From exhibitions at the Palo Alto Art Center to performances by the Stanford Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, the local arts scene is booming this week. Here are our top picks.

Film

Yann Demange’s much-anticipated directorial debut, “‘71,” will finally be receiving a San Francisco release this Friday. Starring British breakout Jack O’Connell, the film has benefited from a great deal of positive word-of-mouth and seems poised to be one of the best films of early 2015. Be sure to check back on Friday for a review.

Also opening this Friday is Neil Blomkamp’s most recent feature, “Chappie.” Although the “District 9” director’s last film “Elysium” was a bit of a disappointment, “Chappie” boasts a stronger cast, a smarter marketing campaign, and a slightly more complex premise. With any luck, it will be far better than its lacking predecessor. Expect a review from Film Desk Editor Will Ferrer.

Over on iTunes, David Cronenberg’s “Map to the Stars,” starring recent Oscar winner Julianne Moore, is now available for rent. Although the film was received well at Cannes, the film has struggled to find an audience stateside — check the paper for Staff Writer Raymond Maspons’s take later this week. Regardless, the film is a better viewing choice than Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence’s troubled “Serena,” also available for rent on iTunes — where it can hopefully die a quiet and unseen death.

Theater

This week brings with it two productions of very different types: a classic Shakespearean tragedy and an original student-written musical.

The TAPS Department presents William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” directed by Rob Melrose (Cutting Ball Theater; Oregon Shakespeare Festival; The Public Theater), running in Pigott Theater from Mar. 5-8. “Hamlet” examines the intimate internal drama of the human experience through the story of a young Danish Prince driven to find truth and vengeance. Performances are Mar. 5, 6, 7 at 8 p.m. and Mar. 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are sold out but the TAPS wait-list policy is visible here.

Another production this week is “Mirror Image,” an original musical written by Louis Lagalante ‘15 and Patty Hamilton ‘16. Performances are Thursday, Mar. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Mar. 6 at 11:59 p.m. and Saturday, Mar. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Dinkelspiel Auditorium. Join the Facebook event here and reserve free tickets at bit.ly/MirrorImageTickets. More information can be found at their website here.

Music

Bing Concert Hall will be hosting an exciting series of concerts this weekend beginning on Thursday with international opera star Susan Graham, who will be singing Schumann, Berlioz, Poulenc and Ravel, among others. RSVP to attend a masterclass from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in which she will teach Stanford vocal arts students at Bing Concert Hall.

The Stanford Wind Ensemble, conducted by Anna Wittstruck, will be performing on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Bing. Come to hear a varied program featuring Bach, Maslanka, Aquilanti and Shostakovich. On Saturday, the Stanford Chamber Chorale will be joined by the St. Lawrence Quartet, the Cecilia String Quartet and Stanford Chamber Strings for a celebration of Bach. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Bing. Students receive free admission to both concerts with their SUID.

Get a taste of eclectic music on campus by attending the Stanford Afro-Latin Jazz Ensemble, which will be performing at Campbell Recital Hall on Friday, Mar. 6  from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free for students with SUID.

As for albums to watch out for, keep an eye out for Sufjan Steven’s “Carrie & Lowell,” Modest Mouse’s “Strangers to Ourselves,” Lady Lamb’s “After” and Arcade Fire’s Will Butler’s solo debut album, “Policy.”

Visual Arts

Bay Area artists Chris Duncan, Mark Malmberg and Kate Lee Short will be discussing their sound-based installations at the Palo Alto Art Center on Saturday, Mar. 7. The artists’ work is currently being featured in “Hear This!,” an exhibition on view at the Palo Alto Art Center that explores the interplay between visual arts and sound.

“Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry,” a documentary featuring Chinese contemporary artist and outspoken domestic critic Ai Weiwei, will be screened at Room 125 in Memorial Hall on Monday, Mar. 2. The film looks into Ai Weiwei’s creative process and his ongoing clash with Chinese political authorities.

Contact the Arts & Life editors at arts ‘at’ stanforddaily.com