Keeping Tabs: Events in and around Boston

Young at Arts: The American Repertory Theatre brings back " The Island of Anyplace ," a stage show designed to introduce a younger audience to the power of theater. Maybe they'll even trade in cartoons for the stage. In the show, Jennifer is dragged to the theater by her father, but then she runs up on stage and creates her own play, which is something every theater critic has fantasized about doing. March 6-13, Tuesday 10 a.m., Thursdays 10 a.m. Saturday 2 p.m. (this is the "Special Family Performance") at Zero Arrow Theatre in Cambridge. Tickets: $16. Call 617-547-8300.

Nudity and Adult Language: I'm excited too. The award-winning musical " The Life " is here to bring audiences back to "the dark side of Times Square and 42^nd Street," when pimps, prostitutes and porn owned the streets. The musical is also about less exciting things like strength, survival and sisterhood. Either way, this looks to be a raucous good way to lure your deviant friend to the theater. Wednesday to Saturday, March 5-9, 8 p.m. at the Boston Conservatory Mainstage Theater. Tickets: $20. Call 614-912-9222.

Traditional Dancing: Stop watching endless Youtube videos of people attempting "the worm" and check out something with substance, like the 32^nd Israel Folk Dance Festival . The event includes groups from the eastern United States all performing a dance similar to country-western-line dancing in the sense that it features repeating steps. This also means that if you pay attention, maybe you can do something new at weddings instead of your boring two-step, weight-shift routine. Sunday, March 9, 3 p.m. at Kresge Auditorium in MIT in Cambridge. Tickets: $11-$14. Call 617-253-2982.

Ghost Story: Are you ready to be scared? " Shining City " is a play that brings a contemporary Irish ghost story set in Dublin's therapist's office. The story follows a former priest-turned-therapist and John, a middle-aged man who recently lost his wife in a tragic accident. Oh, and John can't sleep because he's seeing the ghost of his dead wife. After you see this, you may be sleeping with the lights on. March 7-April 6, Tuesdays-Thursdays 7:30 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m., matinees Saturdays and Sundays 2 p.m. at the Huntington's main stage at Boston University in Boston. Tickets: $15-$75. Call 617-266-0800.

A Big Deal: Daniel McCusker, who has been "part of the heart and soul" of the city's dance community, brings us a new show called " Jupiter ," a production as big as the planet, without all the gas and comet strikes. With one lengthy group dance that investigates ideas about mass (materials, events, performers), the show aims to somehow mix in a little science with modern dance. This is also a chance to see some of Boston's best dancers, including Edie Hettinger, Wanda Strukus and Nikki Carrara. Friday and Saturday, March 14-15, 8 p.m. at Tufts University Dance Lab in Medford. Tickets: $10-$15 (cash or check only). Call 617-524-3746.

Jazz Super Heroes: When you're a group of musician that has found a way to foster new music while paying tribute to jazz greats of the past, you are a super hero. The SFJAZZ Collective brings together eight jazz greats with nine Grammy nominations between all of them. It's a great time to be a jazz fan, especially since Herbie Hancock's "River: The Joni Letters" won the Grammy for Album of the Year. Join the fun because jazz is back in town. Friday, March 7, 8:15 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston. Tickets: $22.50-$30. Call 617-931-2000.

Puccini's Last Masterpiece: When Giacomo Puccini died in November 1924, he left behind one unfinished opera called " Turandot ," which is a Persian word meaning "the daughter of Turan." It's a gripping story that involves love, beheadings and a strange law that demands all who wish to marry Turnadot must first answer three riddles. The opera , which is set in China, was completed by Franco Alfano, twice. His first draft was rejected and he was forced to re-write it. This performance will have the original Alfano ending. Friday, March 7, 8:30 p.m. at the Lowell House in Cambridge. Tickets: $12-$40. Call 617-496-2222.