A taste of theater: Local winter productions

While the parks may be desolate and the outdoor bars shuttered, don't write winter off as being a season with a barren entertainment calendar. Between big venues and smaller companies, audiences will have plenty to revel in.

Until Sunday, Feb. 8, "The Dangerous House of Pretty Mbane," the story of a South African soccer player who faces issues of love, her past, and violence against women, plays at the Adrienne Theatre (2030 Sansom St.), opening at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Other dates include 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22, Friday, Jan. 23 and Sunday, Jan. 24; 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25; 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27; 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 28; 8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29 and Friday, Jan. 30; 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31; 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1; 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and Wednesday, Feb. 4; 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7; and finally 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8.

If a dramatic re-creation set to a piano score sounds like your cup of tea, "Mark Twain Unplugged," a one-man-show featuring a presentation of one of Twain's legendary speeches plays at Act II Playhouse (56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler) through Sunday, Feb. 8. Catch 8 p.m. shows Wednesdays through Saturdays (with 2 p.m. performances on select Wednesdays and Saturdays) and 2 p.m. shows on Sundays.

Lust and scandal take center stage in Noel Coward's "Private Lives" at Walnut Street Theatre (825 Walnut St.), when recently remarried divorcees reunite on their respective honeymoons. See it at 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. on weekends; and 7 p.m. on select Sundays until Sunday March 1.

The American premiere of Scottish comedy "Long Live the Little Knife" previews on Wednesday, Feb. 4 and officially opens on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Off Broad Street Theater company (1636 Sansom St.). Inis Nua Theatre Company brings the narrative of con artists turned art forgers to the stage through Sunday, Feb. 22. Curtains are at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday shows (and Monday, Feb. 16), 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Skip the movie theater and head for Theatre Horizon (401 DeKalb St., Norristown, Pa.) for an intimate staging of "Into the Woods," where a baker and his wife find themselves in the middle of fairytale storylines while on a mission to undo the curse cast by the local witch. Attend a pay-what-you-can preview at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5 with 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday shows through Sunday, March 1.

A dark comedy with a 600-pound man trying to reconnect with his daughter, whom he's not exactly on good terms with, is "The Whale." Theatre Exile presents the Philadelphia premiere at Studio X (1340 S. 13th St.) from Thursday, February 5 through Sunday, March 1. See it at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 7 p.m. on Thursdays; 3 p.m. on Sundays; and at 7 p.m. on a pay-what-you-wish Tuesday, Feb. 10 show.

Raina struggles with the decision of whether to give her ailing, estranged father a kidney in "Under the Skin," the deep production harping on forgiveness and family, playing at the Arden Theatre (40 N. 2nd St.) until Sunday, March 15. Showtimes include 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; 7 p.m. on Tuesdays; and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on select Wednesdays.

The most famous story of the orphan who keeps on singing about "tomorrow, tomorrow" comes to the Academy of Music (Broad and Locust Streets) starting Tuesday, March 17. Curtains for "Annie" are at 7:30 p.m. opening night through Thursday, March 19 with additional performances at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 21, and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 22.

All winter and spring, FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Blvd.) houses more innovative performances like a biology -and-comedy-fueled performance and a telenovela turned one-man-show.