11 things to do in Philly this weekend

COMEDY

Matt&:ImprovComedy with an Audience Member

Sunday, 7 p.m.

Adrienne Theater

2030SansomSt.

phillyimprovtheater.ticketleap.com

Ideas from the audience are often the catalysts for a round ofimprov-— some games even involve bringing an audience member onstage — but this show pushes that concept to the limit. It’s just the PhillyImprovTheater’s Matt Holmes, one-on-one with a single audience member, for the whole hour. Other than that, it could go anywhere — most likely somewhere funny.

MOVIES

‘Which Way Home’

Friday, 5 p.m.

Nationalities Service Center, 1216 Arch St.

Free, 215-893-840

www.ncsphila.org

Nationalities Service Center screens this 2009 documentary by RebeccaCammisa, which follows three boys as they embark on the dangerous border crossing from Central America to the United States on a freight train called The Beast. Anyone seeking a better understanding of the human side of the current immigration debates should check it out. A discussion follows the screening.

‘TheNeverEndingStory’

Saturday, 2 p.m.

International House

3701 Chestnut St.

$5, 215-387-5125

www.ihousephilly.org

This screening of the wonderfully weird 1984 fantasy classic “TheNeverEndingStory” is timed for kids, but we’d be surprised if a few nostalgic adults didn’t show up too. Fun fact: MichaelEnde, the author of the novel on which the film was based, was deeply disappointed with the adaptation and sued to stop production.

MUSIC

Heartbeat

Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Temple Performing Arts Center

1837 N. Broad St.

Free, 800-298-4200

www.templeperformingartscenter.org

This program brings together Israeli and Palestinian youth to form musical groups, demonstrating the possibility of peaceful, productive interaction between the two historically opposed peoples.

Faust

Friday, 8 p.m.

Christ Church Philadelphia

20 N. American St.

$18-$30, 800-838-3006

www.brownpapertickets.com

ConcertOPERApresents CharlesGounod’soperatic adaptation of the legend of Faust, the man who sells his soul to the Devil. A second performance takes place at International House on Sunday, and includes a preshow talk by Penn professor Christopher Pastor. Check the website for full details.

THEATER

‘MickleStreet’

Through March 8

Walnut Street Theater

825 Walnut St.

$30, 800-745-3000

www.ticketmaster.com

During one of his popular lecture tours, Oscar Wilde stopped in Camden to visit Walt Whitman, an elder and equally notorious writer whom he greatly admired. “I come as a poet to call upon a poet,” he supposedly said by way of introduction. This play by Michael Whistler, a world premiere, imagines that meeting.

‘Stairs to the Roof’

Through Sunday

Latvian Society

531 N.7thSt.

$10-$25, 267-273-1414

www.egopo.org

EgoPoClassic Theater presents this lesser-known Tennessee Williams play, written before his more famous Southern gothic works. It’s a lighter play with fantasy and comedic elements, set in a dystopian future marked by industrial alienation, telling the story of a frustrated office clerk who discovers an escape from drudgery.

BOOKS

CatharinePrice

Thursday, 6 p.m.

Penn Bookstore

3601 Walnut St.

Free, 215-898-7595

www.upenn.bncollege.com

CatharinePrice will discuss her most recent book,“Vitamania,” which explores the history of the vitamin and the vitamin supplement in America, separating science from marketing flimflam.

DANCE

Nora Gibson Contemporary Ballet

Friday and Saturday

The Performance Garage

1515 Brandywine St.

$13-$18, 800-838-3006

www.brownpapertickets.com

Choreographer Nora Gibson presents her latest work, a piece for four dancers. Its subject, according to the synopsis, is “the beauty and opacity of prime number theory,” and it’s named for the largest prime number known: 2^57885161-1. Electronic composer Michael McDermott provides an original score. The evening also includes a performance from New York choreographer BrainKoulman, with live classical music accompaniment.

ART

Maps forEarthmates

Thursday through March 26

Locust Moon Comics

34 S.40thSt.

Free

267-403-2856

www.locustmoon.com

For this series of images, local artist JoeyHartmann-Dowtook a bunch of maps and traced the geographic features on them as outlines for imaginary creatures, both human and animal. The hope is that we might better be able to relate to the earth as a cradle of life, rather than just a blue-green rock.

FESTIVAL

Mummers Mardi Gras Parade

Saturday, 10 a.m.to noon

Main Street inManayunk

www.mummersmardigras.com

The weather may have stopped the party temporarily, but it can’t stop it forever. Celebrate a slightly belated Mardi Gras this Saturday with Mummers’ string bands as they sashay down Main Street fromShur’sLane to Green Lane. At the end of the parade, the bands will disperse to various area establishments to keep the party going. After all, this is Mardi Gras — it can’t just end at noon!