Adults only
‘A Little Orphan Tranny Christmas’ Though America’s favorite little orphan, Annie, is the inspiration for the Gold Dust Orphans’ holiday show, don’t expect her to be singing “It’s A Hard Knock Life.” She’ll be too busy living one. Ryan Landry’s latest parody finds Tranny, an orphaned boy/girl and his/her cat/dog desperately trying to avoid the evil clutches of Hermione P. Grinchley. Expect lots of glitter, amazing costumes, men in dresses and, of course, laughs as these masters of parody put their spin on this holiday-themed show. As always, the Gold Dust Orphans shows are for adults only. Kitschy fun
‘Buyer and Cellar’ After being fired from his day job at Disney, an aspiring Los Angeles actor finds the perfect gig running the “Great Mall of Malibu” — located in Barbra Streisand’s basement. Imagine the reaction when a young, gay Babs worshipper, who spends his days locked in her basement exploring a treasure trove of mementos, comes face-to-face with the Diva. Hilarious, absurd, campy and poignant, this tale requires a tour-de-force 90-minute performance by local actor Phil Tayler playing a multitude of characters, including Oprah Winfrey and Bea Arthur. Kid-friendly
‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz’ Panto is a Victorian art form that tells a traditional fairy tale with songs, dances, silly humor, exaggerated characters, brightly colored costumes and non-stop audience participation. Don’t miss Dorothy, Toto and the gang receiving the full Panto treatment in this reimagined adaptation of the classic story. Tickets go fast, so get access to the yellow brick road while it’s still available. Bromance
‘Nice Fish’ As the end of ice-fishing season approaches, two men make one last trip out onto the frozen lake, where they think about much more than the creaky ice and the fish they’re trying to snag. Conceived, written and adapted by acclaimed poet Louis Jenkins and three-time Tony-winner Mark Rylance, “Nice Fish” weaves together Jenkins’ prose in a funny, charming narrative that explores the big picture through the ordinary events of life in northern Minnesota. This production is a collaborative effort between the A.R.T. and St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn. Shakespeare for rock fans
‘Twelfth Night’ Filter Theatre’s crazy (in a good way) remix boasts a set that looks like the stage of a rock concert and a deconstructed script that takes great liberties with Shakespeare’s classic comic tale of twins separated at birth. Mobile phones, pizza parties, jazz, rock and actors who play their own instruments may not make Bard scholars happy. But for anyone else who loves irreverent wit, comedy, a good jam session or an outrageous interpretation of a classic, this may be the “Twelfth Night” of a lifetime. Hot ticket
‘Pippin’ When “Pippin” began its sold out run at Cambridge’s American Repertory Theater, we called it “an unprecedented theatrical spectacle that may be the best show you ever see.” Since then, it’s enjoyed a long, successful run on Broadway, winning four 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival. Jugglers, aerialists, contortionists, Fosse-inspired choreography and a score that boasts “Corner of the Sky” and “Magic to Do” await you. Don’t miss the magic.
Dec. 3 – Dec. 20
Machine Nightclub
1254 Boylston St., Boston
617-266-2986
$39.99 – $49.99
Brownpapertickets.com
Dec. 4 – Jan. 3
Lyric Stage Company
140 Clarendon St., Boston
617-585-5678
$31 – $65
Lyricstage.com
Jan. 9 – Jan. 20
BCA Black Box Theatre
539 Tremont St.
617-933-8600
$24 – $20; $10 for kids 10 and under
www.imaginarybeasts.org
Jan. 17 – Feb. 7
American Repertory Theater
64 Brattle St., Cambridge
617-547-8300
Starting at $25
Americanrepertorytheater.org
Jan. 20 – Jan. 30
Emerson Paramount Center
559 Washington St.
617-824-8400
$10 – $65
Artsemerson.org
Feb. 2 – Feb. 14
Boston Opera House
539 Washington St.
866-523-7469
$44 – $150
BroadwayinBoston.com
Big stage Boston: Theater listings
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