Nov. 26, 2014
Venice Theatre celebrates Christmas with three music-filled holiday shows
From traditional to raucous, Venice Theatre gives audiences three ways to get into the spirit
(Venice, FL) With a modern musical, a traditional one, and a concert of Christmas songs old and new, Venice Theatre is keeping busy during the upcoming holiday season. The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical will have its area premiere on Venice Theatre’s Pinkerton Stage Friday, Dec. 5, 2014. This “preposterously zany” musical (EntertainingU.com) will run through Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. Performances are Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $28 for adults, $15 for college students and $13 for students through grade 12. The show contains strong language and risqué humor. BroadwayWorld.com described the recent Houston production of the show as, “cute, charming, and an absolute riot.”
The theatre’s original musical adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol takes to the MainStage Dec. 18 through 21. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 7 p.m. Matinees are Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Director Murray Chase says, “This may be my favorite thing to do each season. I see kids come back year after year playing new parts as they get older. College kids plan their Christmas breaks around the show. Whole families get involved in the production. We’ve just recruited another dad who will be doing the show with his two children and an older sister who is joining her mom and younger sister on stage for the first time.” Eric Watters, who has played Scrooge for many years exclaims, “Where else can old folks like me dance and sing with young people performing for the first time? It’s a delightful experience for all of us.” Tickets for the show are $17 for adults, $13 for college students and $10 for children and teens through 12th grade.
Following A Christmas Carol is Sounds of Christmas which runs Dec. 21 and 22 and features a variety of Venice Theatre’s most talented singers. They will perform both sacred and secular traditional favorites with just enough new songs to spice things up a bit. Audiences will be invited to sing along during a few numbers. The concert takes place on the MainStage and begins at 8 p.m. each night. Seats are $24 for adults and $12 for students through 12th grade.
Tickets for The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical, A Christmas Carol and Sounds of Christmas are all on sale now at 941-488-1115 or at www.venicestage.com. Venice Theatre is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave. on the island in Venice. Box Office hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The box office also opens one hour before all performances.
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Attached photos
- The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical cast includes (front to back) Liz Pascoe returning as Pickles, Cara Herman returning as Betty, Laura Priscilla Hoffman returning as Lin and Kaitlyn Terpstra joining the cast as Darlene, the trailer park Scrooge. (Photo credit Renee McVety)
- A previous production of A Christmas Carol in which the Cratchit family sings about “counting their blessings.” (Photo credit: Rhonda Sudik)
- Just a few of the singers enjoying holiday songs at Venice Theatre’s 2012 Sounds of Christmas concert. (Photo credit: Noelia Altamirano)
140 W. Tampa Ave
Venice, FL 34285
Tickets: 941-488-1115
Venice Theatre’s mission is making a dramatic impact on all stages of life. The third-largest out of 10,000 community theatres in the United States, it is located at 140 W. Tampa Ave .on the island in Venice, FL. Its MainStage offers seating for 432 patrons and features musicals, plays, concerts and special events. Its Yvonne Pinkerton Theatre seats 90 patrons and is home to the theatre’s “Generations”, Stage II and Cabaret Series. In addition to providing entertainment to the community, Venice Theatre has a wide range of education and outreach programs for children and adults.
