Stages of life
Lively theater scene heats up Boston winter
You think you’re cold now? Wait to feel the chill of queen bee teens in “The Wolves” or “School Girls.” Need to heat up? You’ll break a sweat just watching the talent from the Boston Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group or Cubic Zirconia Dancers. Whatever you need, Boston’s winter theater calendar has it. “The Wolves,” through Feb. 3, Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon St., lyricstage.com — As a girls suburban soccer team warms up, the players get introspective while attacking and defending one another. A finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize, this work portrays teenagers as complex, subtle and unique people. “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” through Feb. 3, Huntington Avenue Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave., huntingtontheatre.org — After leaving her family 15 years ago, Nora returns. And she needs help getting free from a judge who is blackmailing her. Maybe her family will help, but, c’mon Nora, it’s been a while. Inspired by Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 play “A Doll’s House,” Lucas Hnath’s Tony
Award-nominated Broadway comedy looks at modern marriage and its changing traditions. “Othello,” Jan. 13-Feb. 9, Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, americanrepertorytheater.org — In 2018, the American Repertory Theater took long, hard looks at race with “Barber Shop Chronicles,” “The Black Clown” and “Jagged Little Pill.” They keep staring at America’s original sin with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s acclaimed production of this intimate, visceral Shakespearean tragedy. Bedlam’s “Pygmalion,” Jan. 31–March 3, Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, centralsquaretheater.org — The Bedlam company conquered the American Repertory Theatre with an inventive “Sense & Sensibility” in 2017. Now it takes over Central Square with another adaptation by Eric Tucker. Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins (performed by Tucker) remake George Bernard Shaw’s tour de force of sexual politics. “Pepperland,” Feb. 8-10, Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., bochcenter.org — Ballet and opera legend Mark Morris does the Beatles. This unique tribute to the 50th anniversary of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” comes with a company full of Broadway’s best dancers and a chamber music ensemble. Old School Game Show’s Valentine’s Day Special, Feb. 15, Oberon, 2 Arrow St., Cambridge, oldschoolgameshow.com — Not a good date night event. Wait, is your date Andy Kaufman or RuPaul or Lady Gaga? Because, then it’s a killer date activity. OSGS mixes kitsch, camp, corn, cheese, cheek and trivia with a house band, stand up comedy, musical guests and the infamous-if-not-famous Cubic Zirconia Dancers. “Birdy,” Feb. 27–March 10, Sorenson Black Box, 19 Babson College Drive, Wellesley, commshakes.org — Two very different friends try to navigate the trauma of serving in World War II in a post-war Philadelphia suburb. Sadly, a topic as fresh and raw as it was 75 years ago. “Coppelia,” March 21-31, Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., bostonballet.org — You just saw and loved “The Nutcracker.” Obviously you dig ballets where naive youths fall head-over-heels for lifesized dancing toys. You have to see George Balanchine’s finely tuned comedy with a mad scientist, his ingenious wind-up doll and a smitten young man. “American Moor,” April 1021, Robert J. Orchard Stage, 559 Washington St., paramountboston.org — An African-American actor auditions for “Othello” only to be confronted with 400 years of prejudice in America. The work forces you reexamine the legacy of “Othello” and will pair perfectly with the American Repertory Theatre’s production of the iconic Shakespeare tragedy. “Les Miserables,” April 1628, Boston Opera House, 539 Washington St., bostonoperahouse.com — It’s “Les Mis,” people! Don’t come at me with your “Cats” or “Phantom of the Opera” nonsense. “Les Mis” remains the overthe-top, overwrought, melodramatic and completely awesome masterpiece of ’80s Broadway. “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play,” May 3-25, Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont St., speakeasystage.com — This 2018 Lortel Award winner for Best Play looks at Paulina and Ericka’s battle to be queen bee at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school. Jocelyn Bioh’s cutting comedy takes the American “Mean Girl” genre to Africa to examine ambition, lies and the value of fair skin.