If you’re going to spritz up a fusty old whodunit, you’d better bring three things: posh costumes, a killer set and a shameless sense of humor. And it wouldn’t hurt to throw some drag queens into the mix. With The Dolls’ latest production, Murder on the Orient Express, Albuquerque’s legendary drag theater troupe may have accomplished all four. The story shakes out in 1935 when a wicked American financier is found dead in his train compartment, stabbed twelve times. Naturally, no one’s talking and suspects are legion. Was it the Russian princess? Or perhaps the Swedish missionary? What role did the Pekingese play? You’ll want to come for the twists and turns adapted from Agatha Christie’s classic mystery as much as for The Dolls’ seductively campy struttings. Showing for two weekends only at Albuquerque Little Theatre (224 San Pasquale SW), the play opens tonight and runs through August 11. For dates and times, visit albuquerquelittletheatre.org. General tickets are $20 and $18 for ATL season ticket holders. Albuquerque Little Theatre • Fri Aug 2 • 8 pm • $20 • ALL-AGES! • View on Alibi calendar

One of the more high profile movements of the past few years has been alt-weekly columnist Dan Savage's “It Gets Better” campaign, the focus of which is preventing teen suicide by encouraging non-heterosexual kids to tough out the rough patches of adolescence and be proud of who they are. Based on the 1978 film and first performed on Broadway in 1983, La Cage Aux Folles is a crowd pleasing musical that centers on the same theme of being who we are even when we're pressured to conform—but in a much funnier vein and with drag queens. The owner of a St. Tropez transvestite nightclub, Georges, comes under familial pressure to get his partner and star of the club's drag show, Albin, to behave less like the flamboyantly gay man that he is. Part Pygmalian, part comedy of errors and with award-winning music throughout, La Cage is a story of love and family that consistently draws audiences queer and straight. Albuquerque Little Theatre • Fri Mar 1 • 8 pm • $12-$24 • ALL-AGES! • View on Alibi calendar

I was surprised upon reading a Wikipedia entry on Agatha Christie to find out that the queen of literary crime is, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the best-selling novelist of all time. She also wrote a wealth of short stories, including 1925’s “The Witness for the Prosecution.” It was adapted into a play, and later a 1957 film starring Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton. The play is currently being staged at Albuquerque Little Theatre, showing tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Read all about ALT’s version of Witness for the Prosecution.

There was a time when my family would religiously gather around the TV every Dec. 25 to watch A Christmas Story. The Jean Shepherd-penned classic spoke to our Midwestern roots, kind of like a red-and-green "Married ... With Children." We all have our favorite line. (Mine is probably when the dad happens upon his mysterious prize-box and exclaims in wonderment, "Fra-gi-lay—it must be Italian!") Enjoy that and other classic scenes in Albuquerque Little Theatre's production of the beloved film, adapted for the stage by Philip Grecian. And watch out for the Bumpus hounds! Tonight’s performance is at 8 p.m. at Albuquerque Little Theatre (224 San Pasquale SW).

Jacob Lewis has star power. In this week’s performance review, writer Christie Chisholm described his performance as the Emcee in ALT’s production of Cabaret: “He is commanding, tickling the audience with his monarch-sized fake eyelashes and exuberance and then carefully breaking its heart. Lewis also seems tailor-made for the role—wiry, whimsical and wonderfully flirtatious. It would be easy to spend the show’s run time (two and a half hours with intermission) watching him alone.” Cabaret’s last three shows run this weekend beginning tonight at 8 p.m. at Albuquerque Little Theatre (224 San Pasquale SW).

You have two choices for entertainment.

One.

Spring is springing and summer is just around the corner. What better way to celebrate than a Psycho Beach Party with The Dolls? Our fair city's premier drag troupe will send up old-school beach movies and Hitchcock thrillers in their latest romp. The madness begins March 18 and continues through March 27 at the Albuquerque Little Theatre. Shows begin at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays. Call 242-4750 for reservations or go online at albuquerquelittletheatre.org. Tickets are $15.

Two.

Apparently, aluminum is useful for more than just wrapping around my head to keep interstellar beings from stealing my thoughts. The goons of the Aluminum Show will be playing with metal and entertaining you at Popejoy Hall on Friday and Saturday. Show times are 8 p.m. each night, with an additional 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Come see the aluminum snake and fly across the stage. Tickets range from $22 to $35 and are available at unmtickets.com.