Best of the week: The Cure, Chris Larson, hip-hop dance and Cheap Trick in Plymouth

As if fans of the Cure weren't excited enough about the gloomy alt-rock darlings' first Minnesota show in 20 years, the British vets have been treating crowds to vastly different set lists each night, ranging from must-play hits such as "Just Like Heaven" and "Pictures of You" to deep cuts "Shake Dog Shake" and "Closedown." Reviews have been pretty much just like heaven, too, with David Bowie's Tin Machine bandmate Reeves Gabrels serving as guitarist. Scotland's Twilight Sad opens. CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

7:30 p.m. Tue., Xcel Energy Center, $25-$85

When a 2011 fire devastated the childhood home of Hüsker Dü co-founder Grant Hart, his pal artist Chris Larson (pictured at right with Hart) dragged the charred debris — melted drum kits, Studebaker parts, etc. — to his studio for storage. Larson has made a film, a video and an installation about the fire, and the history and architecture of 7th Street Entry, dubbed "Land Speed Record" after a 1982 Hüskers album. Larson and Hart will explain it all opening night at the Walker, and release a limited-edition vinyl LP.

MARY ABBE

7 p.m. Thu., Walker Art Center, Mpls. walkerart.org

Kimberly Richards, who played the no-nonsense Sister in "Late Nite Catechism," is back at Plymouth Playhouse with the decidedly nonsensical "Big Pants & Botox." The one-woman show, by playwright Louise Roche, rummages in the well-worn dramatic territory of midlife crisis, aches and pains and the indignities that accumulate with age. Richards is a strong performer with a knack for this sort of thing.

Graydon Royce

2 p.m. Sun., next Sun.; 1 & 7:30 p.m. Thu.; 7:30 p.m. Fri.; 3 & 7:30 p.m. Sat. Ends Aug. 14. $29-$40, plymouthplayhouse.com

You can expect more crude comments and crass humor at First Ave this week than even Dave Chappelle brought to the club last week, thanks to the return of the Odd Future crew's nefarious ringleader Tyler, the Creator. But when the 25-year-old Los Angeles rapper/producer sticks to the music, he has a way of sparking young audiences like few other MCs his age. Songs from last year's album "Cherry Bomb" should similarly light up the room.

CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER

7 p.m. Tue., First Avenue, all ages, $30.

"Cabaret" and "Chicago" are just two of the musicals written by composer John Kander and the late lyricist Fred Ebb. Their work never really went out of style. Songs such as "New York, New York" have become standards, while a new version of "Chicago" is the longest running revival in Broadway history. Ordway Center celebrates the team's creative prowess with a recital-like show featuring such talented Twin performers as Zoe Pappas, Thomasina Petrus and Reid Harmsen.

ROHAN PRESTON

7:30 p.m. Fri., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. next Sun., Ordway Center, St. Paul. $37, ordway.org

If you needed proof that Hilde Performance Center — a naturally sloped park with a sizable stage in Plymouth — is a viable big-time outdoor music venue, then you couldn't wish for a better headliner than Cheap Trick. The pride of Rockford, Ill., inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame this year, delivers power-pop ("I Want You to Want Me," "Surrender") like it still matters. Local powerhouse the 4onthefloor will get the show started.

JON BREAM

7 p.m. Thu. Hilde Performance Center, Plymouth, $39.50-$152, etix.com

Calling itself the Great German Get-Together, this year's Deutsche Tag festival will celebrate Minnesota's connection to Germany with a mural by Richard Hubal. Of course there's a biergarten, plus a sommer party Saturday night with live music and German food. Take a carriage ride in the historic Summit Avenue area next Sunday, then relax at a Viennese kaffeehaus. There will be cultural demonstrations and kids activities, too.

MELISSA WALKER

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Sommer party, 5-10 p.m.; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. next Sun. Free. Germanic-American Institute, 301 Summit Av., St. Paul. gai-mn.org

"Rooted: Hip Hop Choreographers' Evening" turns five this week, with a lineup brimming with breakers, lockers, steppers, tappers and movers dancing in hip-hop forms and its various roots. Put together by Maia Maiden, the evening features established and emerging choreographers and dancers, with guests from the hip-hop scene including Carnage the Executioner, Desdamona and Tish Jones fueling the evening with rhythm-fueled poetry.

SHEILA REGAN

7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sat., Intermedia Arts, Mpls., $16, intermediaarts.org

American composer Paul Moravec's "The Shining" recently premiered to widespread acclaim at Minnesota Opera, and there's an opportunity Sunday afternoon to sample his chamber music in a concert by the Mill City String Quartet. Moravec's "Vince and Jan" shares the program with works by Kevin Puts, who won a Pulitzer for the Minnesota Opera-commissioned "Silent Night," and Jocelyn Hagen.

TERRY BLAIN

3 p.m. Sun., St. David's Episcopal Church, Minnetonka, free, millcityquartet.com