9 Pop-Up Performances Set To Spice Up Your Friday Evening Commute

Nine pop-up performances at MBTA stations throughout Boston and Cambridge Friday afternoon will showcase some of Boston's long-standing theater acts.

The 10-minute shows will happen simultaneously at nine stations at 4:30 p.m. and feature performances from the Boston Pops, the Handel & Haydn Society, Blue Man Group, Tony Williams' "Urban Nutcracker" and more. (Check out a map with details of the nine performances below)

The short shows are a promotion for the Mayor's Holiday Spectacular. In its 10th year, the program promotes theatrical events around the holidays and offers half-price tickets through BosTix.

So if you were looking for a reason to get out of work early Friday afternoon, this seems like a good one. Don't worry, we won't tell your boss.

A.R.T.'s 'The Donkey Show': North Station: Just inside fare gates on upper level.

The Boston Pops: Government Center MBTA Station: Downstairs in the nook to the right of the escalator.

Blue Man Group: Downtown Crossing MBTA Station: Near the Orange Line outbound platform at the end of the Green Line tunnel to Park Street.

Back Bay Ringers: South Station MBTA Station: Downstairs, on upper level just inside fare gates.

Tony Williams' 'Urban Nutcracker': South Station: Commuter rail level in the central atrium.

New Repertory Theatre's 'Camelot': Back Bay MBTA Station: along the north corridor before the fare gates.

Handel & Haydn Society's 'Messiah': Kenmore MBTA Station, just inside fare gates before going downstairs to platforms

The Christmas Revels: Harvard Square MBTA Station, on the landing between the escalators near the main entrance.

Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre's 'The Nutcracker': Porter Square MBTA Station, at the bottom of the long escalator before arriving to platform.