US – Friday, November 20

Books
Icing on the ‘Ace of Cakes’
For a reality TV show, “Ace of Cakes” presents an almost unheard of problem to fans. Instead of delving into petty problems between castmates, it focuses on the cake — no backstabbing, no messy hook-ups, no drama except the occasional bumpy fondant. Which is fine, until you fall in love with cutie decorator Jeff and what to know more than his theories on royal icing.

 
Boston Arts
These Orphans are not afraid to play with ‘Dolls’
Ryan Landry and his Gold Dust Orphans have long been having their way with some of the greatest films of all time. Finally, the men, women and not-so-easily-identifiable members of this ridiculously talented troupe take on the big kahuna of camp, “Valley of the Dolls.”
My Winter Arts Guide
The weirdly wonderful world of Urs Fischer
He’s been lauded around the world as an “art-world rock star,” but 36-year-old Swiss artist Urs Fischer insists his work is rooted in the simplest of instincts.
 

Photo: PAUL KOLNIK
My Winter Arts Guide
A return to Renaissance
To research his historical piece on the Harlem Renaissance, “Uptown,” Ailey star Matthew Rushing used modern technologies. “YouTube was a great help.  I searched for Charleston and Lindy Hop, started purchasing books and DVDs,” he explains. “Part of the dance is called ‘Rent Party’ — the Harlem Renaissance is where rent parties started.”
 

Photo: JUSTIN BERNHAUT
My Winter Arts Guide
This fest makes waves
If your New Year’s resolution is to think outside the Broadway box, look no further than the Under the Radar fest, held Jan. 6 to 17 at The Public Theater, which exhibits new, independent and sometimes radical theater and performance from the U.S. and around the world.
 
Books
Vampire mania without Dracula would sure suck
Set 15 years after the original, “Dracula: The Un-Dead” shares many of the same characters — including Mina and Jonathan Harker, and Lucy’s suitors, John Seward and Arthur Holmwood — and unveils them to be, well, in a state of post-traumatic stress after slaying Dracula...
Books
You are now entering the ‘Nightlight’ zone
The members of the Harvard Lampoon had two reasons for writing their “Twilight” parody. “One of our super-goals is to meet Stephenie Meyer,” says Matthew Grzecki, president of the student-staffed magazine and one of the authors of “Nightlight: A Parody” (Random House, $14).
 
 
 
Arts
Exploring every ‘Avenue Q’ puppet
The fuzzy puppets that inhabit “Avenue Q” won’t teach their audiences how to sing the ABC’s. These mature Sesame Street-like adult puppets have real problems: sex, racism, morals and finding a purpose in life. 
Books
We all speak Simpson-ese
Does Barack Obama speak Simpsons?
 

Books
Looking for a few ‘Good Men’
Manhood in our culture is up for grabs. Just think Eliot Spitzer, Bernard Madoff, even David Letterman.
 
Arts
For Halloween, he’s dancing with death
A jubilant ‘Julie’
Like puberty — but way scarier
‘Superior Donuts’ is one tasty snack
Under the influence
Creative birth in fiscal dearth
‘Big Man’ tells tall tales
Scenes from the class struggle in Buenos Aires
Interview with a chameleon
All’s well that is ‘Giselle’
Arts
‘The dignity of each piece’
Big Dance Theater puts Paris in its proper place
Sometimes ‘know thyself’ is a liability
Wanna know a Secret?
Leaving the abstract
A show of ‘STOMP’ and circumstance
So ‘Steady’ as they go
How to get ‘Naked’
From Down Under, a working-class dance
We lift our hearts in praise
 
Share
 
Music
MMMpod
The November MMMpod features interviews and music with a band called Girls, a band of girls called Supercute, and a supercute vampire. Yes, listeners, we have Pattinson!



 
 
 
Metro Life Panel
Read more