OPENING
ATTEMPTS ON HER LIFE | "Who is she? Martin Crimp's groundbreaking play paints a portrait of an identity fragmented by the lens of our modern world. In 17 disjointed scenes, Anne becomes a terrorist, a victim, the girl next door, a suicidal artist, a porn star, a brand of car, and, ultimately, none of the above." Matt Stone directs this Harvard-Radcliffe Dramatic Club production. | Loeb Drama Center Experimental Theater, 64 Brattle St, Cambridge | Attempts.in.the.Ex@gmail.com | November 13-21 | Curtain 7:30 pm Thurs-Sun | Free with RSVP
AVENUE Q | The 2004 Tony-winning musical about an idealistic, moneyless college grad and his neighbors — some of them people, some of them puppets — trying to get ahead in life and love in the Alphabet City neighborhood of New York makes a brief return visit after playing here in March of 2008. Avenue Q may not look like much, but it's a truly delightful address. Like the landmark locale of the Children's Television Workshop, it's friendly to people and puppets alike, its ramshackle edifices are rife with life lessons to be learned, and its currency of communication is the bouncy, upbeat tune. But on the title thoroughfare, the puppets get to have vigorous sex, the Bert stand-in really is gay, and the resident rapacious monster is addicted not to Pepperidge Farm but to Internet porn. For those who prefer their Mr. Rogers without Mr. Hammerstein and South Park to Sunday in the Park with Georges, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood! | Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St, Boston | 800.982.ARTS | November 17-22 | Curtain 7 pm Tues | 8 pm Wed-Fri | 2 + 8 pm Sat | 2 + 7:30 pm Sun | $42.50-$87.50
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS | The American Repertory Theater makes its first Loeb Drama Center appearance of the season with this holiday musical with book and lyrics by Randy Weiner and music by Obie winner Diedre Murray. Part of new ART artistic director Diane Paulus's "Shakespeare" season, it got a thumbs-up from the New York Times— "This rousing musical has taken the plot from The Winter's Tale, tossed out anything resembling Shakespearean language, and achieved a hypnotic effect with musical numbers that leave the audience whooping" — so never mind that the language is the best part of any Shakespeare play and just enjoy the R&B and gospel treats. The cast includes Gregg Baker, Mary Bond Davis, and Jeanette Bayardelle; Paulus herself directs. | Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St, Cambridge | 617.547.8300 | November 21–January 3 | Curtain 7:30 pm Tues-Wed | 2 pm [December 31] + 7:30 pm [no Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Eve] Thurs | 8 pm [no Christmas Day] Fri | 2 pm [no November 21, 28] + 8 pm Sat | 2 + 7:30 pm [no evening January 3] Sun | $25-$75; $15-$65 seniors; $20 student rush
