WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE DELIGHTS AGAIN WITH "A SHERLOCK CAROL"

If you are a lover of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and of your favorite curmudgeon Ebenezer Scrooge as well as a fervent fan of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic detective Sherlock Holmes, then Mark Shanahan has just the perfect Christmas present for you! For the third year in a row, Shanahan, the Artistic Director of the Westport Country Playhouse is offering up a new look at your favorite holiday characters in “A Sherlock Carol,” until Sunday, December 21 billed as a "Dickens of a Holiday Mystery!” You are invited to follow the intriguing clues and help a complicated and confused Holmes attempt to solve who killed Ebenezer Scrooge! Grab your magnifying glass and deerstalker cap and follow Holmes to the intriguing solution... if you dare.

Mark Shanahan has penned a tall tale of Sherlock Holmes, detective extraordinaire, and the mean and greedy Scrooge, into one delightful production. What a coincidence… Holmes and Scrooge's stories both begin with a death in the first line: “Marley was dead to begin with” and “Moriarty was dead to begin with.” Both men are clearly dead as a doornail and will stay so until Sunday, December 21.

The similarities don’t end there. No Sir! The major figures in “A Christmas Carol” and the volumes starring Holmes like Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Dr. Watson, Cratchit, The Fezziwigs, Mrs. Dilber and a few others pay visits to Sherlock Holmes and continue their journeys in a new place, a place where dastardly deeds may just happen.

Kudos to Mr. Shanahan and Westport Country Playhouse who opened this novel literary door to 221B Baker Street, London where a skeptical and doubting Sherlock (James Taylor Odom) finds himself in a most haunting of ghost tales, especially when he firmly believes there are no such creatures as spirits. Once again it’s Christmas Eve and our old friend Tiny Tim, now all grown up, shows up at Sherlock Holmes’s house to beg the great detective to solve a peculiar murder: the death of Ebenezer Scrooge (Byron St. Cyr). Will the ghosts of past, present and future appear? Of course!

What do you get when you combine a mystery with some ghosts and a heartwarming family holiday story? Just ask writer and director Mark Shanahan. To Shanahan, Charles Dickens wrote the best ghost story ever, calling it "astounding.” He combined that love with an admiration for the old Basil Rathbone movies starring that great detective Sherlock Holmes that his dad took him to when he was a child growing up in New York’s East Village.

Fortuitiousely, he has mixed these two favorite characters together into a holiday play for the whole family to enjoy, ages 7 and up. He likens it to "a dinner party, inviting friends from different social circles…and hoping like heck they’d get along.” To that end, he has placed these iconic characters by Doyle and Dickens in a new inventive stage mystery.

Come see such unique innovations as a talking door knocker, the spooky elements that resonate throughout, a reimagined holiday classic, a murder mystery set in London in 1894, the deaths of two famous characters like Holmes’ great enemy Professor James Moriarty and, unexpectedly, Ebenezer Scrooge. Can Holmes follow the clues to find the dastardly perpetrator or is he doomed to become the town's new miser himself? How will a grown-up Tiny Tim, now a doctor and Scrooge’s benefactor, influence the outcome? Come meet Joe Delafield as Dr. Watson and others, Dan Domingues as Cratchit and others, Alexandra Kopek as the Countess and others and Anissa Felix as Emma Wiggins and others.

Also playing a huge part in writing the play, Shanahan was intrigued by the mission of Paul Newman’s The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp created in Ashford, Connecticut in 1988 to serve children with serious illnesses. Newman established a special place, a wonderful and free camping experience that is now in many places around the world. Donations to the camp and to the Westport Home with Hope food pantry drive will be benefactors from the production. Patrons are also encouraged to take a photo in the lobby at Sherlock Holmes' house, 221B Baker Street, London.

Shanahan was inspired to envision Tiny Tim as “someone with a little help from a certain benefactor, who battled illness and went on to help others do the same. Just like Scrooge did, we can all keep Christmas in our hearts throughout the year by donating to these remarkable organizations.”

For tickets ($50 and up, students call the box office for discounted tickets $20), call the Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers Court, Westport, off route 1 at 203-227-4177 or online at www.westportplayhouse.org. Performances are Wednesday-Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.and Sunday at 3 p.m.

Bring the family to the Westport Country Playhouse for a novel look at two classic tales with all the mystery and magic that the Christmas holiday demands.

GHOSTS ARE FLYING AGAIN AT HARTFORD STAGE'S "A CHRISTMAS CAROL"

For the 25th year, the Hartford Stage is presenting “A Christmas Carol-A Ghost Story of Christmas” until Sunday, December 28. The cantankerous and mean spirited Scrooge makes a mighty redemption after he is visited by his old business partner Jacob Marley (Noble Shropshire) and three ghosts. Guiesseppe Jones is the grand Bah Humbug disbeliever in Christmas. Just in time for the holiday feast, he learns to mend his ways and open his heart to goodness.

For Scrooge, the transition is not easy. He has spent his whole life worshipping money and increasing his bank accounts. He has had no time for friends or family. He has neglected his nephew Fred’s (Erik Bloomquist) invitations for dinners, he has abused the good efforts of his employee Bob Cratchit (Patrick O’Konis) to work efficiently, taken no heed of Bob’s poor family and his ill son Tiny Tim (Theodore “Teddy” Curren or James Salvo), and allowed Belle (Leslie Blake Walker) to abandon his love.

In addition, Scrooge has no empathy for the trio of people who are indebted to him: Bettye Pidgeon, (Rebecka Jones), the doll vendor, who appears to Scrooge at 1 a.m. as the Spirit of Christmas Past, Bert, the fruit and cider vendor, (Stuart Rider), who appears to the curmudgeon at 2 a.m. as the Spirit of Christmas Present and Mr. Marvel, a watchworks vendor, (Daniel Madigan), who is the Spirit of Christmas Future at 3 a.m.

As Scrooge watches the memories of his past unfold before him, like Jacob Marley (Noble Shropshire) his business partner in life, dead lo these seven years, Mr. Fezziwig (Kenneth De Abrew), his old boss, and his favorite housekeeper (Noble Shropshire) who prepares his morning porridge, Ebenezer begins to realize all that he has missed in his greedy life. Meanwhile ghosts fly hither and yon bringing him a message that he has wasted his time and needs to repent.

With Jacob Marley’s warning ringing in his ears, Scrooge takes a turn to embrace humanity and celebrate all the goodness in life he has ignored. Fortunately for him, it is not too late to mend his ways and embrace all that he has missed. Kudos to Michael Wilson for adapting and directing his beautiful and meaningful tale once again.

For tickets, call the Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford at 860-527-5151 or online at hartfordstage.org. Performances are Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m.,Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. as well as Monday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, December 23 at 7:30 p.m.,Wednesday , December 24 at 2 p.m., Friday, December 26 at 7:30 p.m.,Saturday the 27 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 28 at 2 p.m.

What would the holidays be without a revisit to Ebenezer Scrooge and watch him reclaim his place with his fellow citizens and be a good member of the human race. Savor the flavor of his now generous state of mind and heart.

LOOK TO THE HEAVENS FOR "GAYS IN SPACE" FOR HOLIDAY ADVENTURES

The Connecticut Gay Mens chorus has always been “out of this world” with heavenly and angelic voices that are mighty and powerful. This year is no exception. Their latest concerts are crowned Holiday Adventures and they are truly “Gays in Space.” You have a quartet of opportunities to make these great guys your guides to other worlds: Saturday, December 13 at 8:30 p.m., and Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. , all at the Katharine Hepburn Theatre in Old Saybrook and Friday, December 19 at the Downtown Cabaret Theater in Bridgeport at 7:30 p.m.

Hop aboard your space ship and travel to other galaxies for musical adventures of the Christmas kind. Note your blast off times and don’t be late for lift off. What would the holidays be without an interplanetary visit from these gentlemen clad in glittering silver uniforms ready to light up the skies with sparkle and starlight.

Hold on tight for zero-gravity will be employed and you will surely be floating to distant places and planets in a dizzying array of cosmic creativity. Leave it to Chorus Director Greg McMahan to steer you to the finest of holiday festivity.

Whether you are ready for a snowball fight where gravity plays a part or prefer a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace, these stellar men are ready to light up your Christmas trees from the tinsel to the shining star on top. Word is it that all three concerts are sold out but check with thekate.org or the Kate box office at 860-510-0453 to see if any $42 tickets remain for the Kate or one at the Downtown Cabaret at 203-576-1636.

The countdown is in progress for a spectacular space odyssey to celebrate the season. Outer space has never been as festive and gay.

GALLOP TO THE BUSHNELL FOR A ROUSING ADVENTURE IN "SPAMALOT"

For serious drama about King Arthur and his legendary Knights of the Round Table, historically accurate and brimming with authenticity, then you’re looking under the wrong toadstool in the forest. “SPAMALOT” is definitely not the show for you.

If,however, you’re a fan of Monty Python and you enjoy spoof and farce and laughter, then get in line at Hartford’s Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts for some super silly stuff about killer rabbits, flying cows, the feet of God, showgirls and a quest for the Holy Grail until Sunday, December 14.

Monty Python is not a person but a troupe of six comedians - John Cleese, Michael Palin, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliamo and Eric Idle - who in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s had a popular TV show in Britain and did comic sketches. "Monty Python’s SPAMALOT” was made into a best selling musical from the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” with a book by Eric Idle, score by Eric Idle and John Du Prez.

Characters of note in the play include King Arthur, the Lady of the Lake, Sir Dennis, Sir Lancelot , Patsy, Sir Robin, Prince Herbert and Sir Bedevere . At the regal head of the cast are King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake. Legendary tunes include “Not Dead Yet,” “Knights of the Round Table,” “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” “Brave Sir Robin,” “The Song That Goes Like This” and “Find Your Grail.” Overacting becomes an art form in this 2005 Tony Award winning show for Best Musical.

If you are aspiring to be one of King Arthur’s courageous knights, then don’t pay any attention to what you see on stage. Chivalry may well be dead because it is overwhelmed with laughter.

The great adventure leads the merry lot to the taunting of the French at a castle and a giant wooden rabbit, to the dangers of the forest and the need for new shrubbery, to the unusual chambers of Prince Herbert and an encounter with a killer rabbit who guards the secret of the Holy Grail’s location. Through it all, the infectious merriment will enchant you.

For tickets ($36-150.50), call the Bushnell Theatre, 166 Capital Avenue, Hartford at 860-987-5900 or online at www. bushnell.org. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Gallop along with King Arthur and his merry band of followers, to the rhythmic tune of clomping coconut shells, as they memorably, mischievously and musically set off on their classic quest for fun, fortune and fame.

PANTOCHINO PRODUCTIONS OFFERS NEW CHRISTMAS MUSICAL "WELCOME TO SANTA CLAUS"

It is doubtful that anyone would geographically confuse Venice, Florida with Venice, Italy. They are oceans apart and vastly different in culture and atmosphere. The situation is quite different, however, if you were headed for Santa Claus, Ohio and ended up instead in Santa Claus, Indiana. To discover what chaos that would cause, hop on over to the Milford’s Arts Council, The MAC, at the Milford Train Station weekends until Sunday, December 21 for Pantochino Productions' new and original offering for the holidays “Welcome to SANTA CLAUS.” With book and lyrics by Bert Bernardi, music by Justin Rugg, and colorful costuming by Jimmy Johansmeyer, you are invited to celebrate the holidays with this entertaining musical that proves location, location, location is surprisingly important when you are referring to the home of Christmas’s favorite fellow.

The narrator of the tale is the all-knowing town clerk. a spunky and sweet Lia Jade as Christy Winters who explains that the town of Santa Claus, Ohio once was cursed by a terrible name that had to be changed. Now with a moniker like Santa Claus, Christmas can be celebrated every day of the year and all the townspeople can run stores that sell fudge and twinkle lights, fancy candles and festive fashions. Dressed in a symphony of red, green and gold, the happy citizens love their life and the merriment and joy it brings. They could sing “Welcome to Santa Claus” every day of the year, all year long.

Their snow globe bubble of joy is turned upside down when a shady lawyer Dash Dawson (Justin Rugg) orders the town to cease and desist calling themselves Santa Claus, Ohio because his town is Santa Claus, Indiana and is the rightful location of the great bearded man himself. While the mayor (Jimmy Johansmeyer) and his wife (Shelley Marsh Poggio) protest, with a chorus of citizens led by Tanner Tallson (Killian Meehan), Paulette Plumb (Katie Durham), Harriet Tofflemeyer (Rachelle Ianniello), Rhonda LaRhonde (Tracey Marble), Holly Hopewell (Marlena Ascher), Ivy Inges (Brenna Murphy), Meldrum Millward (Quinn Fitzgerald), Bing (Aurora Hinden), and Crosby (Davis Burke). It’s only when Old Lady Pine (Valerie Loomis) and Old Man Pine (George Spelvin) appear that the town is truly saved.

For tickets, go online to www.pantochino.com. The performances are at the MAC, 40 Railroad Avenue, Milford. Tickets are not sold at the door. Performances are Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Remember this is cabaret so bring snacks and drinks to share.

Let Pantochino Productions give you a musical mystery to solve for a Christmas treat to make sure Santa Claus knows exactly where he lives.

COMIC FUN WITH "CHRISTMAS ON THE ROCKS" THANKS TO THEATERWORKS HARTFORD

Everyone has favorite Christmas characters, elves and angels that strike a happy cord and engage the heart of children with merriment. Theaterworks Hartford has for the past twelve years assembled an hysterical menagerie of the ones at the top of your beloved list and has married them together in a joyous mix up for your holiday entertainment. This lucky number thirteen is no exception. Until Tuesday, December 23, you’re invited to “Christmas in the Rocks" to send your spirits soaring with laughter once again.

Thanks to Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, more than a dozen years ago he engaged a half dozen playwrights to pen a humorous visitation with your childhood favs. Think a parade of reindeer, cartoons and holiday friends now are found in adult situations they they need help surviving.

“Christmas on the Rocks” features vignettes by John Cariani, Jenn Harris, Jeffrey Hatcher, Jacques Lamarre, Edwin Sanchez, and Matthew Wilkas and, don’t worry, the offering is updated and changed every year. We start by visiting Karen in jail still serving time for melting her creation Frosty with her hair dryer, hoping for a stay of rehabilitation.

With a genial Richard Kline pouring the libations at the corner tavern, the first one in the door is Ralphie with an eye patch, because someone shot his eye out just as his mother always predicted. In this case it was an accident after his b-b-gun was used at his safety gun class. To add insult to injury, Ralphie is reunited with his pushy pink bunny suit and he enthusiastically embraces the soft reminder of his youth.

Next in the door is Zuzu with a dying flower and the paranoia of hearing bells everywhere. Church bells, doorbells, cow bells, school bells all frighten her. She believes that every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings. Oh, no!

Are you into root canal? Next is an elf who refuses to make toys in the toy room and would much prefer to be a dentist. With a drink of root beer and Novacaine, he complains about his rival Rudolph and is looking for his next cavity to fill.

Before you can say “candy cane” three times, there is an adorable and spunky Elf on the Shelf everywhere in the bar, energetically trying to make Santa understand her plight caused by bad parents. She is definitely in line for physical therapy and mental relief therapy after being made to be a “snitch” for the mothers and fathers.

Come meet Kevin of Home Alone fame who now earns a living arranging booby traps to keep homes safe. After what happened to him, he has a whole bag of tricks to protect and secure houses, like the Tar and Feather Trap.

Clara from the Nutcracker story treats the bartender to a whole list of old people jokes while busy smashing nuts with her Nutcracker, the man she married. He has cheated on her and she wants revenge until he calls her and then she is running in her ballerina slippers straight back in his arms.

In the finale, nebbishy Charlie Brown is reunited, shyly and sweetly, with his Little Red Headed Girl and they shuffle together in a dance in perfect harmony, just as they never got to do on the playground. These reflections were all conceived and directed by Rob Ruggiero and will delight your senses and your fond memories.

For tickets ($43-88), call Theaterworks Hartford, 233 Pearl Street, Hartford at 860-527-7838 or online at boxoffice@twhartford.org. Performances are Tuesday to Thursday at 7:30 p.m.,Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Come early and shop at TWH’s delightful Christmas Gift Shop where you will find original presents like satin ribbon roses, earring ornaments, peanut butter and jelly push toys, veggie and fruit pins, Uno card earrings and Christmas framed jewelry and much more.

Decorate your Christmas holiday with fun and joy by attending “Christmas on the Rocks” made more festive by the antics of Jen Cody and Matthew McGloin as they tipple and toast with their favorite barkeep Richard Kline. To Jan Cody, this show is the most thrilling she has ever done, a little bit like improv mixed with Saturday Night Live. It was a little scary at first and her ballerina training definitely helped because Clara is her favorite character. Bottoms up! L’Chaim! Skol! Salute!

PLAYHOUSE ON PARK OFFERS A MIRACLE MUSICAL STORY OF CHRISTMAS

Little boys in a sand box often squabble over who gets to play with the big red dump truck first. Big boys as world leaders often decide what pieces of land they want to own and it is called war. The powerful men haven’t learned their lessons over time and these wars continue to plague us over and over again. This year West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park is sharing a story of a miracle, when two opposing armies paused in their enmity and conflict and became comrades without guns, on a battlefield on Christmas and, for a few precious moments ceased fire. Until Sunday, December 21, you are privileged to witness “All Is Calm The Christmas Truce of 1914” and witness when humanity took a pause and for a few hopeful days the English army and the German army co-existed in a temporary peace.

This particular story resinates loudly as we endure too many episodes of conflict every day, too much suffering, too much death and dying, too much human sacrifice. This particular story was slated to be shown five years ago when Covid reared its uglyhead and now it is front and center as the holiday season approaches, a beacon of hope in a difficult series of long ceded conflicts. Director Sasha Bratt and music director Benjamin Rauch feel very strongly that this production is 100% accurate, the real words that were spoken, the real tunes that were sung, as if you yourself were in the muddy and cold trenches, tired of fighting, yearning for some relief from the tedium and fear.

A company of soldiers from both sides will bring this event to life, as unbelievable as it may be, when hearing the Germans singing “Stille Nacht” or “Silent Night” on their side No Man’s Land. The English army recognized that magic moment for what it could be: a cease in the conflict, a moment of sharing candy and cigarettes and companionship. Come meet Bruce Barger, NicDaniel Charles, Charles Eaton, Kenneth Galm, Spencer Hamlin, Alex Hunt, Jeremy Luis Lopez, Ryan Phelps, Omar Sandakly, Luke Scott, Niko Touros and Jermaine Woodard Jr. as they recreate the truce written by Peter Rothstein, with vocal arrangements by Eric Lichte and Timothy C. Takach.

This moving and sentimental accounting of actual events gives us hope that wars can be stopped, ended before homes and buildings are destroyed and humanity emerges from the rubble. The grim reality of war is balanced by the incredible joy of peace, if only momentary.

For tickets ($45-55), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford at 860- 523-5900, ext.10 or online at playhouseonpark.org. Performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by a talk back.

Witness this harmonious gift shared so freely on Christmas when men stopped being enemies and soldiers and became comrades and just jolly good fellows.