'Michael Bay's Super Mario Armageddon'

Take the biggest video game of all time, get the brilliant comedic minds of Comedy Suitcase to reimagine it directed by the biggest director of all time, and you've got a Midwestern, live-action version of something straight out of "Tim & Eric, Awesome Show." The new action-comedy from the producers of the "Harty Boys" series (Joshua English Scrimshaw and Levi Weinhagen) promises to squeeze all its antics onto the 9- by 22-foot stage at Bryant-Lake Bowl's cozy black-box theater. Look for appearances by Princess Peach, Bowser and the O.G.s themselves, Mario and Luigi. More event details.

Jahna Peloquin

Toy Theatre After Dark

Open Eye Figure Theatre has expanded its annual festival to two weeks. Co-artistic directors Susan Haas and Michael Sommers bring national and local puppeteers who do suitcase shows, marionettes, shadow plays and animation of miniature puppetry. The Walker Art Center is co-presenting the festival, which will be performed at Open Eye's lovely little theater in Minneapolis. Performances, which include several shows, alternate in repertory. More event details.

Graydon Royce

Beyond Ballroom Dance Company

What happens when ballroom dancers take the stage outside of a competitive setting? The members of Beyond Ballroom explore a more theatrical route, creating works combining their championship skills with humor, drama and storytelling. The evening features the troupe's newest work, "Change of Hue," a swirling celebration of light and color, plus a reinterpretation of the Hans Christian Andersen classic "The Nightingale" and a reprise of 2007's "Spinning Wheel" about passers-by interacting on a busy city street. Foxtrot, tango, salsa -- see all of your favorite ballroom styles performed live by a group of master movers. More event details.

Caroline Palmer

Michael Showalter

If the implosion of Charlie Sheen has taught us anything, it's that "Two and a Half Men" was staggeringly popular. With that in mind, it makes perfect sense that Michael Showalter's various stabs at mainstream sitcoms -- "Stella" (2005) and "Michael & Michael Have Issues" (2009) -- have failed. His hilarious hyper-irreverence doesn't vibe with the tedium-loving masses, and that's OK. Instead, the comic/actor has amassed a cultish following with films such as "Wet Hot American Summer" and shows such as "The State." He released his first book, "Mr. Funny Pants," last month. Expect Showalter to deliver plenty of laughs via his musing standup at the Varsity. More event details.