It’s safe to say that “Red” is Taylor Swift as you have never heard her before. When “Speak Now” was released, the same chord progressions were stretching their usability thin, and I was sick of how whiny Swift had become. I described her songs as “a chick flick in three minutes or fewer,” something to be enjoyed with a pint of chocolate ice cream.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please be patient while we have a technical hold.” This is the beauty of live theater, believe it or not. Accidents happen. Someone drops a hat, misses a step, gets a little off the beat. They happen every performance. Not too often does a mobile set get stuck in place, but when it does happen, you notice.

For those of you who are not fans of “This American Life,” you might at least recognize her voice as Violet from “The Incredibles.

There are plenty of reasons why “The Lion King” is one of the most beloved musicals of our generation. The storyline, of course, is familiar and the book sticks very close to the movie that we grew up with. Elton John wrote a large portion of the score (enough said, right?).

Surely you’ve seen them. Someone posts a link from the popular website #WHATSHOULDWECALLME on someone else’s Facebook wall. It’s a seemingly universal action with a clever GIF, or animated photo, attached to it. For example, “WHEN YOURE THE ONLY ONE OF YOUR ROOMMATES WHOS DRUNK” and a GIF of Jemaine from “Flight of the Conchords” dancing.

For those of you who are not familiar with the storyline of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” Wash. U.’s Performing Arts Department’s most recent production, Rosalind (played by Selena Lane) is a fair and charming French noblewoman who lives with her uncle, Duke Ferdinand, after he banishes her father, Duke Senior (both played by Eric Gustafson).

Not only is Ben Folds a performer, he is also a judge for “The Sing-Off.” Opening for him is “Street Corner Symphony,” the runner-up from this past season.

With Keith Urban’s trademark electric guitar and sexy voice as strong as ever, and with the country twang that makes him one of the best male country singers, his fans won’t be disappointed with “Get Closer.”

The songs were catchy, the choreography was energetic, and the book was amusing. Even the costumes and set were convincing. There is a reason why the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” swept the 2008 Tony Awards.

In an industry tethered to tired samples and easy beats, N.E.R.D.’s homemade instrumentals are invigorating. Reminiscent of ’70s funk, the trio creates rhythms and melodies that are as fresh as the vocals are smooth.