Friday, December 30
The year that wasn’t
WHAT: Happy Crazy New Year
WHERE: Gremline Theatre, St. Paul
WHEN: 7:30 p.m.
This is where all the cool theatre kids will be celebrating New Year’s—for three days, starting Friday night. Luverne Seifert directs this madcap assembly of physical-theatre standouts, ostensibly recounting an outrageous dinner party. Learn more at happymn.com
Friday, December 30
Holidays on ice
WHAT: Wells Fargo WinterSkate
WHERE: Landmark Center, St. Paul
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The coolest skating party in town returns for another season. Skating is free on the oval outside the Landmark Center—a beautiful backdrop at night for your triple salchows. Learn more at wellsfargowinterskate.com
Saturday, December 31
Gee Lizz
WHAT: Lizz Winstead’s Bang the Dumb Slowly
WHERE: Parkway Theater, Minneapolis
WHEN: 7 and 9:30 p.m.
The Daily Show co-creator returns to her hometown for this no-holds-barred throwdown on the year that was—including Herman Cain, Michele Bachmann, the Vikings, the Kardashians, and anyone else who crossed her line of fire. A buffet, drink specials, and after party are also included. Learn more at brownpapertickets.com
Saturday, December 31
Shooshing into the new year
WHAT: Buck Hill’s New Year’s Eve Bash
WHERE: Buck Hill, Burnsville
WHEN: 6 p.m.
The family-friendly night features live bands, magicians, fireworks at midnight, and, of course, plenty of snowboarding and skiing. Learn more at buckhill.com
Sunday, January 1
They’ll leave the lights on for you
WHAT: Winterlights at the Purcell-Cutts House
WHERE: Purcell-Cutts House, Minneapolis
WHEN: Tours every hour starting at 12:30 p.m. ending at 4:30 p.m.
The Prairie School-style home is decorated for the holidays and docents lead 45-minute tours describing the original inhabitants’ progressive, upper-middle-class Christmas traditions. Learn more at artsmia.org
Sunday, January 1
Start the year right
WHAT: The Soul of Gershwin
WHERE: Park Square Theatre, St. Paul
WHEN: 2 p.m.
Ease into the new year with this fun and sophisticated show about Gershwin’s early influences in New York: Yiddish theatre, folk music, and jazz, with terrific singing and acting from T. Mychael Rambo, Peter Moore, Maggie Burton, Michael Paul Levin, and Prudence Johnson. See our review of The Soul of Gershwin here, and learn more about the show at parksquaretheatre.org
