DEC. 25-28
Cirque du Soleil: 'Varekai'
If you're looking to go nontraditional for the holidays, look no further than Cirque du Soleil. The troupe's latest tour comes to Minneapolis for a three-day, seven-show run with 50 performers, a 24-foot climbable set, a 98-foot catwalk and two turntable set pieces. Picking up where the Greek myth of Icarus leaves off, "Verekai" re-imagines what happens after Icarus flies too close to the sun and falls from the sky, landing not in the sea but instead in a magical forest. Expect Cirque's signature mix of aerial and trapeze acts, acrobatics and juggling, accented with lush set pieces and eye-popping costumes. (4 p.m. Dec. 25, 4 & 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26-27, 1:30 & 5 p.m. Dec. 28. $36-$150. Target Center, 600 1st Av. N., Mpls. www.targetcenter.com.) Jahna Peloquin
DEC. 27
Vilification Tennis: 'F**k 2014'
A deadly Ebola outbreak, the rise of ISIS, protests and rioting over police brutality, and Kim Kardashian's oiled-up, naked ass on the cover of a magazine: 2014 was a rough year, to say the least. It was also a rough year for comedy, with the deaths of icons Robin Williams, Joan Rivers and Elaine Stritch. Local improv comedy troupe Vilification Tennis is throwing up its middle fingers to the year that was in "F**k 2014," a show that lampoons the year's most depressing, stupefying headlines and puts them to rest once and for all. (10 p.m. Dec. 27. $12-$15. Bryant-Lake Bowl, 810 W. Lake St., Mpls. www.bryantlakebowl.com.) J.P.
DEC. 27 & 31
Lizz Winstead in Lizz 2014: Plan B From Outer Space
Lizz Winstead is relentless. The co-creator of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show," the Twin Cities native has spent the past two decades touring the country, eviscerating one political talking head at a time. In addition to publishing a book last year ("Lizz Free or Die"), she also just rounded off a fundraising tour that raised $1.5 million for Planned Parenthood. This is Winstead's sixth consecutive year-end Minnesota blowout and it will feature "Mystery Science Theater 3000" royalty Frank Conniff. (7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 & 31. $40-$65. Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Av. S., Mpls. 612-338-2674 or www.thecedar.org.) Raghav Mehta
