“Christmas Belles”: This holiday show has universal appeal — even if you’ve never been to church.
“This particular show is a great choice because most people, regardless of their involvement in church or church pageants, can relate to someone trying to take over a project to do it their way,” director Sonia Perez said. “There are all different characters in this show with ones that everyone can relate to.”
Perez and her co-director Christine Mosere are leading a big cast in a madcap adventure — and the Seattle premiere — of this comedy about a church pageant that spins out of control with three sisters fighting while at the same time trying to reign in a sick Santa, a vengeful sheep and a reluctant Elvis impersonator.
“Christmas Belles” also incorporates some holiday tunes with the cast singing some favorites during the closing scene, Perez said.
“It’s very family-friendly,” Perez said.
The story, written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, is set in the small town of Fayro, Texas where the feuding Futrelle Sisters — Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye — each has her own burdens to bear: Frankie is weeks overdue with her second set of twins, Twink is jilted and bitter and Honey Raye suffers hot flashes while trying to keep the Tabernacle of the Lamb’s Christmas Program from unhinging.
Meanwhile, the ousted pageant director is plotting her takeover, Santa Claus is passing a kidney stone and the entire cast is dropping like flies due to some bad pancakes from the Band Boosters.
And “you’ll” be laughing your head off.
“Christmas Belles” opens at 8 p.m. tonight at Phoenix Theatre, 9673 Firdale Ave., Edmonds. Shows are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18, with two special performances at 8 p.m. Dec. 22 an 23. Tickets are $18.20 and $15.50. Call 206-533-2000 or brownpapertickets.com.
“In the Mood”: Sky Performing Arts presents this Big Band era revue, a re-creation of a USO-style show that harkens back to a time when our country was nearing the close of World War II.
This year, the troupe returns to the German front, with all new material and songs.
The Sky Notes Orchestra, under the direction of Bruce Gallagher, will be playing oldies such as “String of Pearls,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000” and “I Got Rhythm” while the singers provide tunes like “Summertime,” “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and “Blues in the Night,” according to press material about the show.
The show is written and directed by Terry Simon and features the vocal and comedic talents of Greg Norgaard, L. Sam Samano, Robin Hilt, Ellen Powell, Rick Wright, Brianna Underhill and Terry Simon.
“In the Mood” performs at 8 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3 and 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett, then several encore performances at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 and 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Frank Wagner Auditorium, 639 W Main St., Monroe. Tickets are $16 and $14. Call Historic Everett Theatre at 425-258-6766 or Sky Performing Arts at 360-863-1663 or go to skyperformingarts.com/index.html.
“Big, the Musical”: Based on the Tom Hanks’ hit movie, this is a touching musical about a kid who gets the wish he realizes he doesn’t really want to come true.
The scene is set just before Josh’s 13th birthday. Josh has been playing Little League and discovering girls but wishes to be grown up. One morning he wakes up just that — a grown man.
Josh is chased out of his house and begins a funny journey to a Seattle toy company where he tries to grapple with being a kid trapped in an adult’s body while battling in a grown up world of office politics and romance.
“Big, the Musical” opens at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, 565 Camano Ave., Langley. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 17. Tickets range from $12 to $16. Call 360-221-8268 or 800- 638-7631 or go to www.WICAonline.com.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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