This year’s “Christmas Spectacular” combines a surging story of determination with the thumping beat of hip-hop.
And that’s not all.
There’s lots of lovely singing and special dance numbers.
This “11th Annual Christmas Spectacular — A Gift of Music and Celebration of Life in Our Community” brings back several veteran talents from previous years.
The master of ceremonies again this year is Brian Tracey, former long-standing anchor on KING TV’s “Evening News,” along with musician and songwriter Dehner Franks, who has created four albums for the show over the years.
“Christmas Spectacular” will also include lead saxophone player Jack Klitzman from the Steely Dan tribute band Nearly Dan; opera singer and musical theater performer Megan Chenovick; and Victor Benedetti, winner of New York City’s Opera Debut Artist of the Year Award.
Part of this year’s packed program will be the “Dance Off,” which will combine a fictional story of determination with a variety of dance routines, showcasing Providence Regional Medical Center and Swedish Hospital employees, as well as individual employees performing singing, dancing and musical acts supported by the cast and the Dorothy Jayne Studio.
The fictional story will be told through the struggle of hospital physical therapist and hip-hop dancer Darlene Hussey, who hopes to realize her life’s dream of going on Broadway.
After she learns she has a part performing at the “Christmas Spectacular” — where talent scouts often lurk in the audience — she begins rehearsals and becomes obsessed.
Darlene begins skipping meals to find time to practice and grows thinner and weaker.
Darlene makes it to her performance but in the middle of her dance, she collapses near the edge of the stage. Will she be able to go on? Does she fulfill her dream and get discovered?
You will have to attend the Christmas Spectacular to find out.
“Christmas Spectacular 2011” will be presented at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett.
All tickets $15 with five nonperishable food items. Festival seating. Tickets at the door or online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/206228.
“A Christmas Carol”: This Adagio Player’s production is told by narrators who turn into the actors who tell this story of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Adapted from the book by Charles Dickens, Scrooge, played by local community theater favorite Asa Sholdez, is joined by Bob Cratchit, Mrs. Cratchit, Tiny Tim and other characters from this classic Christmas tale.
Director Lisa Goshorn said Sholdez as the penny-pinching miser brings out his “strong talent and timing once again to shine as he takes us along for a jaunt through his own special self-discovery of Scrooge’s inner child.”
“A Christmas Carol” begins at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 18 at Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett.
Tickets are $16.50, $13.50 and $11.50 for groups of six or more. Friday performances will also include a concert by Emerald City Voices. Tickets at the door or at www.etix.com or call the theater at 425-258-6766.
“Santa Claus and the Martians”: The Snohomish Theater Project at the Carnegie once again presents an epic new stage adaptation of a classic holiday movie.
The plot of this bit of Christmas camp has the Martians worried that their children are watching too much Earth television. So the King of Martians consults an ancient oracle, which advises them that Mars needs some fun, and Santa Claus.
The king decides to kidnap Santa. But that’s not so simple because the Evil Martian Voldar believes the Martian children were fine the way they were. Voldar plots to destroy Santa and the two earth children who were also kidnapped.
Will Santa get snuffed? Will the Martian children remain miserable? The Snohomish Theater Project at the Carnegie will provide the answers in their own brand of theatrical ridiculousness.
“Santa Claus and the Martians” runs two for weekends at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9 through 11 and Dec. 16 through 18 at the Carnegie Library, 105 Cedar Ave., Snohomish. The play is suitable for all ages.
Admission is free but donations accepted. Nonperishable food items are accepted for the Snohomish Food Bank. Seating is limited. Go to Snohomishtheaterproject.org.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
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