The beauty about America lies not only in a company’s ability to meet the needs of a public, but to also create entertainment that serves a need that many of us did not know we had. How else can we explain Disney on Ice or this, the Nuclear Cowboyz.

The New American Shakespeare Tavern’s rendition of Romeo and Juliet has been a staple on its repertory for 11 straight seasons, filling the Feb. time slot for the past nine years. This timeless tale of forbidden love is perfect for the month of Feb., especially around Valentine’s Day, and has become as essential to the holiday as roses and chocolate. This year is no exception, with a talented cast and crew that breathe new life into Shakespeare’s classic play.

Pirates of Penzance, most loved for its comedic libretto and strong musical score, is the fifth collaborative work between Sir William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan. Verily, I found myself ecstatic to have the opportunity to see a touring production on campus. Although I was prepared for the comedic silliness, the tale of this opera was alien to me.

Dan Deacon might seem out of place if you saw him in the streets. His oversized glasses of you-guess-the-color might alone force you to surmise that there’s something quirky about this guy, that he must have some sort of offbeat hobby or something that distinguishes him from the rest of us. Turns out you’d be right.

There is a difference between a cover band and a tribute. A cover band plays the songs of another, far more popular group. A tribute honors the sound, the times and the influence of a band. RAIN, a Beatles-mania driven group of performers, is a tribute band.

Now playing at 7 Stages Theatre near Little Five Points is the musical Hair. Hair made its debut in 1967 and was the culmination of the hippie counter-cultural and sexual revolution and of the public backlash against the Vietnam War.