The Nutcracker, performed by the Cleveland Ballet, opens today at the Playhouse Square Center's State Theater. A holiday classic; fun for the entire Oberlin family. For more information, call (216) 241-6000.

The Cleveland Museum of Art presents a Highlights Tour of CMA Favorites today at 1:30 p.m. The tour will also take place tomorrow; same time, same place. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Dec. 15, Cleveland Museum of Arts presents a Gallery Talk entitled Fabergé: His Life and Times  that will begin at 1:30 p.m. A discussion will be also led by Barbara Kathman. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Also at the Cleveland Museum of Art on Dec. 15: Christmas Music in the Galleries beginning at 1:30 p.m. A truly wonderful musical experience: the Laurel School Glee Club, Chamber Choir of St. Paul's Church, the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Choir and several soloists perform carols and other seasonal music. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Monstershow (USA, 1996, black and white, some subtitles) will show at the Cleveland Museum of Art at 3:30 p.m. Directed by Richard Meyers, a visually splendid new film retelling the stories of Frankenstein, Dracula and Jekyll and Hyde. Shot in Ohio. $4 CMA members, $5 others. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Dec. 18, the Cleveland Museum of Art will show the Shakespearean classic, Hamlet  (USSR, 1965, black and white, subtitles, 149 min.) at 7:15 p.m. Hamlet is a man outraged by injustice; enough said. Directed by Grigori Kozintsev; translated by Boris Pasternak; music by Dmitri Shostakovich. For more information, call (216) 421-7340.

Carrying on the Shakespearean tradition, the Cleveland Museum of Art will show King Lear (USSR, 1965, black and white, subtitles, 139 min.) at 3:15 p.m. An old man loses control over his lands, his daughters and, finally, himself. Directed by Grigori Kozintsev; translated by Boris Pasternak; music by Dmitri Shostakovich.

FAVA's 17th annual Member's Holiday Show will only run until Dec. 19. A great way to introduce yourself to the New Union Center for the Arts: 144 works of art will be displayed, by 78 FAVA member-artists from six different counties. Most works are for sale. Display hours are from 2-4 p.m. For more information, call (216) 774-7158.

The Singer's Club will open its 104th concert season today at 8 p.m. Performed at the Waetjen Auditorium on the campus of Cleveland State University. The concert will include sacred works, featuring Britten's The Journey of the Magi, The Ballad of LIttle Musgrave and Lady Barnard and Ceremony of Carols.  Tickets are $6 for students, as opposed to the $12 general audience. For more information, call (216) 556-4405.

Arts. . . Out of Town is compiled by Lauren Viera. If you discover any new and exciting things to do out of town over exams, break or Winter Term, let us know second semester. Call Lauren at x8123 and tell her what's up. Happy holidays.