Curtain Rises: ‘Carol’ classics and Cindy Lou at Civic
BY KATHY LAUER-WILLIAMS
Special to The Press
This year, as Christmas approaches, Civic Theatre of Allentown is offering online and live performances for the holiday season.
For those yearning for the traditional Charles Dickens’ tales, audiences can view online two filmed performances of Civic’s “A Christmas Carol” from previous years.
“A Christmas Carol The 25th Anniversary” and the gender-switched “A Christmas Carole 1944” are available as video on demand Dec. 4 - 27.
Returning to the stage, in the 19th Street Theatre, is “Who’s Holiday,” an adult parody that imagines what has happened to Cindy Lou Who, now age 40, of “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” fame. Performances are 7:30 p.m., Dec. 4, 5, 10, 12; 2 p.m. Dec. 6, 13, and 7:30 and 11 p.m. Dec. 11.
“A Christmas Carol The 25th Anniversary,” originally presented in 2014, features encore performances of actors who played Scrooge over the years, including Barry Glassman, Jim Long, Tony Kohl, Stan Zukowski, Tom Onuschco, Pat Kelly and Sharon Lee Glassman.
“A Christmas Carol 1944,” set during World War II, introduces bitter entrepreneur Carole Scrooge, who reigns over a cosmetic empire. JoAnn Wilchek Basist portrays Carole, whose journey introduces her to a series of Spirits, who teach her lessons about life. The show was presented in 2019.
The scripts for both plays were adapted from Dickens’ classic work by William Ross Sanders, who also directed, and Sharon Lee Glassman.
The performances were filmed in Civic’s 19th Street Theatre and are available as video-on-demand. Access is available for 48 hours after purchase.
“Who’s Holiday” brings Cheryl Moritz back from the sold-out production of the one-woman show presented in 2019 in Civic’s Theatre 514.
It’s Christmas Eve and Cindy Lou Who lives in a shoddy trailer home on Mount Crumpit, former hideout of the infamous Grinch.
While awaiting her Christmas party guests, she regales us with the bizarre story of her life ever since that fateful night in Whoville when the Grinch tried to steal Christmas.
Civic recommends the show for ages 14 and up because of mature language and themes.
The show is being presented on the main stage of the 19th Street Theatre to allow social distancing by theater-goers, who must wear a face mask.
There is no intermission. Water will be available at the concession counter.
Tickets: /civictheatre.secure.force.com/ticket#/
Vanessa Williams’ concert:
Gretna Theatre, Lebanon County, is one of 20 arts organizations in the United States and one of two in Pennsylvania presenting a live-stream concert of actress and singer Vanessa Williams.
“Vanessa Williams: Live from the West Side” will be live-streamed at 8 p.m. Dec. 5. Tickets include an additional 72 hours of on-demand viewing of a video recording of the performance.
Proceeds benefit participating arts groups.
The concert, transmitted live in HD with professional sound mixing, will take place at The Shubert Virtual Studios on Manhattan’s West Side.
The Academy-award and Grammy-winning artist will perform Broadway show tunes, pop songs, and recount stories from her life. Audience members are invited to email questions to be considered during the show.
Williams has had numerous No. 1 and Top 10 hits on the Billboard charts. Her platinum single,“Colors of the Wind,” from Disney’s “Pocahontas,” received an Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
She has received four Emmy nominations, 11 Grammy nominations, a Tony nomination and three SAG awards for her work in film, television, recordings and on the Broadway stage.
Williams was in previews for Josie Rourke’s “City of Angels” in London’s West End when the production closed because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Tickets: Gretnatheatre.org
LEHIGH VALLEY STAGE
“At the Stroke of Midnight,”
Pines Dinner Theatre, 448 N. 17th St., Allentown. Live-stream, 2, 6 p.m. Nov. 26; dinner, 12:30, show, 2 p.m. Nov. 26, Dec. 2, 3, 6, 10, 13, 16, 17, 20; dinner, 6:30, show, 8 p.m. Nov. 27, 28, Dec. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18,19. Tickets: pinesdinnertheatre.com; 610-433-2333
“A Christmas Carol The 25th Anniversary,” “A Christmas Carole 1944,”
Civic Theatre of Allentown, 527 N. 19th St, Allentown. Video on demand, Dec. 4 - 27
“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com