Capital District – When it comes to theater, this is the time of year when holiday-themed shows tend to proliferate on stages across the region.
Indeed, the redemptive theme of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” dominates local theaters. However, they are each a little different. It helps that all of them have a long term, as most continue until December 22.
In fact, the only traditional version is at Berkshire Theater Group’s Unicorn Theater in Stockbridge, MA. This is the 18th season of what is a Berkshire tradition. There is a cast of 25, pretty costumes and inspiring music. :
At Curtain Call Theater in Latham, a less traditional “A Christmas Carol” is offered. It tells the complete story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s visitation by the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future, but uses only six actors. One actor plays Scrooge, all other characters are played by only five actors.
Beating this minimalist production is the solo version of “A Christmas Carol.” He’s playing downtown Troy at The Waiting Room on the 3rdrd Street. It is only playing tonight and Monday this week and again at The Rep’s black box theater in Albany on November 16.
There’s a medley at the Rep with “A Sherlock Carol.” This is a Sherlock Holmes mystery involving Scrooge and the characters from Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” It’s fun and clever and combines the deductive logic of Holmes with the redemptive morality of “A Christmas Carol.”
Another holiday favorite revisited is “A Christmas Story – the Musical” at Cohoes Music Hall. It answers the burning question that comes up every holiday season: “Will Ralphie shoot his eye out with a Red Ryder BB Gun?” Only this time he does it with songs and lots of tap dancing. Everything Playhouse Stage does so well.
But not everyone wants to rediscover the holiday spirit through theater. Perhaps the only other Christmas entertainment as popular as “A Christmas Carol” is the ballet “The Nutcracker.”
And there are several who play locally. Northeast Ballet performs the classic for three performances at Proctors Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15.
It’s a busy “Nutcracker” weekend because at the Egg in Albany, the Albany-Berkshire Ballet is offering three performances of the family-friendly ballet in the same weekend.
A week later, on December 19 and 20, the Egg welcomes the Grand kyiv Ballet, which also dances Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece.
Classical music lovers are not neglected this holiday season. At Troy Savings Music Hall, Albany Pro Musica offers its annual holiday concert on December 21.
Entitled “The Many Moods of Christmas,” it is performed with a full orchestra. The choir will perform classic pieces that are both seasonal and popular. They combine them with contemporary holiday favorites.
Another popular local choir, the Mendelssohn Club presents its annual holiday concert at the Egg this Friday, December 13.
It’s a lot in a very short time, but the choices are all great. Whatever entertainment you choose, you will probably be f