'La Natividad'

Opening Thursday: This year has brought joy and sorrow at Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. Artistic director Sandy Spieler was named Distinguished Artist by the McKnight Foundation in May. Three months later, the doors of the south Minneapolis cultural institution were shut because of budget issues. HOBT is back in business with this Christmas perennial — which narrates the story of Mary and Joseph searching for shelter with their newborn son. With puppets grand and small, community actors and singers, this show has a wonderfully sweet, homemade quality. It ends with a fiesta supper with singing and dancing at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, a few blocks from Heart of the Beast, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. (6:30 p.m. Thu., Sat.-next Sun. $22. Ends Dec. 21. 1500 E. Lake St., Mpls. 612-721-2535, hobt.org.)

Graydon Royce