including Mississippi Masala), ballets, and orchestral works (he holds a master’s degree in Western classical music from Cal Arts); collaborated with some of Indian’s greatest singers as well as with Western legends such as Rampal, Menuhin and Grappelli; and literally written the textbook on Indian music. In this concert, sponsored by the Rasika cultural organization, he’ll be accompanied by veteran Indian musicians Mahesh Krishnamurthy on the mridangam barrel drum, Sathish Pathakota on kanjira tambourine, and Satya Sai Ghantasala on moorsing mouth harp. You won’t hear a finer musician, or more glorious sounds, in town this summer. BRETT CAMPBELL. NW Neighborhood Cultural Center, 1819 NW Everett St., 531-7266. 7 pm Saturday, Sept. 6. $17-$35. Map

Portland Festival Symphony

This outdoor concert by the summer aggregation of some of the city’s classical regulars features a Haydn symphony as well as shorter works of Bizet, Kodaly, Liszt, Leroy Anderson (including the ever-popular “The Typewriter”) and Tchaikovsky. Children will be participating. BRETT CAMPBELL. Foothills Park, Foothills Drive, Lake Oswego., 245-7878. 4 pm Sunday, Sept. 7. Free. Map

Symphonic Safari

Columbia Symphony Orchestra’s performance is part of an afternoon celebrating arts and animals. Kids can take a safari through the orchestra as it performs Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals and other works, though the line is drawn at mounting violists' heads on the walls. BRETT CAMPBELL. East Hill Church, 701 N Main Ave., Gresham., 234-4077. Noon Saturday, Sept. 6. $5 per family. Map

DANCE

An Damhsa Irish Dance Show

There’s a place in this world where people can obtain an advanced degree in Irish dance: That place is the University of Limerick’s Irish World Music Centre, and graduate Maldon Meehan is one of the people who did just that. Since then, she’s been performing traditional Irish dance in various parts of the world, although she’s based here in Portland. Her latest venture is An Damhsa, a narrative about the Irish diaspora, told through the grounded dance style known as Sean-nos, blended with Cape Breton footwork, clogging, tap and modern dance. Dancers from as near as Seattle and as far as Boston and Washington, D.C., will be joining Meehan for this performance; the Johnny Connolly Band provides traditional accompaniment on accordion, bodhrán, banjo and guitar. Friendly House Community Center, 1737 NW 26th Ave., 484-5482. 2 pm Saturday, Sept. 6. $7-$9. Map

OBT Welcome Night

Don’t be alarmed if you suddenly find a pointe shoe hovering over your chardonnay: Oregon Ballet Theatre will be dancing all over the Pearl this First Thursday, concluding its neighborhood tour with a season sneak-preview performance at OBT’s Welcome Night. The OBT Theatre Associates, a volunteer group of young professionals with an enthusiasm for ballet, hope to bring newbies into the fold through time-tested means: hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a free show. Albina Bank, 430 NW 10th Ave., 740-6230. 5-8 pm Thursday, Sept. 4. Free. Map