PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS / COURTESY PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST

“SIX”: A number of good musicals, and a handful of great ones, have been written since the turn of the century. Precious few, however, feel fully modern; amid a glut of movie adaptations, on-stage biographies and deliberate throwbacks, there has been little room for shows that truly seem to push the medium forward. “SIX” is a shining, invigorating exception. The Broadway hit stars the six ill-fated women who found themselves married to King Henry VIII of England; in this telling, they’re contemporary pop singers competing to convince the crowd that their particular fate was the most disastrous of all. Presented as a raucous concert, “SIX” leaves no room for a passive audience; you’ll find yourself shouting and cheering after (and during) each song, and it’ll be all you can do to not get up and dance. More importantly, though, the show — co-written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss — cleverly imparts a historical lesson and very relevant commentary in a wry and catchy manner. It’s stirring, affirming and (above all) fun. The touring production of the show returns this week to Pittsburgh after a warmly received 2023 premiere, continuing at the Benedum Center through Sunday.

“Guys and Dolls”: An hour to the west, another theater revives a musical that is as much a 20th-century classic as “SIX” is a modern hit. In Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center’s delightfully staged production of “Guys and Dolls,” a cast mixing local theater favorites with up-and-coming teen performers delivers infectious renditions of classic showtunes such as “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat.” Veteran stage performer Tim Hartman draws big laughs as Big Jule, while young stars Brooke Peterson and Tristan Heavner give winning turns as long-engaged couple Adelaide and Nathan Detroit. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday night, with a closing matinee on Sunday afternoon; arrive early for a coffee or cocktail in the theater’s comfortable lounge.

Marshall McDonald: To see the Pittsburgh-born saxophonist Marshall McDonald these days, you’ll usually need a plane ticket … to Tokyo. The Pitt alum, who studied under PSO members and played in the Pitt Jazz band, has spent years performing with the modern incarnations of the Count Basie and Duke Ellington orchestras; he appears on seven Grammy-nominated recordings and now lives and primarily performs in Japan. The globetrotting bandleader is playing a few gigs on U.S. soil this fall, including an appearance at Downtown jazz hotspot Con Alma. McDonald will team up with three local legends — Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin and Max Leake — for a show this Friday night. (If you can’t make it Downtown, the show will also stream on the Oh! Jazz platform.)

“Tragic Kingdom” Tribute: Five years ago, the standout Pittsburgh band Working Breed put together an all-star lineup to play No Doubt’s influential album “Tragic Kingdom” in honor of the hit record’s 25th anniversary. That show was cancelled due to the pandemic … and the permanent closure of the original venue, South Side’s bygone Rex Theater. Five years later, it’s now the 30th anniversary of “Tragic Kingdom,” and that all-star lineup has been reassembled. A roster of local standouts will perform each track from the record, plus more No Doubt favorites, this Friday night at Mr. Smalls in Millvale. The fashion of the ’90s is not required, but very much encouraged. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Girls Rock! Pittsburgh.

MQCFest: More than 30 comics from across the country will gather in Pittsburgh this weekend for MQCFest — formerly the Midwest Queer Comedy Festival — as the independent event makes Pittsburgh its host city for the first time. Shows are scheduled from Thursday through Sunday at Arcade Comedy Theater and 880 Wrestling (at 1010 Freyburg Street on the South Side), culminating in a homecoming — or at least, an adopted homecoming — for Irish-born, ’Burgh-trained stand-up comedian Helen Wildy. Festival passes and individual tickets are on sale both in advance and, as capacity allows, at each show.

Spooky Spirits Walk: Learn about some of Pittsburgh’s historic hauntings and enjoy the grounds of the Frick as the sun sets this Friday night. The Spooky Spirits Walk, which includes autumnal beverages and sweet treats, begins at the Cafe at the Frick and explores the landmark location over an easy walking tour.

Jeff Daniels: For more than 20 years, Jeff Daniels — recognizable for his film and stage work — has toured the country as an acoustic singer-songwriter. With a show described as “a one-man musical” as much as a concert, Daniels will take the stage at City Winery in the Strip District this Friday night.

Watch Sean Collier discuss this weekend’s events on KDKA’s “Pittsburgh Today Live” here:

Looking for more things to do? Check out our complete list of events in Pittsburgh for today, tomorrow and the weeks ahead.