Improv Asylum
216 Hanover St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Haymarket
617-263-6887 www.improvasylum.com
IA’s ongoing live show combines improvisation and sketch, although the exact mix is unknown. Is it 30 percent improv and 70 percent sketch? A more even 50/50 split? One thing’s for sure: It’s 100 percent funny!
ImprovBoston
40 Prospect St., Cambridge
MBTA: Red Line to Central
$5 to $16, 617-576-1253 www.improvboston.com
IB’s got a new home in Central, so now is a good time to go laugh at them. You can even point and laugh. Check out ongoing shows, including Bastards, Inc., Sgt. Culpepper’s Comedy Jamboree, the Family Show, Mainstage and Naked Comedy Showcase.
Just because February vacation is over doesn't mean you have to leave the rugrats in the suburbs. Bring ’em into the city to check out these haps.
Justin Roberts
Sunday
Regent Theatre
7 Medford St., Arlington
MBTA: Red Line to Alewife
$8 to $10, 781-646-4849 www.regent-theatre.com The four-time Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner is all the rage in the day care circuit. His backing band, the Not-Ready-for-Naptime Players, boasts a playfully defiant name. The tyranny of the Brussels Sprout Nation ends here!
‘The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley’
Friday through Sunday
Colonial Theatre
106 Boylston St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Boylston
$15 to $40, 617-931-2787 www.broadwayacrossamerica.com In this riff on Kafka’s “Metamorphosis” (OK, a faint riff — bear with us), Stanley wakes up one morning to find himself flat. Stanley puts himself in a big envelope and travels the world to find a solution to his problem. Not to downplay his situation, but at least the kid’s not a cockroach.
‘Annie’
March 25 through March 30
Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre
270 Tremont St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Boylston
$28 to $72, 800-447-7400 www.citicenter.org All we remember about this beloved American musical is Albert Finney’s shiny bald pate in John Huston’s 1982 film version. Looks like this 30th anniversary tour gives us a chance to brush up on our singing orphans and millionaires.
‘Big Apple Circus: Celebrate!’
March 29 to May 4
City Hall Plaza, Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Government Center
$15 to $100, 617-931-2787 www.ticketmaster.com It’s smack dab in the middle of City Hall Plaza, which means there will be about double the amount of clowns in that area in April. (Hey-Oh! Political zinger No. 2!)
Music at Eden’s Edge
March 30
St. John’s Episcopal Church
705 Hale St., Beverly Farms
$15 to $20 (Family price $60), 978-270-4463 www.edensedge.org The North Shore’s resident chamber music ensemble presents “Music Tells a Story,” a 17th century Baroque musical narrative. Ray Brown, host of 99.5 WCRB’s “Kids Classical Hour,” will emcee and offer a reading of “The Tale of the Magical Ring.” Or, as we call it, Precious.
Dan Zanes & Friends
April 4 through April 6
Somerville Theatre
55 Davis Square, Somerville
MBTA: Red Line to Davis
$22, 617-876-4275 www.worldmusic.org The former Del Fuego continues to rule the world of kids’ music with a recent Grammy for “Catch That Train!” The evening shows are “Pajama Parties,” so forget about the implications of wearing your sweats in public.
Spring Arts Preview: Dance
Emanuel Gat Dance
March 7
Institute of Contemporary Art
100 Northern Ave., Boston
MBTA: Silver Line to Courthouse
$35, 617-876-4275 www.crasharts.org
The award-winning choreographer’s dance company performs the Boston premieres of
“Winter Voyage,” set to Schubert’s “Winterreise,” and “The Rites of Spring.” Sounds crazy enough that even Stravinsky himself would approve.
BoSoma: Strings
March 21 through March 29
Green Street Studios
185 Green St., Cambridge
MBTA: Red Line to Central
$15 to $18, 617-562-0550 www.bosoma.org
According to Green Street Studios, Boston-based dance company BoSoma “produces high energy, athletic, and stimulating performances with its own signature of vibrant, vital movement.” Their spring season, featuring guest choreographer Terri Gordon, incorporates music from neoclassical to jazz. Jazz hands don’t discriminate against musical genre.
Black Grace Dance Company
April 17 through April 18
Tsai Performance Center
685 Comm. Ave., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Kenmore
$32 to $50, 617-482-6661 www.celebrityseries.org
Those three flying guys above are about to fly into Boston for their first time ever. The New Zealand group blend Samoan, Maori and contemporary dance. Which one does the flying through the air fall into?
‘DanceMonth’
May 1 through May 31
The Dance Complex
Various locations, Cambridge
617-547-9363 www.dancemonth.com
The Dance Complex got tired of there not being enough dancing events in May, so they made May DanceMonth in Cambridge, with events that include noon-time “Dance Distractions.” Like a remixed version of our lunch break.
‘Swan Lake’
May 1 through May 11
Citi Wang Theatre
270 Tremont St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Boylston
$45 to $75, 800-447-7400 www.telecharge.com
It’s “Swan Lake.” It stands right next to “The Nutcracker” as an intro to ballet. If you haven’t seen it, you need to. If you already have, then you know what a great version Mikko Nissinen puts together.
Mark Morris Dance Group
‘Dido and Aeneas’
May 28 through June 1
Cutler Majestic Theatre
219 Tremont St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Boylston
$37-$72, 617-482-6661
www.celebrityseries.org
This work is basically Mark Morris putting Silly Putty on a classic Henry Purcell story, and stretching it wayyyy out, and then bouncing all around with it, albeit gracefully.
www.improvasylum.com