Please call the phone number listed with the venue for specific dates, times and ticket information.
dance
LUIS BRAVO'S TANGOS This show depicts the longing and despair surrounding the culture of tango. Warning: Before jabbing the rose in your mouth, cut off the thorns. Take it from folks who learned the hard way. Runs through April 27, $30-$45, Zellerbach Theatre, Annenberg Center, UPenn, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900.
NEW EDGE MIX Experience the spring mix, offering dance, theater and music to enliven your senses. Watch for performances by dancer/choreographer Meg Foley, Gabrielle Revlock, Craig Scull and theater artist Miranda Thompson. Runs through April 30, $8-$10, Community Education Center, 3500 Lancaster Ave., 215-387-1911.
PENNSYLVANIA BALLET II The PA Ballet performs excerpts from its repertoire as you chillax amongst the flowers. Price includes gardens admission, Sun, April 30, $6-$14, Longwood Gardens, US Rt. 1, Kennett Sq., 610-388-1000.
PHILADANCO 46TH ANNUAL DANCE RECITAL Despite a devastating fire that demolished its branch location, Philadanco is ready to fire up crowds at Tweeter, with styles ranging from ballet to hip hop and dancers from preschoolers to adults, Sun, April 30, $20-$35, Tweeter Center, Delaware River Waterfront, Camden, NJ, 215-387-8202.
SPOTLIGHT DANCES Features UArts' student dance performances. Runs through April 30, $7-$10, Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St., 215-732-5446.
theater
ADVENTURES OF A BOY AND HIS DOG IN OUTER SPACE Sure to please the kiddies, Boy and Dog blast into outer space and encounter uncharted planets and alien life forms. Runs through April 30, $15, Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St., 215-925-7686.
AGNES OF GOD Luna Theater Company presents John Pielmeier's play, featuring four-time Barrymore Award nominee Hazel Bowers. It blurs the boundaries between the mind and the spirit through a mystery about a young woman. Runs through May 28, $10-$27, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-704-0033.
THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST The Philadelphia premiere of Tom Donaghy's black comedy focuses on a suburban dream gone wrong. Runs through May 13, $15, Allens Lane Theater, Allens Ln. & McCallum St., Mt. Airy, 215-248-0546.
THE BIGGEST BOX OF CRAYONS Crayons really do matter when you're a kid. In this play, three generations of men wrestle with family memories, some real, others imagined, and some most likely having to do with crayons. Runs through May 7, $18-$20, Mum Puppettheatre, 115 Arch St., 215-635-2137.
CARYL CHURCHILL FESTIVAL Two full productions (A Number and Cloud 9), five free public readings and a symposium are slated for this festival, which celebrates the pioneering career of playwright Caryl Churchill. Visit www.wilmatheater.org for more info. Runs through June 4, $10-$49, Wilma Theater, Broad & Spruce sts., 215-546-7824.
THE CHERRY ORCHARD Glimpse Anton Chekhov's serio-comic masterpiece, as translated by director Yaga Brady. Runs through May 6, $12-$15, Stagecrafters Theater, 8130 Germantown Ave., 215-247-8881.
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Got ADD? See 38 Shakespearean plays in 97 minutes. You'll never need Cliffs Notes again!. Runs through May 19, $10-$25, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, 2111 Sansom St., 215-496-8001.
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN Rob Becker's Broadway hit takes Philly by storm, mining the commonplaces of relationships and humorously examining contemporary feminism and masculine sensitivity. Local favorite Vince Valentine stars as the Caveman. Runs through May 6, $29.50-$44.50, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 S. Broad St., 215-731-3333.
DRAMAMINE HIGH ETC's latest production is as obsessed with teen cliches as it is hip and entertaining. Can snobs, cheerleaders, drama kids, nerds, and stoners come together at last, or will they turn against each other and ruin the school play? It's like "Dawson's Creek" meets "Daria" live on stage. Runs through April 30, $15, Shubin Theatre, 407 Bainbridge St., 800-572-7009.
FIDDLER ON THE ROOF It would not be Tradition! if you missed this musical. Let Yenta make you a match; sit back, and watch as a peasant and his wife agonize over the impending marriages of their three daughters. Runs through May 13, $10-$20, The Players Club Theatre, Fairview Rd. & Rte. 320, Swarthmore, 610-328-4271.
FRED AND JANE Part of Villanova's weeklong celebration of Ireland and Irish culture, this Sebastian Barry play examines a deep abiding friendship between two nuns in Ireland. Runs through April 30, $7-$10, Vasey Hall, Villanova University, Villanova, 610-519-7474.
FREE! THE UNTOLD STORIES The multimedia production dramatizes amazing slave escape dramas, like the story of a woman who mailed herself to freedom. Runs through April 29, $5, Church of the Advocate, 1801 W. Diamond St., 215-232-4485.
GUNMETAL BLUES The swanky film noir jazz musical is all about murder, money and intrigue --just like the 1940s detective movies it was inspired by. Runs through April 30, $28-$60, George Street Playhouse, 9 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, 732-246-7717.
KILLER JOE White trash people are awesome! The trailers, the bad hair, the Natty light --what more could you want? That's why this rollicking black comedy --about a trashy Dallas family --promises to be a great time. Runs through May 28, $15-$25, 2nd Stage @ the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 215-922-4462.
THE KINKS — A ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY The music of legendary Ray Davies and the Kinks provides spark and momentum for this thrilling theatrical performance. Think: Lola, la-la-la-la Lola. Runs through April 29, Tickets are $16 General Admission and $8 Senior Citizens & Students, Philadelphia Arts Bank, 601 S. Broad St., 215-515-1664.
LITTLE WOMEN See Meg, Jo, Beth, Marmie, Laurie, and Amy on stage like you've never seen them before. The classic Louisa May Alcott book comes to life in a full-scale Broadway production. Runs through May 7, $25-$72.50, Merriam Theater, 250 S. Broad St., 215-336-1234.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING Love! Sex! Conspiracy! Men in tights!. Runs through May 21, $10-$25, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, 2111 Sansom St., 215-496-9722.
A MURDER, A MYSTERY AND A MARRIAGE Adapted from a short story by Mark Twain, the loves, hopes and foibles of small-town America are presented. Runs through May 14, $25-$45, Delaware Theatre Company, 200 Water St., Wilmington, DE, 302-594-1100.
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD Audience participation is key in discovering whodunnit in Charles Dickens' classic unfinished mystery. Plus, there's song-and-dance routines to spice things up. Runs through May 6, $7-$10, Dennis Flyer Memorial Theatre, Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ, 856-227-7200.
NATURAL HISTORY Using themes of evolution and mating rituals, the play follows families as they search for the answers to some of life's most challenging questions. Runs through May 7, $26, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.
OUT OF SIGHT Juggling lesbians, anyone? Acclaimed solo performer Sara Felder presents a play about a blind mother and her daughter, including how they learn to "see" each other, and their world, in new ways. P.S. Felder juggles and uses shadow puppets. Nifty. Runs through April 29, 8pm, $12.50-$25, Painted Bride Art Center, 230 Vine St., 215-925-9914.
PEACE PRIZE The play presupposes that dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and social activist Henri Dunant knew each other and depicts the conversation playwright Sharon Farrell argues they should have had. If you're a history buff --or if you just like to blow things up --this is the play for you. Runs through April 29, $15-$20, Mason Gross Performing Arts Center, 85 George St., New Brunswick, 732-932-7511.
PROOF Before the 2005 Gwyneth Paltrow/Anthony Hopkins film, there was the Tony award winning play by David Auburn --a colorful trek through the mind of a genius succumbing to madness --and the daughter coping with losing him. Runs through May 27, $17-$25, The Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, NJ, 856-858-5230.
REINVENTING EDEN Barrymore-winner Seth Rozin's drama about the personal and political implications of genetic tampering with human embryos. What if you could make your future child smarter, better looking, more talented? Would you?. Runs through May 7, $15-$25, InterAct Theater Company, 2030 Sansom St., 215-568-8077.
RICHARD III What's a war-mongering tyrant to do? Deception, seduction, intrigue and betrayal surround the reign of gleeful villain Richard III. Runs through April 30, $14-$28, St. Stephen's Theater, 10th and Ludlow sts., 215-829-9002.
A SKULL IN CONNEMARA When an old gravedigger has to clear out bodies in an Irish village cemetery to make rooms for new ones, he is forced to dig up his late wife. Soon, rumors about her untimely death begin swirling around the village. Runs through May 7, $15-$16, Centre Theatre, 208 DeKalb Street, Norristown, 610-279-1013.
SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE Put on your poodle skirt. Leiber and Stoller's rock 'n roll musical revue includes some of the greatest songs of the 1950s era, from their "Stand By Me" and "Jail House Rock" to "Hound Dog.". Runs through May 13, $20-$25, Academy Theatre, 146 Rt. 130, Bordentown, NJ, 609-291-9000.
THE STINKY CHEESE MAN & OTHER FAIRLY STUPID TALES Critics and audiences --especially young ones --love this parody of traditional fairy tales. Haven't you ever wondered what would happen if Cinderella bumped into Rumplestiltskin?. Runs through June 11, $14-$30, Arden Theatre Company, 40 N. 2nd St., 215-922-1122.
THE TEMPEST Get ready for some stormy weather --Bard style. Shakespeare's classic tale of wind, rain and adventure will blow you away. (Was that too corny?). Runs through May 20, $25, Philadelphia Shakespeare Festival, 2111 Sansom St., 215-496-9722.
TITANIC "You'll never let go? Oh please. Of course you'll let go! I'll freeze to death and sink, then you'll run off with that hot young Frenchman I saw rowing for the shore. Because he has a floating dresser and I don't. Women!. Runs through May 28, $22-$39, Media Theater for the Performing Arts, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100.
TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING What better way to dance and mingle with real actors than in this interactive Broadway musical? Hey, it beats going to a real wedding; there's no registry. Show includes dinner, live music and a cruise. Runs through Aug. 25, $79, Spirit of Philadelphia, Penn's Landing, Pier 3, 1-800-660-8462.
THE TRANSPOSED HEADS Revanta Sarabhai, a senior at UArts, presents her original show. Sarabhai uses puppetry, movement, and theatre to portray an ancient Indian tale whose message rings true in the modern world, Sun, April 30, FREE, Drake Theater, University of the Arts, 1512 Spruce St., 215-717-6322.
TRYING Behold the biography of native Philadelphian and Attorney General Francis Biddle, who served his post under the FDR administration. The play looks backward from Biddle's viewpoint as an aging, cantankerous man trying to get his life in order. Runs through April 30, $10-$55, Walnut Street Theatre, 9th & Walnut sts., 215-574-3550.
YEMAYA'S BELLY Twelve-year-old Jesus lives in the Caribbean and dreams of the U.S. Will he get there with help from Yemaya, the mothering goddess of the sea --or will be become the next Elian?. Runs through May 7, $17-$24, People's Light & Theatre Company, 39 Conestoga Rd., Malvern, 610-644-3500.
opera
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO Attention fans of Mozart and/or other dead men in wigs: The Opera Company of Philadelphia is presenting a multimedia look at The Marriage of Figaro, one of the guru's most popular compositions. Celebrated performer Wayne Conner helps out, Sun, April 30, 3-5pm, $5, Doubletree Hotel, Broad & Locust sts., 215-893-3600.
RIGOLETTO The AVA's production of Giuseppe Verdi's acclaimed story of love, abduction and throwing bodies in the river sounds like an episode of The Sopranos, minus the Jersey strip club. Who needs strippers when there's a character named Sparafucile? Runs April 28-May 4, $25-$80, AVA Helen Corning Warden Theater, 1920 Spruce St., 215-735-1685.
VERDI'S ERNANI Calling all Hunchback of Notre Dame fans: Based on another of Victor Hugo's famous works, Ernani recounts the escapades of a bandit and his love Elvira. The opera is known for its musical complexity. Runs April 23-30, 2:30pm, $10-$20, The Garden Church, Trinity Lansdowne United Methodist, 82 North Lansdowne Ave., Lansdowne, 215-224-0257.
cabaret
CALL IT...CABARET Life beating the crap out of you lately? Try the only real cure for depression: alcohol and classic TV songs. Local vocalist Heidi Hayes puts on the show while you drink --heavily. Fri & Sat, April 28-29, 8:30pm, $25, Red Room at Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th St., 215-923-0210.
LATE NITE SNACK Get your midnight theater fix with Madhouse's monthly comedy extravaganza, featuring short sketches, fringey comedy, Bush skewering, short parodies of commercials and so much more. Last Friday of every month, through June 30, 11pm, $10, Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St., 877-985-2844.
LE CABARET MELANGE A funky music, dance and performance art show. Every Fri, 7pm, $10, Monte Carlo Living Room, 150 South St., 267-456-3050.
