Did this season's wonderful holiday performances (including "Elf" at The Rep and "The Velveteen Rabbit" at the Children's Theatre!) get your family excited about live theater experiences? Keep everyone's interest piqued this January with five shows opening in central Arkansas. Plan an adult-only date night to the Rep's thought-provoking production or round up the whole kid crew for one of the family-friendly shows!

Opening Jan. 16

"Frost Bite Me!" at The Joint in Argenta: Beat the winter blues with this hilarious comedy revue by The Main Thing, a trio of comedic actors. The show is loaded with sketches, funny songs, and commercial parodies targeting cold weather, driving on snow and ice, the flu, and everything else that makes winter dreary. The show is suitable for all ages. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat. $22. For info: (501) 372-0205, TheJointArgenta.com.

"Ballroom with a Twist" at Maumelle Performing Arts Center: Ballroom with a Twist features Cheryl Burke, of Dancing with the Stars fame, in a dancing and singing spectacular. Professional dancers bring a frenzy of sizzling dance moves, including the Samba, Waltz, Foxtrot, Quickstep, and Jive. As if the dancers aren’t enough to keep you entertained, several of your favorite American Idol finalists will also be joining the bill with their hit songs. Audience Recommendation: Celebrity Attractions recommends Ballroom with a Twist for audiences of all ages. This is only to be used as a suggestion as every child is different. $42-$63. Showtimes are: 8 p.m. Jan. 16, 2 & 8 p.m. Jan. 17, 2 p.m. Jan. 18. For info: (501) 244-8800, CelebrityAttractions.com.

Opening Jan. 21

"The Whipping Man" at Arkansas Repertory Theatre: An extraordinary tale of loyalty, deceit and deliverance, "The Whipping Man" by Matthew Lopez opened off-Broadway in 2011 to critical acclaim, winning the 2011 John Gassner New Play Award from the NY Outer Critics Circle and becoming one of the most produced plays in the country. The play takes place on Passover 1865; the Civil War has just ended and the annual celebration of freedom from bondage is being observed in Jewish homes across the country. One of these homes sits in ruins. As Jewish confederate officer Caleb DeLeon returns from the war, badly wounded, to find his family missing and only two former slaves remaining, Simon and John—the two men are forced to care for him. Note to parents: some elements are graphic; recommended for ages 12 and older. $30-$40; Pay What You Can Night is 7 p.m. Jan. 19. Showtimes are Jan. 21-Feb. 8: 7 p.m. Wed., Thu. & Sun.; 8 p.m. Fri. & Sat; and 2 p.m. Sat. & Sun. For info: (501) 378-0405, TheRep.org.

Opening Jan. 22

ASO Presents: Mozart's "The Magic Flute" at Albert Pike Memorial Temple: The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with Opera In The Rock, and sponsored by Landers FIAT, opens the 2014-2015 Intimate Neighborhood Concerts series with Mozart’s two-part opera, "The Magic Flute." The fully staged performance includes a full cast and exciting performances in an acoustically-unique venue. The production has an estimated length of 2 hours and 30 minutes including intermission. $25; students are $10. Performances are: 7 p.m. Jan. 22 & 23. For info: (501) 666-1761, ArkansasSymphony.org.

Opening Jan. 23

"Rumpelstiltskin" at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre: Once upon a time, a miller had a lovely daughter who was kind and good, but one day she did a very bad thing: She made a promise she could not keep. The greedy king is angry, the miller is frightened, and a dwarf is simply out of control. Wheels spin and straw flies as the miller's daughter works madly to make things right again, but the only way she can is by discovering the mean old dwarf's secret true name. In that search, she discovers the only power that will help her: love. "Rumpelstiltskin" is adapted from the Brothers Grimm by Keith Smith in this musical especially for youngsters! $12.50 for children and adults & $10 for AAC members; Pay What You Can Night is 7 p.m. Jan. 22. Showtimes are Jan. 23-Feb. 8: 7 p.m. Fri. and 2 p.m. Sat. & Sun. For info: (501) 372-4000, ArkansasArtsCenter.org.

For more events, browse our full online calendar here.