NWNW is a sampler-festival: The acts are all short, so you can suck down shot after shot of new work by our local Big Brains. Up tonight: a reinterpretation of The Little Mermaid with crazy projection lighting designed in real time by iPhones; a solo piece by Mike Pham that includes figure skating, body bags, Lady Gaga, and a bolero; and more. Up on other nights: a video-game battle dance, a series of witty catwalk pattern-dances by choreographer Mark Haim, songs and storytelling by the endlessly entertaining Charles Smith (of the French Project), and, of course, much more. (On the Boards, 100 W Roy St, 217-9888. 8 pm, $14. See www.ontheboards.org for full schedule.)