SHORT THE LIST
Dance
Be ready for a whole lot of talent to raise the roof at the Palace Theatre this Sunday as the annual Black History Month Step Show & HYP3 Dance Competition takes to the stage. The show will feature some of the best step teams in the Capital Region and beyond for an afternoon of high-energy performances.
Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany. 5 p.m. Sunday. $21-$26. 800-745-3000 or palacealbany.org.
Theater
An annual tradition that has become a delight to all who love theater, the 10 X 10 New Play Festival at Barrington Stage is simply this: Ten 10-minute plays by 10 different playwrights. Sounds like an emotive roller-coaster? You bet.
Barrington Stage Company, 36 Linden St., Pittsfield, Mass. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Saturday (masks required on Thursday). $25-$35. 413-236-8888 or barringtonstageco.org.
Music
His voice was just perfect in a career cut all too short. Singer Bradd Marquis brings to Saratoga Springs“the Music of Sam Cooke: A Change Is Gonna Come,” where he will perform the music of the early 1960s soul and gospel legend.
Universal Preservation Hall, 25 Washington St., Saratoga Springs. 7:30 p.m. Friday. $37.50-$57.50. 518-346-6204 or universalpreservationhall.org.
Lecture
Not some dry lecture this: Kathy Sheehan of the Rensselaer Historical Society will give a presentation on “The Wild Women of Rensselaer County,” where the famous and infamous women of local history will be revealed. Learn about suffragettes, educators, clairvoyants, the veiled murderess, the unsolved murder of Hazel Drew and the famous brothel owner Mame Faye.
Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Ave., Guilderland. 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Free. 518-456-2400 or guilderlandlibrary.org.
Music
What do Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn and Sarah Jarosz have in common? They all sing, they all check in with a certain demographic, and they’ll all be in Troy this coming Wednesday. Oh, and they all enjoy playing poker after shows at their hotel. Just kidding, but wouldn’t that be great?
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, 30 2nd St.,troy. 7:30 p.m., Wednesday. $35-65. 518-273-0038 or troymusichall.org.