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A CurtainUp Review
A Roundup of Holiday Shows In and Around Manhattan
by Elyse Sommer
*asterisk before a listing indicates that it's for adults and not a family show
(Readers who'll be in London during the holidays may want to check out Lizzie Loveridge's feature on London Pantomines & Christmas Shows).
I didn't have time to check out shows in the outer boroughs although I'm sure there are all sorts of doings for anyone living outside Manhattan. We've probably missed a few of the Manhattan shows as wells, but this guide should get you started on having a very merry gamily holiday season. Please note that listings preceded by an * are not for children.
*Jackie Hoffman's Hannukah at Joe's Pub, Public Theater, 420 Lafayette Street. Through January 15th. The acerbic Hoffman has become a Joe's Pub regular since The Kvetching Continues was extended again and again. This holiday kvetch-fest is neither for the kiddies or anyone looking for sugar and spice and everything nice associated with the holiday season. For details, see http://web.joespub.com/caltool/index.cfm?fuseaction=detail&performanceID=1658 "
*The Bells of Christmas. December 9th until December 31st at the Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 West 22nd St., W. Scott McLucas Theatre. Passages from the works of s Hugh Leonard, Frank O’Connor and Henry Williamson and poems by Longfellow, Yeats, Kavanagh and Heaney, interwoven with Yuletide carols, music and narratives that evoke a longing for home and hearth. Features Clo Bowyer, James Kennedy, Jay Lusteck and Julie Price. Wednesday – Saturday at 8 PM, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 3 PM. Additional performancesDecember 20 7 27, 8 PM.
Moscow Cats Theatre -- see our review will be playing a special Christmas schedule at Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street, from December 20 - 29. Three shows a day at 12:00PM, 3:30PM and 7:00PM.
The Snow Queen. Stanton Wood's adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson Story, directed by Daniellla Topol . Xtravaganza has Old World meets New World with Gerda's epic journey in search of her best friend taking her from NYC to the South Pole, with stop-offs in Brazil and Patagonia. Puppetry, music and fun for all ages. December 11 to January 15th. Urban Stages, 259 W. 30th St. -SmartTix 212-868-4444
A Broadway Diva Christmas. A holiday concert show starring Maya Days, Christine Pedi, and Marla Schaffel. November 23 - December 31. This is a new holiday concert featuring nine singer/actresses from the world of musical theatre. The ladies perform some of the most popular Christmas songs of all time. Julia Miles, 424 West 55th Street 212-239-6200. Tickets, $70
Christmas Carol, Oy! Hanukkah, Merry Kwanzaa, Happy Ramadan. Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre toy-puppet extravaganza with a few twists and digressions, which result in an unexpected blend of English, Jewish, African, American and Czech winter rituals, customs and holiday songs. Performed by over three dozen December 16 to January 1. 1 hour and 10 minutes. Jan Hus Playhouse Address: 351 E. 74th St. Tickets: $15.00 $11.00 $17.17 $25.25 $44.44 -SmartTix 212-868-4444
A Christmas Carol. Theatreworks/NYC presents a family musical based on the classic Dickens story. December 10 - December 31. Lucille Lortel Theater in the West Village. 212-279-4200. Ticket: $35. See website for more details: http://www.theatreworksusa.org/
A Christmas Carol/ Personal Space Theatrics reprise of traditional staging. December 2 - December 18. Barrow Group 312 West 36th Street 3rd floor 212-868-4444. See website for more details: http://www.personalspacetheatrics.org/
*A Very Bette Christmas. A new holiday play with music by Elizabeth Fuller which imagines a Christmas TV special starring Bette Davis as played by Tommy Femia (with Daniel John Kelly and Peter Morris. November 17 - January 8. Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street , 212-757-0788. tickets: $20
A Very Nosedive Christmas Carol.A revival of James Comtois's re-imagining of the famous Dickens story. December 8 - December 17. Kraine, 85 East 4th Street 212-696-7342. Tickets, $15. See website for more details: http://www.nosediveproductions.com/index/index2.html
Big Apple Circus A new show entitled Grandma Goes to Hollywood. October 20 - January 8. At the company's seasonal home in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center. Broadway at 63rd Street. Tickets, $18 - $76. For full details see the show's website: http://www.bigapplecircus.org/Home/
*A Broken Christmas Carol. Playwrights James Christy, J Holtham, and Kendra Levin irreverently update Dickens' masterpiece for the 21st Century. Scrooge gets shoved out of the spotlight when two Jewish kids search for the true meaning of Christmas, a lapsed homeboy is spooked into keeping it real, and Bob Cratchit pimps his family out to reality T.V December 8 to December 30th. Broken Watch Company at the Michael Weller Theatre, 311 W 43rd street, 6th Floor. 212.352.3101. Tickets, $19. For more information visit www.BrokenWatch.org
Disney Live! Winnie the Pooh. An interactive live family stage show starring Winnie the Pooh and his friends. December 8 - December 28. Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway 212-307-4100. Tickets,$21.50 - $78.50 For full details see the show's website: http://disney.go.com/disneylive/
* Eight Reindeer Monologues. Revival of Jeff Goode's dark comic take of Christrmas as endangered by sex, alcohol, pedophilia, and bestiality. Dysfunctional Theatre Company at The Red Room, 85 East 4th Street, 3rd floor 212-868-4444. November 18 to December 17, 2005. Tickets, $15 $10 students/seniors. For More information see website: http://www.horsetrade.info/
Follow Me: Praise|.Motion, Inc. presents a new musical re-telling of the Christmas story. December 6 - December 18. The Theatre @ GTT.325 West 33rd Street. Tickets, $25. For details see the website: http://www.followmethemusical.com/
* The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players… on Ice. Unconventional family presents found Christmas slide presentations set to original score of pop rock music, thus exposing the obvious motivations and sentiments of this festive time of year. In the typical fringe fashion that has earned them cult status and celebrity fans like the White Stripes, the Trachtenburgs will scrutinize the immaculate conception in song -- while skating. And with perhaps a more cynical twist, the red and green colors of Christmas, usually deemed celebratory, will represent blood and money. December 18 to December 23. at P.S.122, 150 First Avenue @ E. 9th Street. Tickets,$20, $15 students/seniors, $10 P.S. 122 Members . 212.352.3101 or online at www.theatermania.com. For more information www.ps12.2.org
It's a Wonderful (One Man Show) Life Jason Grossman'sl solo version of the beloved Frank Capra holiday film. December 5 - December 29. Manhattan Theatre Source 177 MacDougal Street 212-501-4751. Tickets $15. See website for details:http://funnysheesh.tripod.com/index.html
Once Upon a Ballet, A series of ballets from New York Theatre Ballet for very young audiences (ages 3+). December 3 - April 30. Florence Gould Hall 55 East 59th Street 212-307-4100. Tickets, $30 -- $25 children. See website for details: http://www.nytb.org/ Peter Pan. Cathy Rigby returns as the boy who won't grow up in a revival of musical (music Moose Charlap, Jule Styne; lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden & Adolph Green). November 30 - December 30. Theatre at Madison Square Garden, 33rd Street & 7th Ave 212-307-4100. Tickets, $35 - $99
Radio City Christmas Spectacular The perennial holiday show, starring Santa Claus and the Rockettes. November 3 - January 2. At Radio City Music Hall. 212-307-4100. Tickets, $40 - $250
Seven in One Blow, or the Brave Little Kid. A revival of Axis Company's annual holiday show, based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. December 2 - December 18. 1 Sheridan Square 212-807-9300. Tickets $10 $5 children. See web site for more details: http://www.axiscompany.org/index2.php
The Dickens.: A holiday Western comedy by Michael Scott-Price about the true meaning of Christmas by Firebrand Theory Theater Company. December 1 - December 17. 212 West 29th Street, 2nd floor, 212-868-4444. Tickets. $20.
The Eight: Reindeer MonologuesRevival of Jeff Goode's comedy about the lives of Santa's reindeer. November 18 - December 17. Dysfunctional Theatre Company, The Red Room, 85 East 4th Street, 3rd floor See web site for more details: http://www.horsetrade.info/
The Last Christmas of Ebenezer Scrooge.Marvin Kaye's sequel to Dickens's classic story, about what happens after Scrooge's Christmas morning epiphany. December 1 - December 17. Open Bookat 78th St. Lab, 236 West 78th Street 212-362-9014. Tickets, $15 $10 students/seniors.
The Long Christmas Dinner/A New York Christmas Carol. A program of two short holiday-themed plays, presented by New York Theatre Experiment. December 8 - December 18. Blue Heron 123 East 24th Street, 212-352-3101. Tickets, $15. See web site for more details: http://www.newyorktheatreexperiment.org/christmas.htm
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players -- On Ice! New show from art-rock family pop band. December 18 - December 23. P.S 122, 150 1st Avenue 212-352-3101. Tickets, $20 $15 students/seniors. See website for details: http://www.ps122.org/performances/trachtenburg_family_slideshow_players_on_ice.html
'Twas the Night Before the Twelve Days. . . Holiday spectacular from Ken Nintzel. December 15 - December 23.P.S 122, 150 1st Avenue 212-352-3101. Tickets, $20-$15 students/seniors. See website for details: http://www.ps122.org/performances/twas_the_night_before_the_twelve_days_of_a_nut_cracker_christmas_carol.html
This Way That Way.Live action-adventure comedy for all ages created and directed by Mark Lonergan of Parallel Exit. December 14th to December 31st. Inspired by the great comic duos of the 20th Century, the show follows two con men on a cross-country vaudevillian adventure. 59E59 Theaters, 212-279-4200. Tickets $24.50, $15 for chidren.
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