PICK OF THE DAY
Hat trick
It’s hard to imagine a hat being the center of attention, but it worked for Dr. Seuss. In the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’s “The [Expletive] With the Hat,” Jackie’s life is headed in the right direction until he finds a hat in the apartment he shares with his girlfriend. Pictured: Jaime Carrillo (left) and Maurice Emmanuel Parent. Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. (through Oct. 13). $25-$57 (discounts available). Stanford Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont St., Boston. 617-933-8600. www.bostontheatrescene.com
TUESDAY
Fright night What’s the scariest thing about Harvard Square besides the traffic? Decide for yourself after the 90-minute Haunted Harvard Square Ghost Tour when your guide shares information from “Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub,” the new book by Sam Baltrusis. Nightly at 7:30 p.m., rain or shine (through Oct. 31). $15, $10 students and seniors (reservations required). Meet at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and the Old Burial Ground (near steps of First Parish Church, 1450 Massachusetts Avenue), Cambridge. 800-431-7422. www.cambridgehaunts.com
Mogolov cocktail Smartphones make us feel powerful and smart, right? So why does Boston comedian and storyteller David Mogolov feel so “dumb”? Silence your phone and listen up when ImprovBoston presents “Dumber, Faster!” 8 p.m. (additional storytellers Oct. 9 and 16). $12, $10 students. ImprovBoston, 40 Prospect St., Cambridge. 617-576-1253. www.improvboston.com
Hanging around We found some fun tidbits on www.imdb.com about the 1964 Walt Disney film “Mary Poppins.” The book’s author, P.L. Travers, wanted no romance between Mary and Bert. Julie Andrews was forgotten by the stagehands while she was hanging in midair. How does the stage play deal with these issues? 7:30 p.m. (through Sept. 30). $35-$88. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 877-571-7469. www.thehanovertheatre.org
Back to back You can have your own political platform by just showing up at “Platform 10: Dan Peterman.” Two folks stand back to back on the artist’s 2006 plastic sculpture, “Love Podium,” and simultaneously read opposing views on one topic. Sounds like the presidential debates, right? Bring your own words or use those provided by the museum. Tue-Sun 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Oct. 1. $14, $12 seniors, $10 students, free under 13 and for active-duty military personnel. DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. 781-259-8355. www.decordova.org
WEDNESDAY
Doors wide open According to the Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, “As we’ve gotten older, we’ve gotten better and we have a greater ability to stretch things out, improvise if you will, so that the music has the freedom that we constantly searched for as the Doors.” Ray Manzarek & Robby Krieger will light your fire at the Wilbur. Sept. 26 at 8:30 p.m. $30-$50. The Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston. 800-745-3000. www.thewilbur.com
Three’s company Three shows get the Addison Gallery of American Art off to a busy start. “American Vanguards: Graham, Davis, Gorky, de Kooning, and Their Circle, 1927-1942” headlines and shares the venue with “Pekupatikut Innuat Akunikana/Pictures Woke the People Up: An Innu Project With Wendy Ewald and Eric Gottesman” and “People, Places, Things: Symbols of American Culture.” Tue-Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 1-
5 p.m. Free. Addison Gallery of American Art, Phillips Academy, 180 Main St., Andover. 978-749-4015. www.addisongallery.org