Drake talks with a friend during play between the Toronto Raptors and the Memphis Grizzlies at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on October 23, 2013.DEBORAH BAIC/The Globe and Mail
Drake Night
The Raptors haven't been entirely forthcoming when it comes to the details of Saturday's Drake-related promotion. Against the Brooklyn Nets, the team might unveil new colours – black and gold, the hometown hip-hopper's favourites – or the coach could implement a low-post offence, given Drake's "started from the bottom" obsession. We do know Drake is the team's "global ambassador." Perhaps we'll now find out what exactly that means. Jan. 11, 7 p.m. $69 to $2,876. Air Canada Centre, 50 Bay St., 1-855-985-5000 or ticketmaster.ca.
Next Stage Theatre Festival
Award-winning playwrights, Hollywood weirdos and existential polar bears – oh my. A twelve-day festival of dance, drama and musicals settles into the Factory Theatre. Highlights include former Fringe productions such as Polar Opposites (about melting icecaps) and Release The Stars: The Ballad of Randy and Evi Quaid, a story of media, fame and offbeat behaviour. To Jan. 19. $10 to $15. Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst St., 416-966-1062 or fringetoronto.com.
Neil Young
"Oh, this old world keeps spinning round," Neil Young sang this week at Carnegie Hall, "it's a wonder tall trees ain't layin' down." The still-sparking troubadour follows up a solo-acoustic residency in New York with a short Canadian tour aimed at raising funds and awareness for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and their beef with oil companies and governments over oil sands development. Protest music is nothing new to the Southern Man singer; he's made stands before and he will again. There comes a time. Jan. 12, 7:30 p.m. $95 to $250. Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St., 416-872-4255 or masseyhall.com.
The Maccabeats
Throw your yarmulkes in the air like you just don't care! A clean-cut a cappella group from New York's Yeshiva University crafted the Hanukkah hit of 2010 when its Candlelight YouTube video caught fire and landed at the top of the Billboard comedy chart. The upbeat ditty was a step up from a previous Hanukkah anthem in which Adam Sandler rhymed menorah with the "late Dinah Shore-ah." Tonight the harmonizing Hebrews kick it kosher at the Shaarei Shomayim synagogue. Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m. $18 to $25. 470 Glencairn Ave., 416-789-3213 or shomayim.org.
Les Misérables
In his four-star review of the flag-waving mega-musical, Globe critic J. Kelly Nestruck was awed by Ramin Karimloo, the Canadian performer whose pure-voiced musical plea for a young revolutionary's life makes the the new touring production of Les Misérables a "must-hear" event. And by the way, Neil Young's Massey Hall concert tomorrow isn't the only big benefit happening this weekend. Tonight's Les Mis performance raises cash for a number of local charities, including Casey House and Covenant House. To Feb. 2. $35 to $130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W., 416-872-1212 or mirvish.com.
Brad Wheeler