One of the best ways to celebrate the holiday season is to spend it with family and friends at a special stage production.
Nothing quite compares to the excitement of live theater. It offers the audience an intimate experience that ignites the imagination and touches the heart.
Whether you’re looking for comedy, adventure or a lesson in living, this season’s stage shows offer all of these and more. The following productions are scheduled through the holidays.
SATURDAY, NOV. 24
Rhythmic Circus, a live music and tap dance ensemble, will perform “Holiday Shuffle” at 7 p.m. at the Dassel-Cokato Performing Arts Center, 4852 Reardon Ave. S.E.
This show features four hoofers and a swingin’ eight-piece band that will give new meaning to the holiday classics. Tickets are $22 for adults and $9 for youth.
OPENING THURSDAY, NOV. 29
It’s opening night for the eight-show run of the Barn Theatre’s production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The show is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Dec. 2. It’s also showing 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 6-8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. The Barn Theater is at 321 Fourth St. S.W., Willmar.
In this musical, when Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism he sees among everyone during the Christmas season, Lucy suggests that he become director of the school Christmas pageant. Charlie accepts, but this proves to be a frustrating endeavor. When an attempt to restore the proper holiday spirit with a forlorn little Christmas tree fails, he needs Linus’ help to discover the true meaning of Christmas.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. For ticket information, visit thebarntheatre.com or call 320-235-9500.
OPENING FRIDAY, NOV. 30
The FungusAmongus Players of Dassel-Cokato are staging a six-show run of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 1; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2; 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-8; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Dassel History Center and Ergot Museum, 901 First St.
The play takes place on Christmas Eve, 1822, at Clement Clark Moore’s house. The three children await the arrival of St. Nicholas. Mother and Father arise thinking they hear intruders. Cousin Harriet enlists the children to copy the poem their father has just written for them, which she hopes to have published for all young people to enjoy. But Father, as a distinguished professor who fears being known as a poet for children, burns the poem so it can never leave the house. The children unite to save the poem for posterity and by attempting to convince their father that his verses should be shared with children everywhere.
For tickets, visit fungusamongusplayers.org or call the History Center at 320-275-3077.
”Peter Pan” opens at 7 p.m. at the Litchfield Opera House, 136 N. Marshall Ave. This production is the original “Peter Pan” written by J. M. Barrie. It’s the story of Peter Pan’s never-ending childhood having adventures on the mythical island of Neverland as the leader of the Lost Boys.
The show is also staged at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Tickets are available at the door.
THURSDAY, DEC. 6
Mick Sterling’s “At Christmas” returns to Crow River Winery, 14848 State Highway 7 E., Hutchinson. Doors open at 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show.
“At Christmas” is a family-fueled comedy and drama written and performed by alumni of Dudley Riggs Brave New Workshop. Joining the festivities is a live, six-piece band. It’s 90 minutes reflect what the holidays are for all families: funny, poignant and heart-warmingly tender.
Tickets are available online at crowriverwinery.com or by calling 320-587-2922.
SHOWING THROUGH SATURDAY, DEC. 29
”A Christmas Carol” returns to the Guthrie Theater, 818 S. Second St., Minneapolis. Evening and matinee performances run through Saturday, Dec. 29.
It’s a retelling of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of a miserly and miserable man, Ebenezer Scrooge, who greets each Christmas with a “Bah, humbug!” until he is visited one Christmas Eve by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Future. Through a restless night, the spirits show him happy memories from his past, cruel realities from the present and a grim future should he continue his cantankerous ways.
For ticket information, visit guthrietheater.org or call 877-44-STAGE.
SHOWING THROUGH SATURDAY, DEC. 29
”Winnie the Pooh” is showing through Dec. 29 at the Old Log Theatre, 5185 Meadville St., Excelsior.
In this musical version, Winnie-the-Pooh, who is Christopher Robin’s fat little “bear of very little brain” would like to drift peacefully through life, humming tunes and stopping frequently to eat “a little something.” However, he finds himself involved in all sorts of adventures, assisted by such friends as the dismal Eeyore, Piglet and Rabbit. Pooh’s intentions are always the best, but his passion for honey and condensed milk keeps getting him into trouble. When friend Piglet gets roped into Kanga’s household and Kanga starts bathing him and forcing down spoonfuls of Strengthening Medicine, Pooh wants to fly to the rescue, but he’s had so many snacks he gets stuck in the door.
For tickets, visit oldlog.com or call the box office at 952-474-5951, ext. 0.
SHOWING THROUGH SATURDAY, JAN. 6
”Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” is at the Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis.
The show is about the grouchy, ever-so-cantankerous Grinch, who has witnessed the despicable Christmas joy of the Whos with disdain, from a distance, for decades. In this favorite holiday story, filled with music and Seussian rhymes, the Grinch conceives a dastardly plot to destroy what they love. It’s the smallest of the Whos, tiny Cindy Lou, who extends a hand. Through the combination of kindness and community, we witness not only a change in the course of Who history, but also the size and capacity of the green guy’s heart.
For more information or tickets, call 612-874-0400 or email tickets@childrenstheatre.org.
SHOWING THROUGH SATURDAY, FEB. 23
”Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn” is showing on the Main Stage at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen.
The musical is based on the Universal Pictures film of the same name. It’s a frothy, feel-good story that opens with three main characters: Jim (Michael Gruber), Ted (Tony Vierling) and Lila (Jessica Fredrickson). After years of performing together, Jim is ready to leave the bright lights of Broadway for his new Connecticut farm. His partners, however, have other ideas and talk him into letting them take a six-week job. Ted and Lila take off while Jim heads to his new farm. It doesn’t take Jim long to realize he doesn’t really have a knack for farming. Linda (Ann Michels), a talented and reserved schoolteacher and her quirky friend, Louise (Michelle Barber), and his theater friends help him turn his farmhouse into a unique country inn. Holiday Inn is open only on holidays because that’s when his theater friends are available to perform. Meanwhile things are going well for the dancing duo until Lila falls for a Texas millionaire. As a result, Ted finds himself looking for a new dance partner and discovers it in Linda. Will Linda abandon Jim for the footlights? You’ll have to see the show to find out.
For tickets, call the box office at 952-934-1525 or visit tickets@chanhassendt.com.
