Austin

Carmina Burana—based on the poetry of 13th-century defrocked monks, this well-known work gets a modern interpretation by artistic director Stephen Mills. Sep 30-Oct 2. Fri & Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $20-$64.

Critical backlash be damned. The musicians of Jethro Tull and their lead singer/flutist have been entertaining audiences for three decades now, with no signs of slowing. At 8. $39.50 & $49.50.

Oct 7-9: Ben Franklin Unplugged—comic Josh Kornbluth illuminates the parallels between past and present in a one-man show comparing Franklin’s relationship with an illegitimate son to his own experiences as a father. Thur & Fri at 8, Sat at 2 & 8, Sun at 8. $23. Oct 14: ORION by Philip Glass—this new work by the famed minimalist composer contemplates Earth’s relationship to the constellations. A group of renowned musicians and composers, including sitar player Ravi Shankar and Greek soprano Eleftheria Arvanitaki, will join Glass in this collaborative performance. At 8. $30-$60. Oct 16: Canadian Brass. At 7. $26-$46. Oct 25: Yamato, the Drummers of Japan. At 7. $35-$45. Oct 28: Miami City Ballet. At 8. $26-$58.

Western swing king Bob Wills goes on a road trip with Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel in this musical written by Benson and screenwriter Anne Rapp. Oct 28 & 29. At 8. $34.50 & $42.50.

American Fiesta—Steve Tomlinson’s monologue chronicles both his quest to assemble a complete set of Depression-era Fiestaware dishes and the contemporary politics he encounters along the way. Oct 5-23. Wed-Sat at 8, Sun at 2. $27-$40.

Oct 22-Jan 28: Japan and Nature: Spirits of the Seasons—experience spring in Fukuoka, summer in Lake Biwa, fall in Kyoto, and winter in Sapporo in this 900-square-foot interactive exhibit that lets kids explore how their Japanese peers live. Open Tue-Sat 10-5, Sun noon-5. Gen adm $5.50, children 12-23 months $3.50, 11 months & under free (Wed 5-8, donate what you can; Sun 4-5 everybody free).

Thru Oct 30: New Art in Austin: 22 to Watch—working with materials as traditional as paint, as commercial as Post-It notes, and as wacky as AstroTurf, these emerging Central Texas artists are as diverse as they are talented. Open Tue, Wed, Fri & Sat 10-6; Thur 10-8; Sun noon-5. Gen adm $5, senior citizens & students $4 (everybody $1 on Tue), children 12 & under free; first Sat pay what you wish.

This museum, which is named for the former Texas lieutenant governor, houses three floors of exhibits that trace the history of Texas. Oct 1-Jan 8: The Face of Texas—the diversity of the state’s population is on view in photographer Michael O’Brien’s 43 large-scale portraits of residents famous (President George W Bush, Willie Nelson, ZZ Top, Mack Brown, Sissy Spacek) and lesser-known (Waxahachie cheerleaders, small-town beauty queens, ranchers, ministers). Open Mon-Sat 9-6, Sun noon-6. Gen adm $5.50, senior citizens $4.50, youths 5-18 $3, 4 & under free.

Oct 1-Dec 30: Modernist: Seven Legacies of the University of Texas—more than two dozen paintings, drawings, and prints by seven UT art professors (Charles Umlauf included) who contributed to the state’s fifties modernist art landscape. Open Wed-Fri 10-4:30, Sat & Sun 1-4:30. Gen adm $3.50, senior citizens $2.50, students $1, children 6 & under free.

Central Hockey League. Oct 21: Corpus Christi Rayz. Oct 29: Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. Oct 30: Lubbock Cotton Kings. At 7:30 (except for Oct 30 at 4). $11-$35.

New retiree Lance Armstrong will lead the pack at this annual biking weekend to raise money for cancer research. Mingle with other participants at the LiveStrong Village, let the kids take part in the one-mile walk and obstacle course, and relax at the post-ride party on Sunday. Oct 21-23. Ride begins Sun at 7:30 a.m. Call for schedule. $150 to ride; free to attend events.

Big 12 Conference football. Oct 15: Colorado Buffaloes; $55. Oct 22: Texas Tech Red Raiders; $75. Call for times.

If Sundance celebrates new talent and Telluride is a haven for indie aspirants, then Austin is a screenwriter’s paradise. Screenings and panels will highlight the work of top industry talents, including this year’s draws: Harold Ramis (who will accept the Distinguished Screenwriter Award), Mike Judge (recipient of the Outstanding Television Writer Award), James L White, Terry George, Bill Wittliff, and Paul Rusesabagina (whose story inspired Hotel Rwanda). Oct 20-27. Call for schedule, prices & registration information.

It’s the tenth anniversary of this blowout celebration of the written word. President Bill Clinton will open on Saturday morning with his autobiography, My Life; then more than 150 authors (including David McCullough, Salman Rushdie, HW Brands, Garry Wills, George Packer, and Lemony Snicket, to name a few) will participate in book signings, readings, and panel discussions. Also look for the Bon Appetit Y’all Cooking Tent, the Children’s Chapter entertainment center, and the presentation of the Bookend Awards to honorees Sandra Cisneros, TR Fehrenbach, and Cormac McCarthy (who will have Bill Witliff accept on his behalf). Oct 28-30. Sat 10-5 & Sun 11-5. Free. (Call for information about the following ticketed events: Oct 28: The First Edition Literary Gala; Oct 29: Lone Star Stories.)

In keeping with this year’s theme—Life’s Better Outside—the 14th annual outdoor showcase offers fishing, shooting, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and more. Explore the exhibit Texas Water Ways: Ranches to Reefs; learn about the world’s largest masonry obelisk, the San Jacinto Monument; and watch three-time Olympic shotgun-shooting gold medalist Kim Rhode demonstrate her skill. Oct 1 & 2 from 9 to 5. Free.

The statehouse, dedicated in 1888, was completely restored in 1994. Open Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-10 p.m., Sat & Sun 9-8. Free tours Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30, Sat 9:30-3:30, Sun noon-3:30 (call ahead for groups of 10 or more).

The center is located in the 1857 General Land Office Bldg and houses historical exhibits. Open Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun noon-5. Free. Parking at 12th & San Jacinto (first 2 hours free).