At the auspicious age of 9, Louis Katz mailed some jokes to Johnny Carson as part of a school project. The "Tonight Show" legend actually read one of the jokes on-air, sprouting Katz's comedy career. Now 32, the Los Angeles-based standup is doing pretty well for himself. There's nothing youthful or innocent about Katz circa 2011. His act is big on filthy sex material (fisting, hookers, etc.) a la Bob Saget. It's smart enough to work, though. The comic has done HBO's "Down & Dirty With Jim Norton" and scored a half-hour "Comedy Central Presents" special. His debut CD, "If These Balls Could Talk," dropped earlier this year. --Jay Boller

Native Pride Dancers are based in Savage, but the troupe travels extensively statewide, regionally and nationally to schools and theaters to share the drumming, footwork and spectacular regalia often found in a powwow. In "Dancing Through Life," world champion fancy dancer Larry Yazzie combines traditions from the Northern Plains with the contemporary American Indian experience to introduce audiences to the beauty, cultural nuances, rhythmic complexity, rich history and storytelling found within the broad spectrum of Indian music and movement. --Caroline Palmer

This is a new play written by Katie Hae Leo, a longtime associate at Mu Performing Arts. She has taken a satirical look at the idea of fate, using adoption as a lens. The title refers to Destiny Jones, a child adopted by a Minnesota family, and how that experience is different based on four backgrounds. Sara Ochs is Korean; LaDawn James is African-American, Neil Schneider is Caucasian and Nora Montanez is Guatemalan. Katie Bradley portrays a playwright within the play who tries to shape happy endings for each Destiny. Suzy Messerole directs. --Graydon Royce