So what if your 401(k) can’t cover your favorite latte and you’ve returned to your college policy of considering ramen noodles a food group? Despite the popular adage, you’re never too broke to pay attention. And let’s face it — when times are tough, it’s more important than ever to make sure your soul doesn’t go undernourished.

Miki Birjandi Liszt is marking her 25th anniversary by unveiling a dance work that’s close to her heart.

A Charlottesville High School alumnus has a leading role in an upcoming independent feature film that explores what happens when an Army ROTC cadet joins a cheerleading squad.

Gesel Mason, an award-winning choreographer and educator, will lead a master class at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Culbreth Theater at the University of Virginia.

Barefoot Puppet Theatre will present “Trickster Tales” at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Carysbrook Performing Arts Center.

Some of Charlottesville’s favorite improv players are bringing funny back.

Offstage Theatre is serving a sample menu of what fans can expect from Barhoppers 2009.

“The Met: Live in HD” continues at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Paramount Theater with a high-definition rebroadcast of the Dec. 20 performance of “Thais.”

“Sounds of the Season” will return to Ash Lawn-Highland, giving visitors to President James Monroe’s home a chance to see festive decorations and listen to violin and piano music.

It may be true that no two snowflakes are alike, but during Monday’s performance of “The Great Russian Nutcracker,” some of the snowflakes are bound to look familiar.

The next stop for “Chattanooga Choo Choo” looks like “Sleigh Ride.”

Move over, Rudolph — the camels are back.

In his “Book of Practical Cats,” T.S. Eliot wrote, succinctly, “A cat is not a dog.”

The tensions of town vs. gown and street vs. snob can keep people isolated, their dreams unrealized. But while the culture wars rage, a neighborhood coffee shop offers a meeting place where people from different walks of life can ditch the labels and listen to what each other has to say.

For John Gibson, the decision to direct “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at Live Arts was as easy as pie.

If it has been too long since you’ve heard a hip-hop version of “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen,” you’ll want to reserve a seat at Gravity Lounge for Tuesday’s visit by Nice Jewish Girls Gone Bad. Then again, if you’ve never heard one, here’s your chance.

Nebraska Theatre Caravan will present “A Christmas Carol” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Paramount Theater.

The Bent Theatre improv comedy troupe brings its completely improvised version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” to the Theatre at Ix at 8 this evening.

Having trouble getting into the holiday spirit this year? The Hamner Theater will present its Christmas Movie Marathon starting 10 a.m. Saturday.

Set up begins for the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performance at John Paul Jones Arena on Wedneday, Dec. 10, 2008.  The Boom A Ring show features six tigers, three elephants and about 30 performers.

Sure, it’s easy to capture the circus spotlight if you’ve got the architectural scale of an elephant or the trigger-sensitive silken grace of a tiger. If you’re bringing a certain cocktail-wiener charm on legs barely longer than a couple of circus peanuts, no one’s going to see you from the stands.

Black Box Players will present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” at 7 p.m. Friday, 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of Burnley-Moran Elementary School.

Starting tonight, Four County Players is bringing a holiday favorite to the stage.

Mariana Bell is back home in Charlottesville after a stint away for college, and since her return the 22-year-old has become a much-welcomed addition to the local singer-songwriter scene.

The “Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD’’ series continues 1 p.m. Sunday with Hector Berlioz’ “La Damnation de Faust,’’ which can be seen at the Paramount Theater.

The Hunt Family Fiddlers will bring fiddle music, Irish step dance and singing to Carysbrook Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Saturday.

A popular radio program will take the stage to give fans some face time with local performers.

“Oklahoma!’’ took the “comedy’’ out of musical comedy, but it put a whole lot more back into the genre.

“Broadway: Now and Then’’ will pair tunes from today’s popular musicals with perennial favorites.

“Perspective,’’ a performance that examines the way audiences view dance, will be presented by inFluxdance at 6 and 7 tonight in Miki Liszt Dance Company’s Studio 20 at McGuffey Art Center.