THE TURN OF THE SCREW

Opening: Craig Johnson puts on his creepy personality (as opposed to his sunny disposition) in Jeffrey Hatcher's adaptation of a Henry James story. Accomplished actor Lindsay Marcy plays a governess who is haunted in an English manor by the ghost of a sadistic valet, played by Johnson. Joel Sass designed the set and David Mann directs the production for Torch Theater. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., Thu., 2 p.m. Sun. Ends Oct. 27; Minneapolis Theatre Garage, 711 W. Franklin Av., Mpls.; $15-$30, 952-929-9007 or www.torchtheater.com)

GRAYDON ROYCE

MINNESOTA DANCE THEATRE

Opening Friday: Minnesota Dance Theatre starts its 2012-13 season with an intriguing ballet based on a classic fairy tale from the Brothers Grimm - always a good source of material. "The Enchantment: 12 Dancing Princesses" unravels the story of a dozen beautiful young women who spend the night wearing out the soles of their shoes on the ballroom floor, when they are actually supposed to be home at the castle, safely tucked into bed. Many a suitor tries to find the answer to this mystery -- but only one succeeds, at great peril. Enjoy this revival of a 2006 production choreographed by Lise Houlton, set to music by Leo Janacek and Tom Linker, performed live by a quintet of strings and piano. (8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., ends Oct. 14, $26-$32, Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-206-3600 or www.thecowlescenter.org.)

CAROLINE PALMER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE

Opening: This Kurt Vonnegut play from 1971 rarely gets a professional production. Nimbus is giving it a go, with director Josh Cragun hoping to make sense of the deliciously absurd Vonnegut scattershot style. The story focuses on a big-game hunter returning from the jungle after seven years and finding his home a mess. Kevin Carnahan and Heidi Berg lead the cast. (8 p.m. Sat., 3 p.m. Sun., 7:30 p.m. Thu. Ends Oct. 28; Nimbus Theatre, 1517 Central Av. NE., Mpls.; $10-$18, 612-548-1380 or www.nimbustheatre.com)

GRAYDON ROYCE