Nut/Cracked, performed by The Bang Group at Kaatsbaan in Tivoli, New York, this Friday and Saturday, is a smart, funny reimagining of The Nutcracker that draws not only on familiar musical references but also on the choreographic legacy of productions by the Boston Ballet and New York City Ballet.

December 25th is one of the biggest days of the year for movie theaters. Here are two major new releases you should have on your Christmas Day list.

“The Cottage” is a comedy set in England in 1923. It was written in this century and made its debut on Broadway in 2023. That it was directed by Jason Alexander, who gained fame playing George in “Seinfeld”, gives you a good idea about the humor in the play.

Ariel Elias brings her unique comic vantage point to the Mahaiwe’s Indigo Room in Great Barrington, Mass., tonight at 8pm.

If you ever wondered why “A Christmas Carol” has endured for almost two centuries you should visit an almost secret alleyway in downtown Troy. At The Waiting Room there is a very special presentation of the Charles Dickens’ classic story taking place.

In theater, the equivalent of the Holy Grail is a Christmas show that can be performed on an annual or near-annual basis. Of course, “ A Christmas Carol” heads the list.

Anyone in need of cheer this holiday season will find it at Capital Repertory Theatre. They are offering the charming and clever “Murder for Two: the Holiday Edition,” through December 28th. It’s a guaranteed smile inducer.

Winterpills brings its gauzy, elegant chamber-pop to Park Theater in Hudson, N.Y., on Saturday at 8pm. Based in Northampton, Mass., and known for their melancholy sound and sublime male-female vocal harmonies, the core of the band, formed in 2003, consists of singer-songwriter Philip Price and singer-keyboardist Flora Reed, who are also husband and wife.

"The Mummy", "George of the Jungle", "Journey to the Center of the Earth" and Best Picture Oscar winner "Crash" are just some of the films that made Brendan Fraser one of the most popular actors of the '90s and 2000s.

This week is not only Thanksgiving, it’s also the start of the holiday season. There is an abundance of things to do between Thanksgiving and Christmas. So much so that many worthy events go under the radar and can easily be missed.