You Rat

Soon, revelers around the world will officially usher in the Year of the Rat. Sure, having a verminous mascot head up Lunar New Year festivities doesn't exactly smack of auspiciousness, but any horoscope enthusiasts worth their salt will tell you that the Rat Year actually embodies hard work, prosperity, action, and positive change, rather than medieval plagues and double-dealing associates. But before we resume the toil and drudgery that renewal necessitates, the Chinese New Year Spectacular lets us celebrate our rodent rep with plenty of pageantry. Considered the largest celebration of the Lunar New Year outside of China, this show pulls out all the stops: dancing lions, gong-strikers, mythical beasts, and warriors all clamor together to create a multisensory experience worthy of a Tang Dynasty emperor. It's a cross-cultural extravaganza, so expect the fluttery goddesses and man-eating monsters to be paired with ballet performances and modern folk tales highlighting the triumphs of ordinary people in oppressive regimes.
Jan. 23-26, 2 & 8 p.m., 2008