Published: Friday, November 27, 2009
Plays bring out fun, meaning of the season
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Chris Bennion
Sister act Judy (Tari Kelly, left) and Betty (Christina Saffran Ashford) flutter their lashes and their fans in “White Christmas,” in this production photo from a 2006 performance.
“A Christmas Story”: Edmonds Driftwood Players are presenting what they hope is everyone’s favorite Christmas movie on stage.
Author Philip Grecian bases his play in part on the modern holiday movie classic about a boy and his quest for the perfect Christmas present, while also gleaning from the stories in the book “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,” by Jean Shepherd. Many of the stories from the book, which were set during the Great Depression, were used as the basis for the 1983 “A Christmas Story” movie.
“A Christmas Story” opens at 8 tonight at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20. Tickets are $23 and $20. Call 425-774-9600 or go to www.driftwoodplayers.com.
“A Christmas Carol”: It’s time for ACT Theater to delight the Dickens out of you with their 34th annual production of this holiday classic with artistic director Kurt Beattie returning in the role of Scrooge after more than 10 years, alternating that role with talented actor and ACT veteran, R. Hamilton Wright.
ACT’s acclaimed version follows Dickens’ original story, taking audiences on the poignant and sometimes scary journey of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from miser to mensch.
Adapted by Gregory A. Falls with direction from both Beattie and Wright, this “Christmas Carol” is “pure storytelling” in an unsentimental way, Beattie said.
“It puts the power of the storytelling in the hands of the actors, which allows the play to move very quickly, and fluidly,” said Beattie in a prepared statement.
“A Christmas Carol” opens at 8 tonight and runs at various times through Dec. 27 at ACT, 700 Union St., Seattle. Tickets are $22 to $47. Call 206-292-7676 or go to www.acttheatre.org. For ages 5 and up.
“White Christmas”: You don’t have to dream about a white Christmas anymore.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting the classic holiday story that promises to be as sparkling as the lights at Leavenworth at Christmas time.
This adaptation of the film, filled with treasured Irving Berlin tunes such as “White Christmas.” “Sisters” and “Blue Skies” is in its first return engagement to the 5th Avenue stage since it played to sold-out audiences in 2006.
The story follows two showbiz gents who team up with a beautiful sister act to save a country inn, resulting in lots of laughs, cheerful dancing and razzmatazz.
“White Christmas” opens at 8 p.m. Saturday and plays at various times through Dec. 30 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Tickets start at $22.50. Call 206-625-1900 or 888-584-4849 or go to www.5thavenue.org.
“Black Nativity”: This is your last chance to savor the season with a jolt of soul as Intiman Theatre presents their final version of this gospel musical.
Though the show is in its last season at Intiman, theater leaders are exploring new options for the future, including a move to a larger venue in King County.
Written by Langston Hughes, the production showcases gospel music performed by soloists from churches and stages across King County. The show displays gravity-defying choreography, tap dancing reminiscent of past dance legends and an onstage band.
“Black Nativity” has music direction and arrangements by Patrinell Wright, Seattle’s “Gospel Queen” and founder of the Total Experience Gospel Choir.
“Black Nativity” opens with previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St., Seattle. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 27. All adult tickets during the first two weeks are $25; $45 after Dec. 15. Call 206-269-1900 or go to www.intiman.org.
“The Santaland Diaries”: Comic author David Sedaris wrote this sardonic seasonal one-person play that chronicles his experience working as an elf in Macy’s Stantaland.
This hilarious hoot of a holiday story is solidified as a Christmas classic. Sedaris’ skill mercilessly cuts through the Christmas spirit to stab at this point: the crazy things humans do during the holidays. For mature elves only.
Along with the “Santaland Diaries,” Seattle Public Theatre is also presenting “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson, as the story of the infamous Herdman clan takes over the church pageant and everyone’s traditional notions of Christmas are challenged.
“The Santaland Diaries” opens with previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” begins with previews Dec. 10. Both shows run through Dec. 24 at Seattle Public Theatre, 7312 W. Greenlake Drive N., Seattle. Tickets start at $15. Call 206-524-1300 or go to www.seattlepublictheater.org.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”: Despite losing their theater to an Oct. 23 arson fire, Taproot Theatre will continue its annual holiday production, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” at North Seattle Community College.
The story is based on the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” where Clarence the angel needs his wings and George Bailey needs to realize his importance to the people around him.
Set in 1947 as a radio broadcast, this show is adapted for the stage by Joe Landry and directed by Karen Lund.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” opens at 8 tonight with shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 30 at Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way N., Seattle. Tickets are $26 to $33. Call 206-781-9707 or go to www.taprootthreatre.org.
“Twelfth Night”: Described as a “beguiling comedy of romantic adventures and misdirected love,” this Shakespearean romp dives into the concept of riotous disorder during the holidays.
In this Seattle Shakespeare Company tale, Duke Orsino pines for Lady Olivia, but she’s too busy mourning her dead brother. While a randy uncle chases after the maid, a snooty butler scrambles to keep control, and a mystical fool tosses off shrewd bon mots.
Into this madness drops a pair of magnetic, identical twins, Viola and Sebastian, who arouse passion wherever they turn, according to press material.
“Twelfth Night” opens with previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and plays at various times through Dec. 27 at Seattle Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. Tickets start at $18. Call 206-733-8222 or go to www.seattleshakespeare.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Author Philip Grecian bases his play in part on the modern holiday movie classic about a boy and his quest for the perfect Christmas present, while also gleaning from the stories in the book “In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash,” by Jean Shepherd. Many of the stories from the book, which were set during the Great Depression, were used as the basis for the 1983 “A Christmas Story” movie.
“A Christmas Story” opens at 8 tonight at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Shows are at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20. Tickets are $23 and $20. Call 425-774-9600 or go to www.driftwoodplayers.com.
“A Christmas Carol”: It’s time for ACT Theater to delight the Dickens out of you with their 34th annual production of this holiday classic with artistic director Kurt Beattie returning in the role of Scrooge after more than 10 years, alternating that role with talented actor and ACT veteran, R. Hamilton Wright.
ACT’s acclaimed version follows Dickens’ original story, taking audiences on the poignant and sometimes scary journey of Ebenezer Scrooge’s transformation from miser to mensch.
Adapted by Gregory A. Falls with direction from both Beattie and Wright, this “Christmas Carol” is “pure storytelling” in an unsentimental way, Beattie said.
“It puts the power of the storytelling in the hands of the actors, which allows the play to move very quickly, and fluidly,” said Beattie in a prepared statement.
“A Christmas Carol” opens at 8 tonight and runs at various times through Dec. 27 at ACT, 700 Union St., Seattle. Tickets are $22 to $47. Call 206-292-7676 or go to www.acttheatre.org. For ages 5 and up.
“White Christmas”: You don’t have to dream about a white Christmas anymore.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is presenting the classic holiday story that promises to be as sparkling as the lights at Leavenworth at Christmas time.
This adaptation of the film, filled with treasured Irving Berlin tunes such as “White Christmas.” “Sisters” and “Blue Skies” is in its first return engagement to the 5th Avenue stage since it played to sold-out audiences in 2006.
The story follows two showbiz gents who team up with a beautiful sister act to save a country inn, resulting in lots of laughs, cheerful dancing and razzmatazz.
“White Christmas” opens at 8 p.m. Saturday and plays at various times through Dec. 30 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 Fifth Ave., Seattle. Tickets start at $22.50. Call 206-625-1900 or 888-584-4849 or go to www.5thavenue.org.
“Black Nativity”: This is your last chance to savor the season with a jolt of soul as Intiman Theatre presents their final version of this gospel musical.
Though the show is in its last season at Intiman, theater leaders are exploring new options for the future, including a move to a larger venue in King County.
Written by Langston Hughes, the production showcases gospel music performed by soloists from churches and stages across King County. The show displays gravity-defying choreography, tap dancing reminiscent of past dance legends and an onstage band.
“Black Nativity” has music direction and arrangements by Patrinell Wright, Seattle’s “Gospel Queen” and founder of the Total Experience Gospel Choir.
“Black Nativity” opens with previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Intiman Theatre, 201 Mercer St., Seattle. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 27. All adult tickets during the first two weeks are $25; $45 after Dec. 15. Call 206-269-1900 or go to www.intiman.org.
“The Santaland Diaries”: Comic author David Sedaris wrote this sardonic seasonal one-person play that chronicles his experience working as an elf in Macy’s Stantaland.
This hilarious hoot of a holiday story is solidified as a Christmas classic. Sedaris’ skill mercilessly cuts through the Christmas spirit to stab at this point: the crazy things humans do during the holidays. For mature elves only.
Along with the “Santaland Diaries,” Seattle Public Theatre is also presenting “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson, as the story of the infamous Herdman clan takes over the church pageant and everyone’s traditional notions of Christmas are challenged.
“The Santaland Diaries” opens with previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” begins with previews Dec. 10. Both shows run through Dec. 24 at Seattle Public Theatre, 7312 W. Greenlake Drive N., Seattle. Tickets start at $15. Call 206-524-1300 or go to www.seattlepublictheater.org.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”: Despite losing their theater to an Oct. 23 arson fire, Taproot Theatre will continue its annual holiday production, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” at North Seattle Community College.
The story is based on the classic movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” where Clarence the angel needs his wings and George Bailey needs to realize his importance to the people around him.
Set in 1947 as a radio broadcast, this show is adapted for the stage by Joe Landry and directed by Karen Lund.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” opens at 8 tonight with shows at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 30 at Stage One Theatre at North Seattle Community College, 9600 College Way N., Seattle. Tickets are $26 to $33. Call 206-781-9707 or go to www.taprootthreatre.org.
“Twelfth Night”: Described as a “beguiling comedy of romantic adventures and misdirected love,” this Shakespearean romp dives into the concept of riotous disorder during the holidays.
In this Seattle Shakespeare Company tale, Duke Orsino pines for Lady Olivia, but she’s too busy mourning her dead brother. While a randy uncle chases after the maid, a snooty butler scrambles to keep control, and a mystical fool tosses off shrewd bon mots.
Into this madness drops a pair of magnetic, identical twins, Viola and Sebastian, who arouse passion wherever they turn, according to press material.
“Twelfth Night” opens with previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and plays at various times through Dec. 27 at Seattle Center House Theatre, 305 Harrison St., Seattle. Tickets start at $18. Call 206-733-8222 or go to www.seattleshakespeare.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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