Welcome to Best Bets, a weekly column in which The Oregonian's arts desk separates the wheat from the chaff of upcoming theater, classical music and dance performances and visual arts events. Here are our picks for Dec. 2-8.

Langston Hughes' "Black Nativity"

The much-acclaimed writer and social activist Langston Hughes wrote "Black Nativity" as a retelling of the Gospel of St. Luke with scripture, verse, music and dance. Portland-based PassinArt: A Theatre Company hopes to make its production an annual event; director Jerry Foster says, "We like to think of our production as a gift to Portland, a way we can all come together." 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday Dec. 2-18, Greater St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church, 3605 N.E. Mallory Ave. $7-$20, passinart.net or 503-235-8079.

Takacs Quartet

A member of Gramophone's Hall of Fame, this 41-year-old quartet will present two programs in Portland, one all-Beethoven and one featuring Haydn, Bartok and Dvorak. Violinist Edward Dusinberre, who joined the quartet in 1993, will also hold a signing and reading for his new book, "Beethoven for a Later Age: The Journey of a String Quartet." Concerts: 7:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 5-6, Lincoln Hall, 1620 S.W. Park Ave. $30-$52, student discounts available, focm.org or 503-224-9842. Book signing: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, Hampton Opera Center, 211 S.E. Caruthers St.

"Five Buddhas"

An iconic 18th-century Korean painting is in the final days of its life in Portland. "Five Buddhas" once adorned a Korean chapel but vanished in the 1970s and was later purchased for $10 by an Oregonian who knew nothing of its origins. Last year, he approached the Portland Art Museum about donating the painting; after determining its provenance, the museum is repatriating the painting to Korea. On view, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 2-4, Portland Art Museum, 1219 S.W. Park Ave. $17-$20, free for ages 17 and younger, portlandartmuseum.org or 503- 226-2811. "Five Buddhas" symposium, 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, $10-$30, free for students with identification.

Adrienne Truscott

New York performance artist and comedian Adrienne Truscott brings her "Adrienne Truscott's Asking For It" show about rape culture back to Boom Arts, which presented it to much applause last year as her Portland debut. She'll also present her new show about feminism and gender politics, "Adrienne Truscott's A One-Trick Pony!" Expect nudity and other provocation. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, Dec. 8-11, Headwaters Theatre, 55 N. Farragut Ave. $12-$30, boomarts.org or 503-567-1644.

"Flash Ah-Ahhh!!!"

Flash Gordon meets Queen in a rock opera parody from the fringe theater company StageWorks Ink. An outer-space villain, human lovers torn apart, a forced intergalactic marriage, the imminent destruction of Earth - hey Ma, the B-movie-cliche gang's all here, and with a Freddie Mercury soundtrack, no less. Various times and dates, Dec. 8-16, Alberta Abbey, 126 N.E. Alberta St. $18, Brown Paper Tickets or 503-888-5141. Free sneak preview concert: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, Music Millennium, 3158 E. Burnside St.

"Irish Christmas in America"

This annual national tour of musicians, singers and dancers from Ireland will converge on Sherwood for an all-ages celebration that includes explanations of Irish Christmas traditions and projected photos of the Emerald Isle. This year's guest singer is Niamh Farrell. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Sherwood Center for the Arts, 22689 S.W. Pine St. $20-$35, Brown Paper Tickets or 503-625-4278.

"The Most Wonderful Season"

The Portland Gay Men's Chorus holds its annual holiday concert, singing music that celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice and the New Year. The choir features 130 voices and will be accompanied by instrumental music. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, and 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, Newmark Theatre, 1111 S.W. Broadway. $17-$50, pdxgmc.org or 503-226-2588.



"In Good Company," NW Dance Project

Six NW Dance Project dancers have created six connected works around the theme of a family-friendly winter wonderland populated by tricksters, monsters, a magician, clowns, goddesses and more. The accompanying music ranges from Tchaikovsky to Bing Crosby to Scott Joplin to Billy Joel. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 8-10, Lincoln Hall, 1620 S.W. Park Ave. $34-$58, nwdanceproject.org or 503-828-8285.

If you would like your event to be considered for inclusion in Best Bets, email the details to fineartsbestbets@oregonian.com. Find more arts coverage at oregonlive.com/art.