A week of events in Cambridge, Somerville: Public parties, Thriftmas wrap up holidays
Monday
“Thumbelina: A Little Musical” from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. (and repeating Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and three times next week) at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids. It should be interesting to see an update to this Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a tiny girl whom everyone keeps trying to marry, or marry off, until she meets a prince who’s just her size … and they get married. This new musical adaptation by Julia Riew, however, is described as being about “a girl who forges her path, embraces her differences and finds her place.” It’s directed by Emma Watt. Information is here.
“The Slutcracker” from 8 to 10:30 p.m. (and repeating Tuesday, Friday and Saturday and Dec. 31) at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. General admission is $30. This burlesque event retelling Tchaikovsky’s holiday classic with a sex-positive (to put it mildly) message has been selling out shows since 2008. Information is here.
Tuesday
“The Slutcracker” Slutmas Eve from 6 to 9 p.m. (and repeating Friday and Saturday and Dec. 31) at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. The annual Slutmas Eve show brings Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys to the stage with special (naughty) holiday songs as an opener for this sexier “Nutcracker.” General admission is $30. Information is here.
A Very Tuesy Christmas from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St., Harvard Square. Free, though there will be a tip jar. Looking for community on Christmas Eve? The “Bluesy Tuesy” crowd (a regular blues dance event with lessons) has your back with music and dance, cookies (including gluten-free versions), crafts and conversation-starting “Skip the Small Talk” cards. Information is here.
Wednesday
Photoshoot wearing your favorite garment from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Lesley University’s Lunder Arts Center, 1801 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square. Free, but register here. Get photographed in a portrait-style setting as artist Lauren Clay continues to explore the relationship between people and their favorite clothing – part of her senior project. Friends, family and pets are welcome. Information is here.
Christmas Day Potluck from 5 to 11 p.m. at The Democracy Center, 45 Mount Auburn St., Harvard Square. Free. The potluck part of this event isn’t even necessary for people (including people with kids) who are looking for some community Christmas Day. There will be “Skip the Small Talk” question cards around for some deep conversation starters, and some crafts available. A sit-down dinner begins at 6 p.m. Information is here.
Bearly Dead Christmas Party from 8 p.m. to midnight at Thunder Road, 379 Somerville Ave., Union Square, Somerville. Tickets are $10 for this this 21-plus event. More public fun on offer at a time biological families dominate, with a potluck and perhaps final ugly sweater contest and secret Santa exchange of the season. Be warned, though, that this is, as you might have guessed, a Grateful Dead cover band experience. That’s not everyone’s jam, so to speak. Information is here.
Thursday
Singer-songwriter showcase from 8 to 11:30 p.m. at The Jungle, 6 Sanborn Court, Union Square, Somerville. Admission is free for this 21-plus show, but register here (and consider a tip or donation for the artists if you attend). Justin Arena, Joel Mongeon, Matt Minigell, Alec Morrissey and Mackenzie Clement (pictured) – who may be a white singer-songwriter but at least isn’t also a dude – perform at this bar and kitchen. Information is here.
“Thumbelina: A Little Musical” from 2 to 3 p.m. (and repeating Friday, Saturday, Sunday and three times next week) at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids. Information is here.
Friday
Armory Pub Sing from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at The Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville. Free. This event is based on a traditional English pub sing and encourages chorus-based songs that are easy to learn and fun to do as a group. Information is here.
“Thumbelina: A Little Musical” from 10 to 11 a.m. (and repeating Saturday, Sunday and three times next week) at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids. Information is here.
“The Slutcracker” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. (and repeating Saturday and Dec. 31) at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. General admission is $30. Information is here.
Saturday
Thriftmas Party Fashion Show at 7 p.m. at Once Somerville, 156 Highland Ave. Admission is $10 in advance (with fees, $12.83), $15 at the door for a show that’s either 21-plus, or 18-plus with a guardian. Vintage vendors and live music from Miu Auiti, the sulty pop singer who can move you in Creole, French, Spanish or English, swirl around this fashion show from Faucet Thrift out of Attleboro. Information is here.
Silent Disco from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. at The Rockwell, 255 Elm St., Davis Square, Somerville. Tickets are $20 (with fees, $22.85) to this 21-plus event. Three DJs transmit music to wireless headphones, lit up in one of three colors so you can see what everyone’s dancing to: EDM/dance; top hits; or throwback tunes. Outside the headphones: a spectacle, and the weird shuffling noises of people otherwise silently dancing. Information is here.
“Thumbelina: A Little Musical” from 10 to 11 a.m. (and repeating Saturday, Sunday and three times next week) at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids. Information is here.
“The Slutcracker” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. (and repeating Dec. 31) at the Somerville Theatre, 55 Davis Square. General admission is $30. Information is here.
Sunday
Late Night Gaming from 10:15 to 11:45 p.m. at The Comedy Studio, 1 Bow Market Way, Union Square, Somerville. Free. Eli Levy hooks a Nintendo Switch to the studio’s projectors and sound system for open rounds of “Super Smash Bros Ultimate,” “Mario Kart 8,” “Super Mario Party,” “Mario Tennis Aces” and others and welcomes BYO board games, card games or tabletop games. Information is here.
“Thumbelina: A Little Musical” from 10 to 11 a.m. (and repeating Saturday, Sunday and three times next week) at the Loeb Mainstage, 64 Brattle St., Harvard Square. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids. Information is here.
