Raising a glass when the curtain falls

What's your taste for New Year's Eve theater? Show only? Dinner and show? Dinner, drinking and show? Drinking and show? Dinner, drinking, dancing and show?

There are options that let you stay into the wee hours of 2012, or that get you home and into your pajamas by 8 p.m. What you do after that is your own business.

Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

The suburban playhouse is coming at you from every direction. "Hairspray" is in the big room, "Plaid Tidings" gives a holiday lilt to the Fireside stage and Stevie Ray's Comedy Cabaret is in the basement. All three shows include a special dinner; drinks and extras are extra.

After the productions end, Chanhassen is opening the place up to dancing on the main stage with the Chanhassen Orchestra and singer Michelle Barber; actor Jay Albright will do a piano bar bit in the lounge, and a DJ has pop music tunes in the Club.

Comedian/radio personality Colleen Kruse is the evening's official host. Admission gets you a hat, horn, noisemaker and a flute of Champagne. Coffee is served after midnight. (Various start times; 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen; $100-$125 inclusive, 952-934-1525 or www.chanhassendt.com.)

Brave New Workshop

The holiday show, "Miracle at 824 Hennepin Avenue," has performances in the upstairs theater at 7 and 10 p.m. Tickets to both shows include a Champagne toast, party favors and admission to the midnight countdown and the first improv set of 2012.

Downstairs, the Danger Committee will present "A Stocking Full of Awesome" at 7 and 10 p.m. These guys wrap comedy around juggling, knife throwing and other stunts (they made the Vegas round of "America's Got Talent"). The early show has no extras but the later gig gets you the Champagne and noisemakers, plus you get a look at a new Danger Committee stunt at midnight. (7 and 10 p.m., 824 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls.; $25-$44, 612-332-6620 or bravenewworkshop.com.)

Actors Theater of Minnesota

On the other side of the metro, "Bob's Holiday Office Party" hits the Camp Bar stage at 7 p.m., and then it's up to you whether to head home or stay and revel. This show originated with Minnesota expatriates in Los Angeles. Key words: wacky, booze, improv, holiday spirits.

No word on whether they throw in a free glass of bubbly, but the bar is always open. (7 p.m., Camp Bar and Cabaret, 490 N. Robert St., St. Paul; $24, 1-800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com.)

If you prefer the low-rise regions of Lake Street, the Bowl is a whirlwind of Scrimshaw activity Saturday night, with four short comedies. Joshua English Scrimshaw and Levi Weinhagen have the early shift, with "Baby New Year's Time-Traveling Diaper Party" at 5 and 7. You might know these guys from the "Harty Boys" spoofs and "Smothers Brothers Grimm" at the Fringe Festival. According to the website, this show offers "grown men in diapers."

Joshua then teams up with brother Joseph for shows at 9 and 11 p.m. "The Year in Denial: The Scrimshaw Brothers' New Year's Eve Comedy Extravaganza" will bring in guests Eric Webster, Shanan Custer and Tim Uren. As always at the Bowl, food and drink are available all night. (5, 7, 9, & 11 p.m., 824 W. Lake St., Mpls., $12-$20, 612-825-8949 or BrownPaperTickets.com.)

Southern Theater