Events for the week ahead: Chinese dance troupe performance, Jordan World Circus, NW Rodarama and more

It’s all about custom cars and hot rods in a family-friendly atmosphere at the annual Northwest Rodarama at the Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup. Saturday is Kids Day with free pin-striping bike helmets or toys, a Hot Wheels race track display and pedal car display. Dave Kindig of Kindig it Design Show will be on hand Sunday plus Lance Lambert of The Vintage Vehicle Show. Hours are 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $16 adults, $13 military with ID, $14 seniors and youths. See nwrodarama.com for information.

Emmy Award-winning Bill Maher has spent the past 20 years defining the boundaries of where funny, political talk can go, first on “Politically Incorrect” and then 13 years on “Real Time.” He takes the stage at The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle, for a 7:30 p.m. show Sunday. Tickets are $31.25-$121.25 and are available at 877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org.

With a resumé including winning season three of “Last Comic Standing,” a regular on NPR’s “Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me,” as well as starring in the comedy special “Who’s Paying Attention” on Showtime, Alonzo Bodden brings a “cynically good-natured” approach to his comedy. See him at the Tacoma Comedy Club, 933 Market St., Tacoma. Showtimes are 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday (March 25) and Saturday. Tickets are $16-$22 online at tacomacomedy club.com.

Billed as a dance poem based on colors of white and blue porcelain, the tea ceremony and other traditional Chinese influences, China Oriental Song and Dance Troupe presents “National Beauty” at the Pantages Theater, 901 Broadway, Tacoma. The troupe was the primary performing group at the China Pavilion at Shanghai Expo 2010 and the Milan Expo 2015. The performance is 7:30 p.m. Friday with tickets $28-$88. Get yours at 253-591-5894 or broadwaycenter.org.

Make it a family outing this weekend when the Jordan World Circus comes to the Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup. The classic three-ring show features aerialists, acrobats, rare white tigers and funny clowns. Showtimes are 4 and 7:30 p.m. Friday (March 25), 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $18 adults, $14 ages 3-12 years old and free for 2 and younger. For information, see thejordanworldcircus.com.

Loreena McKennitt, hailing from Canada, is a composer, harpist, accordionist and pianist performing world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern themes. Having sold more than 14 million records worldwide, her career starting 30 years ago, and she received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary World Music Album in 2007. Come see her in a live performance 8 p.m. Saturday at The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Tickets are $41.25-$90.75. at 877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org.

Known for her love of the harp, as well as her work as a vocalist and on piano and harpsichord, Joanna Newsom brings her own style to her folk, indie folk music. She tours and plays across the country, defying labels of her music. See her in a 7:30 p.m. performance Tuesday at The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle. Tickets are $30-$40 and you can get yours at 877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org.

Highlighting the meteoric rise of Janis Joplin, the Broadway musical “A Night With Janis Joplin” is an evening with the woman and her influences in music. The performance features some of her greatest hits, including “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart” and “Mercedes Benz.” The show opens Friday and will continue through April 17 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Tickets start at $24 and are available at 5thavenue.org.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Events for the week ahead: Chinese dance troupe performance, Jordan World Circus, NW Rodarama and more."