The Auburn Symphony Orchestra opens is chamber concert series with Cats, Madrigals, and the Rain at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church, 123 L St. NE, Auburn.

Enjoy an afternoon of charming and adventurous chamber music with percussion, voice, and other instruments featuring: a song cycle about by Northwest favorite and longtime resident Alan Hovhaness; a book of Madrigals by West Virginian-born composer George Crumb; and a meditative work on the spirit of rain by Toru Takemitsu.

Christina Siemens (soprano and piano); Jennifer Nelson (clarinet); Karla Flygare (flute); John Carrington (harp) and Matthew Kocmieroski (percussion) will perform.

General admission is $17; students $10. To purchase tickets, call 253-887-7777 or visit www.auburnsymphony.org.

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Entertainment calendar

“The Tempest”: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17, 18, 19, Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St.  The Auburn High School Actors’ Guild presents Shakespeare classic.  Tickets: $10 general admission, $5 students, seniors, military, and available at the door.

Auburn Ave Kids presents Recess Monkey:  2 p.m., Nov. 19, Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave. Recess Monkey – an acclaimed children’s music band from Seattle performs kid-oriented music from their six jam-packed albums. Tickets: $6. Call 253-931-3043, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or online through Brown Paper Tickets at www.auburnwa.gov/arts.

Cats, Madrigals, and the Rain: 4 p.m., Nov. 20, St. Matthew/San Mateo Episcopal Church, 123 L St. NE, Auburn. Auburn Symphony Orchestra presents chamber ensemble concert, including performances from Christina Siemens (soprano and piano); Jennifer Nelson (clarinet); Karla Flygare (flute); John Carrington (harp); Matthew Kocmieroski (percussion). To purchase tickets, call 253-887-7777 or visit www.auburnsymphony.org.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”: 6 p.m., Dec. 3, Auburn Ave Theater, 10 Auburn Ave. Kick off the holidays with the viewing of the holiday film on the big screen. Join Clark Griswold and the whole family as their plans for a big Christmas turn into a big disaster. Get a hot cup of cocoa, something warm to eat and enjoy the funny Christmas classic. Tickets: $3. Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Red, White and Blue Holiday Concert: 2 p.m., Dec. 4, Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St. Free community concert. Festive concert of patriotic music honoring service men and women.  Auburn Mountainview High School choir joins the 133rd Army Band of the Washington National Guard with a selection of some of its best numbers, plus a holiday sing along.  Tickets free, but required for admission. Tickets available for pick up beginning Nov. 1 at the Auburn, Parks, Arts & Recreation Administration Building, 910 9th St. SE, Auburn. Limit six per family.

Federal Way Symphony Holiday Concert: 2 p.m., Dec. 4, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 515 S. 312th St., Federal Way. Featuring holiday music favorites, including “The Nutcracker Suite” and “Christmas On Broadway.” Guest soloists Dohee Kim, soprano and Anthony Kalil, tenor, performing “O Holy Night” and more. Tickets: adults $30; seniors (65 & older) $25; students under 18 free. Tickets available at the symphony office, 253-529-9857, online at federalwaysymphony.org or at the door.

“Seussical, the Musical:” Dec. 9-11, 16-18, Green River Community College Performing Arts Building, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn. Show times are 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, with 3 o’clock matinees slated for Saturday and Sundays, Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 17-18. Heavier Than Air Family Theatre presents holiday classic, based on the works of the beloved children’s’s author Theodore Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss. Tickets should be purchased in advance by calling 253-833-9111, extension 2400, during normal business hours. All tickets are $10. Seating is festival. Doors open one-half hour before scheduled performance times. Visit www.heavierthanair.com for further information.

An Inspirational Christmas with Elvis: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 9, Auburn Ave Theater, 10 Auburn Ave.  From the many years of admiration of Elvis, Danny Vernon has created a show that holds the excitement of the King on stage throughout various stages in his career. Join Vernon, Marcia Ann Margret and the DeVilles as they portray the King of Rock-n-Roll like no other. Tickets: $20, $18. Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Holiday Music, Motion & Magic: 2 p.m., 7 p.m., Dec. 10, Auburn Avenue Theatre, 10 Auburn Ave. Featuring Steve the Pretty Good Magician, Rhys Thomas of Science Circus and Eric Haines in a madcap, old-style holiday review of breathtakingly silly, but pretty good magic, fantastic juggling and music for the entire family. Tickets: $10, $8. Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Men of Worth, A Winter’s Carol: 2 p.m., Dec. 11, Auburn Avenue Theatre, 10 Auburn Ave. Authentic folk music from Ireland and Scotland is performed masterfully and sung in English, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic and accompanied by mando-cello, concertina, octave mandolin, bodhran, banjo and guitar. Tickets: $20, $18. Call Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-931-3043, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, or online at Brown Paper Tickets.

Bronn and Katherine Journey Christmas Concert: 7:30 p.m., Dec. 17, Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St. Bronn and Katherine Journey and friends present a casually elegant evening featuring music celebrating the joy of the Christmas season. Enjoy the warmth of a special event that combines harp, humor and song. The program includes music from many genres – Broadway, folk, classical and sacred, but the highlight of the evening will be the beauty of traditional Christmas classics. For tickets, visit www.BrownPaperTickets.com or call the 24/7 hotline at 1-800-838-3006.

Zola’s Cafe: Live music every Friday, 7-9 p.m., 402 E. Main St., Suite 120. For information, contact Sonia Kessler at the cafe at 253-333-9652.