This month, Seattle campuses host first-rate performances.

“Twelve Angry Women”

Seattle Pacific University presents “Twelve Angry Women” — a gender-swapping twist on Reginald Rose’s classic play, “Twelve Angry Men” — for two weekends this month on the James Leon Chapman Stage. Directed by Andrew D. Ryder, the play examines 12 jurors who must decide the fate of a man accused of killing his father. As the jurors deliberate, audience members are also pushed to question their own beliefs about the case, and whether the verdict will really be “the truth.”

Performances are scheduled for Nov. 10, 11, 12, 17, 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. There will be an audience Q&A session following the show on Friday, Nov. 18. Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, and general admission is $12.

“The Importance Of Being Earnest”

If you prefer comedy over drama, Seattle University presents one of the funniest plays in the history of theater — “The Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” by Oscar Wilde. This production is directed by Ki Gottberg.

“Earnest” is widely considered to be Wilde’s finest work, with farcical themes and witty dialogue that have sustained since its premiere in London on Valentine’s Day, 1895. The play tells the story of two dapper Englishmen, Algernon Moncrieff and John Worthing, who both use the pseudonym “Ernest” in order to lead more interesting lives. Their true identities are eventually discovered when they end up at a country manor together.

The preview show is Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Performances will be Nov. 10 – 12 and Nov. 16 – 19 at 7:30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20. Tickets are $6 for students, $8 for faculty and staff, and $10 for the general public.

Bassekou Kouyate

University of Washington is proud to present virtuoso Bassekou Kouyate, a musical visionary who is a legend in his home country of Mali. Kouyate has played with Bonnie Raitt, Bono, Taj Mahal and banjo maverick Bela Fleck.

Kouyate’s upbeat music incorporates the music of the ngoni, a “spike lute” that is considered an ancestor of the banjo. Kouyate has led the group Ngoni Ba since 2005; the group features five ngonis, played by the frontman and four of his relatives.

The group combines West African and American roots, in a signature style that can be enjoyed by listeners of any age. Ngoni Ba’s second album, “I Speak Fula,” was released in December 2009 as the first album on Next Ambiance, Sub Pop Records’ world music imprint. Last December, the record earned a Grammy nomination in the “Best Traditional World Music Album” category.

Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba will perform Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. in Meany Hall for the Performing Arts. A pre-show conversation will begin at 7:10 p.m. Tickets are $27 for subscriber extras, $28 for UW faculty, staff and alumni, $20 for students and $30 for general admission.