Plays and more spreading holiday cheer for all to hear in Eastern Iowa

Musicals, dance and plays — oh my! Area theaters and venues are planning a plethora of shows to put patrons of all ages in the holiday spirit. Don’t see your event here? Add it to the Event calendar at hooplanow.com/

The Thanksgiving Play

Nov. 7 to Dec. 1, Grandon Studio, Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Four well-intentioned theater people walk into an elementary school. The work at hand: a Thanksgiving pageant that won’t ruffle any feathers. What could possibly go wrong? This rambunctious, thorny and not altogether politically correct play serves up the hypocrisies of woke America on a big, family-style platter. Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $37 adults; $25 students and youths; theatrecr.org/event/the-thanksgiving-play/2024-11-07/

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. Adapted from the Academy Award-winning animated movie, this stage musical tells the story of an unkind prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment for his selfish ways. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must learn to love and be loved by Belle — a bookish and adventure-craving young woman he has imprisoned in his enchanted castle. Times: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday and some Saturdays. Tickets: $27 to $68 adults: $27 students and youths; theatrecr.org/event/beauty-and-the-beast/2024-11-15/

Enchanted Castle Experience

9 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 16, Theatre Cedar Rapids, 102 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids. TCR’s interactive fundraising event featuring a character meet-and-greet with the enchanted princess; crafts, treats; beauty boutique and more; for ages 2 to 12 and their families; dressing up in fairy tale finery is encouraged. Staggered arrival times are available every half hour between 9 and 11:30 a.m.; select your preferred time slot with ticket purchase. Tickets: $30 ages 12 and under; $20 adults; theatrecr.org/event/enchanted-castle-experience/

Orchestra Iowa: Home Alone in Concert

7:30 p.m. Nov. 16; 2 p.m. Nov. 17, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. See the classic film and hear John Williams’ score performed live by Orchestra Iowa. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves. Tickets: $32 to $68, artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/home-alone/

Annie Jr.

Nov. 22 to 24, The James Theater, 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City. Times: 7 p.m. Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Presented by Nolte Academy’s youth theater. It’s the story of an orphan named Annie, living a “hard-knock life” at The New York City Municipal Orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie dreams of being reunited with her parents and takes action to find them. In adventure after adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. Tickets: $20 adults, $15 students; thejamesic.com/

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical

7 p.m. Nov. 27, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. See Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, in an adventure that shows what makes you different can be what makes you special. Tickets: $37 to $57, creventslive.com/events/2024/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-the-musical

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

Nov. 29 to Dec. 15, Riverside Theatre, 119 E. College St., Iowa City. Small-town everyman George Bailey is having a Christmas Eve that can only be saved by a miracle. Enter George’s guardian angel, Clarence, who takes him on a heartwarming journey of redemption proving that “no one is a failure who has friends.” Reimagined for the stage, five actors portray dozens of characters and create live sound effects. Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $15 to $39; riversidetheatre.org/wonderfullife/ Extras: Talkback with performers, director and host Miriam Gilbert after Dec. 1 matinee; free and open to the public. Backstage Pass: Free and open to Riverdog Members only; Nov. 7, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., design presentations and meet the cast; Nov. 14, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.: rehearsal/scene work; Nov. 23, 1 to 2 p.m., tech rehearsal; email Kathleen@riversidetheatre.org for reservations.

An Evening with Peter Billingsley and “A Christmas Story”

7 p.m. Nov. 30, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Features a screening of the 1983 film and a Q&A where Peter Billingsley (Ralphie) will share behind-the-scenes stories, rare photos, and memories from the iconic Christmas film. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions, and donations will be accepted for Toy for Tots. Add-on: preshow meet and greet with Billingsley. One person also will win a leg lamp. Tickets: $33 to $48; VIP extra; creventslive.com/events/2024/peterbillingsley

A Christmas Carol

3 p.m. Dec. 1, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. This tale of redemption follows Ebenezer Scrooge on his epic journey from nasty curmudgeon to benevolent saint. More than two dozen timeless Christmas carols are woven throughout this production. Filled with haunting special effects, the ghosts of Jacob Marley, Christmas Past, Present, and Future are alternately horrifying and hilarious. Tickets: $25 to $49.50; creventslive.com/events/2024/christmas-carol

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Die Hard ... is Still a Christmas Movie

Dec. 5 to 22, Mirrorbox Theatre, 1200 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids. In this original parody musical, gruff cop John McClane leaves the friendly confines of NYC on Christmas Eve, only to be confronted by the three things that make him angriest: German terrorists, Los Angeles, and female empowerment. This homage features new twists on iconic dialogue, as well as songs in the style of classic Christmas tunes like “Let It Snow,” “Little Drummer Boy” and Ludacris’ “Area Codes.” Definitely not kid-friendly. Times: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, to Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday; added performance 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22. Tickets: $27.38, mirrorboxtheatre.com

Many Things

Dec. 6 to 8 and 14, Brooklyn (Iowa) Opera House, 115 Jackson St., Brooklyn. Brooklyn Community Theatre presents this comedy about a mom who is working to make everything come together for a perfect Christmas but nothing is going right. Times: 7 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $10 to $15; brooklynoperahouse.com/events

A Murder for Christmas

Dec. 6 to 8 and 13 to 15, Amana Performing Arts Center, 39 38th Ave., Amana. TKM Productions presents the world premiere of this breakneck whodunit. A small community theater group’s annual performance of A Christmas Carol goes horribly awry when Scrooge is murdered. Cassidy Sheridan, a hometown B movie actress, steps in as the gender-bending Scrooge. She and the ladies of “A Christmas Carol” work together to discover clues and uncover the murderer. Times: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $25; tkmtheatricalproductions.com/courses

Anastasia

Dec. 6 to 8 and 13 to 15, Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville. City Circle Theatre Company presents this musical, inspired by the film, about a brave young woman seeking the truth of her mysterious past. It transports audiences from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s as Anya embarks on an epic adventure. Times: 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets: $32 premium seats; $26 adults; $22 ages 65 and up; $18 students; $10 student rush one hour before curtain Dec. 7; coralvillearts.org/330/Anastasia

Nutcracker ballets

Cedar Falls: 7 p.m. Nov. 22, 2 p.m. Nov. 23 and 24, Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls. More than 100 dancers from across Northeast Iowa perform alongside the Minnesota Ballet, bringing the magical story of The Nutcracker to life. Tickets: $1 to $46; gbpac.com/upcoming-events

Iowa City: Dec. 6 to 8, Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St. Nolte Academy’s 20th anniversary presentation, featuring Nolte Academy dancers with a live orchestra conducted by Carey Bostian. Times: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8. Tickets: $17.25 to $48; englert.org/events/

Cedar Rapids: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. See this holiday classic spring to life with Ballet Quad Cities, dancing to Tchaikovsky’s symphony performed by Orchestra Iowa; artsiowa.com/tickets/concerts/nutcracker-2024/

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Dec. 6 to 22, Giving Tree Theater, 752 10th St., Marion. A couple struggling to put on a church Christmas pageant are faced with casting the Herdman kids — probably the most inventively awful kids in history. You won’t believe the mayhem and fun when the Herdmans collide head-on with the story of Christmas. Times: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday and some Saturdays. Tickets: $30; givingtreetheater.com/s/shop

All Through the Night

Dec. 13 to 15, Starlighters II, 200 E. Main St., Anamosa. A small group of weary travelers discover the power of the season while trapped in a lonely train station on Christmas Eve. As a blizzard rages outside, the troubled people are forced to turn to each other for companionship. Trying to make them more comfortable is the old stationmaster, Charlie. When the clock strikes midnight, there is a knock on the station door and seven youngsters appear. They’ve seen the station lights from the nearby church where, in secret, they’ve been practicing the story of the Nativity, which they plan to present at regular service. They offer to perform their play for the travelers, and afterward they speak to the travelers individually, giving advice that is seemingly wise beyond their years. Tickets: $16 adults, $15 seniors, $5 students; starlighters.org/buy-tickets

The Madrigal

6:30 p.m. Dec. 13 to 15, The James Theater, 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City. This event includes an elegant and immersive dinner theater experience and production. Diners will be transported to 16th century England during A Winter Revel with singing and instrumental music, dance and good conversation. Tickets: $105; thejamesic.com/events/madrigal-dinner

Cirque Dreams Holidaze

7:30 p.m. Dec. 16, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. This Broadway at the Paramount show wraps a Broadway-style production around contemporary circus arts, including aerial circus acts, sleight-of-hand jugglers, skippers, acrobatics and more. Tickets: $48 to $78; creventslive.com/events/2024/cirque-dreams-holidaze

Christmas Express! On Air

7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, Riverside Theatre, 119 E. College St., Iowa City. This evening of music and storytelling features actor Ron Clark and the music of Streamline Deluxe, with special guests guitarist Dustin Busch and fiddler/vocalist Annie Savage. Tickets: $25, (319) 259-7099 or riversidetheatre.org/special-events/

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

7 p.m. Dec. 23, Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Movies at the Paramount presents this classic 1989 film on a 45-foot-by-25-foot screen. As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he pesters his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and children, as he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go awry quickly. His hick cousin, Eddie (Randy Quaid), and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Even worse, Clark’s employers renege on the holiday bonus he needs. Rated PG-13. Tickets: $15; creventslive.com/events/2024/movies-at-the-paramount-national-lampoons-christmas-vacation

The Twelve Laughs of Christmas

7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 28, Mirrorbox Theatre, 1200 Ellis Blvd. NW, Cedar Rapids. Holiday improv show. Tickets: $16.88, mirrorboxtheatre.com/#smtx-click

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