Do This!
Friday Smart jazz The intriguing composer and tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock performs her structured, cerebral works for brass and drums with a combo of alto saxophonist Tim Berne, trombonist Ben Gerstein, tuba player Dan Peck, and drummer Tom Rainey at the Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St. Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. Information: 215-545-4302 or www.arsnovaworkshop.org.
Friday
Smart jazz
The intriguing composer and tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock performs her structured, cerebral works for brass and drums with a combo of alto saxophonist Tim Berne, trombonist Ben Gerstein, tuba player Dan Peck, and drummer Tom Rainey at the Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St. Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. Information: 215-545-4302 or www.arsnovaworkshop.org.
Saturday
The story this time
When Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour refused military service as a conscientious objector, he was, in effect, exiled from the rest of the world, forbidden by his government to travel. So he sent his play on a world tour: White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, a consideration of stage fright (the actor reads the play for the first time, sight unseen, without a director; there's poison, a bear, and a ladder; and the audience is encouraged to e-mail the author to let him know how it's going) that ends up being a meditation on freedom and control. The 12 Fringe Festival performances of the piece get a good start, as David Morse (Treme) is first up to read at FringeArts, Columbus Boulevard and Race Street. Time: 4 p.m. Tickets: $29. Information: 215-413-1318 or FringeArts.com.
Saturday
Dance outside
The dynamic BalletX performs outdoors as part of the Neighborhood Fringe at the Porch at 30th Street Station, 30th and Market Streets. Time: 5 p.m. Admission is free. Information: 215-413-1318 or FringeArts.com.
Saturday
The pipes, the pipes
The 28,677 pipes of the beloved Wanamaker Organ star in a concert with Symphony in C, as conductor Rossen Milanov leads the orchestra in works by Elgar, Poulenc, and Saint-Saëns, with soloist Peter Richard Conte, at Macy's, 13th and Market Streets. Time: 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 to $110. Information: 856-963-6683 or www.symphonyinc.org.
Saturday-Sunday
Defending the planet
In the fourth episode of Kate Quinn's opera cycle, Sephro: Earth's Revenge, a chemical attack by a mad scientist threatens the Sephrons' food supply and a desperate race (with the help of some Earthen allies) ensues to avert a catastrophe. The Fantasy Weavers perform the work as part of the Neighborhood Fringe at the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St. Times: 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday (added show 8 p.m. Wednesday). Tickets: $15. Information: 215-413-1318 or FringeArts.com.