<span class="subhead">&#x91;Romeo & Juliet&#x92; | <span class="leadout"> Opens Friday</span></p><p></span>Ib Andersen, whose work is often rooted in the classicism of George Balanchine and Michel Fokine, choreographs the Kansas City Ballet&#x92;s performance of the Shakespeare romantic tragedy, opening this weekend at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The work has been an audience favorite since it was first performed in 1940 by the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad. The production opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday and continues with a 7:30 p.m. performance Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday. Daily performances are also held Feb. 23-26. Tickets are $41-$105 at <a href ="http://www.kcballet.org/" target="_blank">kcballet.org</a></p><p><span class="subhead">Jadakiss | <span class="leadout">Friday</span></span></p><p>The former Notorious B.I.G. prot&#xE9;g&#xE9; performs an 8 p.m. show at the Midland on Friday with Rich the Factor. Jadakiss is known for drawing the ire of Bill O&#x92;Reilly after he released a song blaming George W. Bush for the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. Last spring he put out something a little less controversial: the mixtape &#x93;I Love You&#x94; as an ode to his fans. Tickets range from $35 to $100 at <a href ="http://www.midlandkc.com/" target="_blank">midlandkc.com</a>. </p><p><span class="subhead">Benefit Art auction | <span class="leadout">Saturday</span></span></p><p>The Kansas City Artists Coalition holds its biggest annual fundraiser on Saturday. More than 150 artists have donated works to be sold, including Peregrine Honig, Mark Southerland, Philomene Bennett, Lou Marak, Anne Lindberg, Jim Sajovic, Miguel Rivera, Bowie Croisant, Tom Corbin and Cathy Broski. Above is Alicia Candiani&#x92;s mixed-media print &#x93;Fata Morgana.&#x94; The event at 201 Wyandotte begins with a silent auction at 6 p.m. followed by the live auction at 8 p.m. Proceeds help fund exhibitions and programs of the coalition. Details, <a href="http://kansascityartistscoalition.org/" target="_blank">KansasCityArtistsCoalition.org</a>.</p><p><span class="subhead">Mutemath | <span class="leadout">Thursday </span></span></p><p>A generation of action movie buffs probably knows Mutemath only for its rendition of the theme song to the soundtrack of the 2007 film &#x93;Transformers.&#x94; True fans know that the band was co-founded by Missouri native Darren King in 2001. While the New Orleans-based band found success with a sound that resembles the arena rock of U2 and Muse, several tracks on Mutemath&#x92;s recent release, &#x93;Odd Soul,&#x94; feature a bluesy element that should be particularly effective in a midsize venue like the Beaumont Club. Canon Blue, a moody act from Nashville, opens the 8 p.m. show. Tickets are $27. </p><p><span class="subhead">Mardis Gras events | <span class="leadout">Friday through Tuesday</span></span></p><p>More than a dozen events are on tap to celebrate Mardis Gras in the Kansas City area, and perhaps none is bigger than the Power & Light District&#x92;s annual festival on Saturday. The 21-and-older event includes a DJ on the outdooor stage with contests and bead giveaways. The party is free, but wristbands can be purchased for unlimited drinks from 8 to 11 p.m. and free cover at participating district bars all night. The wristbands are $20 in advance at <a href ="http://www.missiontix.com/" target="_blank">missiontix.com</a> or $30 at the door.