BEST BETS: March 7 to 13, 2014

Tribute to the Fab Four

"Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles" comes to perform the full range of the Beatles discography live onstage on Friday at the Auditorium Theatre. The show includes the most complex and challenging songs that the Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. All the music and vocals are performed live. The multimedia, multidimensional experience is a fusion of historical footage from the 1960s. It features such classics as "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Hard Day's Night," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Let It Be," "Come Together" and "Hey Jude." Get tickets at ticketmaster.com. There are still some seats available. Check out a preview on YouTube.

Get down and boogie at Ugly Disco
The 2014 Ugly Disco Bash is Saturday at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Live music is offered by Something Else, Atlas Band, The Skycoasters, Disco Nation and a DJ spinning the top radio hits of the late '70s. Proceeds benefit the Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Don't forget to dress up in your best '70s garb. Go to uglydisco.com or ticketmaster.com for details.

Maestro Seaman returns to conduct RPO
Conductor Laureate Christopher Seaman returns to the podium to lead the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra in concerts today and Saturday. Seaman led the RPO for 13 seasons. Another Rochester favorite, Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker, will solo on Beethoven's virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 2, paired with Berlioz's Roman Carnival Overture and Bruckner's rich Symphony No. 6. (Parker will also perform Sunday with the Society for Chamber Music.) Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. March 6 and 8 p.m. March 8 in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre. After each performance, Seaman will sign copies of his book, "Inside Conducting." Go to rpo.org or ticketmaster.com.

JCC presents 'Normal Heart'
"The Normal Heart," Larry Kramer's play about the early days of the HIV-AIDS crisis between 1981 and 1984, takes the stage at JCC Hart Theatre. The story centers on Jewish-American writer Ned Weeks, who leads a tight-knit group of friends who refuse to let doctors, politicians and the press ignore the truth of an unspoken, unnamed epidemic. Brian Coughlin directs. It premieres Saturday and runs through March 23. An opening night reception is planned Saturday, and several post-show discussions are planned. Go to jccCenterStage.org for all the details.

'Stranded on Earth'
Geva Theatre Center's 2014 Fielding Studio Series continues with "Stranded on Earth" by Eric Coble. William Brown directs the production, which kicked off this week and runs in the Fielding Nextstage through March 23. It tells the story of a brilliant artist, who flashes between the mundane chaos and poetic depths of her world, circling in on the moment when everything changed for her. Brigitt Markusfeld stars. Go to gevatheatre.org.

On the big screen
The highly anticipated sequel to Zack Snyder's "300," "300: Rise of an Empire," picks up with the Greek general Themistocles getting ready to battle an invading army of Persians under the mortal-turned-god Xerxes. "Mr. Peabody & Sherman," based on the series of 1960s cartoon shorts about a hyper-intelligent hound and his genially mischievous boy, features the voice talents of Ty Burrell and Max Charles. Find movie times.

Orchid show and sale
Even those who love winter are getting a little weary. Say goodbye to the wet snow we've been enduring with an escape to the greenhouses of Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park for the Annual Orchid Show and Sale Friday to Sunday in Canandaigua. The exotic blooms will be showcased in Sonnenberg's historic Lord & Burnham greenhouse complex. Orchid growers will be on hand to consult with guests. Seminars on orchid care will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. General admission to the event is $5. Visit sonnenberg.org. To check out other gardens in our area, go to the digital edition of Explore or check out the Explore website.

Submit listing information

Help us provide readers with the most up-to-date and comprehensive information on dining, shopping, entertainment and the arts, wineries, sports and recreation, special events, museums and more.  

For information about submitting listings to Explore Greater Rochester, contact us by email.