THEATER
Annie Media Theater presents the musical starring out comedian and TV star Wanda Sykes, starring as Miss Hannigan through Dec. 12 and Jan. 12-16, 104 E. State St., Media; (610) 891-0100.
The Borrowers Arden Theatre Company presents an adaptation of the beloved children’s novel, through Jan. 30 on the F. Otto Haas Stage, 40 N. Second St.; (215) 922-1122.
Caesar’s Palace O’ Fun The Walnut Street Theatre presents a musical variety show centered on an outrageous lounge lothario, through Jan. 2 at Independence Studio on 3. 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
I Capture The Castle The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey presents the romantic comedy about 17-year-old budding writer Cassandra and her eccentric family, who live in a crumbling 17th-century English castle, through Jan. 2, 36 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J.; (973) 408-5600.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol The Walnut Street Theatre presents the classic Christmas story through Dec. 18, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Walnut Street Theatre presents an all-new production of the holiday Broadway musical, through Jan. 9, 825 Walnut St.; (215) 574-3550.
Jersey Boys The Kimmel Center’s Broadway series presents the award-winning musical about Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, through Dec. 12 at Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut St.; (215) 790-5847.
My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy Society Hill Playhouse presents the comedic one-man show through Dec. 12, 507 S. Eighth St.; (215) 923-0210.
Parenting 101: The Musical! The musical comedy about the various stages of raising children, through March 6 at Kimmel’s Innovation Studio, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Scrooge: The Musical The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future join to transform Ebenezer Scrooge from the meanest skinflint that ever lived to a warm and caring human being in this holiday musical, through Dec. 19 at Ritz Theatre, 915 White Horse Pike, Haddon Township, N.J.; (856) 858-5230.
The Santaland Diaries Flashpoint Theatre Company presents an adaptation of out humorist David Sedaris’ comedic look at the holidays, through Dec. 19 at Second Stage at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom St.; (215) 568-8077.
This is the Week That Is 1812 Productions presents the smash news comedy returning for its fifth year, through Dec. 31 at Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey St.; (215) 592-9560.
MUSIC
Nicole Reynolds The out singer-songwriter performs with out artists Liz Kelly and Julia Read at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Tin Angel, 20 S. Second St.; (215) 928-0770.
Holiday Pops! Peter Nero and the Philly Pops perform a holiday-themed selection of songs, through Dec. 22 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Spano Conducts Sibelius The Philadelphia Orchestra performs with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet, 2 p.m. Dec. 10 and 12 and 8 p.m. Dec. 11 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Go Tell It on the Mountain The Blind Boys of Alabama perform a Christmas show at 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside; (215) 572-7650.
John Grant The out singer-songwriter and former Czars singer performs at 10 p.m. Dec. 10 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Lizanne Knott and Friends Fifth Annual Philabundance Benefit The singer-songwriter performs at 9 p.m. Dec. 11 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Comfort & Joy Holiday Jazz Concert Vocalist Mary Ellen Desmond performs a holiday concert to benefit St. Luke’s Hospitality Center and the Fikelela AIDS Project of Capetown, 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany, 330 S. 13th St.; (215) 732-9346.
Rufus Wainwright The out singer-songwriter performs at 8 p.m. Dec. 14 at The Grand Opera House, 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, Del.; (302) 652-5577.
Glorious Sound of Christmas The Philadelphia Orchestra performs holiday classics at 7 p.m. Dec. 16-18 at Kimmel’s Verizon Hall, 260 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Usher The R&B/pop singer performs at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 at Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.; (800) 298-4200.
EXHIBITS
Art of the American Soldier The National Constitution Center presents the world-debut exhibition of over 15,000 paintings and sketches created by 1,300 American soldiers in the line of duty, through Jan. 10, 525 Arch St.; (215) 409-6895.
Best of Show University of the Arts hosts an exhibition of The Photo Review 2010 Competition Prize Winners, through Dec. 10 at Gallery 1401, 14th floor of Terra Hall, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) 717-6300.
Between Now & Then AxD Gallery presents an exhibition of paintings by Matthew Ostroff and Amber Dubois, through Jan. 8, 265 S. 10th St.; (215) 627-6250.
Cleopatra: The Search for the Last Queen of Egypt The Franklin Institute presents an exhibition of 150 artifacts from Egypt, through Jan. 2, 20th Street and the Parkway; (215) 448-1200.
Eakins on Paper: John Folinsbee and American Modernism Woodmere Art Museum presents a fresh look at the New Hope painter’s life and work, revealing the artist’s move from impressionism toward modernism, through March 6, 9201 Germantown Ave.; (215) 247-0476.
Listen to My Story, See Through My Eyes: Stories from the Robert R. Rosenbaum Oral History Project The William Way LGBT Community Center presents video recordings of over 40 oral histories from local activists, celebrities and everyday people in the LGBT community, through Dec. 25, 1315 Spruce St.; (215) 732-2220.
Pleasures and Pastimes in Japanese Art Philadelphia Museum of Art presents an exhibition of costumes, masks and poetry exploring the ways in which leisure time was interpreted across all social classes in Japanese art, through January, 26th Street and the Parkway; (215) 763-8100.
The Visionary State: A Journey Through California’s Spiritual Landscape University of the Arts hosts an exhibition by photographer Michael Rauner taking the viewer on a tour of California’s more eccentric religious movements, through Dec. 10 at Gallery 1401, 15th floor of Terra Hall, 211 S. Broad St.; (215) 717-6300.
DANCE George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker The Pennsylvania Ballet performs the holiday-themed show through Dec. 31 at Kimmel’s Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St.; (215) 790-5847.
Mummenschanz The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents the world-famous abstract dance/performance troupe, Dec. 16-18 at Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.; (215) 898-3900.
FILM
The Big Gay Musical The best example of truth in advertising is screened at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
Inception The best movie we’ve seen all year is screened at 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St.; (215) 922-6888.
BOOKS
R. Tripp Evans The author of “Grant Wood: A Life” hosts a discussion at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.
Rahiem Brooks The author of “Laugh Now” hosts a discussion at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Giovanni’s Room, 345 S. 12th St.; (215) 923-2960.
Dean Marvin Lazerson The author of “Higher Education and the American Dream: Success and its Discontents” hosts a discussion at 4 p.m. Dec. 16 at Penn Bookstore, 3601 Walnut St.; (215) 898-7595.
CABARET
Madame with an E! The bawdy puppet, along with Rick Skye, performs at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
Eddie Bruce The cabaret singer performs at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
Michael Richard Kelly The cabaret singer performs at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
A Bridezilla X-Mess DJ K-Tell & The Dumpsta Players present a raucous holiday themed-show, at 11 p.m. Dec. 15 at Bob & Barbara’s, 1509 South St.; (215) 545-4511.
A “Lovely” Christmas Broadway veterans Kelly Briggs and Jerry Christakos perform their gender-bending cabaret-style musical comedy at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 at Bob Egan’s New Hope, Ramada Inn, 6426 Lower York Road, New Hope; (215) 862-5225.
AUDITIONS
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Auditions for new members of the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will be held 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2111 Sansom St.; contact [email protected] to schedule an audition time.
ETC
Joan Rivers The legendary comedian performs at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 at Harrah’s Chester, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Chester; (484) 490-1800.
First Person StorySlam Stories are told … forcefully at 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut St.; (215) 222-1400.
Morris Arboretum’s Holiday Garden Railway The holiday-themed quarter mile displays bustling model trains and buildings, through Jan. 2, 100 E. Northwestern Ave.; www.morrisarboretum.org.