Best Bets: Cher, Brad Paisley, 'Elixir of Love'

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FRIDAY

Editor’s pick: Brad Paisley

When 7 p.m. Friday • Where Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 14141 Riverport Drive • How much $23.25-$65.75 • More info Ticketmaster.com

Fresh off a hush-hush Memorial Day trip to sing for the troops in Afghanistan, Brad Paisley brings his 2014 tour to the more domesticated locale of Maryland Heights. With a trio of fresh young acts with him (Randy Houser, Leah Turner and Charlie Worsham) you can bet Paisley will be up to his usual stellar picking, playing and bringing the crew out to have fun with him Friday night. By Amanda St. Amand

‘They’re Playing Our Song’

When Opens 8 p.m. Friday; runs through June 29 • Where Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Civic Center, 111 South Geyer Road • How much $20-$57 • More info 314-821-2407; stagesstlouis.org

In the 1970s, composer Marvin Hamlisch (“A Chorus Line,” “The Sting,” “The Way We Were”) and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager (“A Groovy Kind of Love,” “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” “You’re Moving Out Today”) fell in love, starting a relationship that produced a memorable hit (“Nobody Does It Better”). With playwright Neil Simon, Hamlisch and Sager also created “They’re Playing Our Song,” a musical comedy about a neurotic composer and a kooky lyricist. Feel free to draw comparisons. By Judith Newmark

Editor’s pick: Julianne and Derek Hough

When 8 p.m. Friday • Where Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard • How much $49.50-$99.50 • More info MetroTix.com

“Dancing With the Stars” champions Julianne and Derek Hough bring their high-energy style to the Fox Theatre as part of their Move Live on Tour. The siblings’ show will feature dancing of the ballroom, salsa, tap and hip-hop varieties, among others. By Mark Matousek

Editor’s pick: ‘Hands on a Hardbody’

When Opens Friday; runs through June 21, performances at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays • Where Washington University South Campus Theatre, 6501 Clayton Road • How much $15-$20, discounts available • More info 314-534-1111; newlinetheatre.com

New Line Theatre gives this musical about Texans competing to win a new truck its first production since its short Broadway run last year. The songs, by Amanda Green and Phish’s Trey Anastasio, cut a wide musical swath: country and Latin, rock and blues. The book, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright, was inspired by a documentary about a real competition, in which each contestant vies to keep his or her hands on the prize longer than anybody else. By Judith Newmark

Alarm Will Sound

When 7:30 p.m. Friday • Where Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard • How much $20 adults; $10 students • More info 314-533-9900; sheldonconcerthall.org

The modern music group Alarm Will Sound will fill the Sheldon Concert Hall with contemporary compositions, and for part of the program they’ll have guest performers by elementary-through-high school students from Webster University’s Community Music School. They’ll perform side-by-side in short works by Steve Reich, John Adams and others. Then Alarm Will Sound will perform Adams’ 1996 “Scratchband,” along with two works composed for them and the Mizzou International Composers Festival in Columbia. By Sarah Bryan Miller

SATURDAY

Indigo Girls

Editor’s pick: Indigo Girls

When 7:30 p.m. Saturday • Where Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard • How much $35-$90 • More info stlsymphony.org

Have you ever wondered what the Indigo Girls would sound like with a symphonic twist? Now is your chance. The duo comes to Powell Symphony Hall this weekend to perform with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, offering songs such as “Closer to Fine,” “Love of Our Lives” and “Galileo.” By Kevin C. Johnson

Editor’s pick: ‘The Elixir of Love’

When Opens 8 p.m. Saturday; runs through June 25 • Where Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Road • How much $25-$134 • More info 314-961-0644; opera-stl.org

A charming romantic comedy set to terrific music: It’s Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love,” the second opera this year at OTSL and a delight to the ear. Love is complicated, but everything works out in the end, and you get to hear some great tunes along the way. OTSL music director Stephen Lord conducts; Jose Maria Condemi directs a cast that includes soprano Susannah Biller as Adina, tenor René Barbera as Nemorino, Tim Mix as Belcore and Patrick Carfizzi as Dulcamara. By Sarah Bryan Miller

Wine & Cheese Wolf Howl

When 7 p.m. Saturday • Where 6750 Tyson Valley Road, Eureka • How much $20-$22 • More info 636-938-5900; endangeredwolfcenter.org

At the Endangered Wolf Center’s Wine & Cheese Wolf Howl, guests age 21 and older can sample a variety of local wines while learning about wolf behavior and communication, before heading over by the wolf enclosures and howling with the wolves. By Mark Matousek

Katie Herzig

When 8 p.m. Saturday • Where Old Rock House, 1200 South Seventh Street • How much $12-$15 • More info 314-534-1111; MetroTix.com

Singer-songwriter Katie Herzig is getting her music out there. Her folk-rock songs have graced the soundtracks of everything from the TV series “Smallville” to a trailer for the Tom Hanks flick “Saving Mr. Banks.” In concert, she’s likely to focus on tunes from her new album, “Walk Through Walls.” By Calvin Wilson

SUNDAY

St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra

When 3 p.m. Sunday • Where Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard • How much Free, with $1 handling fee • More info 314-534-1700; stlsymphony.org

The St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra is a remarkably fine ensemble, made up of the best student musicians (ages 12 to 22) in the area. The SLSO’s final concert of the 2013-2014 season is Sunday afternoon, with music director Steven Jarvi on the podium for a popular program that includes selections from Copland’s “Rodeo” and Respighi’s iconic “Pines of Rome.” It’s an opportunity to hear a great young orchestra at the end of a year of working together as a group, and a great way to introduce newcomers to some classic pieces. (Note: Circus Flora is currently occupying Powell Hall’s parking lot, so allow extra time to find a space.) By Sarah Bryan Miller

TUESDAY

Scott Anderson

When 7 p.m. Tuesday • Where St. Louis County Library, 1640 South Lindbergh Boulevard • How much Free • More info 314-994-3300; slcl.org

Scott Anderson, a war correspondent, explores the early 20th-century effort to control the Middle East in “Lawrence in Arabia: Deceit, Imperial Folly, and the Making of the Modern Middle East.” The much-admired title goes on sale Tuesday in paperback. By Jane Henderson

WEDNESDAY

Arthur Mola

Singer Cher performs on stage at the Air Canada Centre during her D2K Tour on Monday, April 7, 2014, in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)

Editor’s pick: Cher’s ‘Dressed to Kill’ tour with Cyndi Lauper

When 7:30 p.m. Wednesday • Where Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Avenue • How much $25.40-$105.50 • More info Ticketmaster.com

We’ve heard Cher talk about farewell tours before, but this time she says this is it. So catch “Believe,” “Strong Enough,” “Half Breed,” “I Found Someone, “If I Could Turn Back Time” and the new “Woman’s World” while there’s still time. By Kevin C. Johnson

Terry Hayes with Scott Phillips

When 7 p.m. Wednesday • Where Mad Art Gallery, 2727 South 12th Street • How much $25-$40 • More info brownpapertickets.com; meetmestlouis.org

The Australian screenwriter of the “Mad Max” movies will talk about his debut novel, the thriller “I Am Pilgrim,” with St. Louis’ own Scott Phillips, author of “Hop Alley.” Murder and mayhem abound. A Q&A and book-signing follow. Advance orders required for a barbecue dinner (314-772-1180; menu at CapitalistPigBBQ.com). A portion of the ticket sales benefits the BackStoppers. By Jane Henderson

THURSDAY

Brian Owens: Music of Otis Redding

When 7:30 p.m. Thursday • Where Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard • How much $15-$50 • More info 314-534-1111; MetroTix.com

Perhaps best known for “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” Otis Redding was one of the great American vocalists. His music still resonates powerfully, and has clearly inspired singer Brian Owens. If you’re into classic soul, this concert should be a can’t-miss experience. By Calvin Wilson

Editor’s pick: ‘Oliver!’

When Opens 8 p.m. Thursday; runs through June 22 • Where Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall, 530 East Lockwood Avenue • How much $15-$30 • More info 314-556-1293; insighttheatrecompany.com

Edward Coffield directs the first show of Insight’s summer season, a musical based on Charles Dickens’ novel about an orphan and the colorful characters who befriend him — or threaten him — in Victorian London. Lionel Bart’s Tony-winning musical includes “Food, Glorious Food,” “You’ve Got To Pick a Pocket or Two” and “As Long as He Needs Me.” By Judith Newmark

Adrian Matejka and Kathleen Finneran

When 7:30 p.m. Thursday • Where Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Boulevard • How much Free • More info 314-367-6731

In connection with the Big River Writers Conference, a free kickoff reading features poet Matejka (“The Big Smoke”) and memoirist Finneran (“The Tender Land”). Matejka returns to the metro area in the glow of praise for his latest book, a finalist for this year’s Pulitzer Prize in Poetry. Finneran, who has won a Whiting Writer’s Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship, is writer in residence at Washington University. Both writers will be involved in workshops for the Big River conference. For more info on the conference itself, which marks the 40th birthday of River Styx magazine, go to riverstyx.org/conference. By Jane Henderson

FAST FORWARD

Jonah Hill (left) and Channing Tatum in "22 Jump Street." Columbia Pictures

“The 80’s Show!,” June 13-14 at the Edison Theatre: Gateway Men’s Chorus performs hits of the decade, including songs from Wham! and Michael Jackson

“22 Jump Street,” opens in theaters June 13: Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill graduate to an undercover job at a college

“Billy Elliot,” June 16-22 at the Muny: The season opens with the musical about the ballet-loving boy

Eddie Izzard, June 19 at Fox Theatre: The sharp — and sharply dressed — comedian brings his Force Majeure tour to town