Theater
The Winter's Tale
What better time than February to see "The Winter's Tale," Shakespeare's mysterious, moody, yet seldom-staged, play? RKP Productions presents the story of love, jealousy, retribution, affirmation, redemption, two kings and at least one bear at Out North, 3800 DeBarr Road. Theresa K. Pond directs. In conjunction with the show, an exhibit of art by Ted Kim and Indra Arriaga will be on display in the Out North gallery. The gallery show opens with a reception starting at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through March 13. Tickets are available at outnorth.org.
Music
Bel Canto
Everyone has at least one piece of music they associate with some important event in their lives. "Life, Love and What I Sang" is a program dedicated to those connections and memories. Bel Canto Alaska will present the free concert at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at Anchorage Lutheran Church, 1420 N St. Members of the group, accompanied by Erin Turner, will share songs that have special memories for them by composers as diverse as Mozart and Bernstein, De Falla and Schubert. Christine Keene directs. As noted, admission is free, but donations are requested to help keep this community music series going.
Language
Talking Translation
A panel discussion on the subject of translation -- particularly translation, interpretation and retention of Alaska Native languages -- will take place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the Anchorage Museum. Sponsored by the Alaska Humanities Forum and part of the museum's Curated Conversation Series, "Talking Translation" will feature Barb Sappah, the community coordinator of the Eyak Language Project, and Guillaume LeDuey of Le Havre, France, one of the very few people who can now be said to be fluent in Eyak, Jimmy Riordan of Anchorage, whose art projects include translations from French, and Yup'ik translator Alice Rearden. Tribal funk heroes Pamyua will perform as part of the event, which is free. The moderator is Kathleen McCoy of UAA.
Literature
The Smell of Other People's Houses
Fairbanks-born author Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock has been getting good reviews for her new young adult novel, "The Smell of Other People's Houses." The coming-of-age story follows several young Alaskans as they deal with the fallout of plane crashes, fishing, family dysfunction and running away from home. The book only hit the stores on Tuesday and the author is kicking off the debut with book signings around the state. She'll be at Fireside Books in Palmer at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, and at Barnes & Noble in Anchorage at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26.