Boston-area to do list

PICK OF THE DAY

The best of times

When a son brings his fiancee’s conservative parents home to meet his parents, “La Cage aux Folles” swings into full throttle with hilarity, shenanigans, and lessons about love and family. The Tony-winning musical by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein stars Charles Shaughnessy as Georges and Jonathan Hammond as Albin. 7:30 p.m. (through Oct. 6). $45-$75, 50 percent discount on Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. for ages 18 and under. North Shore Music Theatre,
62 Dunham Road, Beverly. 978-232-7200. www.nsmt.org

TUESDAY

Reelin’ in the years Four decades of anything is a long time. Four decades of Steely Dan is a lot of hits, including “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “Hey Nineteen,” “Deacon Blues,” “Do It Again,” and “Babylon Sisters.” Bassist Walter Becker and keyboardist/vocalist Donald Fagen met at Bard College in 1967, played in several bands (including one that featured a drummer, one Chevy Chase), and preferred jazz, traditional pop, R&B, and blues to rock. Sept. 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m. $35-$195. Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston. 800-745-3000. www.citicenter.org

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Simons says Perhaps you’ve enjoyed his music on “Private Practice,” “Sons of Anarchy,” “NCIS,” and “The Young and the Restless.” Or maybe you caught his appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” when he sang the title track from his recent release, “Beautiful Pain.” Bluesy pop singer, songwriter, and guitarist Keaton Simons celebrates the record in Cambridge with his band and special guest, percussionist Yahuba “El Pollo” Garcia. 10 p.m. (Daemon Chili opens at 9 p.m.). $15. 21+. Lizard Lounge, 1667 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 800-838-3006. www.brownpapertickets.com/event/452052

Democracy for all? Clark University’s Difficult Dialogues Symposium “Framing Freedom” welcomes Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter David Rohde. The author of “Endgame: The Betrayal and Fall of Srebrenica” and this year’s “Beyond War: Reimagining American Influence in a New Middle East” will talk about “The Problem With Democracy: The Quest for Individual Rights in the Middle East.” 7 p.m. Free. Clark University Higgins Lounge, 950 Main St., Worcester. 508-793-7479. www.clarku.edu

East side story Born and bred on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Emily King named her Grammy-nominated debut album “East Side Story.” The 20-something singer and songwriter, who mixes soul, folk, and rock, has opened for Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, Chaka Khan, and others. 8 p.m. $12. The Red Room at Cafe 939, 939 Boylston St., Boston. 617-747-6038. www.cafe939.com

WEDNESDAY

Let’s go to the movies The 1914 Modern Theatre at Suffolk University is the perfect venue for Wednesday’s talk by Art Singer. The author’s timeline of Boston’s movie houses will be told through old photos and stories at “Boston’s Downtown Movie Palaces.” Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. $10. The Modern Theatre at Suffolk University, 525 Washington St., Boston. 800-440-7654. www.moderntheatre.com

Tough times A medical crisis, crumbling marriage, and rough relationship with her daughter face Juliana Smithton in Sharr White’s “The Other Place,” presented by Nora Theatre Company and Underground Railway Theater. Sept. 25 at 7:30 p.m. (through Oct. 6). $15-
$56, discounts available. Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 866-811-4111. www.centralsquaretheater.org

June Wulff can be reached at june.wulff@globe.com.