Los Angeles Spotlight: December 2005

While holiday-themed productions dominate the December fare in Los Angeles, a handful of choice offerings qualify as shows for all seasons. Those who love the legendary Julie Andrews will be ecstatic about her return to the theater, even though it’s a behind-the-scenes gig as director of the critically acclaimed East Coast revival of Sandy Wilson’s delicious 1954 musical confection The Boy Friend (Orange County Performing Arts Center, December 20).

Other non-seasonal attractions of note include Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates by Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan, a fanciful drama in which two iconic American explorers crash through the time barrier to witness such historical milestones as the Vietnam War (The Mark Taper Forum, December 11); Patricia Cotter and Lori Scarlet’s lesbian musical comedy The Breakup Notebook (Hudson Mainstage Theatre, December 10); the ever-adventurous Circle X Theatre Company’s new adaptation of Dostoevsky’s classic The Brothers Karamazov by Anthony Clarvoe (Ford Amphitheatre, December 3); and the Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities’ presentation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats (Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center, through December18).

Now on to the more truly seasonal fare. Dakin Matthews’ A Magic Christmas spins a modern retelling of the Magi story. (North Hollywood’s NewPlace Theatre Center, December 3), while an edgier Christmas show can be found in the iconoclastic Rude Guerrilla Company’s production of the five one-act plays that make up A Christmas Closet (Empire Theater in Santa Ana, December 2). Craig Lucas’ sardonic farce Reckless opens on a particularly snowy Christmas Eve (Egyptian Arena Theatre, December 2); while other laughs are in store at Seth Greenland’s quirky family comedy Jerusalem (NoHo Arts Center, December 2); the zany annual favorite Bob’s Holiday Office Party (Burbank’s Third Stage Theatre, December 1), and Bernard Farrell’s satiric lark Many Happy Returns (Laguna Playhouse, through December 18).

Musicals and revues are often prevalent at the holidays, and this year is no exception. Ken Roht’s Route 99 Orange Star Dinner Show (Evidence Room; December 3-18), is a musical extravaganza that includes delicious home cookin’ and hospitality. J.T. Austin and Dagney Kerr premiere their comedy-variety show, Holiday Fever! (Unknown Theatre; opening December 1). L.A. County’s annual free gift to the community, the 46th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration features a variety of ensembles, choirs, and dance companies — about 1500 performers in all — that reflect the city’s geographic and ethnic diversities (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, December 24).

Elsewhere, Theatre District presents a musical version of O. Henry’s romantic short story The Gift of the Magi (December 1); Chelsea Opera of New York presents the classic Menotti opera Amahl and the Night Visitors (North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre, December 15), presented in alternating Spanish and English performances, and Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is being presented at Hollywood’s Actors Co-op (through December 23).

As it happens, almost all of this month’s theatrical offerings qualify as family fare — including the many and sundry versions of Dickens’ immortal A Christmas Carol around the area, including South Coast Repertory‘s traditional adaptation; International City Theatre in Long Beach’s imaginative circus version, and Celtic Arts Center‘s Irish-slanted version. If Dickens isn’t your kid’s thing, however, consider Los Angeles Clown Theatre’s Emmitt Otter’s Jugband Christmas (S. Marc Taper Foundation Amphitheatre, December 3, and Bob Baker’s Holiday Spectacular (The Bob Baker Marionette Theatre, through January 15).