Holiday theater guide: From 'Santaland Diaries' to 'Bloody Mary Christmas'
There is a shocking dearth of “A Christmas Carol” stage productions this holiday season — there are usually, like, a zillion — but one in particular is worth getting excited about. Kate McFadzen, a member of Tempe’s Childsplay troupe who often draws comparisons to Carol Burnett, will be performing a one-woman version of the Dickens classic for Arizona Theatre Company.
The show is running in rotation with David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries” starring Ron May, best known as the founder of Stray Cat Theatre but also a terrific comic performer. He earned rave reviews for his last solo performance, Mike Daisey’s “The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs.”
There are plenty of other holiday theater events — most aimed at families, but not all. Definitely leave the kids at home if you’re going to Space 55 Ensemble’s “A Bloody Mary Christmas.”
Through 12/27: Childsplay, “A Year With Frog and Toad”: Through Sunday, Dec. 27. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $12-$25. 480-350-2822, childsplayaz.org.
Through 1/10: “Miracle on 34th Street”: Through Sunday, Jan. 10. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre, 4720 N. Scottsdale Road. $22-$25. 480-483-1664, desertstages.org.
11/24-29: Broadway Across America, “A Christmas Story: The Musical”: Tuesday, Nov. 24, through Sunday, Nov. 29. ASU Gammage, Mill Avenue and Apache Boulevard, Tempe. $25 and up. 480-965-3434, asugammage.com.
11/27, 28: “Cirque Dreams Holidaze”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. $30.25-$65.25. 602-262-7272, theaterleague.com/phoenix.
11/27-12/27: “A Christmas Carol: The Musical”: Friday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 27. Arizona Broadway Theatre (dinner theater), 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. Call for prices. 623-776-8400, azbroadway.org.
11/27-12/27: “A Bloody Mary Christmas”: Friday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Dec. 27. Space 55, 636 E. Pierce St., Phoenix. $15-$18. space55.org.
11/29: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical”: 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 29. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. $37-$57. 480-644-6500, mesaartscenter.com.
12/4-19: All Puppet Players, “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”: Friday, Dec. 4, through Saturday, Dec. 19. Playhouse on the Park, Viad Tower, 1850 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. $22; $54 VIP. 602-254-2151, allpuppetplayers.com.
12/4-20: Langston Hughes’ “Black Nativity”: Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 20. Helen K. Mason Performing Arts Center, 1333 E. Washington St., Phoenix. $32. 602-258-8129, blacktheatretroupe.org.
12/4-20: “The Quiltmaker’s Gift”: Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 20. Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 8355 W. Peoria Ave. $14-$35. 623-815-7930, theaterworks.org.
12/4-20: “A Christmas Carol: The Musical”: Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 20. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd. $23-$28. 480-837-9661, fountainhillstheater.com.
12/4-20: “A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail”: Friday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, Dec. 20. Valley Youth Theatre, 525 N. First St., Phoenix. $20. 602-253-8188, vyt.com.
12/5, 12: Dmitri Matheny’s “The Snowcat”: Two venues: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $12.50-$17.50. 480-478-6000, mim.org. Also: 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave. 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org.
12/6: Lightwire Theater, “A Very Electric Christmas”: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $29-$49. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.
12/10-26: “A Christmas Carol” and “The Santaland Diaries”: Thursday, Dec. 10, through Saturday, Dec. 26. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. $23-$51. 602-256-6995, arizonatheatre.org.
12/11, 13: “Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Christmas”: Friday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 13. Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams St., Phoenix. $35.25-$70.25. 602-262-7272, theaterleague.com/phoenix.
12/11-14: Jeff Kennedy and Friends, “Christmas Cabaret”: Two venues: Friday, Dec. 11, through Monday, Dec. 14, at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix (Kax Stage entrance on Van Buren Street). $25. 602-252-8497, herbergertheater.org, itheatreaz.org. Also: Thursday, Dec. 17, through Wednesday, Dec. 23, at Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road. $25-$38. 602-254-2151, phoenixtheatre.com.
12/11-20: “Sister’s Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi’s Gold”: Friday, Dec. 11, through Sunday, Dec. 20. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. $39. 480-499-8587, scottsdaleperformingarts.org.