Jim Gaffigan

He's been at it since the mid-'90s, but comedian Jim Gaffigan really struck a chord with his 2006 special "Beyond the Pale" -- you know, "Hot Pockets!" The 45-year-old standup is a goofy and smart observationalist, with material that hits heavily on food but branches all over the cultural spectrum. Gaffigan is also an accomplished actor; his résumé is chock-full of TV (the "Pale Force" animated series on "Late Night With Conan O'Brien") and film ("Away We Go") credits. He even took to Broadway this year, starring alongside Brian Cox and Kiefer Sutherland in a revival of "That Championship Season." --Jay Boller

'Beyond the Rainbow'

Jody Briskey reprises her role as Judy Garland in this musical, which was a big hit for the History Theatre in 2005. The show, written by William Randall Beard, uses Garland's landmark 1961 Carnegie Hall concert as a jumping-off point to tell the story of little Frances Gumm from Grand Rapids, Minn. Since the 2005 premiere, "Beyond the Rainbow" has had quite a few productions around the country. While Briskey sings many of Garland's great hits, Norah Long plays young Judy in the dramatic scenes. Freelance critic Lisa Brock called the earlier History Theatre production "stunning." --Graydon Royce