Peaches Christ SuperstarHOLGERTALINSKI@YAHOO.DE
ART & MUSEUMS
The Warrior Emperor and China's Terracotta Army
The 10 unearthed terracotta warriors from the Qin dynasty received their marching orders when Chinese cultural officials cancelled the scheduled exhibition stops in Calgary and Victoria. The warrior chief's afterlife army will rotate back to China soon, giving you precious little time to see a part of one the greatest archeological finds in history. To Jan. 2 . $17.50 to $31. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queens Park, 416-586-5549.
Daniel Barrow
Time is dwindling to take in Good Gets Better, a collection of wry, episodic narratives using drawings on overhead projectors by Daniel Barrow, winner of this year's $50,000 Sobey Art Award. To Dec. 23 . Free. Jessica Bradley Art and Projects, 1450 Dundas St. W ., 416-537-3125.
Grange Prize 2010
The four finalists for the $50,000 award for contemporary photography, including the prize winner Kristan Horton, have work on display. To Jan. 2. $11 to $19.50. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W ., 416-979-6648.
Christmas Spice
A holiday tradition for 14 years now, the Christmas Spice show not only serves as an introduction into art buying, but also offers affordable modern pieces during a month when money often gets tight. To Dec. 23. Free. Paul Petro Contemporary Art. 980 Queen St. W., 416-979-7874.
CONCERTS
The Gospel Christmas Prospect
Premiering as a special concert created by Andrew Craig for CBC Radio in 2006, this powerhouse revelation of gospel music has continued on, even evolving into a television special. The limber singer Kellylee Evans stars with others in a joyful, soulful presentation. Sunday, 2 and 7 p.m. $30 to $45. Young Centre, 55 Mill St., 416-866-8666 .
Peaches Christ Superstar
The provocative performance artist Peaches, with her likeminded piano-playing accomplice Chilly Gonzalez, delivers a solo-voiced recital of the 1971 rock musical in an audacious enough manner that causes even the normally unflappable Jesus Christ to say "Jesus Christ!" Dec. 21, 7 p.m. $47. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 190 Princes' Blvd. , 416-870-8000.
CLUBS
The Good Lovelies' Christmas Show
Good, lovely - and versatile. The dovetailed, harmonic gal-trio, which sweetly sung its way to a Juno in the roots-traditional category, went in retro pre-rock directions on its sassy sweater-swearing Christmas album Under The Mistletoe in 2009. Sunday, 2 and 8:30 p.m. (evening show sold out; waiting list available). $10 to $27.50. Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W. , 416-531-6604.
Steve Mason
Formerly of the cult-followed Beta Band (a British group favoured for its experimental inroads into the folk-electronic genre), the Scottish singer-songwriter recently emerged with his new well-received solo album Boy Outside, a stylish sort of post-modern Paul McCartney music. Dec. 20, 9 p.m . $12.50. Wrongbar, 1279 Queen St. W. , 416-516-8677 .
THEATRE
A Christmas Carol
Sure, you can watch the 1951 film adaptation on television or at the cinema - perhaps in colour, maybe even in 3D, who knows. It's hard, however, to beat Soulpepper's in-the-round staging of Dickens's three-ghosted Victorian morality tale. To Dec. 30. $39.81 to $75.33 . Young Centre, 55 Mill St. 416-866-8666.
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert
Although there is a sleigh full of holiday-themed productions around town, no one dons the gay apparel more ecstatically than the trio of gender-perplexed entertainers of this disco-loving, Australian bus ride of a musical. To Jan. 2 . $45 to $130. Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. W ., 416-872-1212.
Rock of Ages
It's the final countdown, to quote a bombastic 1980s rock tune by the hair-band Europe. The emotive Broadway rock musical closes soon, taking with it its hokey sentimentality and well-worn collection of Pat Benatar and REO Speedwagon hits. To Jan. 2. $28 to $150. Royal Alexandra Theatre, 260 King St. W. , 416-872-1212 .
DANCE
The National Ballet's Nutcracker
Stealing the show at the Four Seasons Centre are the two males dancers who giddy-up to all sorts of kicking antics inside a horse's costume in James Kudelka's opulent Nutcracker. If not the production's stars, the pair are at least a mane attraction. To Jan. 2 . $50 to $130. Four Seasons Centre, 145 Queen St. W ., 416-345-9595 .
Nutcracker with stars of the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballets
When we hear "Bolshoi," our instinct is to reply "gesundheit." Be that as it may, a faithful presentation of the Russian Nutcracker featuring a pair of Russian stars and a local amateur company is nothing to sneeze at. Saturday (2:30 and 7:30 p.m.) and Sunday (1:30 p.m.). $67 to $77. Wintergarden Theatre, 189 Yonge St., 416-870-8000.
COMEDY
Arrogant Worms
Larky and quirky (and other such adjectives ending in 'y'), the Kingston-born trio celebrates 20 years of musical comedy. Dec. 22, 8:30 p.m . $32.50 to $35 . Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W ., 416-531-6604 .
FUNDRAISER
Christmas Wish Concert
If your fantasy is to sing with Isabel Bayrakdarian and Richard Margison, your wish comes true. Others, however, are less fortunate. At an afternoon of choirs and carols, donations to the CP24/CHUM Christmas Wish fund are gratefully accepted. Saturday, 2 to 3:15 p.m. Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, 1585 Yonge St .
The Christmas Show
The boxy room at the back of the Rivoli is never warmer than it is for Andrew Cash's annual shindig, this year with indie folk-rockers Selina Martin, Dave Bidini and others on hand. Saturday, 9 p.m. $18, plus non-perishable food donation (Daily Food Bank). 334 Queen St. W., 416-596-1908.
CINEMA
Modern Times
Silent night, silent film: Charlie Chaplin's man-against-the-machine masterpiece gives the gears to soulless modernization. Dec. 23 (12:15 p.m.) and Dec. 25 (6:30 p.m.) . $12. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., 416-599-8433 or tiff.net .
FREE
Brickolage Tour Series
Condo-developers need to keep their hands off the enviable 200,000 square-feet of halls, shops and studios at 401 Richmond Street West. The century-old tin-can lithography factory, now a likable arts colony after being rescued from a wrecking ball's wrath in 1994, is the subject of a tour led by the Toronto Arts Council's William Huffman. Saturday, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. 401 Richmond St. W., 401richmond.net.
Colorblind Brian's Blues Campfire
He's no Buddy Guy, but if you're looking for a casual song-pulling affair, the amiable folk-blues artist Brian Blain is your buddy and your guy. Acoustic players of all stripes are welcome to sit in. Dec. 21, 7 p.m. to midnight. Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar, 1214 Queen W, 416-531-4635.
Home Alone
A free movie? Well, slap our cheeks and call us Macaulay. A zany Christmas classic pits a temporarily orphaned nine-year-old against two bumbling burglars. Dec. 23, 2 p.m. (first come, first served). Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen St. E., 416-691-7330.
FAMILY
Ontario Science Centre
Those inspired by the display of fantastical creations of Rowland Emett - he was the mischievous mind behind the eclectic inventions of the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - are able to build their own contraptions and curios. To Jan. 2. $13 to $20. 770 Don Mills Rd., 416-696-1000.
Spadina Museum
Yes, Virginia, there were Christmases before you were born. The historic house and gardens at 285 Spadina Road is decked out as it would have been in the roaring 1920s and the less thriving 1930s. To Jan. 2. $4.48 to $7.62. 416-392-6910.
The Wizard of Oz
Flying monkeys, Ray Bolger and helium-voiced munchkins - enough said right there, even without the mention of the ruby-shoed sensation, Judy Garland. Dec. 21 (4:15 p.m.) and Dec. 22 (2 p.m.). $7 to $10. Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen St. E., 416-691-7330.
BOOKING AHEAD
Disney on Ice: Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey Dec. 25 to Jan. 2. Rogers Centre, 416-870-8000.
Toronto Operetta Theatre's Die Fledermaus Dec. 28 to Jan. 9. Jane Mallett Theatre, 416-366-7723.
Fred Eaglesmith Dec. 28 and 29. Hugh's Room, 416-531-6604.
The Sadies Dec. 31. Horseshoe Tavern, 416-870-8000.
New Year's Eve Comedy Extravaganza Dec. 31. Massey Hall, 416-872-4255.
Elliott Brood Dec. 31. Lee's Palace, 416-870-8000.
Disney Playhouse Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show! Jan. 14 to 16. Rogers Centre, 416-870-8000.
bwheeler@globeandmail.com