AURORA | Ebenezer Scrooge had nothing on me.
I was ready to start a bonfire fueled by tinsel and wreaths. I was itching to replace Christmas carolers’ sheet music with the score from Faith No More’s third album — you know, the record that features that timeless holiday classic, “Surprise! You’re Dead!” I even entertained visions of punching Santa Claus square in the nose. I was confident that a whole army of elves couldn’t hold me back.
This is what seeing a dozen holiday theater productions in the space of two weeks can do to a person. Last year, I signed up to see a flurry of Christmas shows at theaters across the metro area, from the Aurora Fox’s take on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” to the Denver Center Theatre Company’s lavish production of the Irving Berlin musical “White Christmas.” For all of the top-notch acting, impressive stagecraft and heartwarming themes in all of these shows, by the end, I felt ready to choke on Christmas stage cheer.
As it turns out, I had it easy. For the metro-area actors, directors and crew members who have to earn paychecks every December, that kind of holiday overload is a fact of life. And it starts much earlier than most of us are used to. The preparations for these shows usually kick off in October.
That’s not even the toughest part. Artists don’t have a lot to choose from when it comes to holiday programming. Audiences that may stay away from the theater for the rest of the year tend to want reliability. They want Scrooge and George Bailey. They want Santa and heartwarming themes that will resonate with the entire family. That’s a big reason why a limited number of standard titles make the rounds on stages every December. The challenge for theater crews is making all of this old material feel fresh.
“It’s tough. There’s aren’t a lot of good holiday shows out there,” said Bryce Alexander, an Aurora native and vet of the local theater scene. “Even when you’re doing your best to be as diverse as you can, there are six or seven holiday shows out there.
“You have to be very driven,” he added.
Alexander, who’s worked on holiday shows at the Denver Center and the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, will focus on his duties as a resident creative manager for the Phamaly Theatre Company. Along with Steve Wilson, Alexander will direct the company’s first holiday production, a stage version of the classic Frank Capra film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
It’s not the first time Alexander has had a hand in the show. He was the assistant director for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s production in 2011. This year, the Phamaly show will run concurrently with adaptations at Miner’s Alley Playhouse in Golden and TheatreWorks in Colorado Springs.
But Alexander isn’t worried about the other productions, nor is he upset about revisiting familiar holiday territory. Phamaly’s unique artistic mission as the only Colorado theater company that exclusively features disabled performers adds a different dimension to the classic Christmas story about the value of life.
“Not every production is going to be the same. We wanted to make our own mark with a cherished classic,” said Alexander. “If we’re able to capitalize on demonstrating the mission of Phamaly to the whole family, then it’s absolutely the right time to do it.”
“It’s a Wonderful Life” isn’t the only familiar story hitting local stages this year. Thanksgiving weekend will see the opening of plenty of familiar titles in Aurora and beyond. The contemporary comedy “The Christmas Spirit” is due at the John Hand Theatre at Lowry, and the next three weeks will feature Christmas concerts and Christmas ballets at the Parker Arts Events and Culture center.
Then there are all of the adaptations of “A Christmas Carol.” Fans of Charles Dickens’ classic tale about Ebenezer Scrooge will have plenty of options to choose from. For the 20th season, the Denver Center Theatre Company will stage their trademark version of the show starring Phillip Pleasants, who’s starred as Scrooge for the past seven runs. On Dec. 18, the Vintage Theatre in Aurora will run a one-man version of the show starring Kim Tenreiro; proceeds from the show will benefit the Aurora Cultural Arts District.
Rod Lansberry, artistic producer at the Arvada Center, said tackling such a popular holiday staple isn’t easy. The Center is producing a musical version of the show directed by Gavin Mayer. The musical version by Mike Ockrent, Lynn Ahrens and Alan Menken offers a twist in the form of its score, but at its heart, the show is still the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future and the redemptive power of the holiday.
“The creative challenge is: How do you present something new that will keep the audience engaged and refresh their interest in the story?” Lansberry said, adding that he’s not as concerned about competition. “I believe that all of us, all of the different theaters, we all have our loyal audiences. These shows give them alternatives.”
The range also offers alternatives for the actors, directors and crew members who bring these stories to life on stage. Whether it’s a twist in the form of a new adaptation or a different musical score, there’s room to be inspired and creative across these different shows.
“It’s the holiday time. There is definitely an entertainment factor that’s enveloped in that whole period,” Lansberry said. “It’s a time when you want to be with family, you want to be with friends.”
Reach reporter Adam Goldstein at 720-449-9707 or agoldstein@aurorasentinel.com