Friday, December 12, 2008

New wave of 13 plays and musicals for Dallas-Fort Worth (Dec. 12-14)

By Shawn Parikh

Christmas is almost here and that means a ton of holiday shows are permeating our metroplex. Make sure to check them out, along with a couple that aren't so holiday-themed:

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Photo by Chelsie Prendez

• The Eight: Reindeer Monologues, presented by Sundown Collaborative Theatre. Scandal erupts at the North Pole when one of Santa's eight tiny reindeer accuses him of sexual harassment. As mass media descends upon the event, the other members of the sleigh team demand to share their perspectives, and a horrific tale of corruption and perversion emerges, which seems to implicate everyone from the littlest elf to the tainted Saint himself. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES. Tickets are $8-12.
• Thoroughly Modern Millie, presented by Repertory Company Theatre. This zany romantic spoof of the Jazz Age has it all – frisky flappers, dashing leading men, and a dragon lady of a villainess who knows far more about the white slavery trade than she cares to admit. It’s up to little Millie, a small town girl on a modern quest through the big bad city, to save the day, unravel the mysteries of the Orient, and finally marry her boss – whoever he may be. Bring a NEW, UNWRAPPED TOY for the Starbucks Toy Drive and get Free Concession Coupon. Call 972-690-5029 for tickets ($14-25).
• Reindeers Unplugged, presented by The Butterfly Connection. Follows the journey of some light up lawn furniture as they try and save one of their own from the Big Green Monster (The Dump Truck). When they discover their friend is headed for destruction, these unlikely characters band together and decide to unplug themselves, despite the looming death and peril of doing so, and head out on a quest to save their friend. Along the way, they discover what the true meaning of Christmas is, inspire a new Christmas song, and save Baby Jesus! (Or Baby Jesus saves them!) It's a family show about faith, overcoming death, and working together despite differences. It's about renewing the Christmas spirit and celebrating what truly matters. Purchase tickets ($8-15) online or by calling 817-333-4028.
• The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, presented by Flower Mound Performing Arts Theatre. In this hilarious Christmas tale, a couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant is faced with casting the Herdman kids-- probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won't believe the mayhem-- and the fun-- when the Herdmans collide with the Christmas story head on! Purchase tickets ($12-33) online or by calling 972-724-2147.
• From the Beginning to the Nativity, Stolen Shakespeare Guild’s Christmas Special. Medieval mystery plays began in the 10th century as serious church performances and developed into colorful and theatrical spectacles involving the whole community. Plays being presented are The Creation, Noah’s Flood, The Procession of Prophets, Joseph’s Trouble About Mary, The Salutation of Elizabeth, The Offering of the Magi, The Flight into Egypt, The Slaughter of the Innocents, and The Purification of Mary Show. Purchase tickets ($6-15) online or by calling 1-866-811-4111.
• Fruitcakes, presented by Company of Rowlett Performers. Mix together a batch of fruitcakes, three dozen Christmas trees, 10,000 outdoor Christmas lights, a chicken pox epidemic, two southern spinsters, an estranged old man, a lost cat named Tutti Frutti and a Christmas hog named Buster and you've got the recipe for a fun filled and touching evening filled with holiday cheer. Into this world comes Jamie, a kid who has run away from home and come as far as his money will take him. At first he thinks this town's inhabitants are "nuttier than fruitcakes," but soon he comes to admire, appreciate and adore this nutty little town. A moving story of alienation, understanding and reconciliation, FrUiTCaKeS provides audiences with a heaping helping of holiday warmth and Christmas cheer. Purchase tickets ($8-10) online or by calling 972-412-1927.
• Donkey in Horse Heaven, presented by Teatro delle Muse. Poor little Horace has found himself in Horse Heaven. And he doesn’t belong. This is a fact that Horace is reminded of it all too often. For one thing, Horace is a donkey and donkeys simply don’t go to Horse Heaven. To add to his troubles, Horace finds himself among the most famous horses in history. As one character explains, “…war horses and race horses, a veritable who’s who of horses.” When questioned by these icons of equine history as to why Horace is even in Horse Heaven, the little donkey can’t seem to come up with an answer. When the great deeds of the other horses are recounted, Horace feels that perhaps a mistake was made. Until the end, when a simple deed is revealed that trumps all the rest. Make reservations ($15) by calling the Box Office at 972-424-6873 or online.
• A Classic Christmas at the Campus, presented by Denton Community Theatre. The fun begins in the lobby before showtimes with Victorian style street performers wander on into the Theatre to catch DCT's Roadshow Troop performing traditional British Panto - an improvisational & interactive style of theatre that is sure to delight young and old DCT's Theatre School Students present The Twelve Days of Christmas. Then the main event....A Christmas Carol, adapted by Donna Trammell from the public reading version as condensed by Charles Dickens. Call 940-382-1915 for tickets ($8-12).
• A Christmas Carol, presented by Grand Prairie Arts Council. Always a Holiday favorite. GPAC is proud to present a unique production of Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol; including the original story and characters told in a fresh new way with singing, dancing and a full orchestra. Purchase tickets ($10-20) online or by calling 972-237-UPTN.
• The Miraculous Journey of Nicholas, presented by Word of Mouth Productions. The Miraculous Journey of Nicholas tells the story of a reluctant miracle worker, who evolves from a renowned Bishop into an even more popular Christmas icon. Along his journeys throughout the ancient world, Nicholas grapples with storms at sea, a villainous innkeeper, and the feisty goddess Artemis. Finally he arrives in New York City to assume his reinvention as Santa Claus. Based on the actual legends of the Saint, this lively and witty epic is intended for children of all ages. Call 214-544-4630 for tickets ($12-16).
• Dickens of a Christmas Carol, presented by Actors Conservatory Theatre. Tickets ($7-10) on sale at the box office 1/2 hour before the show.
• Christmas Belles, presented by Theatre Off The Square. It’s Christmas-time in the small town of Fayro, Texas, and the Futrelle Sisters—Frankie, Twink and Honey Raye—are not exactly in a festive mood. A cranky Frankie is weeks overdue with her second set of twins. Twink, recently jilted and bitter about it, is in jail for inadvertently burning down half the town. And hot-flash-suffering Honey Raye is desperately trying to keep the Tabernacle of the Lamb’s Christmas Program from spiraling into chaos. But things are not looking too promising: Miss Geneva, the ousted director of the previous twenty-seven productions, is ruthless in her attempts to take over the show. The celebrity guest Santa Claus—played by Frankie’s long-suffering husband, Dub—is passing a kidney stone. One of the shepherds refuses to watch over his flock by night without pulling his little red wagon behind him. And the entire cast is dropping like flies due to food poisoning from the Band Boosters’ Pancake Supper. And when Frankie lets slip a family secret that has been carefully guarded for decades, all hope for a successful Christmas program seems lost, even with an Elvis impersonator at the manger. But in true Futrelle fashion, the feuding sisters find a way to pull together in order to present a Christmas program the citizens of Fayro will never forget. Call 817-341-8687 for tickets ($9-12).

Plus previewing this weekend is:

Photo by Farah White

• Trysts in Toledo, presented by Theatre Three. In the late sixteen hundreds, witty cloak and dagger romances set the fashion for the Golden Age of Spanish literature. These entertaining plays were filled with wit, intellect and mischievous humor that thoroughly delighted the Spanish playgoers. Trysts in Toledo follows the romantic confusions of a houseful of young nobles and their roguish servants. Astonishingly, one of the greatest literary figures of that time was a nun, Sor Juana, living in “New Spain” which we now call Mexico. Her work displays verbal ingenuity; a dizzyingly complex plot played at top speed, and shamelessly wears its fun-making on its sleeve. A passionate advocate of women’s rights, Sor Juana has a unique position both in secular literature and in the church. Purchase tickets ($15-30) online or by calling 214-871-3300.

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