In his first solo Houston show, Fort Worth's Sedrick Huckaby explores themes of spirituality, family and his African-American Heritage. "Everyday Grace" is on view at Art League Houston through Jan. 4. This is "Her Hands on the Word."
(oil on canvas)

Leslie
Shershow's Diamond
Pillow
Necklace and other expertly-handmade gifts will be featured during the annual holiday trunk show and sale at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's Asher Gallery Thursday and Saturday.

Photo: HCCC

Leslie
Shershow's Diamond
Pillow
Necklace and other...

Image 4 of 17

Leslie Shershow's Three Plank Necklace (brass, sterling silver and walnut) and other works inspired by wood and nature will be available during the annual holiday trunk show and sale at Houston Center for Contemporary Craft's Asher Gallery Thursday and Saturday.

Photo: HCCC

Leslie Shershow's Three Plank Necklace (brass, sterling silver and...

Image 5 of 17

Corey Arnold's "Ben and King"

Photo: Fowler Museum, Photographer

Corey Arnold's "Ben and King"

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Percussionist Colin Currie will play Christopher Rouse's "Alberich Saved" with the Houston Symphony.

Photo: Marco Borggreve

Percussionist Colin Currie will play Christopher Rouse's "Alberich...

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(For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, November 13, 2013)
Jeffery Bean as Ebenezer Scrooge, in this scene from Alley Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol."

Photo: Gary Fountain, Freelance

(For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, November 13, 2013)
Jeffery Bean...

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(For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, November 13, 2013)
Lean Curney as Spirit of Christmas Past, in this scene from Alley Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol."

(For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, November 13, 2013)
Lean Curney as Spirit of Christmas Past, and Jeffrey Bean as Ebenezer Scrooge, in this scene from Alley Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol."

(For the Chronicle/Gary Fountain, November 13, 2013)
Leah Curney as Mary Pidgeon, from left, Chris Hutchison as Mr. Marvel, and David Rainey as Bert, in this scene from Alley Theatre's production of "A Christmas Carol."

Each holiday season, theaters across America dust off their varied takes on "A Christmas Carol," Charles Dickens' immortal 1843 novella chronicling a miser's miraculous reformation under ghostly guidance. Houston's Alley Theatre has one of the sturdiest and longest running, former associate director Michael Wilson's adaptation, which the company has presented since 1990 (minus a couple of seasons when the Alley tried out an alternative version.) Jeffrey Bean is back as the covetous old sinner Ebenezer Scrooge, supported by the Alley's crack team in all those colorful character roles, amid tons of lavish period costumes and settings. Who could say "Bah, humbug!" to that? Shows are at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. through Dec. 26, but the schedule varies, so call for details; Alley Theatre, 615 Texas; $25-$110; 713-220-5700.

Folk music

Dancing and wonder

Nobody's on the fence with Jonathan Richman, certainly not since he ditched the Velvet Underground-inspired Modern Lovers. Either his wide-eyed innocent take on folk - sometimes trilingual, also with dancing - loosens some inner childlike joy or it sounds precious and grating. I cast my lot with the joyous side. He's been a little quiet lately, his most recent release being "O Moon, Queen of Night on Earth" three years ago. 8 p.m. Wednesday; Continental Club, 3700 Main; $12; 713-529-9899 or continentalclub.com. Lean in and listen

These days the best way for a young folkie to get noticed is to take a pretty simple form of music and make it more bombastic. Joe Pug takes a different tack. The Chicago native makes brilliantly complex wordplay sound simple, and he's a master at drawing a listener in instead of blaring the music outward. He recalls other masters like John Prine, Roger Miller and Loudon Wainwright. His latest is the deliciously titled "The Great Despiser." 7 p.m. Friday; Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak; $10; 713-862-3838 or fitzlivemusic.com.

Country music

Rising star

Lindi Ortega has a dynamic voice that can exude brass and vulnerability, sometimes in the same song. Her music lives at the intersection of country and rockabilly, suggesting both Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash. She's prolific, too. The new "Tin Star" is her third record in as many years. 6 p.m. Sunday; McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk; $20-$22; 713-528-5999 or mcgonigels.com.

Decisions, decisions. Friday is a night of openings, and artists and curators will be there to speak at all of them. Natalie Zelt kicks things off at the Houston Center for Photography, where she's curated "See Food," featuring 10 artists who focus on edible culture. 5:30-8 p.m., 1441 W. Alabama, 813-529-4755, hcponline.org. FREE

Sedrick Huckaby talks about his first solo Houston show, "Everyday Grace," at 6:30 p.m. and Monica Vidal discusses a large-scale installation and other works in her show "Falling" at 7 p.m. at the Art League Houston. 1953 Montrose; 713-523-9530, artleaguehouston.org. FREE

Art Crawl

Save energy for Saturday. More than 150 artists and organizations open their doors for the 21st annual Artist Warehouse ArtCrawl. The event covers 20 venues, most clustered near downtown. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. At Hardy and Nance Studios, where there's live music Saturday afternoon and evening, the action spills over into Sunday. See the complete map at artcrawlhouston.com. FREE

Classical music

The Houston Symphony and composer Christopher Rouse present a different take on Richard Wagner, whose "The Ring of the Nibelung" hits Houston in April. Rouse's percussion concerto "Alberich Saved" focuses on the dwarf who's the key troublemaker in Wagner's saga, imagining what becomes of him after the cataclysmic finale. Scottish percussionist Colin Currie will be the soloist, representing Alberich. Guest conductor Andrey Boreyko and the orchestra will also perform Wagner's overture to "The Flying Dutchman" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. 8 p.m. Thursday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Jones Hall, 615 Louisiana. $25-$119; 713-224-7575, houstonsymphony.org.

Movie

'Reality Bites' is back

Houston's Generation X got the star treatment in "Reality Bites," the 1994 film starring Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo and Ben Stiller. The film was shot in Houston and served as a cultural landmark for many filmgoers of a certain age. This screening is presented by the Orange Show and Alamo Drafthouse Rolling Roadshow. 7 p.m. Saturday; Orange Show, 2402 Munger; $15 advance, $20 at the door; 713-926-6368 or orangeshow.org.

Concert

Freestyle flashback

Some of the biggest acts in freestyle take the stage during "I Love the 80s and 90s." Topping the bill is the original Cover Girls lineup, which scored hits with "Show Me," "Because of You" and "We Can't Go Wrong." The lineup also includes Dino ("I Like It," "Romeo") and Rodney O and Joe Cooley ("Everlasting Bass"). Comedian Mike Robles hosts, and decade-appropriate attire is encouraged. 9 p.m. Saturday; Crowne Plaza, 2712 Southwest Freeway; $20; 713-256-1295 or chulymusic.com.

Dance party

Rave on

Dubstock III is dubbed the city's only "live rock music, hip-hop and EDM mash-up." Basically, it's a whole lot of music played by a whole lot of different people with a focus on "peace, love and harmony." The event includes go-go dancers, a light show and 3-D glasses. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday; Numbers, 300 Westheimer; $10 advance, $15 at the door; 713-521-1121 or numbersnightclub.com.