Disaster!
Set during the 1979 opening of a floating disco-casino, this rollicking spoof of '70s disaster flicks like Airport, Earthquake, and The Poseidon Adventure -- written by gay comedy geniuses Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick -- features cleverly situated and expertly sung Top 40 hits of the era. "Hot Stuff" indeed! Plotnick and out choreographer Denis Jones wrangle a huge cast of zany caricatures, including scene-stealing young dynamo Jonah Verdon as boy and girl twin siblings.
St. Luke's Theatre, open-ended.
Murder for Two
Who shot a secret-collecting novelist during his surprise birthday party? Enter Brett Ryback as a green, endearingly adorkable detective who must interrogate a room full of unusual suspects -- a Southern-fried wife, a bitchy ballerina, a rough bunch of choir boys, etc. -- all played with marvelous gusto by human whirlwind Jeff Blumenkrantz. A wacky, campy vaudevillian throwback written by Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair, this musical whodunit knocks 'em dead.
New World Stages, through July 6.
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Does a Russia-set musical based on War and Peace sound more like Long and Boring? Nyet so fast, comrade. A tragic love story inspired by a sexy and scandalous section of Tolstoy's epic 1869 novel, Dave Malloy's delightfully daring electro-pop opera will light up your night with searing performances and a memorably eclectic score. It's also intimately staged in an opulent custom-built supper club that dumped its Russian vodka in support of that country's LGBT community.
Kazino, through March 2.
Nothing to Hide
Penn and who? Get ready to have your mind freakin' blown by celebrated sleight-of-hand artists Derek DelGaudio and Helder Guimaraes, self-described as a "human Bob's Big Boy" and "Portuguese muppet," in this mesmerizing, thrillingly unconventional magic show. These smooth, witty charmers have an ace up their sleeve in director Neil Patrick Harris, who -- ta-dah! -- somehow makes an evening of card tricks and audience participation seem nothing but cool.
The Pershing Square Signature Center, through January 18.
What's It All About? Bacharach Reimagined
In this warm and cozy revue led by magnetic performer/arranger Kyle Riabko, a Broadway cutie who played one of Teddy's love interests on 90210, fresh-faced young talents breathe groovy new life into composer Burt Bacharach's enduring classics. Don't expect any dance remixes or gay twists, but anyone who had a heart would surely love these soulful, moody interpretations, smartly staged by Once's Steven Hoggett. Hey, American Idol, this is how tribute nights are done.
New York Theatre Workshop, through February 16.
Read our top 10 LGBT-inclusive theater picks for 2013 here.
