Spend a pleasant NYE at Adobe Theater‘s Cabaret featuring Lorri Layle Oliver and Philip J. Shortell. Well-known local duo Lorri and Phil will sing American standards, Joe Gelpe will accompany them, you will munch on hors d’oeuvres and sip champagne, the Adobe Theater will benefit from the ticket sales and proceeds from a lovely silent auction. This is what theater folk do when the landlord raises the rent. Go support them and have a happy holiday yourself.

Dec. 31, doors open 5:15pm, A New Year’s Eve Cabaret: Live From The Adobe Theater, 9813 4th St. NW; Tix: adobetheater.org

Opera Southwest gussies up New Year’s Eve every year with a wonderful concert of beautiful voices and orchestral music. The after party is fabulous, too – there’s champagne and finger food and you can mingle with the musical artists. This year, it’s conveniently scheduled for New Year’s Eve at 2:30 in the afternoon, a lovely two hours of celebration with Maestro Anthony Barrese and the Opera Southwest Chamber Orchestra.

Dec. 31, 2:30pm, New Year’s Eve 2023, National Hispanic Cultural Center Journal Theatre, 1701 4th Street SW; Tix: https://my.nmculture.org/overview/11395

At The Lensic once again is Joe Illick, music director and principal conductor of the Fort Worth Opera, and the NYE Orchestra to assist your celebration.

Dec. 31, 1pm, Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe; Tix: lensic.org

Theater Reigns in the New Year

West End Productions is based at North Fourth Theatre and chooses top British plays for production. “The Dresser” is one of them, a two-hander from 1980 with an older, Shakespearean actor called “Sir” by his assistant, Norman. Keeping the Great Man’s life in line is a complex task for Norman, who has been Sir’s dresser for more than 30 years. West End’s performances are always tip-top and this one stars local actors Keith Allen West and Peter Shea Kierst. Each man is a pleasure to watch, so audiences will relish the chance to see them together.

Jan. 13-29, “The Dresser” by Ron Harwood, directed by Colleen Neary McClure; at N4th Theatre, 4904 4th St NW; Tix: westendproductions.org

“Copenhagen” is the New Year’s choice of Actors Studio 66, one of the “socially relevant” performances that are their mission. A secret meeting between Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg in 1941 is the fascinating premise of the play, starring Jay Hobson as Heisenberg and Herman Johansen as Bohr, with Wendy Scott as Margrethe Bohr.

(Preview: Jan. 26), Jan. 27-Feb. 12, “Copenhagen” by Michael Frayn, directed by Matt Heat; at Black Cat. Cultural Center, 3011-13 Monte Vista Blvd NE; Tix: https://www.actorsstudio66.org/ticketing

Maestro Anthony Barrese of Opera Southwest is a world-renowned scholar of composer Giacomo Rossini. Rossini’s comic opera “Le comte Ory” will be staged by OSW in February with favorite singers from OSW productions past. It will be the 11th Rossini opera for the company. Count Ory is a seducer of women. With the men in the village off on a crusade, he thinks that the women are fair game. Alas, they’ve taken a vow of celibacy while their men are away. Laughter ensues.

Feb. 5, 10 and 12, “Le comte Ory” by Giacomo Rossini, directed by Kristin Barrett; at National Hispanic Cultural Center Journal Theatre, 1701 4th Street SW; Tix: https://my.nmculture.org/overview/11395

Designed to nurture and develop writers from New Mexico and its bordering states, Santa Fe Playhouse gave its playwrights the theme of “Water” for 2023’s New Play Reading Series. This series always yields fascinating dramas. Jan. 27-29; Tix: santafeplayhouse.org