Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell

We know what you’re thinking. Just let it out. “What the #%$!” is a perfectly acceptable response to the prospect of these two sharing a stage and doing whatever it is they intend to do together. But rest easy; we’ve done our research and can assure you that this isn’t a misprint, joke, or some desperate one-off attempt by either diva to capitalize on the other’s celebrity.

No, no, this performance is part of the duo’s Girls Night Out Tour, and it’s far simpler than it seems. See, Cyndi Lauper sings songs, and Rosie O’Donnell tells jokes. Not at the same time, in collaboration, on a high wire, taming lions, or anything like that. Two separate shows for the price of one. Two performances, not just one. Two girls who just wanna have fun. (See what we did there?)

Cyndi Lauper and Rosie O’Donnell come to Proctors Theatre (432 State St., Schenectady) on Tuesday (Aug. 11) at 8 PM. Tickets are $20 to $50. Call 346-6204 for more info.

Ballston Spa Film Festival

After the smashing success of last year’s Ballston Spa Film Festival, the folks behind the magic have made it an annual event, bringing the “open air bring your own chair film festival” back for a second go.

This year’s festival is a family-friendly, three-night free-for-all of short films and festivities, with screenings inside and out. The festival showcases short films—between five and 15 minutes long— from around the world, as well as selections by local student filmmakers. A panel of Hollywood professionals will judge the films in several categories, culminating in an award ceremony on Sunday.

The short film programs span genres, from documentaries and animated shorts to comedies, dramas, and experimental pieces. With offerings like local filmmaker Daniel Defabio’s Extreme Yoga Smackdown—a look at the fiercely competitive sport of Yoga (pictured)—it’s clear the festival is out for fun. And you could catch just about anyone on the big screen this weekend, from Ray Liotta to your next-door neighbor.

The Ballston Spa Film Festival kicks off tonight (Thursday, Aug. 6) at 9 PM in Wiswall Park (Front Street, Ballston Spa) with a special world- premiere screening of eScape Season 2. Events will continue through Saturday evening, and will take place at various locations in the village. All film screenings are free and open to the public; just remember to BYOChair. For more info, including a complete schedule of events, visit bspafilm.com.

Ghosts

Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is largely recognized as the father of modern drama and one of the central founders of modernism and realism in the theater. His plays were considered intensely scandalous by 19th-century standards. Ibsen criticized Victorian morality, upending what he considered the façade of propriety and exploring the realities masked underneath. His work faced brutal scrutiny and frequent censorship.

While a Victorian drama, even a scandalous one, might not sound all that edgy today, Ghosts is a twisted tale of philandering, financial revenge, accidental incest, syphilitic madness and the right to die—pretty risqué, even by contemporary standards.

And this week, Berkshire Theatre Festival presents an all-new translation of the tale, headed by veteran BTF director Anders Cato.

Ghosts opens for preview Tuesday (Aug. 11) at 8 PM at Berkshire Theatre Festival (Route 7, Stockbridge, Mass.). Wednesday’s (Aug. 12) preview is at 7 PM; there are additional previews Aug. 13 at 2 and 8 PM, and Aug. 14 at 8 PM. The production officially opens on Aug. 15 at 8 PM and runs through Aug. 29. Tickets range from $46 to $68. For more info, call (413) 298-5536.