Whether you like to humbug your way through the holidays, or you embrace all the joy and vibrancy the Christmas season has to offer – the Bow Valley has a number of theatrical productions to entertain you throughout December.
From A Christmas Carol to It's A Wonderful Life, the classic tales of Chrismas spirit come alive with upcoming productions from Theatre Canmore and Ryan-Carter Productions.
For Theatre Canmore, the troupe is re-imagining It's A Wonderful Life as a 1940s radio play in front of a live studio audience at the WBFR radio station. It is the second time Theatre Canmore has staged the production according to artistic prducer Melanie DesRoches.
"What we really want to do is bring a holiday event to Canmore that would be family-friendly and something that tourists, weekenders and locals can enjoy over the holiday season," DesRoches said.
"Even though this story is more than 50 years old, people love hearing it again. That tradition is really important to people."
The classic holiday tale, adapted for stage by Joe Landry, takes audiences on a journey with George Bailey as he considers ending his life on Christmas Eve. With only five actors voicing a few dozen characters on stage, the story easily weaves its way into your imagination with the help of live sound effects.
Using everything from corn flakes to car horns, items that would have been available for a radio production in the '40s, with the help of sound magician Martin "Mitts" Finnerty – experience It's a Wonderful Life as you have never seen, or heard it before.
DesRoches said the format allowst he cast and crew to produce the play easily – wtih no set changes required and each cast member able to carry use their scripts – as radio actors playing a part. She said it allows actors to focus more on the interaction with the audience and delivering hte story.
"We are really trying to develop it more of as a stage performance ... I think it will really add to the enjoyment," DesRoches said.
Tyler McLaron will be directing the comedy/drama with a cast that includes Gerry McAuley as Freddie Filmore, Melissa Clements as Lana Sherwood, Phil Nugent as Harry "jazzbo" Haywood, Jeremy White as Jake Laurents, and Kristin Slagorsky as Sally Applewhite.
It is the second time Theatre Canmore has staged It's a Wonderful Life, but DesRoches said it is such a classic tale about kindness and the goodness of humanity that people enjoy during the Christmas season, they had requests to bring it back to the stage again.
The came can be said about Charles Dickens classic tale of Christmas past, present and future with of Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit – A Christmas Carol.
Bridget Ryan with Ryan-Carter Productions has been staging the classic play at the Fairmont Banff Springs. Many people may not realize that tucked inside the first floor of the hotel's conference centre is a vintage theatre, with a chandelier and plush velvet seats.
Typically used as part of the conference centre, each December, Ryan and her partner Jason Carter put together A Christmas Carol at the castle in the theatre. Carter, a local artist and sculpter, designed and created the set, while Ryan takes charge of the dramtics.
"I think we are the only A Christmas Carol in Canada that actually performs on Christmas Day – it is incredible and actually quite magical," Ryan said. "This is our third season [at the Fairmont Banff Springs] and it is bigger and better than ever."
The production runs from Nov.29-Dec. 28, including performances on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. With a cast of just five actors, Ryan said the story is brought to life with the help of puppets, music and not-to-be-missed magical moments.
"Going to see A Christmas Carol at the Banff Springs ... you cannot get more picture perfect than this at the height of the holiday season," she said.
Christmas at the Castle can be special on its own, but add some live theatre that tells an inspiring story that delves deep into our humanity, shining a light on our inner child and forcing the crustiness of adulting to melt away to expose generosity and kindness. This time of year we gravitate toward the stories we have already heard before to remind us what the season is all about.
"There is something so comforting about that," Ryan said. "The message is still the same [each year] and it might be more important than ever now."
Great theatre tries to change you, or effect you in some way, she added, and that includes Carter-Ryan's production of Joy to the World: A Musical Christmas Cabaret from Dec. 10-22.
Described as outrageously hilarious, Ryan delivers a night of music, laughter and Christmas stories in her very own cabaret style that has been thrilling audiences for years.
Performed at the Carter-Ryan Gallery and Live Art Venue on Main Street in Canmore, surrounded by Carter's sculptures and canvases.
"I love cabaret becuase people are always like, 'what the hell is cabaret,' " Ryan said with a laugh. "It will be like a Christmas party every night, in the sense that it is a gift of music and storytelling.
"I will take the audience on a journey of the best and worst Christmas moments. The nature of cabaret is that I can see you and talk to you, so we can go through this experience together and there is no fourth wall."
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play runs Dec. 6-7 and Dec. 14-15 at artsPlace in Canmore – 950 Eighth Ave. at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person and available through artsplacecanmore.com, or 403-609-2623. The play is presented in support of the Palliative Care Society of the Bow Valley and everyone who attends will be gifted an angel ornament for their tree and will have a chance to donate to the cause.
Tickets for A Christmas Carol and Joy to the World can be purchased online through Eventbrite.ca or go to www.carter-ryan.com for more details. More information on events at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel over the holidays can be found at www.christmasatthecastle.ca.
