Sun. Dec. 3

Last weekend alert! When he was a student at Julliard, David Lindsay-Abaire was challenged by his mentor, Marsha Norman. She told him if he wanted to write a good play, write about the thing that frightens you most in the world. At the time, he didn't know. Then he became a father. When his son was 3, he heard stories from friends of friends whose children had died suddenly, and just as suddenly Lindsay-Abaire knew what frightened him the most. In the Tony-nominated "Rabbit Hole," up, for its finale, Dec. 3 at the Huntington Theatre, Becca (Donna Bullock) and Howie (Jordan Lage) suffered the accidental death of their son (he's hit by a car, chasing the family dog across the street) eight months ago and it's ripping them apart.

Dec.  2

 Choreographer Michael Jahoda (in picture) chose seven dancers to perform pieces in his Emerging Artists Series, calling in "New Salt from the Stock." Jahoda worked with the dancers, discussing choreography, and invited guests in to comment upon the works-in-progress. On Saturday Dec. 2 at Green Street Studios, the "New Salt" will be sprinkled on a new audience. We admit we don't always "get" the themes behind the dances, and simply get caught up in the music and the motion, but there are stated purposes. Among them: Heather Bryce explores fear propaganda in American media and politics, and Arlene Steiner unveils a dance which deals with jarring life changes and loss of support. Starts at 8 p.m. Tickets: $20.

185 Green St., Cambridge, 617-864-3191

Sat.  Dec. Dec. 2

The Figgs have been sorta like second-string stalwarts of the Boston rock scene for, could it be?, two decades, now. They've been their own band - a pop/punk/rock group with guitar-based hooks - and they've been Graham Parker and Tommy Stinson's backing band. They're stepping out of those shadows and into the limelight with a Saturday night headlining show at T.T. the Bear's. Led by singer-guitarist Mike Gent, the Figgs promise sharp, listener-friendly rock 'n' roll and a heap of tunes from their Nov.28-released CD, "Follow Jean throught the Sea." The Figgs get points in our book for not over-stuffing their disc with songs. It's a a ten-song effort. Get in, get out, move on. Tickets: $`10. Opening: Township and The Affair. Starts at 9 p.m.

10 Brookline St., Cambridge, 671-492-0082 ttthebears.com

Sat. Dec. 2

 Spirituality, community responsibility and liberation. These are the themes Ronald K. Brown says run through his latest works, "Order My Steps," "Walking Out the Dark, Part !" and "Grace," which make their Boston premieres at the Cutler Majestic Theatre Saturday Dec. 2. The New York Times' Anna Kisselgoff regards Brown as "one of the major modern dance choreographers to emerge in the past ten years." Brown sees what he does through color, explosive jumps and patterns - incorporating modern, African, ballet and hip-hop styles - to be a means of educating, entertaining and enlightening. That's a triple-E assault we always hope for when we go out to an arts event, not one we always come home with. You'll hear music from Duke Ellington, Fela Kuti and Sweet Honey in the Rock, among others. The company, which is called Ronald K. Brown/EVidence, performs at 7:30 Friday and 8 the next night. Tickts: $35.

219 Tremont St., 617-876-4275 CRASHarts.org