Winter is over! Spring is here! It’s time to dance and sing and rejoice by watching professionals dance and sing and rejoice.
I’ve never been happier to reveal the Herald’s spring arts preview. Go out and embrace life (and the arts) like you survived the worst winter in Boston history — because you did!
•?“City of Angels,” Lyric Stage, through May 2: Take in a musical about a novelist attempting to write a screenplay in 1940s Hollywood. Follow the misadventures of a young writer and his film alter ego, a glorious gumshoe haunted by the one who got away. It has guys and dolls and all that jazz.
•?Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Citi Wang Theatre, through Sunday: Artistic Director Robert Battle expands the aesthetic reach of the world’s leading modern dance troupe with exciting new works while retaining the core choreography that has made the company so iconic.
•?The Hypocrites’ “The Mikado,” Oberon, Cambridge, Tuesday-April 5: Personally, my favorite Gilbert and Sullivan work is “H.M.S. Pinafore” (as done by Sideshow Bob on “The Simpsons”). But Groucho Marx, Eric Idle and Dudley Moore all adored “The Mikado.” This Chicago theater company’s take on the musical is supposed to be a fun, fabulous adaptation.
•?The Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble, T.T. the Bear’s Place, Cambridge, April 12-May 1: The Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble is more a festival than a battle of the bands. It’s a celebration of the scene put on annually by WZLX DJ Anngelle Wood. No losers, but there is a winner. Come for the early rounds and find your new favorite band (no, seriously, early eliminated acts have included Apollo Sunshine, Freezepop, Morphine, The Lemonheads and Mission of Burma).
•?Ruby Rose Fox with the Motels, Beverly, Natick, New York and beyond, April 13-April 24: Road trip! Finally singer/songwriter/collector-of-amazing-pant-suits Ruby Rose Fox gets out of town. Fox will spend a couple of weeks opening for the legendary Martha Davis and the Motels (you know, “Only the Lonely,” “Suddenly Last Summer,” “Shame”). Can’t hit the road? See the tag team April 22 at Larcom Theatre in Beverly or April 24 at The Center for Arts in Natick.
•?Women in Comedy Festival, throughout Boston and Cambridge, April 22-26: Over the past seven years, this fledgling fest has developed into an institution. As we’ve come to expect, the 2015 edition will feature plenty of giants (Lily Tomlin, Jane Lynch) and up-and-comers (Mary Mack, Aparna Nancherla and dozens more).
•?“Dirty Dancing,” Citi Emerson Colonial Theatre, April 28-May 10: Have the time of your life with the greatest musical ever made from a Patrick Swayze movie (until they adapt “Road House” for Broadway, of course). The smash includes all the hits: “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby” and “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” Technically, it’s not a sing-along, but if you do Bill Medley’s part, I’m sure some brave soul will jump in and do Jennifer Warnes’ vocals.
•?“The Grand Parade,” the Paramount Center Mainstage, April 30-May 3: Inspired by artist Marc Chagall, this play chronicles the turning points of the 20th century though a spectacle of dance, acrobatics, circus acts and pop culture. Brought to you by Massachusetts’ Double Edge Theatre, a company famous for immersive, physical and passionate works of art.
•?“Bill Burr: Wilbur Week,” the Wilbur Theatre, May 9-18: Whoa, when did Canton’s own Bill Burr become big enough to headline a 1,200-seat room for a week? Oh, yeah, when he popped up on “Breaking Bad” in seasons four and five. Let’s not forget his turn as a dopey Irish dude from Southie in “The Heat” — typecast, but brilliantly so.
•?Together Boston, throughout Boston, Cambridge and Somerville, May 10-17; Before Daft Punk got lucky and an EDM-format station took over WFNX’s 101.7 signal, Together Boston put on the city’s first music, arts and tech fest in 2010. This year, Together continues to expand beyond dance with panels, parties and collaborative art projects (and loads of international EDM acts).
•?“The Last Two People on Earth: An Apocalyptic Vaudeville,” Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge, May 12-31: After a flood of biblical proportions, two survivors — Mandy Patinkin and Taylor Mac — run through the history of humankind with music from Stephen Sondheim, Queen, R.E.M. (obviously) and many more. Think of it as “Waiting for Godot” with song and dance numbers.
•?Kiss Concert, Xfinity Center, Mansfield, May 16: Let your corporate pop freak flag fly and dance the night away. This year’s installment of the Kiss 108 blowout features Flo Rida, Zedd, Ne-Yo, Fifth Harmony, Jason Derulo, Nick Jonas, Betty Who, Natalie La Rose and more.
