The Lizard KingsTweaked and polished, Pig Iron's Obie-winner comes home to roost.
by A.D. Amorosi"Pig Iron's very familiar with an audience almost getting our work," says Sugg during rehearsals for this month's revamped production of writer Robert Quillen "Quill" Camp's Chekhov Lizardbrain
The NutcrackerDec. 12-31, $24-$129, Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St., 215-551-7000,
paballet.org.
by Janet AndersonBack off, D.C.: This show — the only local Nutcracker directly linked through Balanchine to the 1892 Tchaikovsky original — is one we'd like to keep for ourselves.
NaughtyOpening reception Fri., Dec. 11, 5-8 p.m., through Dec. 31, AxD Gallery, 265 S. 10th St., 215-627-6250, a-x-d.com.
by Josh MiddletonThe nearly-30-piece collection, a loose interpretation of The Night Before Christmas, follows "Nick" and all his bits and pieces as he does the nasty with a bunch of dudes on Christmas Eve.
Leah Stein Dance Co.Sat.-Sun., Dec. 12-13, 7:30 p.m., $10, Susan Hess Modern Dance, 2030 Sansom St., 215-438-2623,
leahsteindance.org.
by Shaun BradyBut with In Retrospect, the company enters an even more unexpected space — a dance studio.
This Is The Week That IsThrough Jan. 3, $20-$35, Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St., 215-592-9560,
1812productions.org.
by Mark Cofta"Back by popular demand" is often hyperbole, but not regarding This Is the Week That Is: The New Administration, the fourth installment of 1812 Productions' comedic skewering of current events.
Doré and GreyFri., Dec. 11, 9 p.m., $15-$20, Trocadero, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-6888,
doreandgrey.com.
by A.D. Amorosi"We wanted a performance that included all the elements we love in a show: an exciting space, a good story, quality acting, great music ... and a cocktail."
Space 1026 Art AuctionFri., Dec. 11, 7-10 p.m., free, 1026 Arch St., second floor,
space1026.com.
by A.D. AmorosiDonations have been pouring through the gallery's big mail slot every few hours, says artist/publisher/co-organizer Alex Lukas, and this year's work is of the highest caliber he's ever seen.