WED 12.16

Art on the Marquee Opening Reception

Art is cool. Free art is even cooler, and boy do Boston Cyberarts and the MCCA have a treat for you. Art on the Marquee is an exhibit focused on public art of the media variety. With the works of Sarah Bliss, Sean Bowes, Jan Roberts-Breslin, Corey Corcoran, Evelyn Eastmond, Gina Kamentsky, Roscoe Lamontagne, Fish McGill, Allison Maria Rodriguez, Rebecca Wasilewski, and Ben Pender-Cudlip, you’ll experience digital art like you’ve never seen before on a colossus of an LED.

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. 415 Summer St., Boston. 6-8pm/all ages/FREE. eventbrite.com/e/art-on-the-marquee-opening-reception-round-16-registration-19780759785

THU 12.17

The Winter’s Tale Opening Night

The Winter’s Tale is a weird show, and that’s saying something since Shakespeare has some pretty odd plays. It starts off as a seemingly straightforward tragedy: A king suspects his wife is having an affair and locks her in a jail cell. Simple stuff. There’s a heavy focus on psychological drama that gives the play a dreary atmosphere, but then, suddenly, it becomes a comedy. Not a half bad one, either. Lucky for you, Actors’ Shakespeare Project is giving you the chance to check it out. It’ll definitely be an experience.

Willet Hall at United Parish. 210 Harvard St., Brookline. 7:30-10pm/all ages/$15-50. actorsshakespeareproject.org

FRI 12.18

Under the Underground 4

In its fourth installment, Under the Underground shies away from horror and the burlesque to focus instead on the satirical. New York director, screenwriter, and performance artist Julianna Schley leads the evening as filmgoers get an inside look to a world of cross-dressing and boyfriend seeking. Before the screening, there’ll be a live performance featuring the silky smooth jazzy tunes of Mega Bog and some folk-rock-inspired atmosphere by Somerville’s very own Lina B Tullgren.

Out of the Blue Too Art Gallery & More. 541 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. 8-11pm/18+/$5-10. facebook.com/events/1530906970559793/

SAT 12.19

Making 8-bit Music With Arduino

Ah, chiptune: It’s that vintage, magical sound that lingers in your head after a visit to the arcade. It’s the 8-bit melody that’s stuck with you after all these years. It sings songs of nostalgia without ever having to say a word, and now you’ve got an opportunity to try your hand at making some 8-bit music of your own. Head on down to Parts and Crafts and let your creativity come to life.

Parts and Crafts. 577 Somerville Ave., Somerville. 10am-Noon/all ages/$15. partsandcrafts.org

SAT 12.19

Rhythm & Laughs at the Riot Theater Featuring James McCarthy

Improv comedy and live music are both pretty great on their own, but what happens when you combine these two titans of entertainment? Well, you get Rhythm & Laughs. Performers will improvise based on live music featuring the soulful acoustic talents of James McCarthy. It’s a test of both comedic endurance and sheer rockability. With stand-up comedian Chris J Browne opening up the night, it’s bound to be a riot of an event.

The Riot Theater. 146A South St., Jamaica Plain. 8-9:30pm/18+/$10. theriottheater.com

MON 12.21

Story Slam: “Debauchery”

Let’s face it: We’re all a little bit depraved. Everybody has their own set of vices they carry through life, so why not talk about it and get a chance to perform at the Big Mouth Off? In the fashion of an open mic, 10 random participants will be chosen out of a hat after submitting their names. The goal of the night? Deliver a five-minute personal story that revolves around debauchery. Lay out the dirtiest laundry you can find and claim your rightful place as the greatest deviant at Club Passim.

Club Passim. 47 Palmer St., Cambridge. 7-9pm/21+/$10. massmouth.ning.com/events/story-slam-debauchery-at-club-passim