Itinerary: Long, Long Nights

The winter solstice is upon us--Tuesday at 11:44 p.m. PST, to be precise. That means not only that winter will officially get started, but the nights coming up are the longest of the year.

The fact that the sun is setting so early--4:46 in the afternoon today--can get awfully depressing. Fight the darkness. This weekend, dance and laugh the night away.

Thursday

The darkest month of the year will be a little brighter--in Burbank, anyway--because of “Twelfth Dog Night” at the Falcon Theatre (4252 Riverside Drive, Burbank. $16. [818] 955-8101). Opening tonight, the madcap show is a combination of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and the ‘70s pop band Three Dog Night.

As envisioned by the Troubadour Theatre Company, a loose-knit group of writers, performers and musicians, the Bard’s star-crossed lovers get help telling their tale with songs such as “Joy to the World” and “One.” Reviews of a production in Orange County last summer indicated that (not surprisingly) the show is goofy and random--how much can Shakespeare and ‘70s pop really have in common?--but full of funny bits and acrobatics. “Twelfth Dog Night” plays Thursday through Sunday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Jan. 16.

Friday

Every Friday at 8 p.m. is opening night for Mr. Spelvin, who takes the stage at ImprovOlympic West (6468 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood. $10. [323] 962-7560) for “Opening Night: The Improvised Musical.” Mr. Spelvin isn’t a guy, it’s a group of six really-quick-on-their-feet comedians who take a simple suggestion from the audience and turn it into a full-on song and dance number.

After a late dinner, it’s time for a midnight movie. Check out the screening of “Spike and Mike’s 1999 Sick and Twisted Festival of Animation” (Sunset 5, 8000 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, [323] 848-3500), which is strictly for the 17 and older crowd. The program includes shorts “Swing Sluts,” “Home, Honey, I’m Higher: What You Should Know About Drugs,” “Beyond Grandpa II,” “Tongue Twisters,” “Beat the Meatles” and “Cannibalism and Your Teen”--in short, things that make “South Park” look like child’s play.

Think you’ve had all the nighttime entertainment you can pack into one stretch of darkness? Hardly. Grab some caffeine at Buzz Coffeehouse and wander across the street to the Coconut Teaszer (8117 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, [323] 654-4773), where the extremely popular after-hours club Does Your Mama Know? (18 and older, $5 cover) is just warming up the turntables. Deep house music rules until 6 a.m.--coincidentally, just the time that Krispy Kreme (7249 Van Nuys Blvd., Van Nuys, [818] 908-9113) is opening. Just make a quick trip over the hill and you can still make it home before sunrise.

Saturday

Sleep in. Who needs daylight?

After sundown, catch a performance of “Late Nite Catechism,” the one-nun show starring Maripat Donovan. Her Sister will carry out the adult catechism class in the new upstairs space at the Coronet Theatre (366 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood. Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 5 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 3 p.m. $35. [877] FUNNY-NUN). The show, written by Donovan and Vicki Quade, was an off-Broadway hit, and got equally enthusiastic reviews for a run earlier this year at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood. The sister is a little, well, moody. But if you know your catechism, you might win a glow-in-the-dark rosary.

Robin Rauzi can be reached at robin.rauzi@latimes.com.