Oh, Ricky, you’re so fine

Ricky Gervais explored several different avenues on his way to widespread fame.

He sang in the 1980s new wave group Seona Dancing and even worked as the manager for Suede (before the group signed a record deal in the early ’90s).

Gervais then turned from music to comedy, eventually leaping to the forefront with the acclaimed BBC series “The Office,” which ran for two years in the early 2000s and inspired an American counterpart of the same name, starring Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer and others.

Gervais would go on to star in a number of other TV series, infamously host the Golden Globes in 2009-11 and 2016, work on several films and even release a children’s book, “Flanimals.”

The funnyman is also an acclaimed stand-up comedian who will come to SF Sketchfest Tuesday and perform Wednesday and Jan. 25 at The Masonic in San Francisco.

Details: SF Sketchfest (in conversation with Christopher Guest), 7:30 p.m., Castro Theatre, San Francisco, $35, www.sfsketchfest.com; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Jan. 25, $59.50-$89.50, www.livenation.com.

Harriet Tubman’s ‘Spirit’ guides new opera

Harriet Tubman’s shining legacy illuminates a new family-friendly opera making its world premiere this weekend.

“Harriet’s Spirit” tells the story of a middle school girl who triumphs over adversity with the Civil War abolitionist as her role model and spirit guide. Composed by Marcus Shelby with a libretto by Roma Olvera, the work is part of Opera Parallèle’s Hands-On-Opera initiative; it receives three performances featuring professional singers, including Tiffany Austin as Tubman, a jazz ensemble and eighth-grade students from Rooftop Alternative School.

Details: 6 p.m. today, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday; Buriel Clay Theater, African American Art and Culture Complex, San Francisco; free, though $25 donation suggested to benefit the Hands-On program; www. operaparallele.org.