In eight years, the New Standards holiday show has gone from a cute get-together at the Fitzgerald Theater to an all-out blow-your-mind extravaganza of singing, dancing and endless surprises. Chan Poling and company have convinced half the musicians in town that a guest appearance with them is a holiday must, and each year the show gets bigger and better.

Dec. 5-6, State Theatre, Mpls., 800-982-2787, hennepintheatretrust.org