It might not be the white picket fence version of the ‘American Dream'- far from it- but nobody familiar with Wesley Willis' story can deny that the late schizophrenic-turned-artist and musician's story is pretty damn incredible. Willis, the man behind "Casper the Homosexual Friendly Ghost" and "I Whupped Batman's Ass" got his unlikely start as a homeless street artist in Chicago, battling his inner demons with his unique brand of music.

The best thing to happen to the holidays in Boston since Boston Ballet got kicked out of the Wang? That'd be THE SLUTCRACKER, Babes in Boinkland's instant-classic burlesque retelling of the classic Christmas ballet. We went apeshit for it when it debuted last year, and so did everyone else -- the production sold out its opening weekend and had to add extra shows.

Warren Miller's Dynasty -- the latest in a sixty-year dynasty of feature-length ski films that is still inspired by, if no longer helmed by, the octogenarian filmmaker and snow-sports enthusiast -- arrives tonight at the Somerville Theater and moves to Berklee Performance Center over the weekend. "The featured skiers, who plunge down perilous ravines to the pulse-pumping soundtrack," writes Tom Meek in his review this week, "are a breed apart, fearless and seemingly locked into a state of permanent nirvana

The Slutcracker, the holiday burlesque show that whisks the audience away to a carefree realm of sexual fantasy, has been such a hit with festive hornball audiences that creator/director Vanessa "Sugar Dish" White has added two more shows -- Friday Dec. 19 and Saturday Dec. 20, 8 pm at the Somerville Theatre.