Austin

The youngest Simpson swoops into Texas on her first headlining tour after a less-than-well-received appearance at the 2005 Orange Bowl and a lip-synching snafu on SNL. She’ll be performing hits from her first album, Autobiography. Pepper’s Ghost opens. At 7. $36.50.

Stillpoint Dance presents Of Holding, a triumvirate of thought-provoking works: a duet by Marguerite San Millan chronicling the tale of two sisters attending their father’s funeral, Amanda Jones’s photography-based choreography that hints at faded memories and past relationships, and artistic director Lisa Fehrman’s latest work, Conspire, which traces the interpretation of words. Fri at 8, Sat at 5 & 8. $15.

Haydn: Symphony No 92 in G Major (Oxford). Grieg: Concerto for Piano in A Minor. Janácek: Sinfonietta. James Dick, piano. Peter Bay, conductor. Apr 22 & 23. At 8. $19-$37.

Light/The Humanity Project—inspired by Stephen Mills’s travels to Eastern Europe, and in collaboration with the Holocaust Museum Houston, the work reflects on human resilience and transcendence. Apr 1-3: Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $17-$61.

Apr 7-30: Pageant—the current pop culture obsession with extreme makeovers takes a twist in this black comedy about a beauty-contest winner who seeks out a surgeon to make some “adjustments” only to have her father and hometown neighbors set out to teach her a lesson. At 8. Pay what you can on Thur, $17 on Fri & Sat. Apr 11-27: Radio: 30—everything goes awry for an ego-driven voice talent trying to get through a 30-second studio spot in this dark satire. At 8. $12.

Nickel and Dimed—social commentary takes the stage in this theatrical adaptation of journalist Barbara Ehrenrich’s 1998 best-seller on the plight of minimum-wage workers. Art mimics life as her trials and travails—waitressing in Key West, cleaning houses in Maine, stocking Wal-Mart shelves in Minneapolis—are brought to the stage. Thru Apr 17. Wed-Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. $27.

Hank Williams: Lost Highway—journey through the country music legend’s life, loves, and the pursuit of honky tonk in this off-Broadway smash. Apr 21-Jun 19. Thur-Sat at 8, Sun at 2:30. $33-$40.

Apr 5-Jul 17: Images of the World: Maps, Globes, and Atlases—early cartographic treasures from the collections, including the first printed map of the world and an early manuscript map of Virginia; also, Muse in Motion: Travel Literature through the Centuries—historically influential travel books and manuscripts representing a wide array of countries, periods, and authors illustrate the universal currency of travel writing. Apr 19-Jul 17. Place: Photographs of Environment and Community—peruse the work of American photographers who have explored the notion of place over the past 20 years. Thru Apr 24: Miguel Covarrubias: A Certain Clairvoyance—more than 100 works by the Mexican artist, including celebrity caricatures, paintings, and book illustrations. Open Tue, Wed & Fri 10-5; Thur 10-7; Sat & Sun noon-5. Free.

Thru May 22: Marking Time, 1995-2005: Contemporary Art from Chile—created after the fall of the Pinochet dictatorship, these eleven ephemeral pieces are made of fabric, clay, paste, acrylic, and even plasticine, evoking the anticipation and disillusionment of a new democracy. Making their U.S. debut are Chilean artists Pablo Rivera, Isabel del Rio, Josefina Fontecilla, and others. Tue-Fri 10-5, Thur 10-7, Sat & Sun 1-5. Free.

Thru Aug 28: Mods and hippies and go-gos, oh, my! It’s all camp and psychedelia at Signs of the Times: Life in the Swingin’ Sixties, which features everything from Motown to the Addams family to a 1967 VW bus. Be sure to check out the “hip” books, movies, and pop art that fed off the generation’s crass consumerism. Above all, enjoy the “trip.” Open daily 9-5. Free.

Part athletic event, part costume festival, the 28th annual running of the Austinites will draw some 10,000 serious and seriously silly runners. Governor Rick Perry will bestow his blessing at the Congress Avenue starting line. Apr 3. Wheelchairs begin at 8:30 a.m., runners begin at 8:45, fun run/walk begins at 9. Call for registration information.

Celebrate Austin’s beloved sculptor-in-residence Charles Umlauf at the Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum. Support the USG&M’s educational programs by taking in an evening of food (provided by PF Chang’s, Roy’s, Austin Land and Cattle Co, and more), wine, music (performed by the Nash Hernandez Orchestra), and art (neon works by featured local artist Ben Livingston). Bid for original pieces of art and specialty services in the silent auction, and ante up for the Celebrity Seeds auction to win terra-cotta pots designed by local celebs. Apr 28. From 6:30 to 9:30. $65 (adv). $80 (at the door).

The 20th anniversary of this renowned smorgasbord is the perfect excuse to eat, drink, and be merry. Be seduced—and wreck your diet—with the flavorful creations of guest chef Wolfgang Punk and the gourmet samplings under the Big Taste tent. Enjoy your favorite vino while listening to live music and expand your culinary knowledge in classes with superstar chefs and sommeliers. Apr 7–10. Call for schedule, locations & prices.