Performing Arts

Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information.

dance

• backward and in heels Known for their sexy and comic performances, David Parker and the Bang Group perform this show along with young Philadelphia dancers that includes selections from their "Annie Get your Gun" suite. Runs through Jan. 26, $25, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914.
• CHAPEL/CHAPTER This 2007 Bessie Award-winner featuring the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company uses contemporary dance to explore the uneasy distance created by the disturbing, sometimes incomprehensible news items of our media-saturated era. Runs through Jan. 30, $32-$46, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-6791.
• DANCING THROUGH TIME The Drexel Dance Ensemble presents this winter concert featuring student choreographed pieces as well as works by program director Miriam Giguere, Philadelphia choreographer Stephen Welsh and Cuban avant-garde choreographer Marianela Boan. Runs through Jan. 26, 8pm, $5-$8, Mandell Theater, Drexel University, 33rd & Chestnut sts., 215-895-2453.

  theater

• ADVENTURES IN THE SKIN TRADE Adapted by Stan Heleva from short stories by Dylan Thomas, this is the story of an 18-year-old writer who escapes from his country home and family in Wales for the fast times of London. Runs through Feb. 16, 8pm, $12-$18, Walking Fish Theatre, 2509 Frankford Ave., 215-427-2822.
• ART French playwright Yasmina Reza's comedy examines the human standards of both art and friendship. When Serge buys a piece of modern art — a canvas painted white — for a very high sum, it throws a kink into his relationships with his two best friends, Marc and Yvan. Directed by David Stradley. Runs through Feb. 10, $31-$220.50, Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water St., Wilmington, DE, 302-594-1100.
• AVENUE Q This Tony-award winning Broadway musical about life in New York City is told by a cast of people and puppets. Runs through Feb. 10, $31.50-$86.50, Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St., 215-923-1515.
• BLACK GOLD Written and directed by Seth Rozin, this vaudevillian play is a futuristic satire of race, class and greed in a country dependent on foreign oil. Follow Curtis Walker, an African-American man living in Detroit, whose purchase of an oil rig on eBay allows him to tap into one of America's largest oil reserves right under his own yard. Runs through Feb. 24, $15-$27, InterAct Theater Company, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8077.
• BLACK JOURNEY American Theater Arts for Youth presents this musical celebrating heritage and tradition. Runs through Feb. 11, $11-$12, Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-790-5800.
• CRISPIN THE CROSS OF LEAD Set in 1300s England, where plague and tyranny reign, this is the story of a young orphan with a price on his head. While running for his life he meets Bear, a traveling entertainer who becomes his protector and teacher. Directed by Andrew Belser. Runs through Feb. 24, $28, People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-644-3500.
• DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN This comedy by Rob Becker examines the ways men and women relate that has both sexes roaring with laughter and recognition. Runs through Feb. 2, $47, Innovation Studio, Kimmel Center, 260 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999.
• DOROTHY PARKER AND FRIENDS This celebration of the short story writer, critic and poet is staged in a party atmosphere. Directed by David O'Connor. Runs through Jan. 27, $10-$30, Hedgerow Theatre, 164 W. Rose Valley Rd., Media, 610-565-4211.
• ETHEL WATERS, HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW This drama tellls the story of Ethel Waters, an African-American jazz singer and actress. Born into poverty, her talent made her bothe a Broadway and Hollywood star. Directed by Susan Atkinson. Runs through Feb. 24, $10-$22, Hedgerow Theatre, 164 W. Rose Valley Rd., Media, 610-565-4211.
• THE FANTASTICKS The Cadillac Broadway Series brings America's longest running musical to the Kimmel Centerís Innovation Studio. In the classic coming-of-age, two youths will do just about anything to find true love. Runs through Feb. 24, $47, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999.
• GOING TO BRAZIL AND OTHER RAMBLES Tom Bissinger's performance piece, based on a soon-to-be-published collection of writings, takes the audience from a swimming pool in Sao Paulo to a hallucinogenic night-time sea journey on the San Francisco Bay. Sat, Jan. 26, 8pm, $15, Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., 215-514-7508.
• GRACE Murder, romance, faith and betrayal make for a darkly funny play by Craig Wright. The story examines the marriage of an intensely Christian couple, their disfigured neighbor, a shaky business deal and the way religious ideas make sense — and sometimes nonsense — of it all. Runs through Feb. 17, $5-$35, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.
• HEAVEN KNOWS This musical comedy follows Kate St. Clair, a neurotic actress who thinks she knows it all, until she meets someone who really does. In an assortment of incarnations, God takes Kate on a ride through her life, loves and lunacies. Runs through Feb. 2, $10, Westminster Arts Center, Bloomfield College, Franklin & Fremont sts., Bloomfield, NJ, 973-748-9000.
• HERE ON THE FLIGHT PATH Written by Canadian playwright Norm Fisher, this play follows a desperate man's painstaking attempts at seduction, providing an evening of humor and pathos. Directed by Christopher Wunder. Runs through Jan. 27, $12, Old Academy Players, 3544 Indian Queen Lane, 215-843-1109.
• INTIMATE APPAREL In this story by Lynn Nottage, a black woman in turn-of-the-century New York City earns money by creating the kind of panties she could never afford. Eventually, however, she finds inner strength by realizing her own artistic merit. Directed by Catherine Pappas. Runs through Jan. 26, $15, Stagecrafters Theater, 8130 Germantown Ave., 215-247-8881.
• LEND ME A TENOR This farce revolves around tenor Tito Merelli. He's scheduled to sing the lead in "Otello," but chaos soon ensues, setting off a chain-reaction of confusion, plot twists, double entendre and innuendoes. Runs through Feb. 24, $20-$47, The New Candlelight Theatre, 2208 Millers Rd., Ardentown, DE, 302-475-2313.
• M. BUTTERFLY Inspired by Puccini's opera David Henry Hwang's Tony Award-winning play explores the stereotypes that threaten relations between East and West — and men and women. Based on a true story about a French diplomat who falls in love with a Chinese opera singer, this play centers around lust, politics and betrayal. Directed by Joe Calarco. Runs through Feb. 24, $10-$58, Philadelphia Theatre Company, 230 S. 15th St., 215-985-0420.
• THE MISANTHROPE The Maukingbird Theatre presents Moliere's comedy about the hypocrisies of 17th-century French aristocracy with an all-male cast set in a gay society. Dito Van Reigersberg (aka Martha Graham Cracker) stars as Alceste, who is disgusted by the insincere men around him yet relentlessly pursues a narcissistic pretty boy. Runs through Feb. 2, $15-$20, Second Stage Theatre at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-563-4330.
• OSCAR AND THE PINK LADY Rosemary Harris — a Tony- and Emmy-award winner as well as Aunt May of the "Spiderman" trilogy — stars in this funny one-woman show about a volunteer in a children's hospital. Directed by Frank Dunlop. Runs through Feb. 10, $28-$64, George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, NJ, 732-246-7717.
• THE PRICE This new production of Arthur Miller's classic features Philadelphia native and Tony Award-nominee Robert Prosky. After not speaking for 16 years, two brothers come together to sell their parents' posessions. They end up battling about much more than heirlooms and are forced to go over painful memories in front of the furniture dealer. Directed by Michael Carleton. Runs through March 2, $10-$57.50, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.
• ROOSTERS Theatre Exile presents this story of a father's return home after seven years in jail for manslaughter. Directed by Deborah Block. Runs through Feb. 24, $18-$30, Christ Church, 20 N. American St., 215 922-4462.
• SLEEPING BEAUTY This play for families puts a modern, comedic spin on the classic tale of happily-ever-after. Runs through Jan. 27, $14-$30, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.
• SOUVENIR Ann Crumb stars in this play about the legendary Philadelphia socialite Florence Foster Jenkins, a soprano who became famous for her complete lack of rhythm, pitch, tone and overall singing ability. Runs through Feb. 17, $22-$39, The Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100.
• THE TEMPEST Shakespeare's classic dramatic comedy is a tale of mystery, magic, romance and vengeance among a collection of castaways on a deserted island. Runs through Feb. 2, $15, Footlighter's Playhouse, 808 Pomona Rd, Cinnaminson, NJ, 856-829-7144.
• THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE This Tony Award-winning musical tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who comes to New York City to marry for money instead of love. Even more problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a white slavery ring in China. Runs through Feb. 16, $23-$26, The Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon, NJ, 856-858-5230.
• THE VICIOUS CIRCLE Presented as a staged reading, this new play by Michael Gerhardt covers the lives of three authors who are famous "Algonquin Round Table" during the 1920s and '30s. Runs through Jan. 26, $12, Footlighters Theater, 58 Main Ave., Berwyn, 610-296-9245.
• WELCOME HOME, MARIAN ANDERSON Written by and starring Vanessa Shaw, this is the story of Philadelphia native Marian Anderson, an African-American singer who overcame racial bias with talent and dignity. Runs through Feb. 10, $15-$42, Bristol Riverside Theatre, Radcliffe & Market sts., Bristol, 215-785-0100.
• WITTENBEREG Set in 1517, this battle of wits features the imaginary meeting of a man of God (church reformer Martin Luther), a man rebelling against God (Dr. Faustus) and a young man searching for moral guidance (Shakespeare's Hamlet himself). The showdown of reason versus faith tells the story behind the stories we all know. Directed by J.R. Sullivan. Runs through March 16, $27-$45, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.

  cabaret

• THE SWINING Pig Iron's annual benefit Cabaret and auction features guest clowns, dancers, pet tricks and songs, as well as opportunities to win tickets, trapeze lessens, vacations and more. Fri, Jan. 25, 7pm, $20-$50, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE.