Clinton JacksonHelium Comedy Club2031 Sansom St.Tonight, 8 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m., $15-20(215) 496-9001www.heliumcomedy.comClinton Jackson’s comedy career goes way back­ — all the way to his third grade class, where he stood up empty handed during “Show & Tell” and told his first joke… and he’s been keeping his audiences laughing ever since. In addition to his numerous standup comedy performances, Jackson has also guest starred on television shows such as That’s So Raven and Dharma & Greg.Comedy Central Live: Demetri MartinTheatre of Living Arts334 South St.Tonight, 8 p.m., $29.75(215) 922-1011www.theateroflivingarts.netNew York-based comedian Demetri Martin boasts an impressive resume — he writes for NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brian, has made appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman, earned the title of the “voice of Generation Y” for his stand-up work and composed the longest, non-computer generated palindrome in English during his junior year at Yale. How’s that for well-rounded?Death Cab for CutieTower Theatre, Upper Darby69th and Ludlow StreetsTonight, 8 p.m., $30(610) 352-2887The Seattle-based quartet Death Cab for Cutie will launch their six-week fall tour just outside Philly this week. In addition to featuring songs from Death Cab’s Grammy nominated album Plans, the show will also include music by special guest Ted Leo and the Pharmacists.The FrayThe Electric Factory421 N. 37th St.Fri, 8 p.m., $30(215) 627-1332www.electricfactory.comThe Denver piano-pop group the Fray plays songs from their debut album How to Save a Life at the Electric Factory this week. The show promises to be full of the catchy hooks and teenage television drama lyrics that propelled their single “How to Save a Life” to number one.SkalloweenThe Trocadero1003 Arch St.Sun, 5 p.m., $10-12(215) 922-LIVEwww.thetroc.comInstead of hitting strangers up for free candy like you did in elementary school, take a (slightly) more mature approach to celebrating Halloween by attending the high-energy concert Skalloween. It will feature 10 ska bands on two stages, including groups like Ruder Than You, Wareika Hill, Ghost Town Locals, Deals Gone Bad and Bombtown.The DecemberistsThe Electric Factory421 N. 7th St.Wed, 8 p.m., $22(215) 627-1332www.electricfactory.comIn promotion of their first major-label release The Crane Wife, indie-rock darlings the Decemberists make their way to the City of Brotherly Love next week. Colin Meloy and the rest are known for delivering the goods live… and who doesn’t love a glockenspiel and a good sea chantey? steven AlvaradoThe Hinge Café2652 E. Somerset St.Fri, 8 p.m., $7-8(215) 465-6614www.thehingecafe.comNormally, when you want to become a succesful singer/songwriter, you enlist the help of a major recording company. Not so for Steven Alvarado. He’s too Internet savvy for the whole “I need to sell out to sell my music thing.” Sounds kinky, huh? Well, now you can see him perform live in all of his acoustic glory for the last leg of his international tour. Ka-ching.Slought Jazz FestSlought Foundation4017 Walnut St.Tonight-Sun, 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., $12-15(215) 222-9050www.slought.orgThe Slought Foundation hopes to start a grand tradition with its first annual jazz festival. All weekend you can check out local jazz musicians like the Cliftones, Shot X Shot and the Tom Lawton trio. (Yeah, we don’t know who they are either.) La BohémeKimmel CenterAcademy of Music260 S. Broad St.Until Nov. 11, Fri, 8 p.m.; Sun, 2:30 p.m.; Wed, 7:30 p.m., $6-170(215) 893-1999www.kimmelcenter.orgSo, you know that little musical called Rent that everyone loves so much? Despite your Ivy League education, chances are you probably don’t realize that Jonathan Larson’s critical and commercial smash was based on Puccini’s 19th century Italian opera. Seriously. Now’s your chance to see the original in all its glory, as performed by the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Sankai JukuAnnenberg CenterZellerbach Theatre3680 Walnut St.Tue, 7:30 p.m., $30-50(215) 898-3900www.pennpresents.orgSo you think you can dance? If we narrow down the definition of dancing to only include butoh, a style that originated in post-World War II Japan, the answer is probably no. Unless you, like the internationally known Sankai Juku dance troupe, cover yourself in white powder and writhe around in a scandalously poetic manner. Otherwise, you’re two steppin’.Silent Voices - Loud EchoesAfrican American Museum in Philadelphia701 Arch St.Until Oct. 29, Tue-Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, 12.-5 p.m., $6-8(215) 574-0380www.aampmuseum.orgThis weekend will be your last chance to check out an exhibit that celebrates the legacy of African Americans in Philadelphia. Through many mediums, artists depict their experiences of being black in America. And plus, the title really makes you think: dude, could silent voices really echo loudly? It’s just like that tree-falls-in-an-empty-forest-does-anyone-hear-it question. Philadelphia Flyers v. Pittsburgh PenguinsWachovia Center3601 S. Broad St.Sat, 7 p.m., $20-105(215) 336-3600www.comcast-spectacor.comJames Carville said it best: Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with Alabama in between. This weekend, the urban ends of the state face off on the ice, and even though it’s been awhile since either team has taken home a Stanley Cup, with the hockey season just gearing up, this game promises to be a good one.Philadelphia 76ers v. Atlanta HawksWachovia Center3601 S. Broad St.Wed, 7 p.m., $15-110(215) 336-3600www.comcast-spectacor.comThe 2005-2006 season may have ended disappointingly for the Sixers, but a new year could bring new hope for both players and fans. In good news, the team managed to hold on to superstar Allen Iverson in the off-season, and their season opener is against the Hawks, who had an even worse record than they did last year.Penn Football v. BrownFranklin Field233 S. 33rd St.Sat, 1 p.m., $5-25(215) 898-6151www.pennathletics.comWe at Street sure have been giving the Penn Football team a lot of love lately. This time your weekly dosage of football comes to you directly from Brown University — a school whose football team can’t boast great accomplishments (like shutting out Columbia, bizzatch). So, go on and feel proud that you go to the one Ivy where the football team warrants a spot in the school’s arts and entertainment newspaper. Damn, it feels good to be a Quaker.Edward Albee’s Zoo Story Society Hill PlayhouseRed Room507 S. 8th St.Until Nov. 18, Thu-Sat, 7:30 p.m., $21(215) 923-0210www.societyhillplayhouse.comEdward Albee, of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? fame, first hit it big with The Zoo Story, a one-act satire which won him The Village Voice Obie Award for best play. Highlighting the battle between middle-class America and its social outcasts, the play exhibits Albee’s characteristic use of language. And while it may seem like nothing is happening as conversation unfolds onstage, be forewarned cuz that just ain’t so. Admission includes one drink and a $1 donation to the Philadelphia Zoo.Ragtime Tomlinson TheaterTemple University13th and Norris StreetsUntil Nov. 4, Thu, 7 p.m.; Fri, 8 p.m.; Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Mon-Wed, 8 p.m., $15-20(215) 204-1122www.temple.edu/theaterThis stage adaptation of E.L. Doctorow’s Ragtime, a collaboration between Temple Theaters, Temple University Department of Film/Media Arts and the Esther Boyer College of Music, is certain to be a crowd-pleaser. Bringing together three diverse families in pursuit of the American dream, the production expertly melds music and plot to profound effect.Crime & PunishmentArden TheatreUntil Dec. 10, Thu-Fri, 8 p.m.; Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.; Tue, 8 p.m.; Wed, 7:30 p.m., $29.50(215) 922-1122www.ardentheatre.orgIf you’re like me, you’re a big sham — an English major who’s never read Dostoyevsky’s classic Crime and Punishment. Fortunately, here’s your chance to do the next best thing… see it onstage. Sure, it ain’t Cliff Notes, but what the hell? Live a little. Besides which, Dostoyevsky didn’t write in English anyway.Tyler Perry’s What’s Done in the DarkMerriam Theater250 S. Broad St.Thu-Fri, 8 p.m.; Sat, 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sun, 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., $42.50(215) 732-5466www.ticketmaster.com/venue/16409He’s been homeless. He’s been a box-office phenomenon. And now he’s bringing you his latest stage production, What’s Done in the Dark. Set in a hospital where desperate people do desperate things, the audience is forced to wonder what’s done when the lights go out. P.S. Tyler Perry does not appear in this play. Don’t hate the playa — just the writer and director (yup, that’d be Tyler Perry).

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