Good bets

THEATER

Cats

The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical phenomenon comes to local audiences.

When: 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: Carson Center, Paducah, Ky.

PERFORMING ARTS

Handel's "Messiah"

The Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra and the University Choir and Choral Union team up for the popular annual Christmas season concert, with performances of Joseph Haydn's "London" Symphony No. 104 and Handel's legendary Christmas piece "Messiah."

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday

Where: Bedell Performance Hall, River Campus

Voice recital

Students under Southeast Missouri State University singing instructor Judith Farris showcase their talents.

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Shuck Recital Hall, River Campus

Phi Mu Alpha's American Music Recital

Phi Mu Alpha, the men's music fraternity, presents solos and ensemble performances of music from American composers.

When: 3 p.m. Sunday

Where: Shuck Recital Hall, River Campus

Moscow Ballet's "Nutcracker"

The Moscow Ballet brings the famous "Nutcracker" to the Bedell.

When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Dec. 13

Where: Bedell Performance Hall, River Campus

ARTS

First Friday

Galleries around town display art on the first Friday of the month.

When: Friday night

Where: Various Cape Girardeau locations

8th Annual Children's Arts Festival

Children grades 3-8 from 12 schools come together to perform music and display their artistic creations.

When: Sunday -- concert, 3 p.m.; reception, 4 p.m.

Where: Concert, Academic Hall Auditorium; reception, Arts Council of Southeast Missouri

LIVE MUSIC

Sultans of Swing

This group of Southeast Missouri State University music faculty present a night of bebop.

When: 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday

Where: Buckner Brewing Co.

Ivas John Band

Ivas is back with smoking blues.

When: 9 p.m. Thursday

Where: Port Cape Girardeau

Gaither Homecoming

Gospel legend Bill Gaither and his band play in the round.

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis

Southeast Jazz Ensemble

The Southeast Missouri State University jazz bands perform in their fall club gig.

When: 8 to 11 p.m. Friday

Where: Buckner Brewing Co.

The Shindig

An offshoot of Shady Deal.

When: 9 p.m. Friday

Where: Broussard's

Uncle Bob's Band

Bob Camp and crew get down.

When: 9 p.m. Friday

Where: Rude Dog Pub

The Intention

A great party band.

When: 9 p.m. Friday

Where: Club Moxy

Strange Brew

Jam from Sikeston, Mo., band with members of Fusion Blue.

When: 9 p.m. Friday

Where: Schock's Pub, Scott City

Underberg House Concert featuring Peter Karp

Bluesy New Jersey singer/songwriter in the intimate House Concert setting.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Call 334-7692 for directions and reservations (private residence)

Hit and Run

Live music outside the boundaries of Cape Girardeau.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where Jackson Sports Grill, Jackson

Fists of Phoenix

The young rock kings in a rare bar gig.

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Breakaways

Scott Kay and the Continentals

Rockabilly from St. Louis.

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Broussard's

Alabaster Brown

Psychedelic bluegrass outfit calls its sound "Mississippi Mud Stomp."

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Rude Dog Pub

Jim Skinner

Hard-core blues.

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Buckner Brewing Co.

Bruce Zimmerman and the Water Street Band

Music from the senior member of the Cape Girardeau live music scene.

When: 9 p.m. Sunday

Where: Port Cape Girardeau

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Not coming to Cape this year, but available just a short drive away.

When: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: Scottrade Center, St. Louis

R. Kelly

Kelly performs with openers Keyshia Cole and J. Holiday.

When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday

Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.

Cross Canadian Ragweed

Rock flavored country -- or is it the other way around -- from Red Dirt scene music heroes.

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: The Pageant. St. Louis

VARIETY

Celebrate Christmas with Mike and Robyn

Mike Dumey and Robyn Hosp sing and cut up in this tribute to the season.

When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Deerfield Lodge

MISC

Luther's Walk in the Woods

Perry County's Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum celebrates its German heritage with a display of more than 30 themed Christmas trees.

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Jan. 15

Where: Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum, Altenburg, Mo.

Christmas Holiday of Lights

Cape County Park and businesses and homes around the city decorate for the holidays.

When: All month

Where: Various locations

Contra Dance

The Cape Friends of Traditional Music and Dance have their monthly get-together with music from a live band of fiddle and guitar. Beginners welcome, emphatically.

When: 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Christ Episcopal Church

Wine tasting

Cup N Cork brings in a cadre of vino.

When: 7:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday

Where: Cup N Cork

Oliver House tours

Jackson's Oliver House, built in 1896. puts on its Christmas best.

When: Tours at 1:30 p.m. every Sunday

Where: Jackson

Glenn House tours

Cape Girardeau's Glenn House, built in 1880, recreates Christmas 127 years ago.

When: 1 to 4 p.m. every Saturday

Where: 325 S. Spanish

French Christmas

The Felix Valle State Historic Site gets in the Christmas spirit. Admission is free.

When: Sunday

Where: Felix Valle State Historic Site, Ste. Genevieve, Mo.

SPORTS

Redhawks basketball

The Redhawks take on Tennessee Tech while the Show Me Center offers discounted concessions.

When: Women play at 5 p.m., men at 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Show Me Center