Dog Story Theater
1115 Taylor Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Dec. 3-6, 10-13
$12
dogstorytheater.com, (616) 617-7823

It's not often that a play comes around Dog Story Theater rather than a comedy or variety show. Check in on this rare treat with Pericles, a drama thought to be penned by William Shakespeare with assistance from playwright George Wilkins. It tells the story of Pericles, king of Tyre's 16-year odyssey around the Mediterranean. Combining the paranormal with natural disasters, it's the kind of play that seamlessly blends comedy, tragedy and adventure in order to entertain, which it readily does. - Christy Admiraal

Frozen
Actors' Theatre
143 Bostwick Ave NE, Grand Rapids
Dec. 3-5, 10-12
$8-22
actorstheatregrandrapids.com, (616) 234-3946

The Guardian dubbed it a "big, brave, compassionate play about grief, revenge, forgiveness and bearing the unbearable." Frozen tells the story of three people plagued with completely different problems who come together to make their way toward recovering from tragedy. As with most Actors' Theatre fare, it's not the happiest or easiest to watch production. Nevertheless, it's an arresting tale of grief and how we get through it. - Christy Admiraal

OZ, the Musical
Miller Auditorium, Kalamazoo
Dec. 13,
$25
(269) 387-2300, millerauditorium.com

This winter season, OZ, the Musical will be following the yellow brick road to the Miller Auditorium stage. Come join Dorothy and her friends on a journey for all ages that's filled with 13 pieces of original music, munchkins, flying monkeys, and dazzling costumes. Directed by Todrick D. Hall, player from Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple on Broadway, OZ features an all-star cast including Aundre Fimbres from Danity Kane, Thayne Jasperson from Fox's hit show So You Think You Can Dance, Ryne Sanborn from the High School Musical movies, and Orlando Brown from Disney's That's So Raven. - David Coba