“Middle Eastern Dance Night,” Narals, Auburn

Jan. 10, Friday, 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., “Open Mic,” free monthly forum to celebrate the spirituality of music and spoken word, speakers, mics, lights, parking accessible, refreshments, and children’s room available, free and open to the public, First Universalist Church of Auburn, 169 Pleasant Street, Auburn. FMI: 207-783-0461, www.firstuniversalistchurch.org.
Jan. 10, Saturday, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., “Comedy Series,” The Franco Center’s Comedy Series is back, after last year’s test run of three such events, we’re doing six this year, one of which includes an R-rated comedy hypnotist, this season’s comedy series kicks off on Friday, January 10th with Paul Nardizzi, Kyle Crawford and Dennis Fogg, tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and please note that this is a 21-plus show, Franco Center, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston, FMI: 207-783-1585, www.francocenter.org.
Jan. 11, Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., “Middle Eastern Dance Night,” enjoy authentic flavors with great food and live music all night from the band Okbari and a variety of amazing belly dancers from all over New England, open to the pubic, Narals, 34 Court St., Auburn. FMI: 207-344-3201, www.narals.com.
Jan. 11, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., “Ed Gabrielson and Friends,” trained in both classical vocal technique and contemplative musicianship, moving easy among multiple genres: from Caccini and Falconieri to Brahms and Schubert, from folk tunes and lullabies to hymns, chants to bhajans, Ed sings both self-accompanying on his beloved harmonium or with long-time collaborator and friend Mark Howard, tickets are $15, Franco Center, 46 Cedar Street, Lewiston. FMI: 207-783-1585, www.francocenter.org.
Jan. 12, Sunday, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., “Hamlet,” following his celebrated performances at the National Theatre in Burnt by the Sun, The Revenger’s Tragedy, Philistines and The Man of Mode, Rory Kinnear plays Hamlet in a dynamic new production of Shakespeare’s complex and profound play about the human condition, directed by Nicholas Hytner, he is joined by Clare Higgins (Gertrude), Patrick Malahide (Claudius), David Calder (Polonius), James Laurenson (Ghost/Player King) and Ruth Negga (Ophelia), Waterville Opera House, 1 Common Street, Waterville. FMI: 207-873-7000, www.operahouse.org.
Jan. 14, Tuesday, 5:45 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., “Beginners Yoga,” this ongoing yoga class is held every Tuesday, space is limited to nine students, the rest will be put on to a waiting list, free and open to the public, Beginner’s Yoga Class, 55 Cold Creek Drive, West Gardiner. FMI: 207-215-5733, www.lightandpeacefulyoga.com.