OPENING
BREAD AND PUPPET THEATER | The venerable political troupe headed by Peter Schumann and featuring giant papier mâché puppets comes to town with its "sourdough philosophy spectacle and circus." The Boston Center for the Arts presents the engagement, which includes performances, an art exhibit, and a "cheap art sale," as part of its Cyclorama Residency Series. Topping the bill is the adult-oriented show, Tear Open the Door of Heaven, which, we're told, "is a pink-and-blue puppet show about Heaven and its effects on the Underneath, presented by the practitioners of the brand-new papier mâché religion. The play features over-life-size puppets representing God, his daughter and stepdaughter, a US president and his war-waging office, mountaintop-removal protesters, money-printing artists, and stargazers of the North East Kingdom of Vermont." The family-oriented Dirt Cheap Money Circus "features the billionaire bonus celebration dance, the logic of the US health-care system, the history of humanity and the removal of a mountaintop — all of it interspersed with appearances by Karl Marx, who confronts the 2010 economic situation with his existential thoughts about money and our relationship to it." There's also a virtual-art installation created by Schumann (opening reception January 25: 6-8 pm). | BCA Cyclorama, 527 Tremont St, Boston | 866.811.4111 | January 25-31 | Curtain Tear Open the Door of Heaven 7 pm Thurs-Sun | $12; $10 students, seniors | Curtain Dirt Cheap Money Circus 4 pm Sat-Sun | $10; $5 students, seniors; free children under 2 | Art exhibit free
I AM HAMLET | Brian Morey, "international performing artist and NYU Tisch School graduate," plays Hamlet, Horatio, King Claudius, Ophelia, Polonius, and gravedigger Derroch Death in this one-man show with musical score (which he composed) that's "written" (didn't the Bard write it?) and directed by Joe Siracusa and includes "a series of quick magic-trick costume changes." | Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont St, Boston |www.iamhamlet.com| January 26-31 | Curtain 7:30 pm Tues-Thurs | 8 pm Fri-Sat | 2 pm Sun | $20
MARK TWAIN TONIGHT! | Hal Holbrook tonight! Mark Twain, of course, is an immortal, and Hal seems well on his way, having done this one-man show for more than 50 years. | Lincoln Theater, 200 Bloomfield Ave, West Hartford, Connecticut | 860.527.5151 orwww.hartfordstage.org| January 23 | Curtain 7:30 pm | $55-$70; $125 premier seating includes dessert reception with Holbrook
"A NIGHT AT THE CABARET" | The Longwood Players present this evening of musical entertainment featuring Ethan Butler, Janet Ferreri, Paul Giragos, Sarah Jones, Rob Klimeczko, Steven Kosakow, Siobhaun Maus, Katie Pickett, April Pressel, Don Ringuette, Rachel Savage, and Adam Sutton, with accompanists Karin Denison (piano) and Ben Reynolds (bass). "Complimentary wine and cheese will be served." | Cambridge YMCA Family Theater, 820 Mass Ave, Cambridge | 800.595.4TIX orwww.longwoodplayers.org| January 23 | Curtain 8 pm | $17 advance; $20 doors
STONE SOUP: A HEARTY THEATRICAL | New Exhibition Room's midwinter theatrical "brings together a sampling of local artists creating a healthy helping of musical and theatrical wonders to warm your generous spirits." After the performance, you're invited to stay for dancing. Proceeds will go toward NER's next free original production, Candyland, and the entry of its first show, Shh!, into the upcoming New York Fringe Festival. | Oberon, 2 Arrow St, Cambridge | January 26 | Curtain 8 pm | $15 advance; $20 doors
