7Days: Regional arts and entertainment, by Michael Harrington

She's got the blues The dynamite singer Janiva Magness performs her distinctive electric blues at 8 p.m. at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St. Tickets are $25. Call 215-222-1400.

How it was While we take a break from our modern labors, it's a good time to look back on how previous generations had it, with the interactive Revolutionary Trades, including printing and candlemaking, plus a stint serving in George Washington's army (and samples of Thomas Jefferson's ice cream recipe - it's still a holiday) from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St. Tickets are $14.50; $13 for seniors and students; $8 for ages 12 to 4; under 3 free (includes museum admission). Call 215-409-6600.

Shape of things A Fringe Festival highlight: Mary Mattingly's WetLand is a houseboat that's an interactive art installation, a look at how we may have to live once the waters begin to rise, and the site of concerts, workshops, performances, yoga, and lectures. The exhibit, at the Independence Seaport Museum, Columbus Boulevard and Dock Street, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 21, Admission is free. Call 215-413-1318.

On the beat The veteran upstate New York ska-rock sextet Mrs. Skannotto gets right down to it at 8 p.m. at Ortlieb's, 847 N. Third St. Tickets are $7. Call 267-324-3348.

Good and evil The only film Charles Laughton ever directed, The Night of the Hunter, has a screenplay by James Agee and a scary great (literally) performance by Robert Mitchum as a backwoods preacher and serial killer stalking a young widow and her two children. A box-office failure in 1955 (hence, Laughton's only directorial effort), the thriller has since been acclaimed as a masterpiece of mood and suspense. The film screens at 7 p.m. at the County Theater, 20 E. State St., Doylestown. Tickets are $10. Call 215-345-6789. The film also screens at the Ambler Theater, 108 E. Butler Ave., Ambler, at 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $10. Call 215-345-7855.

Movement theater As part of the Neighborhood Fringe, Headlong Dance Theater and Brind School UArts team up for (Some) Love and (Some) Information, an interpretation of Caryl Churchill's 2014 play about trying to connect amid a flood of data. The show goes on at the University of the Arts' Caplan Recital Hall, 17th floor, 211 S. Broad St., at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 3, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m. Saturday; and 3, 5:30, and 7:30 p.m. next Sunday. Tickets are $10. Call 215-413-1318.

Classic rock Not many bands have the lineage of 1970s greats Toto, formed by keyboardist and singer David Paich (son of legendary arranger Marty Paich) with other experienced studio musicians, including guitarist Steve Lukather and keyboardist Steve Porcaro, who had worked with the likes of Boz Scaggs, Michael Jackson, and Steely Dan. The result was a polished pop-rock sound that still sounds fresh. The band, with singer Joseph Williams (son of film composer John Williams), plays on its 35th anniversary tour at 8 p.m. at the Keswick Theatre, Easton Road and Keswick Avenue, Glenside. Tickets are $49.50 and $59.50. Call 215-572-7650.

Truth or consequences For the piece Would I Lie to You?, the dance troupe Real Live People used various untruths the cast has told to create a basis for movement. The Neighborhood Fringe performance goes on at the Latvian Society, 531 N. Seventh St., at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday; 7, 9, and 11 p.m. Saturday; 5 and 7 p.m. next Sunday; and 7 p.m. Sept. 9 and 10. Tickets are $15. Call 215-413-1318.

Fringe starter As if you didn't know, the Fringe Festival is starting up (check out the preview posted elswehere on this website). This year's festival includes its own brasserie, La Peg, whose bar will host a variety of late-night acts. Saturday features Dennis Diamond and Daryl Hannah of Elephant Room (performing "magic by idiots," it says here) at 10 p.m. and, fresh from Edinburgh, the psyche-shattering punk of Christeene Machine at 11:30 p.m. at FringeArts, Columbus Boulevard and Race Street. Admission is free. Call 215-413-1318.

Looking for love Michael Ching's deft comic opera Speed Dating Tonight! captures the yearning desires of a singles group out on the town. The Neighborhood Fringe production by Poor Richard's Opera goes on at Manayunk's Bourbon Blue, 2 Rector St., at 6 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $20. Call 215-413-1318. (The opera will also be performed at Duel Piano Bar, 1420 Locust St., at 6 p.m. Sept. 11 and 12.)