Pretty Things Peep Show
Although society has, for the most part, relegated its voyeuristic indulgences to more technologically forward kinds of entertainment (think reality TV) there still exists a group of people who appreciate weirdness in its original medium: the stage. The Pretty Things Peep Show is precisely that: a live performance comprised of burlesque dancers, sword swallowers, little people walking on glass, contortionists, and a man hammering nails into his nasal cavity. A mixture of the lewd and the lascivious, this Vaudeville-inspired act is guaranteed to delight and amaze, as well as possibly inspire onlookers to pursue a career in sideshow entertainment as an alternative to their desk jobs. Featured performers include Donny Vomit, a mustachioed human blockhead and chainsaw juggler; Heather Holliday, a comely fire-eater and sword-swallower; and Go-Go Amy, a burlesque queen and contortionist. Other acts include Stoya, an aerialist deemed by Howard Stern as "The World's Strongest Naked Woman" and Lil' Miss Firefly, a woman of small stature, nerves of steel and the uncanny ability to escape straightjackets. These antics are accompanied by live music from Eddy Price, the "One-Man Band."
Wednesday, Feb. 15 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave, Lansing; theloftlansing.com; 7 p.m.; 18+; $10
Seussical, the Musical
Adapted from the magical Broadway original written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, Seussical has been a family favorite since 2000. The story mirrors the plot of Horton Hears a Who; in this musical, when Horton the elephant hears the tiny voice of the Whoville Mayor calling out for help from his planet, a speck of dust, Horton once again finds himself on a mission to rescue the denizens of Whoville. Horton resolves to protect the planet Who, which is constantly under the threat of demise because of its small size and fragility. JoJo, the wildly imaginative son of the Mayor, bonds with Horton over their shared plight as social outcasts. Amid problems of war, unrequited love and vanity, the pair teams up to save Whoville, and ultimately, Horton himself. Well-loved characters such as Gertrude McFuzz, the Grinch, Mayzie LaBird, and Vlad Vladikoff both help and hinder Horton's efforts along the way, as the Cat in the Hat narrates the action. The show references many of Dr. Seuss's most beloved works, including Green Eggs and Ham, Oh the Places You'll Go!, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, McElligot's Pond, and others.
Saturday, Feb. 11 @ Great Cobb Hall, Wharton Center, Wilson Rd., East Lansing; 1:30 p.m.; 517.353.1982; whartoncenter.com; $8
Comedian Dave Attell at Connxtions
Dave Attell's particular brand of comedy — which is characterized by unexpected turns, non-sequitor conclusions and an inordinate amount of adult humor - is puzzlingly hilarious. For example, Attell explains how to rectify being lost: "If I need directions," he says, "I'm not asking a man with one tooth, I'm asking a man with one leg, because he definitely knows the easiest way to get there." The Comedy Central veteran, whose resume includes writing gigs for "The Daily Show" and "Saturday Night Live," is appearing at Connxtions to inject a dose of much-needed levity into a bleak and bleary February. Attell is best known for his Comedy Central show, "Insomniac with Dave Attell," which documents his inebriated evening escapades in various cities: he harasses fellow night owls in bars and strip clubs, bail bondsmen and coal miners on their night shifts, and random stumbling drunks on city streets. His stand-up act draws on that same brand of after-dark subject matter; sensitive ears may wither from the onslaught of obscenity, while the rest of us will laugh until our stomachs hurt.
Friday, Feb.17 @ Connxtions Comedy Club, 2900 N East St, Lansing; 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.; 517.374.4242; connxtionscomedyclub.com; $31.50
Banish Winter Gloom with Colorful Art Classes
Brighten up your world by creating colorful, textured collages at the Lansing Art Gallery's Adult Student Series. Lansing-born Bria Mingus will lead the three-class series in February; she is known for her vibrant paintings and collages, which draw upon a variety of techniques to create multi-faceted mixed media pieces that resonate with an antique, yet modern, feel. Of her creative process she has said, "In making my paintings I strive to find a balance between grungy, ephemeral elements and the vibrancy of modern paint. My art tells the story of a forgotten piece of paper, photo or other ephemera and how it has survived in our 21st-century society." Students will learn about texturing methods, visual detailing and color schemes, as well as how to work with acrylic media, ephemera and paper. In crafting their own interpretations of collage and mixed media, students will enjoy a creative release and a broader understanding of this intricate art form.
Feb. 9, 16 & 23 @ Lansing Art Gallery, 119 N. Washington Sq., Lansing; 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.; 517-374-6400; lansingartgallery.org; three classes are $100 for members, $110 non-members
