If a house party or a DJ is too small-time for your New Yearยs Eve, upgrade your night with ยJokes & Jamz,ย featuring a double billing of comedy and crooning. BET staple and Dallas-based radio host Rickey Smiley will take the stage-in-the-round for some stand-up and impressions. Known for his prolific prank calls, as well as characters like ยRusty Daleย and the cranky church lady Sister Bernice Jenkins, Smiley will warm up the stage for jams from Fantasia. Fantasia, of course, is the 24-year-old Fantasia Barrino, American Idolยs third-season victor of the oft-restyled hair and raspy voice. The -Lifetime-movie and Broadway star will ring in the new year with hits like ยI Believe,ย ยTruth Isย and ยFree Yourself,ย leaving your ears ringing well into 2009. 8 p.m. Arena Theatre 7326 Southwest Freeway. For information, call 713-772-5900 or visit www.arenahouston.com. $75 to $85.
Wed., Dec. 31, 8 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Dec 25-31, 2008.