CONCERT: JAN. 9

The Texas rock band the Toadies (Todd Lewis on vocals and guitar; Mark Reznicek on drums; and Clark Vogeler on guitar), known for the ‘’90s hit “Possum Kingdom,” is touring this way. Its latest CD, “No Deliverance,” was released in August.
7 p.m. Jan. 9 / Pipeline Cafe / $25 general, $50 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

BENEFIT: JAN. 10

The theme is “When Cool Was King” at the annual Starlight Ball, a fundraiser for the Honolulu Academy of Arts. “Cool” in this case means the era of the Rat Pack, when Frank Sinatra and crew ruled the Vegas scene and cinema. There’s jazzy entertainment, vocalists including Cathy Foy and Don Nahaku, the Cherry Blossom Cabaret, a buffet dinner, cocktails and more.
7-11 p.m. Jan. 10 / Honolulu Academy of Arts/ $85 (purchase online at www.artafterdark.org); check for table availability at 532-6099.

STAGE: JAN. 14-FEB. 1

A musical within a musical, “Gutenberg! The Musical!” opens the new year at the Manoa Valley Theatre. The two-man show is performed as a backer’s audition, and follows Bud and Doug, aspiring playwrights, authors of a musical about Johannes Gutenberg, which they pitch to producers in hopes of making it to Broadway. Elitei Tatafu Jr. is Bud; Tony Young is Doug. Rob Duval is the guest director.
Premieres at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14; repeats 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 1 / Manoa Valley Theatre / $35 general, $30 seniors and military, $20 for those 25 and younger / 988-6131, www.manoavalleytheatre.com

CONCERT: JAN. 17

Island fave Kalapana, whose hits include “The Hurt,” “Nightbird,” “You Make It Hard” and “Naturally,” will perform a benefit concert to help send the Saint Louis Center for the Arts’ production of “Rent: School Edition” to the 15th annual American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburg, Scotland, part of the prestigious Fringe Festival, in the summer. Kalapana recently released the disc “Many Classics: Kalapana Plays Their Best.”
8 p.m. Jan. 17 / Mamiya Theatre / $95, $125, $150 / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

COMEDY: JAN. 17-18

Nick Swardson brings his brand of comedy to Honolulu for a two-night stand. Swardson also is an actor, with roles in films including “Grandma’s Boy,” “Malibu’s Most Wanted,” “The Benchwarmers,” “Blades of Glory,” “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” and “House Bunny.” He has appeared on numerous TV comedy specials and has a recurring role as Terry Bernardino, the rollerskating homosexual prostitute, on “Reno 911!”
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Jan. 17-18 / Pipeline Cafe / $35 general, $50 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

COMEDY: JAN. 16

Funnyguy Augie T.’s very first Oçahu show of the new year is his One Night Stand Comedy Show, and it’s in Hawai'i Kai. The veteran comic is a two-time Nä Hökü Hanohano Award winner; his latest release is a DVD, “Augie T.: The Blaisdell Arena Show.” Comics Jose Dynamite and Timmy Mattos guest.

Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Jan. 16 / Therapy Sports Grill, Koko Marina Shopping Center / $10 advance, $15 at the door / 394-8200, 391-5673

STAGE: JAN. 21-25

The Tony and Olivier award-winning “Translations,” by renowned Irish playwright Brian Friel, takes the stage at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. It’s the story of a small Irish village in the 1830s, and the effects of the British imposing their language on the residents. It’s a Hawaiçi premiere, directed by professor of theater Lurana Donnels O’Malley.
8 p.m. Jan. 21-24, 2 p.m. Jan. 25 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre, University of Hawaiçi-Mänoa / Tickets — $14 general, $12 UH faculty and staff, seniors, military, $10 students, $5 UHM students — go on sale Jan. 14 / 483-7123, www.etickethawaii.com

CONCERTS: JAN. 29-31

Grammy-winning Latin hip-hop/fusion group Ozomatli, right, with former member Chali 2na now back in the fold, returns for a three-island tour. The high-energy, politically active Los Angeles band is one of the nation’s top touring acts.
The concerts:
• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Sheraton Keauhou Convention Center, Big Island. $25. 866-468-3399.
• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater. $25 advance, $30 day of the show. 808-242-7469, www.mauiarts.org.
• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at The Waterfront, Aloha Tower Marketplace. $25. 866-468-3399.

COMEDY: JAN. 30

Comic, author, screenwriter Rita Rudner, right, does her standup thing at the Pipeline Cafe. Rudner has been a comedy regular since the early 1980s, has a continuing gig in Las Vegas and is a familiar face on late-night talk shows.
Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 / Pipeline Cafe / $30 general, $55 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com