Playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes started writing this musical before she was hired to do the book for "In the Heights," which won four Tonys, including best musical, in 2008. It was a New York workshop of "Barrio Grrrl!" that landed her the job. After her Broadway success, she returned to complete this show, which has been affectionately dubbed the little sister of "In the Heights." In it, 9-year-old Ana has an imaginary friend and practical superpowers. The bright, slice-of-life family show originated at the Kennedy Center and is on a 17-city national tour. It features compositions by Bill Sherman, another "In the Heights" talent. (7:30 p.m. Fri., 2 & 7:30 p.m. Sat., 2 & 5 p.m. Sun., 7 p.m. Tue.-Wed. Ends March 27. Children's Theatre, 2400 3rd Av. S., Mpls. $16-$40. 612-874-0400 or www.childrenstheatre.org.)

ROHAN PRESTON

Renovate: A Choreographer's Evening

Curated by Lisa Conlin (Ballet of the Dolls) with panelists John Munger and Cathy Wind, "Renovate" is marking its fourth year. Work from 11 local dancemakers includes ballet, contemporary and percussive, to name a few. Choreographers Jamey Garner, Karla Grotting, Jennifer Isle, Christine Maginnis, Anat Shinar, as well as Conlin and many more, should add up to a celebration of the exciting emerging and veteran creative voices within the Twin Cities dance scene. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. $18. Ritz Theater, 345 13th Av. NE., Mpls., 612-436-1129. ritzdolls.com.)

CAROLINE PALMER

Cabaret

Director Wendy Knox admits that she can't believe Frank Theatre hasn't produced this musical yet -- what with all the the German/Brechtian avant-garde stuff going on. Sara Richardson plays Sally Bowles, Bradley Greenwald makes his Frank debut as the Emcee and Max Wojtanowicz is Cliff, the central narrator. Interestingly, the cast includes Melissa Hart, who played Sally Bowles on Broadway in the 1960s. She plays Frau Schneider for Frank. One other selling point: The production is on the Minnesota Centennial Showboat, an old-timey cabaret if ever there was one. (8 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Centennial Showboat, Harriet Island, St. Paul, $23-$25, 651-227-1100 or www.riverrides.com.)

GRAYDON ROYCE

Goats

Playwright Alan Berks wrote this comic piece about his pilgrimage to self-discovery among a herd of goats outside Jerusalem. He performed a version at the Minnesota Fringe Festival several years ago and Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company has picked up the play. Berks, having now found himself, has handed off the role to Ryan Lindberg. He'll be directed by Michael Kissin. (8 p.m. Sat., 1 & 7 p.m. Sun., Hillcrest Center, 1978 Ford Pkwy., St. Paul, $18-$22, 651-647-4315.)G.R.

Dido, Queen of Carthage

Theatre Pro Rata continues its exploration of Elizabethan drama with Christopher Marlowe's play about the lovely, fated monarch made famous in Virgil's "The Aeneid." Marlowe wrote in the same period as Thomas Kyd, whose "The Spanish Tragedy" Pro Rata produced last year. Dido, of course differs in that it's based in classical antiquity. Carin Bratlie directs. Becka Linder is Dido and Christopher Kehoe plays Aeneas. (7:30 p.m. Sat., Mon., Thu., 2 p.m. Sun.; Gremlin Theatre, 2400 W. University Av., St. Paul; $14-$41, 612-874-9321 or theatreprorata.org.)

G.R.