Editor's Picks

Harriett Levy: Early Night Out

Fri., Dec. 31, 7pm. $25 (includes drink and party favor). The Red Room, Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. Eighth St. 215.923.0210. http://www.harriettlevy.com/

Female impersonator Todd Waddington's Harriett Levy has wowed area audiences ever since she first appeared in the ensemble of Box Office of the Damned. Now the lovable Jewish songbird is back in her greatest-hits show Harriett Levy: Early Night Out. Including highlights from her previous productions--Holiday Follies at the Arden, My Heart Belongs to Daddy and What Happens When Jews Go Wild?--as well as a sneak peeks from her upcoming show, Levy's unique musical stylings will no doubt be on full display in Night Out. Known for persevering in the face of insurmountable odds, Levy will probably attempt to make it through "Little Drummer Boy" without losing her place in the song (counting all those drumbeats can be terribly difficult), and we'll be with her every step of the way as she'll surely valiantly sing "The Way We Were" without completely butchering the classic tune. Of course the occasional forgotten lyric or musical miscue are all part of Levy's charm. One of the most genuine and generous performers in the city, Levy will no doubt spend ample time mingling with her legions of fans. And this being New Year's Eve, she'll surely sing her groundbreaking rendition of "MacArthur Park," which quite honestly is unlike anything you've ever seen. (J. Cooper Robb)

>>INDIE

Kiss Kiss Kill

Thurs., Dec. 30, 9pm. $7. With Cowmuddy, Nite Lights + Elevator Parade. North Star, 27th and Poplar sts. 215.684.0808. http://www.northstarbar.com/

With a name inspired by either a European cult film or a Roger Miret and the Disasters song, you'd expect the Philadelphia sextet Kiss Kiss Kill to be a noir-ish post-punk outfit. Instead their music is cunning cross-genre blend, resulting in descriptions like "cabaret rock" and "tragic lounge." While there's a decidedly theatrical bent, the band also bring to mind either New York City's chirpy Palomar or Pacific Northwest punk-scholar Sarah Dougher, depending on which of the band's trio of chanteuses is singing. But it's still not so simple. On Kiss Kiss Kill's debut Hi Stranger (released on local World Eater Records), one song can summon a jazzy torch singer ("Razzmatazz") before another yields a loping coed duet à la Bunnygrunt ("Dave"). The music is sparse guitar-bass-drums, with country and surf tinges and airy prom-night sweetness. If some of the lyrics are too lovey-dovey--"Could you just share a laugh with me?/ C'mon and brighten my day with a smile"--they fit the band's sultry romantic flair. After all, we're talking about an album that opens with the tale of a fleeting extraterrestrial affair, followed a couple songs later by a dead-serious love song to that morning cup of coffee. (Doug Wallen)

>>BURLESQUE

Peek-A-Boo Revue

Sat., Jan. 1, 9pm. $10. Five Spot, 5 S. Bank St. 215.574.0070. http://www.thefivespot.com/

Back in the early 1900s burlesque houses like the Trocadero lined the streets of Center City. The Troc has undergone many renovations since then, and most of the others have disappeared or been converted, but once a month the Peek-A-Boo Revue revives the glory days of burlesque with a rollicking show that includes a bit of singing, dancing, comedy and striptease. But within that broad description it's hard to say exactly what you'll see at Peek-A-Boo. We can tell that among the group of local performers appearing will be Andrew Repasky McElhinney performing his short play Vomit, which he describes as an "overwrought tragicomedy" dealing with such important issues as lesbianism, incest and--as the title suggests--upchucking. In addition to McElhinney's dramatic reading, a host of scantily clad dancers will perform choreographer DeVaughn Nelson's striptease number "Out of My Head," and songstress Heather Boa will add to the festivities with her original version of Petula Clark's "I Know a Place." Finally, this being New Year's, the show's theme is hangovers, and while the sexy massage therapist and bevy of go-go dancers do their thing, you can anticipate a plethora of jokes involving rehabs, designer drugs and binge drinking. (J. Cooper Robb)

>>FIREWORKS

Battleship New Jersey

Fri., Dec. 31, TKpm. $55. Camden Waterfront, TK location, Camden, N.J. 856.966.1652 ext. 145. http://www.battleshipnewjersey.com/

For all the marrieds with kids, there's no reason why you should have to stay at home on New Year's and let the singletons have all the fun. Why not drag the kiddies out to a special overnight encampment at the Battleship New Jersey in Camden? Fun, yes, but educational too, the New Year's encampment offers families an authentic battleship experience, including dinner and breakfast in the ship's galley, a tour of the ship and a midnight sparkling cider toast. The overnight stay also gives kids a chance to take a ride on an on-deck flight simulator that reproduces the experience of being catapulted off-deck in a World War II fighter plane--which sounds like torture to me, but is probably pretty fun for a 10-year-old. And for fireworks fans, there's no better spot to view the New Year's Eve light show. According to the Battleship's Jack Williard, "You get an amazing view of the city of Philadelphia. And because the fireworks are set off a barge in the Delaware, it's almost like the fireworks are exploding right on top of you." Even if you're not ready to commit yourself to an overnight stay, the deck will be open for fireworks fanatics, who can buy $5 tickets starting at 10:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Built in 1938, the Battleship New Jersey served in World War I, the Korean War and the Vietnam War before being decommissioned in 1991. The overnight encampments help fund the on-ship museum and war memorial. (Julie Gerstein)