WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK IN THEATRE (DEC. 17-23, 2014)

(Be sure to visit our monthly theatre calendar by clicking on “Events Calendar.”)

CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, Scrooge, book, lyrics and music by Leslie Bricusse, directed by Addie Holman, a delightful musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, through December 18, 7:30 p.m., Barlow Main Stage, 525 N. 400 West, Centerville, $17-$22, 801-298-1302, www.centerpointtheatre.org.

CENTERPOINT LEGACY THEATRE, It’s a Wonderful Life: Radio Play, adapted by Joe Landry from a screenplay by Francis Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra and Jo Swerling, directed by Carol Thomas, this beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, through December 20, 7 p.m., Leishman Performance Hall, 525 N. 400 West, Centerville, $15 general, 801-298-1302, www.centerpointtheatre.org.

COVEY CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Joyful Noise, by Tim Slover, the play examines how composer George Frideric Handel struggles to write a new masterpiece (Messiah) since his last “blasphemous” opera flopped, causing him to fall out of favor with King George II, through December 20, 7:30 p.m., Brinton Theatre, $14 reserved, $12 seniors/students/military, 801-852-7007, www.provo.org/community/covey-center-for-the-arts.

THE ECHO THEATRE, It’s a Wonderful Life, written by Joe Landry, based on the film, this beloved American holiday classic comes to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast, directed by Adam Cannon, through December 20, 7:30 p.m. (performances on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays), 15 N. 100 East, Provo, $10 general, $9 students (presale), $12 general/students, $9 seniors (day of performance), www.theechotheatre.com.

PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY, Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, music by Wayne Barker, this wonderfully inventive new play explains how Peter Pan ended up in Neverland and how Captain Hook became Peter’s arch enemy, through December 20, 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m., 2 p.m. matinees, $38 balcony, $59 main floor or loge (tickets will be $5 higher when purchased on day of performance), 801-581-7100, www.pioneertheatre.org.

SCERA CENTER, The Farley Family Xmas, James Arrington’s farewell performance of his signature one-man holiday show, through December 20, 7:30 p.m., 745 S. State, Orem, $12 general, $10 seniors, $10 children (3-11 years of age), 801-225-2787, www.scera.org.

PLAN-B THEATRE, Christmas with Misfits, a world premiere by Julie Jensen, directed by Cheryl Ann Cluff, four short plays about what is wrong, and could be right, with Christmas, through December 21, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m., Studio Theatre, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, $20, 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787, www.arttix.org.

TERRACE PLAZA PLAYHOUSE, Scrooge: A Christmas Carol, through December 23, 7:30 p.m., 99 E. 4700 South, Ogden, $9-$14, 801-393-0070, http://terraceplayhouse.com.

HALE CENTRE THEATRE-OREM, A Christmas Carol, the original musical retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic story, through December 23, 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances, also 2 p.m. matinees on December 20 and 22-23, 225 W. 400 North, Orem, $16-$22 general, $12-$16 children, 801-226-8600, www.haletheater.org.

HALE CENTRE THEATRE-WEST VALLEY CITY, A Christmas Carol, 30th annual production of this musical adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic story, through December 24, 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances, $29-$32 general, $16 children ages 5-11, 801-984-9000, www.halecentretheatre.org.

THE OFF BROADWAY THEATRE, The X-mas Men, the evil Jack Frost plans to take over Santa’s magic snowball, to give coal to good children and presents to bad ones, luckily the X-mas Men are here to save the day, through December 27, 7:30 p.m., 272 S. Main, $10-$16, 801-355-4628, www.theobt.org.

SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY, A Year with Frog and Toad, book and lyrics by Willie Reale, music by Robert Reale, based on the books by Arnold Lobel, directed by Penny Caywood, SLAC’s 6th annual professional children’s production, two best friends celebrate and rejoice in their differences that make them unique and special, a story of friendship that endures, through December 27, 7:30 p.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. performances, Upstairs Theatre, 168 W. 500 North, $25 adults, $15 children, 801-363-7522, or log on to www.saltlakeactingcompany.org.

PICKLEVILLE PLAYHOUSE, Juanito Bandito’s Christmas Carol, December 18-20, 22, 7:30 p.m., Grand Theatre, 1575 S. State St., $16-$28, 801-957-3322, https://tickets.slcc.edu/TheatreManager/1/login?event=291.

THE STING AND HONEY COMPANY, “This Bird of Dawning,” the Nativity story told through poetry and music, it’s an evening of astonishing imagery and music, including Nativity poetry written by a variety of poets from Shakespeare to W.B. Yeats and Li-Young Lee, December 19-20, 7:30 p.m., Leona Wagner Black Box, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, $12, 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787, www.arttix.org.

HERITAGE THEATRE, It’s a Wonderful Life, from the film by Frank Capra, adapted for the stage by James W. Rodgers, directed by JuDeane Parkinson, the story deals with all around good guy George Bailey trying to escape boring Bedford Falls but never being able to walk away from the problems of the people he loves, December 19-20, 7:30 p.m., also 2 p.m. matinee on December 20, $10 general, $9 seniors/children under 12, S. Highway 89, Peery, 435-723-8392, www.heritagetheatreutah.com.

DRAPER HISTORIC THEATRE, A Christmas Carol, adapted for the stage by Randy Young, Kyle Woodruff and Aubrey Hicks, one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved tales, the story focuses on the appearance of three apparitions to Ebenezer Scrooge, a Victorian miser, these spirits are sent to teach Scrooge the meaning of charity, goodwill, generosity and forgiveness, December 19-20 and 22, 7 p.m., $9 adults, $7 seniors/students/military, $5 children 12 and under (unreserved seating), $11 adults, $9 seniors/students/children/military (reserved seating), 12366 S. 900 East, 801-572-4144, www.drapertheatre.org.

UTAH CHILDREN’S THEATRE, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, dramatized by Joseph Robinette from a story by C.S. Lewis, siblings Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy are sent out of London during World War II, in the darkness of the old country house where they are sent the children stumble through an old wardrobe to the land of Narnia, where it is always winter and never Christmas under the White Witch’s reign, December 19-20, 22-24, 26-27, January 3, 9-10, 16-17, 2015, 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. performances, 3605 S. State St., $14 general, 801-532-6000, www.uctheatre.org.

PLAN-B THEATRE, Marry Christmas, a world premiere by Elaine Jarvik, directed by Jason Bowcutt, celebrate the first anniversary of marriage equality with us as we share real-life marriage stories from “the 17 days” and the historic 10th Circuit Court ruling en route to the Supreme Court, December 20, 12 p.m., December 21-23, 7 p.m., Studio Theatre, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, $20, 100 percent of ticket sales benefit Restore Our Humanity, 801-355-2787, 888-451-2787, www.arttix.org.

This entry was posted in EVENTS CALENDAR, Live Theater Coverage, Upcoming Theatre Events by Edward Reichel. Bookmark the permalink.

About Edward Reichel

Edward Reichel, author, writer and composer, has been covering the classical music scene in Utah since 1997. For many years he served as the primary music critic for the Deseret News. He has also written for a number of publications, including Chamber Music Magazine, OPERA Magazine, 15 Bytes, Park City Magazine and Salt Lake Magazine. He holds a Ph.D. in composition from the University of California at Santa Barbara. He can be reached at ed.reichel@gmail.com. Reichel Recommends is also on Twitter @ReichelArts.

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