Who says it’s too early to plan your arts calendar? 2013 is just around the corner, and there is lots happening. And we mean lots. It’s a year when the Singapore Biennale returns in October with a new curatorial form. The absence of the Singapore Arts Festival means that, for next year at least, there’s a gaping hole in May/June, although at least one group has come to fill that gap — Cake Theatrical Productions will be staging its biggest show to date, Illogic, in June.

Elsewhere, expect a new solo show by Tang Da Wu from the LASELLE College Of The Arts’ Institute Of Contemporary Art Singapore in April, while the Nanyang Academy Of Fine Arts will be holding shows on Cheong Soo Pieng, as well as Cultural Medallion recipients Han Sai Por and Ang Ah Tee throughout the year. The Singapore Tyler Print Institute is also kicking off its year with a show by Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto next month.

And let’s not forget what surprises Base Entertainment will have in store on the big musical front post-Jersey Boys.

But in the meantime, we’ll give you a quick rundown on things to look forward to in the four months. Get ready to key these in your calendar.

JANUARY

PRINCESS WEN CHENG THE MUSICAL

After premiering in Kuala Lumpur in 2008, this Malaysian production made waves in Taiwan and China. Next year, it’s our turn to check out this Mandarin musical about the titular Tang Dynasty princess who left home to marry the Tibetan king as part of a treaty. Led by producer/playwright/director Ho Lin Huay, the musical extravaganza bagged five awards from the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards, including best director.

Jan 11 to 13, 8pm and 2.30pm, Esplanade Theatre. Tickets at S$30 to S$200 from Sistic. In Mandarin with English surtitles.

FLYING CIRCUS PROJECT — 2013: BURMESE NIGHTS

You’ll never know what you’re going to get with this regular international showcase by TheatreWorks. Their eighth edition will focus on Myanmar (in the second leg of FCP) and you can once more test your artistic endurance with the event’s regular arts performance marathon showcase Superintense, which will be held over two days. It kicks off TheatreWorks’ shows for 2013, which includes associate artists Vertical Submarine’s follow-up to 2011’s Dust — A Recollection. Titled ABCD: Four Plays, it takes on 20th century writers Roberto Arlt, Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortazar and Marguerite Duras. Further down, you’ll have Lift: Love Is Flower The, which marks the return to stage by creator/director Jeff Chen.

Jan 16 to 19 at TheatreWorks 72-13

M1 SINGAPORE FRINGE FESTIVAL

At the annual festival’s ninth edition, it’s all about entertainment — in a fringey sort of way. Of the 15 works from 10 countries, four are home-grown: The Necessary Stage is presenting Best Of, a one-woman show by Siti Khalijah; choreographer Albert Tiong’s new group Re: Dance Theatre is staging Revisit The Sunflower; and Teater Kami is reworking their five-in-one production Cinta. Conceptual photographer Fong Qi Wei, meanwhile, is showcasing his delicately deconstructed flower works in Brush Strokes Of Nature. There are also fest returnees in Compagnie Irene K, with its “plus-sized” show Xtra Large, and Ferenc Feher’s Tao Te, which takes on the Tao Te Ching.

Jan 16 to 27, various times at The Esplanade, National Museum Of Singapore and Ion Art Gallery. Tickets from Sistic. http://singaporefringe.com

PRESIDENT’S YOUNG TALENTS

Sure, the Singapore Art Museum will have its regular Collectors Show exhibition around this time, but we’ve got our eyes on this instead. Last held in 2009, it features commissioned works by emerging artists under the age of 35. We look forward to what Boo Junfeng, Liao Jiekai, Zaki Razak, Grace Tan, Ryf Zaini and Robert Zhao can come up with.

Jan 24 to May 26, SAM at 8Q.

ART STAGE SINGAPORE

Singapore’s most extravagant art fair is back for the third time, showcasing works by 600 artists from 130 galleries representing 23 countries. As previously reported, it has some new tricks up its sleeve: An online component called Art Stage +, where you can check out the works before the fair opening; the addition of Australia as a country platform alongside Singapore; and the introduction of the Indonesian Pavilion, comprising galleries showcasing Indonesian artists and artists specifically commissioned by the fair.

Jan 24 to 27 at Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre. www.artstagesingapore.com.

MUSEUM@TAMAN JURONG

A museum in the heartlands? This we’ve really got to see. This first community museum is a joint collaboration between the National Heritage Board, the People’s Association and Taman Jurong Community Club which will be featuring new works by Singapore artists as well as those from the national art collection.

In January at Taman Jurong Community Club.

FEBRUARY

THE CRUCIBLE

Toy Factory kicks off the year with Arthur Miller’s classic piece about the 1692 Salem witch trials. Rayann Condy directs a cast comprising, among others, Rodney Oliveiro, Timothy Nga, Matt Grey, Jean Toh and Julie Wee. While they’re pretty hush-hush about it, Goh Boon Teck will be directing and adapting the script and it’ll apparently be of the same scale as December Rains and 881 The Musical.

Feb 7 to 23 at Drama Centre Theatre. Tickets from Sistic.

HUAYI FESTIVAL

Is it too early to be thinking of Chinese New Year? Not when tickets for this are already on sale. It will see the official debut of new local company Nine Years Theatre’s Twelve Angry Men. Elsewhere, Zuni Icosahedron presents an adaptation of Eileen Chang’s Eighteen Springs; Li Liuyi Theatre Studio does Antigone; Edward Lam transforms Dream Of The Red Chamber into the musical theatre piece, Awakening.

Feb 15 to 24, various times and venues at The Esplanade. Tickets from Sistic.

MARCH

VENUS IN FUR

Singapore Repertory Theatre’s next Shakespeare In The Park offering in April will be Othello. But before that, they’re bringing this acclaimed Broadway play which recently bagged a Tony Award for best actress and got a nod for best play as well. Written by David Ives, it’s about a young actress determined to land a lead in a new play based on the eponymous erotic novel. It’ll be directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar.

March 15 to April 6 at DBS Arts Centre—Home Of SRT.

KUMAR: WHAT MAKES A MAN A MAN

Dream Academy head honcho Selena Tan will be busy with next year’s National Day Parade — but they’ll still be reliably rolling out their popular and enjoyable entertainment fare with Broadway Beng and Crazy Christmas (or Happily Ever Laughter) during the latter part of the year. But it all starts with this stand-up comedy show by Kumar.

March 27 to 31 at Esplanade Theatre. Tickets from Sistic.

APRIL

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST

There’s a reason why you restage plays — because they’re good. And like this year’s Cooling Off Day, Wild Rice’s gender-bending take on this Oscar Wilde classic fits the bill.

April 11 to May 4 at Drama Centre Theatre. Tickets from Sistic.

RABBIT HOLE

Talk about quality. Pangdemonium’s 2013 season has “Pulitzer Prize” written all over it, beginning with this 2007 Pulitzer-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire about a suburban family whose world is turned upside down after a major loss. It stars Adrian Pang and Janice Koh. Later on, there’s the musical Next To Normal (a 2010 Pulitzer winner) by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, about a suburban housewife battling bipolar disorder. It stars Pang, Ria Jones and Spring Awakening alums Julia Abueva and Nathan Hartono. And finally, there’s Gruesome Playground Injuries by Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph. By the way, they’re offering season tickets. Go to www.pangdemonium.com.

April 25 to May 12 at DBS Arts Centre.