Aerialists, acrobats, contortionists and poodles (yes, poodles!) bring more excitement to the upcoming holidays. The Lone Star Circus’ Cirque Banquiste, the Dallas Children’s Theater circus show, premiers Thursday, Dec. 27 and runs through the weekend until Tuesday, Jan. 1.

The official “mistress of merriment” is Lake Highlands resident Liz Mikel, the Dallas stage star nominated for the 2012 Dallas Morning News Texan of the Year award in the arts community. If you don’t recognize Mikel’s name from her active role in Dallas theater, you might remember her from the Advocate’s 2010 post about Mikel’s escape from an apartment fire that destroyed several neighbors’ homes.

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Tickets, $20-$46, are available online.