If you havenβt gotten into the holiday mood yet, thereβs plenty of theater that can help you get there.
Opening
A Tucson Pastorela β Borderlands Theater. See story.
A Christmas Carol the Musical and Dickens Festival — Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway. Arts Express takes on the classic Dickens tale. And that’s not all: There’s a Dickens Festival before and after the show. Armen Dirtadian stars as Ebenezer Scrooge. Performances are 7 p.m. Dec. 15, 1 and 7 p.m. Dec. 16, and 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 17. $20. 319-0400, arts-express.org.
The Wizard Of Oz — The Comedy Playhouse, 3620 N. First Ave. The company takes on the classic tale of witches, ruby red slippers and the search for home in its Radio Theatre Revival Project. It’s 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23. $12. 270-9310, thecomedyplayhouse.com.
Last chance
Jingle Bell Rock — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Tucsonan Richard Gremel penned this family show about the nasty Mr. Coalson and his attempts to ruin Christmas for the whole town. The Christmas Cheer gang is trying to drum up the holiday spirit, but Coalson, the head of the town’s coal company, is more interested in bad behavior that will result in coal in the children’s stockings. Lots of Christmas music, of course. Kris Kissel directs, Julia Hupp provides the music, and the cast includes Hupp, Stephen Frankenfield, Kyleigh Sacco, Matthew Frankenfield, Birdie Stark, Blake Franklin, Sheldon Metz and Linda Metz. Final performance is 12:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Tickets are $7 for kids; $10 for adults. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org.
Continuing
Man of La Mancha — Temple of Music & Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. One of the best Arizona Theatre Company has done. The musical is loosely based on Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th-century tale, “Don Quixote.” It’s set in a prison during the Spanish Inquisition, and Cervantes is there, defending himself in a mock trial. Seems his fellow inmates have accused him of being “a bad poet, an idealist and an honest man.” His defense is acting out the story of Don Quixote, who loses his grip on reality and decides to set out on a quest laid out in the musical’s best-known song, “Impossible Dream:” “To right the unrightable wrong/To love pure and chaste from afar/ To try when your arms are too weary/To reach the unreachable star.” David Bennett directs the minimalist production that has the actors singing, dancing and playing the instruments. This is a stunning production. Various times through Dec. 31. $25-$73. 622-2823, arizonatheatre.org.
The Voice of the Prairie — Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. This John Olive play is almost an homage to storytelling. Davey Quinn is a simple farmer from Nebraska who has a knack for telling tales. An unlicensed broadcaster discovers him, declares he is “the voice of the prairie,” and his stories go out over the radio. Samantha Cormier, Josh Parra and Christopher Younggren each play multiple characters — and they are quite impressive. Maryann Green directs. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 23. $20; $15 for Thursday performances. 327-4242, livetheatreworkshop.org.
A Christmas Carol Tucson β A Christmas Carol Theatre, 7401 N. La Cholla Blvd. in the Foothills Mall. Standing O Entertainment brings back its production of the classic Christmas story. It is also bringing back the cast from last yearβs performances. That includes James Gooden as Mr. Scrooge. Gooden was born to play the role β he completely owns it. 7 p.m. Dec. 15-16; 3 p.m. Dec. 17. Through Dec. 31. $22.50. 325-3715.
Twas the Night Before Christmas — Roadrunner Theater, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. This is playwright Ken Ludwig’s version of the poem. Which means you are in for a wildly funny ride. It begins with Uncle Brierly giving a traditional reading of the poem to the kids. But he is quickly interrupted by a mouse named Amos, who offers up his version of the story. Then madness ensues. Directed by Maria Gawne. 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 24. $20. 207-2491, roadrunnertheatrecompany.org.
Elves Gone Bad: Holiday Improvisation Theater — Unscrewed Theater, 3244 E. Speedway. Santa, his elves and a pirate put on an interactive, audience participation matinee. The kids will love this one. Ages 4-8. 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 24. $5. 289-8076, unscrewedtheater.org
