By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
What is the holidays without a little holiday theater magic? Two West Michigan theater companies oblige with a couple of holiday classics.
The Grand Rapids Civic Theatre will be hosting a on-demand streaming presentation of the Charles Dickens holiday classic Dec. 18 -31. The live 1940s radio broadcast, complete with vintage costumes and live sound effects, was set to be presented live similar to Civic’s presentation of “Dracula” in October. The recent statewide partial shutdown, reducing the number of people in a gathering, forced the theater company to rethink its plans.
Instead, the program will be live streamed Dec. 18 – 31 through Broadway On Demand. From the novella by Dickens, “A Christmas Carol,” follows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge as he his visited by three ghosts and learns the true meaning of Christmas.
There are two casts for the live broadcasts. Tickets are $9.99 for individuals and $24.99 for per family. For tickets, visit grct.org.
Farmers Alley
Of course, there is no place like home for the holidays and Farmers Alley Theatre will be hosting a special presentation titled “Home for the Holidays” through Dec. 24.
Hosted by Farmers Alley Founders Adam & Rob Weiner and Denene Mulay Koch & Jeremy Koch, this 90-minute special will feature favorite holiday classics, new seasonal songs and a dose of Christmas magic all of which will be streaming on Broadway On Demand.
The event features performances by Nat Zegree, Whitney Weiner, Joriah Kwame, Julie Nemitz, Sandy Bremer, WMU’s Gold Company, Andrea Arvanigian, Max Wardlaw and so many more PLUS a special reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas featuring a cavalcade of stars.
Watch party tickets are $29,95 and available at www.farmersalleytheatre.com
