Our Weekend Planner Comes Straight from the Heart

Wondering what to do this weekend? We’ve found love songs, a heartbreaker, and Madama Butterfly. Valentine’s Day must be around the corner. Here are our Patch Picks for your done-work-let's-get-a-babysitter-outta-here time.

1. Madama Butterfly

Friday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark.

Why Go: Puccini’s ravishing, sensuous Madama Butterfly, one of opera’s undisputed masterworks, comes to Prudential Hall in this new staging from Opera New Jersey and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

Pricing: Varies.

2. Richard Marx & Matt Scannell

Friday, Feb. 11, 8 p.m.

South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange.

Why Go: Grammy Award-winner Richard Marx and Vertical Horizon’s front man Matt Scannell perform an acoustic evening of classic hits. Richard Marx sold more than 30 million albums and had 13 No. 1 songs, including "Endless Summer Nights," “Right Here Waiting" and “Now and Forever.” Aside from his own hit songs, Marx wrote "This I Promise You" by NSYNC and co-wrote "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross. Marx will be joined on stage by Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon (“Everything You Want,” “Best I Ever Had”).

Pricing: $40-$65.

3. I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change

Saturday, Feb. 12,   p.m.

Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Morristown.

Why Go: Off-Broadway’s longest-running hit takes a comically musical joyride through the jungle of the modern-day mating game, revealing everything you’ve secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers and in-laws but were afraid to admit!

Pricing: $32-$57.

4. Nat Adderly Jr. Trio

Saturday, Feb. 12, 6:30 and 8:45 p.m.

Shanghai Jazz Restaurant and Bar, Madison.

Why Go: The musical director/pianist for Luther Vandross is back in a rare N.J. appearance as part of the club’s Valentine’s celebrations.  No bar seating as bar is reserved for dancing.

Pricing: $25/person music charge and $35/person food and drink minimum at all tables.

5. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

Sunday, Feb. 13, 8 p.m.

The Wellmont Theatre, Montclair

Why Go: Pat Benatar still shines as one of the most durable musical icons of the first half of the '80s. Even better, her '80s songs have stood the test of time quite admirably, favorably influencing scores of female pop and rock singers who followed her.

Pricing: $45-$77.

We know you have your favorites that we missed. So share the goodness. Tell us in the comments.