The Cincinnati Entertainment Awards show on Nov. 23 is officially sold out, but fans who want to catch the show-closing performance by bluegrass legend and Grammy Award winner Ralph Stanley might still be able to purchase tickets. The ticket staff at the Emery box office will issue priority numbers on a first-come first-served basis as soon as the event begins at 7 p.m.

Philadanco, also known formally as Philadelphia Dance Company, stands out as one of the country’s top primarily African-American modern dance ensembles. This weekend, Contemporary Dance Theater brings Philadanco’s powerhouse performers to the Aronoff Center for a pair of shows. Being a repertory company — one that performs works by various choreographers rather than by a single namesake leader — has enabled Philadanco’s Founder and Executive Artistic Director Joan Myers Brown to work with some of the best in the business. They are often compared with Alvin Ailey’s legendary company because they use some of the same choreographers. 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Don't mistake this production for "Wicked" (although surely the presenters hope that mega-hit show's magic rubs off on this one), but this has its own appeal, including dazzling sets and costumes by Tim McQuillen-Wright. His inspiration is the glamour and elegance of Art Deco Hollywood, in full bloom when the film was made in 1939, plus the stunning Technicolor hues that made the film a timeless visual hit. All of Harold Arlen's popular songs are used in the stage show (from "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead" to "If I Only Had a Brain"). Through Nov. 23 at the Aronoff Center.

Singer/songwriter and New York native Ingrid Michaelson is yet another success story tied to the phenomenal rise of MySpace and proof of the new adage that television is the new radio. A mere two years ago, Michaelson posted a handful of her ukulele-friendly tunes on her freshly minted MySpace page and quickly attracted fans who were captivated by her quirky Folk melodicism and thoughtfully offbeat lyrics. She plays the Madison Theater with Newton Faulker and David Ford at 8 p.m.

Everyone knows about the Chippendales — the entertaining male revue that offers partying women a night of fabulous fantasy, singing and dancing by charming men who strip all the way down to a thin bulge-covered thong. Those of us with experience providing the service (hey, tuition rates are tough on young dudes from Colerain) must implore that all you ladies head out to Metropolis Friday and check out our body-hair-less brethren. Described as a combination of sinful schoolboy charm and wholesome boy next door, the Chippendales are fun-loving women’s answer to boring art exhibits or game nights. The very toned and quite playful dancers will be disguised as men in uniform, cowboys and many other sexy union workers and American archetypes. Good, clean, oily fun. 8 p.m. $10 in advance; $15 at the door.

Internationally acclaimed finger-style guitarist Richard Smith joins Academy of Country Music Fiddler of the Year Stuart Duncan with accomplished studio musicians Pat Bergeson (guitar) and Charlie Chadwick (bass) in the Hot Club of Nashville, a group of virtuosos that comes together just a handful of times a year (usually in Nashville) to perform the style of “Hot” Jazz popularized by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in the 1930s. They also spice it up with a little Folk and Bluegrass for good measure, creating an infectious, rhythmic, edge-of-your seat musical experience. Adding to the excitement is an opening performance by Cincinnati's own Gypsy Jazz ambassadors, Faux Frenchmen, with Cincinnati Symphony violinist Paul Patterson, guitarists Brian Lovely and George Cunningham and bassist Don Aren. 8 p.m. at the 20th Century Theatre.

Procter & Gamble is known worldwide as a producer of soap, healthcare products and … comedians? Yes, you can add Fairfield-native Rajiv Satyal to the list of former- P&G employees turned comics. That list also includes, of course, national headliners Josh Sneed and Greg Warren. Satyal, though, is moving up fast. Satyal performs for the grand reopening of The Funny Bone on the Levee in the old Pacific Moon space. Both shows at 7:30 and 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday will have SNL alum Kevin Nealon as the feature. $25.

Also known as “the Festival of Lights,” Diwali is celebrated by several religions in Eastern culture including Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism. It’s best known in Hinduism, however, where it commemorates the homecoming of Lord Rama after a 14-year exile in the deep forest and his victory over the evil demon-king Ravana. Xavier University’s South Asian Society student group will present its fourth annual “Diwali Festival: The Evolution of Dance” to celebrate the holiday. The South Asian Society will perform four dances and there will also be a guest performance by Miami University and Xavier’s Filipino American Cultural Enlightenment Society. The event takes place at the Gallagher Student Center Theatre, beginning with dinner at 5:45 p.m. and performances at 7 p.m.

This is a true classic of musical theater, which means it will be a lot of fun to watch when the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music brings its full forces to bear on a production of it at Corbett Auditorium this week. It’s being staged by Aubrey Berg, director of CCM’s acclaimed musical theater program for 22 years, a guy who knows what it takes to make a show look good and re-create what brought audiences to 1,417 performances over the course of four years. Unfortunately, you’ll only have four days to catch the show this week — so you’d best call right away for tickets. Through Sunday.