Campus Picks: Dec. 3, 2009

Theater: Crime and Punishment

Nothing says, "Happy Holidays!" quite like the feel-good play of the year, "Crime and Punishment." In Dostoevsky's light hearted romp, everyone's favorite scrooge Raskolnikov learns the true meaning of Christmas by becoming best friends with a pawnbroker and her sister. So come along this happy journey through the magical wonderland of 1860s St. Petersburg, where adventure and depression wait around every bend! And they do it with three actors in 90 minutes. Damn.

Theatre Intime

Thursday through Saturday, 8 p.m.

Music: Princeton University Jazz Ensemble

The Princeton University Jazz Ensemble is bringing some smooth Latin flavor to Richardson Auditorium this weekend, where it will perform the music of Michael Philip Mossman, an influential Afro-Latin Jazz musician and prolific composer. In addition to releasing five solo albums and a ballet, Mossman has had his music featured on the big screen in the films "Bossa Nova" and "Chico y Rita." Anyone looking for a fresh way to unwind this weekend will appreciate this groovy rendition.

Richardson Auditorium

Saturday, 8 p.m.

Dance: Intent: A Collaborative Senior Thesis Dance Show

Showing in the Berlind Theater this weekend, "Intent" is the culmination of a rigorous course of study in modern technique and composition and showcases original choreography by six certificate students. A must-see for fans of modern dance, the show will also incorporate live music and multimedia experiments; and to top off the weekend with some more old-fashioned charm, there's PUB's "The Nutcracker" on Monday and Wednesday.

Berlind Theatre

Friday, 8 p.m.

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Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Theater: The Lighter

"A nightmare, once started, will never be over." With a quote like that, we can't help but be intrigued. Come find out for yourself what's going on in the Princeton Chinese Theatre's first original production "The Lighter," written and directed by Meicen Sun '12.

Frist Performance Theatre

Thursday and Friday, 8 p.m.

Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Dance: PUB presents The Nutcracker: Kingdom of Sweets

Princeton University Ballet is back with its second show early next week, staging the second act of the classic Christmas production "The Nutcracker." With its evil rats and talking toy soldiers, it's guaranteed to get you in the festive mood. Look out for Street's online review of the show this coming Monday.

Class of 1970 Theater at Whitman College

Monday and Wednesday, 8 p.m.

Theater: Auction Block to Hip Hop

Any play that combines hip hop, ghosts and selling out with issues of race and feminism is a must-see in my book. Check out "Auction Block to Hip Hop," a new hit play by David Lamb that is touring colleges throughout the country. "Auction Block to Hip Hop" tells the story of a hip-hop mogul who "sells out," selling stereotypes of black women - in spite of his family history of fighting the system and standing up for black rights. The play's end is supposed to "blow you away," so head on over to McCosh 10 on Saturday and find out why.

McCosh 10

Saturday, 10 p.m.

Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Film: Inglourious Basterds

When Quentin Tarantino calls out his own film as his masterpiece in the final words of "Inglourious Basterds," it should be intolerable, but the son-of-a-bitch is probably right. Tarantino's psycho World War II fairy tale may be lacking in historical accuracy, but everything else in the film is cinematic bliss, from the unbearably tense suspense sequences to what is surely the best screen villain since the Joker in Col. Hans Landa. If you've only seen it once, see it again - you'll need multiple viewings to fully appreciate the intricacies of this radically structured, morally complex and brilliantly written film.

Princeton Garden Theatre

Thursday through Saturday, 11:30 pm

Compiled by Chloe Davis, Lisa Han, Raj Ranade, Tara Thean and Zach Zimmerman.