City PICKS

Holiday Humor

Sometimes the only way to survive the holidays is with a sense of humor. Comedy veterans Judy Truesdell and George Mecca’s Christmas-related spoof Dallas is (a Winter) Wonderland will mix ha ha has with ho ho hos beginning Dec. 4 at the Pocket Sandwich Theatre. Cast members Tom LeVesque, Phil Parsons, Tony Ramirez, Truesdell, Wendy Welch and Sydney McBeth will poke fun at everyone from Ross Perot to Walker Railey and take a few lighthearted jabs at such holiday traditions as Christmas lights in Highland Park and our annual shopping mall mania. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 11 p.m.; Dec. 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. For more information, call 821 -1860.

Local Color



Surround yourself with the colors of Christmas with a visit to The Dallas Arboretum. The 66-acre garden will be filled with pansies, hollies and evergreens, creating a botanical wonderland Dec. 5 through Jan. 3. Also part of the celebration is the DeGolyer House, which will be decked out with decorations by a dozen Dallas designers. 8525 Garland Road. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 327-8263 for admission information.

Voice Male

And now for something completely different. This year’s Turtle Creek Chorale Christmas extravaganza begins with a lighlhearted seasonal skit set in the Happy Holidays Health Club and ends with the 200-voice, male chorus performing traditional Christmas music. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 17 and 18 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 20, at 2:30 and 8 p.m. Performances are in the Stemmons Auditorium at the Loews Anatole Hotel. For ticket information, call 520-ARTS.

A Passion Play

The stunningly provocative Obie Award-winning play Imperceptible Mutabilities in the Third Kingdom makes its regional debut at The Undermain Theatre. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks, Imperceptible Mutabilities combines visual imagery with choral poetry and monologues to explore the African-American experience through the centuries. The four-part comedy presents a radically different historical world view and touches on a variety of experiences, from slave ships to modern urban America. Parks’ play is directed by Lisa Lee Schmidt; the cast includes Rhonda Boutte, Bruce DuBose, Calvin Gabriel, Cathy Msingi Jones and Tou Whrttington. Performances, which run through Dec. 19, are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday at 8:15 p.m., in Undermain’s Basement Space, 3200 Main Street. For reservations, call 520-ARTS.

Abstracts From the Heart

Dallas artist Danny Williams displays his vivid and powerful abstractions at the Barry Whistler gallery this month with an exhibition featuring his paintings, sculpture and drawings. Known for his robust use of color, Williams’ paintings evoke a sense of strength and sensuality while communicating through the use of icons and emotional imagery. His work is in the permanent collections of the DMA, the Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth and the Guggenheim in New York., among others. Dec. 4 through Jan. 9, 2909-A Canton. For information, call 939-0242.