Tucson theater slows down a bit in December . But while the choices are fewer, there are some great options:
Live Theatre Workshop whips us right back to the ’40s — and to the golden days of radio — with its production of ”Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play.” The actors play multiple parts, make the sound effects, and keep us all jolly. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-17, 22 and 23. 3 p.m. Dec. 17 and 18 at Live Theatre, 5317 E. Speedway. Tickets are $20, with discounts available. 327-4242 or livetheatreworkshop.org.
Arizona Theatre Company’s production of the classic musical, “Fiddler on the Roof” is a stunner — gorgeous voices singing gorgeous music; a live orchestra; pristine acting, and insightful directing by David Ira Goldstein. Even if you’ve seen a production of this before, we suspect you haven’t seen one quite like this. It’s 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-16; 2 p.m. Dec. 17, and 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 18. Continues through Dec. 31 at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. Tickets are $25-$100. 622-2823 or arizonatheatre.org.
And what would the holidays be without a production or two of βA Christmas Carol?β Humbugish, for sure. You can catch Standing O Entertainmentβs production of the play based on Charles Dickensβ story about a grump who wants nothing to do with the season until he is visited by a ghost β well, three ghosts, actually. Itβs at 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 24 at APCOT (Alliance Performance Center of Tucson) Theatre, 8892 E. Tanque Verde Road. $20. 235-0954 and on Facebook.
The Gaslight Theatre has got a new show for the holidays, but don’t panic: The corn, the glee, the wink-wink to the audience are all still there. “Elf’d” is about Dudley, who suffers from low self-esteem but must overcome it to save Christmas. Get your boos and cheers ready. Performances are various times through Jan. 1 at The Gaslight, 7010 E. Broadway. Tickets are $21.95 — with discounts available — at 886-9428. More information: thegaslighttheatre.com
Christmas in the Southwest has a different feel — no snow, for starters. At The Comedy Playhouse, you can catch “A Cactus Christmas,” about two desert rats in search of the Treasure Trove of the Lost Turk. It’s at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 1 — no shows Dec. 24-25 — at 3260 N. First Ave. Tickets are $18. 270-9310 or thecomedyplayhouse.com
If you have sort of had it with the ho-ho-hos, but long for some ha-ha-has, consider improv theater — the audience keeps the actors on their feet tossing them suggestions that they must do riffs on. The Not Burnt Out Just Unscrewed Improv Comedy Troupe does that particularly well. It performs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (except Dec. 24) at 3244 E. Speedway. Tickets are a bargain $5. 289-8076 or unscrewedtheater.org
This is your last chance to catch Something Something Theatre Company’s production of the comedy “Boston Marriage.” The comedy stars a trio of talented women: Jill Baker, T Loving and Carley Elizabeth Preston. This is your last weekend to catch the well-done piece. It’s 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. $18-$22. 468-6111 or somethingsomethingtheatre.com
