Thurs. Oct. 11

 Steven Wright may not be smiling – he’s a comic, but in concert he’s not one to yuk it up or guffaw – but you know he’s a happy man right now. Why? His beloved Red Sox are in the ALCS and his Orpheum Theatre date – Thursday Oct. 11 – does not coincide with a game! So that means he can go full-throttle – well, as full-throttle ast the droll, dry local guy can. Wright came out of Boston’s ‘80s comedy boom first, via an appearance on “The Tonight Show,” but he was a much different comic than Boston’s usual more bruising and boisterous scene allowed. Wright’s comedy was – is – cerebral, but skewed. He takes bits of illogic and makes them (for a moment at least) logical, or does the reverse flip. He doesn’t linger on a joke. He seemingly free-associates from one topic to another. He portends to live in an alternate universe and by the end of the night, you’re there with him, laughing, smiling, puzzling at how you got there. His show, up as the Boston Comedy Festival is running, starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $39.50 and $24.50.

1 Hamilton Place, 617-931-2000 www.ticketmaster.com