FRIDAY
Recreation, families: The North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross hosts the Great American Motorcycle Show. They’ll have a huge selection of two-wheeled machines and lots of bike-related activities, including a best-dressed biker kid contest. It’s happening Jan. 27-29.
Stage: Shen Yun Performing Arts offers classical Chinese dance and music inspired by the myths and legends of traditional Chinese culture. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 and 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Stage: Théâtre du Rêve revisits its popular 2011 production, “The Red Balloon,” inspired by the classic French film, which comes to life with puppetry, live music and more. It opens Jan. 27 and continues through Feb. 12 at 7 Stages in Little Five Points.
Comedy: Canadian actress and comedian Caroline Rhea is probably best known as the original host of “The Biggest Loser” and as Hilda Spellman on “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.” She’ll bring her stand-up comedy to the Punchline in Sandy Springs Jan. 26-28.
Stage: A couple wakes up in a cottage surrounded by water in “A Body of Water,” but they don’t know who they are. The show continues at Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville through Feb. 12.
Stage, music: The Stage Door Players pay tribute to one of America’s best loved entertainers with “My Way, A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra.” It runs Jan. 20 through Feb. 12 at North DeKalb Cultural Arts Center in Dunwoody.
Stage: Angie is content to support her husband Mark as he pursues his dreams of being a novelist. But when Angie discovers that she is unexpectedly pregnant, lives are turned upside down in “40 Weeks.” Decatur’s OnStage Atlanta presents the local premiere of this play by Michael Henry Harris, directed by Topher Payne and running through Jan. 28.
Stage: World War II has just ended as secrets are revealed in the South Georgia town of“Second Samuel.” New London Theatre’s production of the Pamela Parker play runs through Jan. 29 at the company’s Snellville home.
Performing arts: “Odysseo” is an equestrian ballet that is a lavish blend of multimedia and performing arts. From one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil, the show just extended its run under the big tent near Spring and 8th streets through Jan. 29. Check out our review of the show.
Exhibition, religion: “Passages” is a traveling exhibition of the world’s largest private collection of rare biblical texts and artifacts. It continues at the Perimeter Expo in Dunwoody through May 13.
History: “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing: How the Apollo Theater Shaped American Entertainment” is a multimedia exhibition that spotlights the New York City landmark’s powerful impact on the entertainment business. It continues through March 4 at the Atlanta History Center.
Stage: Atlanta Shakespeare Company continues its chronological run through the Bard’s comedies with “The Merchant of Venice” . The show continues through Jan. 29 in repertory with“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at the New American Shakespeare Tavern in Atlanta.
Stage: A husband’s efforts to deny his visit to the Moulin Rouge lead to mistakes and plausible presumptions in “The Ladies Man,” a Theatre in the Square production of a play based on a French farce by Georges Feydeau. See our review of the show. The show continues through Feb. 26.
SATURDAY
Music, performing arts: Honda Battle of the Bands is an annual invitational showcase of marching bands from historically black colleges and universities. This year, they’ll also have a performance from Atlanta R&B songstress Monica. The event begins at 3 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Georgia Dome.
Comedy: Phenomenally popular ventriloquist Jeff Dunham brings his sidekicks, including José Jalapeño and the curmudgeonly Walter, to Philips Arena at 8 p.m. Jan. 28. Check out our interview with Dunham.
Music: The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra takes on Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 2 (“Resurrection”), with soprano Nicole Cabell and mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Conner. Performance is at 8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Atlanta Symphony Hall.
Festival, beer: That chill in the air shouldn’t stop us from enjoying a brew or two. That’s why there’s the Atlanta Winter Beer Fest, which begins at 3 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Masquerade.
Music: Drummer John Bonham died in 1980, so we’ll never have the real thing again, but you can get a taste of one of rock’s greatest bands with ZOSO: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. Catch it at the Variety Playhouse at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 28.
SUNDAY
Music: Atlanta Chamber Players’ Chamber Music in Sacred Spaces series continues with “Classical Crossover,” featuring works by Beethoven, Mozart and Claude Bolling. 3 p.m. Jan. 29 at Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta.
Music: Georgian Chamber Players, which includes Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster David Coucheron, will perform works by Schubert, Beethoven and Brahms at 3 p.m. Jan. 29 at Atlanta’s Trinity Presbyterian Church. Pianist Julie Coucheron, the vioinist’s sister, is guest artist.
Music: Franklin Pond Chamber Music is a summer chamber-music program for talented pre-college musicians. At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29, the Franklin Pond Quartet and Robert Spano will present a benefit concert at Peachtree Presbyterian Church.
Music: The quickest way to musically evoke World War II? Play something by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Lush, lovely and swingin’, the music created by Miller and his big band is a timeless joy. Though Miller’s plane disappeared over the English Channel in December 1944, his legacy lives on in this officially sanctioned band. Hear the music at 3 p.m. Jan. 29 at Spivey Hall in Morrow.
Music: It’s all about the front men with the “Where’s the Band?” tour, which features solo sets from Ace Enders of the Early November, Anthony Raneri of Bayside, Chris Conley of Saves the Day, Evan Weiss of Into it. Over it. and Matt Pryor of the Get Up Kids. The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Masquerade
Music, science: “The Creation of the World” explores the intersection between science and art, beginning with a scripted conversation between two distinguished master teachers, David Lynn and Dwight Andrews. The second half of the program will be performed by the Vega String Quartet, pianist William Ransom and a cast of Emory faculty and guest artists and includes the Darius Milhaud composition “The Creation of the World.” It starts at 4 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts on the Emory campus.